Digitalisation

Finnish society is currently undergoing a transition that includes big structural reforms. One framework for the changes is provided by digitalisation. It challenges us to question the existing methods and practices and to make them more effective and flexible.

In practice, by means of digitalisation people and businesses take centre stage in the development of public services. Welfare of senior citizens can be improved by means of intelligent health services; children can learn history and geography in a virtual environment; and the need for a private car may be removed by comprehensive public transport services.

Everyone's needs vary according to their life stage. The need for services directed to families arises with the first-born child, an unemployed person wants to be successful in the labour market, and a pensioner wants to lead a vigorous and healthy life. Digitalisation helps create better and more reliable service chains to meet the requirements of good life and varying circumstances. It is also a means to look after our wellbeing and success and can ultimately work as a kind of restructuring protection.

Finland is already one of the leading countries in the world in public electronic services. Furthermore, studies show that the digital skills of Finns are the best in the EU. This proves that the prerequisites for success in digitalisation are excellent. Most importantly, the focus of the service development must be placed on the customer as that is the way to ensure that we are genuinely building our society on the basis of our needs.