Shared digital CRM to support Finnish firms

To better support and serve Finnish companies, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs together with some other organisations have developed a shared digital customer relationship management (CRM) system, said a government press release.

The other organisations are the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Business Finland, Finnvera, Employment and Economic Development Offices, and Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency –Tukes: all of which operate under the supervision of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment,

The CRM system, provided by Digia, has been under development for two years. The participating organisations have worked together before, but this new joint effort provides all key actors with simultaneous access to relevant data on corporate customers.

As many as 1,400 users in six different organisations are already using the system, and the number will eventually rise to 1,800. The act on customer data systems for business services (293/2017) enables secure exchange of customer data. The act naturally requires that any data disclosed, saved and used are necessary for carrying out official work duties.

“Having a single, coherent system makes the service path much simpler and more efficient, because all the key organisations involved have access to the companies’ customer histories,” said Johanna Kosonen-Karvo, chair of the project group from Business Finland.

Public service providers help tens of thousands of Finnish companies. The shared operating model will significantly help to strengthen export cooperation in organisations such as Team Finland. The electronic system allows public service providers to act proactively and select companies seeking opportunities for establishing business operations abroad.

“Finland’s wellbeing relies on the wellbeing of Finnish companies,” said Senior Adviser to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Juha Markkanen. He welcomes the fact that companies using the new operating model will be able to set up business abroad faster than before.

Under-Secretary of State Petri Peltonen from the Ministry of Employment and the Economy stresses that one of the key industrial policy objectives of the new Government Programme is to accelerate the growth and internationalisation of SMEs.