Finalist of “Finland’s Best Housing Company 2019” modernizes communication with a digital notice board
Summer is already in the air in the lush Jalkaranta residential area of Lahti. I’ve come to meet Eero Ravantti, chairman of the board of housing company Jalkarannan-Metsä. He greets me cheerfully through the intercom, and the door opens automatically as if warmly welcoming the visitor. Stepping into the stairwell, the first impression is modern and fresh – even though the housing company is nearing its 50th anniversary.
Standing out is a matter of survival for a housing company
When we meet, Eero tells me that about five years ago the housing company renovated the elevator, and at the same time improved accessibility by removing the vestibule from the entrance. The old bulletin board on the wall was replaced with a touch-screen notice board.
“It all started with the thought that our building is approaching half a century, and we need to stand out from the crowd. Finland is full of housing companies and there’s an oversupply of apartments, so it’s clear that well-managed housing companies succeed and poorly managed ones disappear. You could say a ‘survival of the fittest’ is already underway among housing companies.”
Eero believes that introducing the digital notice board has a positive impact on the housing company’s appeal and distinctiveness. Clear and efficient communication, he says, is the hallmark of a high-quality housing company.
We want residents to enjoy living here and for this to be a respected housing company
Communication solutions play a significant role for the housing company
Before the renovation, communication relied on traditional methods: paper notices – or as Eero describes it, “the scraps-of-paper system.” The board decided to invest in a digital notice board because they wanted to position themselves as a modern, well-managed housing company.
“Our goal was to ensure both the content and the tools for communication were up to par. We also wanted a clearly more modern solution to stay ahead of the curve and provide residents with good communication channels.”
In Eero’s view, modern communication solutions give a housing company a real advantage since many still rely on paper notices.
“Digital communication tools are the present – and the future. For current and future residents, it really matters what kind of channels and tools the housing company offers. Residents deserve up-to-date information through modern means.”
This perspective is shared by Jonna Halme-Räsänen, a long-time resident and former board member. Jonna has lived in the building for 40 years – first in her childhood home and later in her own apartment. She’s pleased that the old bulletin board was replaced with a digital notice board.
“I like that information is actively shared and flows smoothly in the housing company. For me, the digital notice board is an important source of information. As I pass by, I can quickly glance at the weather or short notices. We have meeting invitations and current issues displayed, but also many photos – for example from clean-up events – and the board’s holiday greetings at Easter or Mother’s Day. These create a sense of community and bring joy.”
(Photo: Eero Ravantti)
The digital notice board is the housing company’s business card
According to Eero, the difference between the old bulletin board and the digital notice board is striking.
“Previously we had multiple bulletin boards with all kinds of notices. Maintaining them was a challenge because old announcements were mixed with new ones. From that starting point, we’ve come to this solution. It’s excellent both technically and visually, and updating information is simple.”
Eero and the board have no regrets about removing the old bulletin boards – quite the opposite.
“The old scraps-of-paper system would have been totally out of place with the stairwell’s modern look. Sticking to the old would have undermined the fresh and contemporary impression. Now visitors usually comment on how clear and tidy it feels here.”
The digital notice board is a business card and part of the quality first impression as you step inside
The need met the solution seamlessly
Eero says he discovered One4all’s services while exploring exhibition stands at the “Taloyhtiö” Housing Company Fair.
“The presentation of the system was so clear that I immediately saw the benefits. The need and the solution fit together perfectly. For us, it was crucial that maintaining the digital notice board would be user-friendly – and that has proven true. Another key factor was the well-structured interface.”
According to Eero, the service has fully met expectations and the customer experience has been smooth.
“Our experience has been positive from every perspective, so I can confidently recommend the service. Everything worked as agreed, from installation to deployment. The device performs technically well, the support is excellent, and the service also works in terms of attention economics. Plus, working with customer support has been very easy. Often experts speak in technical jargon, but with Waltteri from support, everything has been concrete and easy to understand.”
Cost savings are achieved even in a building with a single stairwell
Eero notes that the housing company’s communication was already diverse, with the board typically distributing around eight notices to residents per year.
“With the digital notice board, cost savings really add up, especially if there are multiple buildings. Even in our single-stairwell building, the difference is significant. On top of that, the digital notice board offers logistical benefits, as announcements can be published digitally regardless of time and place.”
During the interview, Eero shares plans for new ways to utilize the digital notice board – for example, integrating it with the housing company’s Safetum rescue plan.
This article is an ai-generated translation of the original article in Finnish.