IQI acquires First Goal

IQI, a transformation consulting and IT system innovation company, is acquiring First Goal, a company focused on developing digital customer service. The acquisition brings IQI unique expertise in utilizing artificial intelligence and digitalization in customer service in an area that is currently facing a major transformation. 

After the acquisition, IQI will employ nearly 200 people, including subcontractors, and the company's turnover will increase to approximately EUR 24 million. The transaction supports IQI's goal of reaching EUR 50 million in turnover in the coming years. The company's growth is supported by Finnish private equity firm Voland Partners, which joined the company's growth story in 2024.

First Goal is an expert and consulting company founded in 2007 that helps organizations develop omnichannel customer service and customer experience. It helps organizations develop customer service functions from planning to implementation by harnessing contact management and CRM solutions to serve the organization's customers, employees and customer service processes. First Goal's turnover is approximately EUR 1.6 million and it employs 11 people. Approximately 80% of the company's customer base is from the financial sector.

IQI supports all phases of customer service development

The acquisition strengthens IQI's offering in the area of ​​digital customer service, where artificial intelligence brings significant opportunities. The acquisition brings IQI very strong expertise, which will enable the company to support its customers in all areas of core business development, from customer service to sales, production and financial management.

"The desire for customer service development, digitalization and automation is very strong among the customer base, and the acquisition significantly increases our ability to serve our customers. We are currently supporting numerous organizations in customer service development projects, for example in the CRM area, and I believe that this area will grow in importance in our customers' plans in the future as well," says IQI CEO Markus Andersson.

Artificial intelligence improves and enhances customer service
The digitalization of customer service is a key development trend. It improves service quality and makes operations more efficient.

“The digitalization of customer service increasingly also means utilizing artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence brings new opportunities to the service. The acquisition increases our expertise in planning and implementing demanding projects,” says Andersson.

First Goal CEO Mika Hakanen emphasizes the company’s experts’ long experience in developing customer service.

“Each of our experts has 15–30 years of experience in developing customer service, and we have several hundred customer service development projects behind us. In addition to solid system expertise, we always focus on customer service as a whole: customer paths, operating models, processes, and customer and employee experiences,” says Hakanen.

The best experts for critical IT projects
IQI has decades of experience in demanding industries behind it. The company is responsible for the success of its clients' most critical IT projects and specializes in consulting for change projects and IT system reforms. 

IQI was founded at the beginning of the year when Consultor and Profit Consulting merged. The corporate transaction was made possible by an investment from private equity firm Voland Partners. IQI's previous corporate acquisition was in early April, when the company acquired Tampere-based Notkia IT Oy.

“Our delivery capabilities are based on deep industry-specific expertise as well as project and technology expertise. The growth built on this requires finding the best experts. We offer experts a high-quality and growth-capable work community and customers a broad-based partner with long-term experience in successfully implementing comprehensive projects,” says Andersson.