Skäribot – using AI to solve the challenges of traveling in the archipelago

Summary

Together with the municipalities of Kemiönsaari and Parainen, we built Skäribot – a multilingual AI travel assistant that makes exploring the archipelago easier with real-time local info on ferries, events, and services.

#GCP #GoogleCloudFunctions #GoogleCloudRun #OpenStreetMap #VectorSearch #VertexAI

Challenge

The Finnish archipelago’s beauty also comes with complexity: ferry and bus connections are essential but hard to keep track of without local knowledge. Tourists often feel lost or hesitant to explore due to unclear schedules or language barriers. Municipal staff spend a significant time answering repetitive travel-related questions. Local businesses struggle to get visibility unless visitors actively seek them out.

In spring 2025, the municipalities of Kemiönsaari and Parainen noticed a clear need for an always-available, multilingual AI assistant. This assistant would need to answer natural-language questions about ferries, buses, local events, attractions, and services – bringing real-time data together in one place. The goal was to make island life and travel easier for residents and visitors alike with a service that would be accessible through both web and public info displays in key harbors.

Solution

Together with our client, we created Skäribot, a cloud-native service that combines conversational AI with trusted public data. Skäribot understands natural questions like “When’s the next ferry from Kasnäs?” and instantly responds with accurate, up-to-date answers – in Finnish, Swedish, or English.

Skäribot draws live transport data from DigiTraffic and Matka.fi and complements it with local content from municipal websites, the Kemiö Service Guide, and Business Finland’s DataHub. This way, users can easily find nearby events, attractions, and services – all from a single source. Available on touch-screen info kiosks in Kasnäs and Taalintehdas and online, Skäribot offers the same conversational experience for seniors, visitors, and locals.

Built on Google Cloud, the system uses Vertex AI for conversational understanding, Vector Search to retrieve relevant local context, and Cloud Functions to orchestrate real-time data flows. This modern, modular architecture ensures accuracy, low maintenance, and easy extensibility.

Results

Launched in June 2025, Skäribot makes trip planning in the archipelago noticeably smoother – from checking the next ferry to discovering what’s happening nearby. Users no longer need to browse multiple websites or timetables as clear answers are available instantly from a single source.

The benefits reach beyond convenience. Municipalities spend less time on routine inquiries, and local businesses gain visibility when their up-to-date information appears directly in Skäribot’s responses. Built on a scalable, cloud-based foundation, the service is cost-efficient and easy to maintain. As more people interact with Skäribot, it learns and improves, creating a virtuous cycle of better service through real-world use.

Our collaboration has created a scalable model that other archipelago municipalities can adopt. Skäribot is an example of smarter, more responsive public services across Finland’s coastal and island communities.

“
We are extremely satisfied with Asteroid’s expertise in helping us navigate the challenging technological landscape. We received all the expert guidance and sparring we needed to successfully adopt GenAI and cloud technologies to build our first conversational user interface.”

Julius Uusikylä
Project Leader at Kemiönsaaren kunta

Want to learn how the project unfolded in practice?

Read the customer story (FI)

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