arvo project has come to an end 31.8.2023
WHAT DID WE DO?
We operated in the South Savo area and supported wellbeing service providers, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of the social and healthcare field in developing their business and services by taking a digital leap. The Arvo project participants took steps towards digitalisation by creating completely new services or by developing the existing ones.
The main goal of the project was that each Arvo participant would develop at least one new digital service or part of a service. The Arvo participants improved their digital skills and are now able to develop new services after the project, too. During the project they learnt to collect data on the wellbeing impacts of their services and how to use that data in making informed decisions.
HOW DID WE DO IT?
We helped participants as a team. All Arvo participants had their own, named project persons whose knowledge and competence they could use. The named project persons were the ones who learned to know the Arvo participant’s business and development targets.
We also arranged different workshops based on the real needs of the participants. These workshops had different themes, including for example designing online courses, planning customer journeys, developing digital advertising and branding, productizing and learning about social impact. All workshops were planned to meet the special needs of the wellbeing field’s service providers.
Making wellbeing impacts visible played an important role in the Arvo project. More specifically, the emphasis was on collecting data that would show the effectiveness of these services. Alternatives and tools for collecting such data were introduced in the project workshops. One of these tools was the Hyviö service which collects impact data and compiles the results into visual form. Arvo participants also had an opportunity for customised training in using Hyviö and in collecting impact data.
We also collaborated with another project called Digiportaat 2.0. Arvo participants had free access to study more in the practical workshops arranged for Digiportaat 2.0 where participants had a chance to learn many digital skills by doing. For example, the participants learnt how to update websites and manage social media.
WHAT DID WE ACHIEVE?
Completely new digital products or services were developed by three companies, including for example an online course, a webstore and new websites. Many Arvo participants improved their existing services with digital elements. These included, for example, a new digital form for contact information on the website, newly designed digital sales journey and strategy for digital marketing. Further results of the project included new users for the Hyviö tool and a guidebook on digital services. It helps Arvo participants to independently develop their business after the project. The guidebook is also publicly available.
WHY DID WE DO THIS?
Wellbeing and social and health care service providers have faced challenges during and after the COVID-19 period, especially because this type of business has strongly based on face-to-face meetings. At the same time, it has not been fully acknowledged that the key outcomes of these services are the health benefits that the clients receive, not just meetings face-to-face.
The ARVO project’s solution for surviving after the COVID-19 pandemic was helping service providers to take the digital leap in a field where digital skills have often been insufficient for the companies’ business development. The project results also showed that value and health effects can be achieved without face-to-face meetings and that the service providers of this field can benefit from collecting impact data.
