Tapiola delivers more attractive content with its online service environment

“The new technical environment enables us to better manage the contents of the service environment, so that our communication is more relevant and we can serve all of our customers’ information needs quickly,” says Jyrki Antikainen, Communications Director, Tapiola.

Tieto is helping Tapiola to standardize its technical environment and internet service applications, and to integrate them into a seamless whole. The update will include Tapiola Group’s Sijoitustalous (Investment Finance) and Oma Talous (Own Finance) internet journal sites. The update is a part of the replacement of the publishing system for Tapiola’s internet services and sites.

According to Antikainen, Tapiola’s Communications Director, an update was needed because of the radical change in digital communication.

Jyrki Antikainen

“Our internet-based content must be presented smartly. Customers expect information, not portals. Therefore we are now building an integrated, multifaceted method of electronic communication. Fishermen also keep 20 types of bait in their boat instead of just one in order to ensure better catch.”

According to Antikainen, Tapiola has concentrated on developing contents that is suitable for the iPad in recent years. However, device-led development has not produced the required results.

“We were among the first to publish a journal suitable for the iPad, but it did not take off as expected. Now we must make a more decisive move and prioritize content over equipment. We are now preparing material for the internet, not a paper-like journal for a certain device or network.”

Functionality and flexibility in communications

According to Jyrki Antikainen, an important factor in building the new technical environment and in selecting Tieto’s solution was that Tapiola will be able to manage the new environment better than before both technically and in regard to the contents.

“We will receive ready design templates from Tieto, which we can continue to use when we update sites and journals. We have also received training for the publishing system. This is not only a technical project, but also a transfer of knowledge,” the communications director says.

In addition, Tapiola receives more functionality, a more stylish internet journal and “hooks” for its internet communication, as Antikainen puts it.

“It is an ambitious goal to implement a genuine internet journal, not just a digital version of a paper journal or a portal. We want the content to define what is published, not the technical specifications. We need a good and reliable partner to implement the project, one with solid experience, resources and delivery reliability.”

Tapiola had also previously outsourced ICT operating services to Tieto, so the contact and trust already existed.

90 tons less paper annually

Tapiola’s goal is to develop in a sustainable way, which makes a digital model particularly important.

“This upgrade will allow us to discontinue paper journals, which will bring us real savings both financially and in regard to the environment. The goal is to improve reading experience on the internet and also to reduce the burden on the environment,” says Antikainen.

The company has already discontinued the printed version of the Oma Talous (Own Finance) journal for consumers and also strongly advocates digital communication in other ways. By using electronic communication, Tapiola saves 90 tons of paper annually.

“In the future, communication will take place on the internet. It is our method of communication with the general public and customers,” says Antikainen.

The first phase of the update project, Sijoituspiste.fi, will be ready in January-February 2012.