Digital communication transforms student housing management
Student housing is known for its high turnover, with residents typically staying only for the duration of their studies. This creates unique challenges for both resident communication and facility management: information and instructions must be repeated continuously and remain easily accessible for all tenants.
Discover how One4all’s digital solutions have helped streamline operations and improve the living experience at Fastighets Ab Arcada Nova and Mikalo Oy’s student housing.
Case: Fastighets Ab Arcada Nova
Challenge: In Arcada Nova’s rental apartments, the annual resident turnover can be as high as 40%. It’s not always safe to assume new tenants are aware of previously distributed instructions or updates, making it necessary to repeat and re-share all essential information year after year.
Solution: Arcada Nova implemented the One4all digital housing platform across all its student residences. Each staircase features a dedicated digital display, and updates are also shared via the One4all Mobile resident app. All communication within the student apartments is now handled digitally. Shared spaces and services can be easily booked through the digital booking calendar.
Results: According to CEO Jörgen Wiik, both property managers and residents report high levels of satisfaction, finding the services intuitive and easy to use. With all information available digitally, there’s no need to maintain and update paper folders when residents move out—current instructions and updates are always accessible online.
Key messages can remain visible for extended periods, and recurring annual topics can be scheduled to display at optimal times. This significantly reduces manual workload and saves resources. Digital communication also ensures that student residents stay informed during holiday breaks. “When announcements about water outages or maintenance work reach residents even during vacation periods, it benefits both the property company and the tenants. This helps avoid unpleasant surprises as information gets through,” Wiik highlights.
Read the article: One4all’s digital service platform is part of everyday life at Fastighets Ab Arcada Nova
Case: Mikalo Oy Student Housing
Challenge: Frequent tenant changes resulted in lost keys and booking locks for the old physical reservation board. This issue caused additional costs for both Mikalo Oy and its residents, as well as extra work for several employees. Moreover, the previous system required extensive user instructions.
Solution: In May 2024, Mikalo Oy introduced a digital booking calendar for its laundry room facilities.
Results: “Previously, booking and using the laundry room was rated ‘deep in the red’ in our surveys,” explains Marketing Manager Maija Ikonen. “Since adopting the new system, feedback has been exclusively positive and excellent.”
“Our property maintenance team no longer needs to spend time providing guidance or performing inspections. With a relatively small monthly fee, we now have access to reliable digital services. This solution is exactly what we were looking for, and it’s proven to deliver excellent value for money,” adds Property Manager Dusko Cuckovici.
Read the article: Mikalo Oy’s student housing takes a digital leap forward at students’ request
This article is an ai-generated translation of the original article in Finnish.
