Liftra provides wind turbine solutions with greater speed, visibility, and precision

Founded in Denmark in 2003, Liftra is a global leader in wind turbine technology. The company designs and manufactures custom-engineered tools and equipment for efficient wind turbine installation and maintenance. With over 500 employees spread across Denmark, Spain, the USA, China, Poland, Vietnam, Brazil and Australia, Liftra supplies its equipment to over 30 countries around the world.

Liftra had been using Smartsheet for years but wasn’t leveraging its full potential. Without standardised sheets or unified dashboards, tracking progress and managing portfolios was difficult. “Wind turbine development is advancing so quickly that equipment production can’t keep up with the growing demand. We needed to work faster,” recalls Kristian Engsig-Karup, Engineering Manager at Liftra.

Bringing projects under one banner

So, Liftra decided to bring its departments under one global Portfolio Project Management (PPM) platform. “We didn’t know how to build such a system, so we reached out to the Smartsheet team for help,” shares Torben Risager Nielsen, Business Development Manager at Liftra.

Liftra needed to define a workflow to ensure that all projects followed a clear structure from start to finish. To make this complex change management initiative a success, the company would need to involve all internal stakeholders. Encouraged by Smartsheet, Liftra formed a committee of Smartsheet champions from each department. 

“Through a series of discovery sessions, Smartsheet helped us uncover gaps in our processes. Their team also showed us how the platform could bring better data accuracy and discipline by introducing standardisation—without losing the entrepreneurial spirit we value,” adds Nielsen. “While there was some initial hesitation, Smartsheet worked closely with us to shape a solution that fit our needs.”

Building the backbone of operations

With Smartsheet’s help, the company set up tools to perfect the solution. With Data Shuttle, the team automatically imports data from external software. DataMesh connects data across sheets, syncing various projects. WorkApps gives stakeholders a simple dashboard to see portfolio metrics, insights, and project updates. “Control Center is a powerful tool that lets us update new projects and our entire portfolio of existing projects in bulk,” shares Nielsen. Custom Control Center Blueprints support project execution and client reporting, making everything more efficient and organised.

Despite tight deadlines, Liftra built the ultimate PPM solution, making Smartsheet its single source of truth. “I might be to blame for Liftra’s unofficial motto: ‘If it’s not in Smartsheet, it’s not official!’,” shares Nielsen. “Smartsheet has become the backbone of our project management approach and an essential part of our process flow.”

With consolidated data, Liftra can run global projects smoothly. “Wind energy demands precision, and our Business Project Management Office (PMO) relies on Smartsheet to coordinate every detail. Smartsheet lets us deliver smarter, faster, and more sustainable turbine solutions.”

More visibility, faster growth

Liftra now enjoys better oversight of its projects. “With Smartsheet, we can report on risks, progress, and payment milestones, giving top and senior management a clear, strategic view of all company activities,” says  Nielsen. “Convincing our directors to invest in a new system wasn’t easy, but when I configured a few settings and generated detailed graphs and statistics with AI-powered data analysis within hours, their perspective completely changed. It made the value of the system undeniable” continues Engsig-Karup.

As Liftra continues to revolutionise the wind energy industry, the company is confident that Smartsheet will play a key role in supporting its future growth. “In order for us to have a planet to live on for many, many years, we need to do something,” adds Nielsen. 

“We’re transforming the way wind energy projects are designed, executed, and delivered, creating a brighter future for generations to come, and Smartsheet is the engine driving our growth.”