Mikalo Oy’s student housing takes a digital leap forward at students’ request
In May 2024, Mikalo Oy’s student housing (formerly MOAS) introduced One4all’s digital booking calendar for laundry machines. Since the rollout, interest in expanding digital services has grown even further, thanks to the significant benefits the calendar has brought. We spoke with Property Manager Dusko Cuckovic and Marketing Specialist Maija Ikonen about their experience.
From traditional methods to modern digital services
Previously, laundry machine bookings were managed with an old-fashioned reservation board. Each weekly slot and apartment had its designated spot, and residents would secure their time by attaching a small lock—using their apartment key to lock and unlock it. Frequent tenant turnover often led to lost keys and booking locks, creating additional costs for both residents and Mikalo, as well as extra work for multiple staff members.
“In resident surveys, laundry room bookings consistently came up as a problem area. Students even submitted concrete proposals for alternative booking systems,” Maija recalls. Tech-savvy students shared feedback based on systems they had encountered in other student housing communities.
Why did Mikalo choose One4all?
Mikalo conducted a thorough evaluation of various providers, with specific requirements and future opportunities in mind.
Key factors in selecting the solution included:
- Availability in English
- Functionality on both browsers and mobile apps
- Ease of use for residents and administrators
- Scalability for adding new digital services later
Residents welcome the digital booking calendar
The implementation was a smooth process. Feedback from residents has been overwhelmingly positive, and the system works seamlessly without requiring additional guidance.
Before launch, Mikalo informed students about the change, while much of the ongoing communication is handled directly through One4all Manager system—reducing the workload on Mikalo’s customer service team.
“This is clearly a user-friendly service designed for modern needs. One4all shows a strong commitment not only to serving us as a customer but also to supporting the end users of the application,” says Maija.
Reducing workload for everyone through digitalization
Even though only the booking calendar is currently in use, the impact of digitalization has already been significant. Tasks that previously consumed time across multiple departments have been streamlined.
“Sometimes there were disputes over laundry times—for example, if someone felt another resident was using their slot. With the digital calendar, customer service can easily verify bookings and resolve any misunderstandings,” Maija explains.
The system also allows administrators to set rules, such as requiring users to accept terms before booking and limiting the number of active reservations. “This helps prevent misuse,” adds Dusko.
Data that drives smarter operations
Mikalo particularly values the usage statistics provided by One4all’s system. With access to real-time data, the company can plan operations and make informed decisions—such as whether additional laundry machines are needed. For management, property maintenance, and customer service, the biggest advantage has been a reduced workload. For residents, the benefits are clear: improved functionality and ease of use.
Maija explains that about a month after moving into a Mikalo apartment, students receive a feedback survey asking about their living experience and the moving process
Previously, booking and using the laundry room were major pain points in our surveys. Now the feedback has been nothing but excellent.
“Property maintenance no longer needs to spend time guiding residents or performing checks. For a relatively small monthly fee, we’ve gained access to reliable digital services. This solution is exactly what we were looking for, and we’ve seen great value for money,” adds Dusko.
Dusko would recommend the solution not only to other student housing providers but also to other housing companies, as digital services simply make everyone’s workload so much lighter.
Laundry reservations now run effortlessly – a 30-year leap achieved in just months
“It’s great that we can now proudly say we have a functional, modern reservation system that will continue to serve us well in the future. The old system was almost embarrassing to show, but that’s now firmly in the past,” says Maija.
At Mikalo, One4all’s management system has been found to be extremely user- and administrator-friendly. Managing laundry reservations requires virtually no effort, as everything runs independently in the background. And if support or assistance is ever needed, One4all’s support is always available. ‘The support has been excellent—we never hesitate to reach out, even with the smallest questions,” Dusko affirms.
Exploring more digital solutions for student housing
Students already receive large volumes of information and instructions, so Mikalo is considering expanding its digital services to include a resident communication app. This would simplify communication and ensure important updates reach residents more effectively.
“Using a resident app for broader communication is very appealing. For example, an upcoming booking and One4all Pay feature for parking spaces would be highly useful,” Dusko points out.
Currently, reservations for Mikalo’s parking spaces are made by calling the property manager, who is often busy with outdoor tasks such as using a leaf blower or snow shovel. Dusko notes that the situation is not ideal, as he has to handle phone calls and bookings at the same time. A digital service would also free up the time spent on this task.
Now that the booking calendar is in active use, new opportunities for digitalization are coming to mind. “The club room and sauna could also be added as bookable services, and access control might be worth considering as well, since there’s a security aspect to it,” says Dusko.
About Mikalo Oy’s student housing
Mikalo manages over 700 student apartments in high-rise and walkway buildings around Mikkeli. The housing options range from shared apartments and studios to larger youth housing units. All students enrolled in post-secondary education institutions are eligible to apply for Mikalo student housing.
This article is an ai-generated translation of the original article in Finnish.