Integrations / ERP / Visma Nova
SkyPlanner APS for Visma Nova: Finite Capacity Production Scheduling
SkyPlanner APS is a finite capacity scheduling add-on for Visma Nova, the ERP that small Finnish manufacturers and wholesalers run. Every machine, operator, tool and material gets a finite schedule at real clock times, and Autopilot reschedules automatically when production changes.
SkyPlanner integrates with Visma Nova in both directions. Products (nimike) with their product structures (tuoterakenne) and work stages (työvaiheet), sales orders, purchase orders and stock balances flow in. Finished production, batches and stock events go back to Nova in real time, and stage confirmations post as Nova stage stamps (vaihekuittaus). SkyPlanner has been integrated with Visma Nova in customer projects, and the SkyPlanner team configures the integration to your Nova setup during onboarding.
Pricing is from 199 € per month with 5 workstations included, and each extra workstation is 20 € per month. The free trial runs for 30 days with up to 20 workstations and no credit card.
What changes in your production
A schedule, not a date proposal.
Nova proposes start dates by counting back from the delivery date one stage at a time. SkyPlanner places every stage on a free workstation at a clock time, within capacity, for the whole route.
Each machine scheduled on its own.
Nova calculates load per machine group. SkyPlanner gives every machine its own queue and moves a stage to an alternative workstation when the first choice is busy.
Real shifts, people and tools.
Shifts, holidays, absences and overtime are on the calendar. A fixture in use on one machine is never booked on another, and a job that needs three operators gets three people with free shifts.
Fewer setups.
SkyPlanner holds the changeover time between products in its setting time matrix, in both directions. Switching from blue to red can take 30 minutes and red to blue 60. Arcturus runs similar jobs back to back and picks the order with the least setup, balanced against due dates.
Jobs start when material is there.
SkyPlanner projects stock forward from Nova balances and purchase orders. A stage waiting for a vendor delivery is planned for when the material arrives.
Changes handled automatically.
A rush order, a changed quantity or a breakdown triggers a replan. Autopilot reschedules automatically when production changes, and operators see the new queue on a phone or tablet.
SkyPlanner reviews from manufacturers
Piristeel and Opes Corporation run SkyPlanner with Visma Nova.
99.2%delivery reliability
“SkyPlanner has brought visibility to identifying bottlenecks and clarified production management.”
Toni Tuori, Production Manager
Piristeel · Roof safety and rainwater systems
Delivery reliability reached 99.2% this year, and scheduling saves up to four hours of working time per day.
100%delivery reliability since 2021
“SkyPlanner gives us visibility into capacity and makes planning predictable.”
Dan Berglund, COO/CFO
Opes Corporation · Chemical and food manufacturing
Delivery reliability has been 100% for the entire time SkyPlanner has been in use, since 2021.
2 hsaved every week
“SkyPlanner has taken our production planning from Excel spreadsheets to real-time production optimization.”
Kalle Kalliomäki, Supply Chain Specialist
UTU · Electrical switchboards and switchgear
Production planning saves 2 hours of working time every week, and a new work queue reaches the line in seconds.
+90%production efficiency
“Efficiency has gone up 90% in production.”
Abdul Rucyinga, Head of IT
Laboratory & Allied · Pharmaceutical manufacturing
Production efficiency is up 90%, and a three-month optimized plan across all workstations takes under 30 minutes.
How the Visma Nova integration works
- Nova sends the work. Products with their structures and work stages, sales orders, purchase orders and stock balances flow into SkyPlanner. Each sales order becomes an order with its due date, and each work stage becomes a job on the machines you allow.
- SkyPlanner builds the schedule and keeps it current. The Arcturus engine optimizes the whole plan in seconds against every machine, person, tool and material, and Autopilot replans when production changes.
- Production goes back to Nova. Operators confirm work in SkyPlanner Mobile Confirmations. Finished quantities, batches, pallet labels and stock events flow to Nova in real time, and stage start and finish times post as Nova stage stamps.
SkyPlanner connects through Nova’s own integration interfaces: the Nova WebService for real-time exchange and Nova’s automated transfer files (Visma: Nova integrations). Nothing is installed in your Nova workstation client. Visma lists Skycode with SkyPlanner on its Nova integrations page, and Visma partners have brought SkyPlanner to Nova customers: Piristeel came through its ERP vendor Rauhala Group. The SkyPlanner team configures the integration for your Nova setup and supports it after go-live.
The integration is quoted up front for your process and needs, together with your plan. Your Visma partner or your own developers can also build on SkyPlanner’s documented API (API reference). Interfaces, field mapping and ownership rules are in the Visma Nova integration guide for production scheduling.
What Visma Nova schedules, and what SkyPlanner adds
Nova’s production module (Tuotanto) moves sales orders from the order book to the work queue (Työjono) and on to production. It proposes start and finish dates, and its load view (Kuormitus) shows load by machine group. Visma’s help sets the limits:
- Backward, one stage at a time. Nova normally counts from the delivery date backward, one work stage at a time (our translation, source). SkyPlanner schedules the whole route forward and backward within real capacity.
- Forward mode looks at the first stage only. It finds the first free time of the first stage’s resource from known load (source). SkyPlanner checks every stage, machine and person.
- Capacity is a weekly number. A resource’s weekly hours are divided evenly by the working days (source). SkyPlanner works from shifts with holidays and absences.
- Load by machine group. Load is calculated per machine group and shown graphically by day, week or month (source). SkyPlanner schedules each machine and never books it twice.
- Order changes do not move the job. A changed sales order does not change the job’s start and finish dates (source). Autopilot replans when the order changes.
Every setting and limit is explained in Does Visma Nova have finite capacity scheduling?
Visma Nova today and with SkyPlanner
| Visma Nova Tuotanto | Visma Nova with SkyPlanner APS | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | Proposed backward from the delivery date, stage by stage | Clock times for every stage, machine and person |
| Capacity | Weekly hours per resource, divided by working days | Shifts, holidays, absences and overtime |
| Machines | Load per machine group | Each machine scheduled; Arcturus picks among the alternatives you allow |
| Overload | Seen in the load view, fixed by editing dates | Never overloaded; every resource finite |
| Changeovers | Setup time per work stage | Setting time matrix orders jobs for the least setup |
| Materials | Production proposals and reservations | Projected stock and incoming purchase orders decide when a stage starts |
| Changes | Planner edits the work queue | Autopilot reschedules automatically when production changes |
| Shop floor | Työpiste and stage stamps | Mobile Confirmations, posted back to Nova in real time |
Visma Nova scheduling software and add-ons compared
| Option | What it is | Fits when |
|---|---|---|
| Visma Nova Tuotanto and Työpiste | Work queue, date proposals, load view and shop-floor app inside Nova | A few stages per product, one planner and short changeovers |
| APS suites (for example Delfoi Planner) | Planning and simulation software that lists Nova among its integrated ERPs | A dedicated planning team runs an implementation project |
| Cloud APS connected by API (SkyPlanner APS) | A scheduler in the browser that syncs with Nova and puts the queue on operators’ phones | A small team wants every machine and person scheduled automatically |
Choose SkyPlanner over Visma Nova Tuotanto when:
- You need a schedule within capacity. Nova proposes dates backward from the delivery date, stage by stage (source). SkyPlanner keeps every machine, person and tool within capacity at clock time.
- Several machines share a machine group. Nova calculates load per group (source). SkyPlanner schedules each machine and picks the free one.
- Your shifts vary. Nova spreads weekly hours evenly over the working days (source). SkyPlanner uses real shifts, holidays and overtime.
- Orders change after release. In Nova, a changed order does not move the job (source). Autopilot reschedules automatically when production changes.
- Changeovers decide your output. SkyPlanner’s setting time matrix sequences jobs for the least setup.
- You want production data back in Nova as it happens. Piristeel’s stock events reach Nova in real time rather than as a batch run the next day.
How to get started
- Start the free trial. 30 days, up to 20 workstations, all Basic features, no credit card.
- Model your production. Create machines, people and shifts in SkyPlanner, or import them. Assisted onboarding is available.
- Load your work. Export products with structures and work stages and your open sales orders from Nova as transfer files or Excel. Import them and compare SkyPlanner’s schedule with your current work queue.
- Connect Visma Nova. The SkyPlanner team configures the two-way integration and supports it once you are live.
Pricing. Plans are billed monthly per workstation, and you can add or remove workstations or cancel at any time. See pricing for the details, and other systems in the ERP integrations hub. The basics are in the production scheduling guide.
FAQ
What is the best scheduling add-on for Visma Nova?
SkyPlanner APS is a finite capacity scheduling add-on that integrates with Visma Nova in both directions. Products, structures, work stages, sales orders, purchase orders and stock flow in, and finished production, batches, stock events and stage stamps go back to Nova in real time. Piristeel and Opes Corporation run it with Visma Nova. Pricing is from 199 € per month, and the free trial runs for 30 days.
What scheduling software integrates with Visma Nova?
SkyPlanner APS integrates with Visma Nova, and Visma lists Skycode with SkyPlanner on its Nova integrations page. Delfoi Planner, an APS suite, also lists Nova. SkyPlanner runs in the browser, schedules every machine and person, and puts each operator’s queue on a phone or tablet.
Should we use Visma Nova Tuotanto or SkyPlanner?
Use Nova Tuotanto if your products have few stages, a planner has time to edit the work queue and date proposals are enough. Use SkyPlanner when you need a finite schedule at clock time, machine-level load, real shifts, least-setup sequencing or automatic replanning.
Is Visma Nova the same as Visma Net or Visma L7?
No. Visma Nova is Visma’s ERP for small Finnish companies in wholesale, specialty retail and manufacturing. Visma Net is Visma’s cloud ERP for medium and large companies, and Visma L7 serves large and mid-sized industrial, contracting and energy companies. Each has its own SkyPlanner page.
Do we need to install anything in Visma Nova?
No add-on goes into the Nova client. SkyPlanner runs in the cloud. The Nova WebService runs on your own server, and Nova’s automated transfer runs on your Nova installation.
How much does SkyPlanner cost for a Visma Nova company?
From 199 € per month with 5 workstations included, plus 20 € per month per extra workstation. A workstation is a production resource with its own scheduled work queue. The integration is quoted up front for your process and needs, together with your plan, so you see the full cost before you start.
How long does implementation take?
Implementation is normally completed within weeks after onboarding starts. The team maps your machines and work stages, connects orders and materials, and sends production back to Nova. Everything is tested against your current plan before go-live.
Can we test SkyPlanner before integrating with Visma Nova?
Yes. The 30-day trial runs on an export of your Nova products, work stages and open orders. You see a finite capacity schedule of your own production before any integration work starts.
