Helsinki’s city administration has announced its plans to create a data strategy, following the appointment of a new head of data strategy and implementation, Kimmo Karhu.
Helsinki City Executive Office also recently recruited Janne Kantsila to handle the program as a robotics special planner in an effort to promote the use and introduction of automation.
The city’s data strategy is to mobilize information in an effort to make resident services more efficient. The aim is to outline the key informational content for the city as well as data ownership/accountability on their part, organization methods, permanent data assets and required resources.
In reference to this, Kimmo Karhu stated, “In a manner of speaking, the city can be seen as a platform for various municipal entities that function as independent actors. The platform will work best if we manage to come up with some common rules and encourage groups to share information.”
Adding that, “The objective of the data strategy is to set up good rules that municipal players stick to, and that the city would provide a data platform that is of help to both individual actors and sectors.”
According to Kantsila, the city aims to use automation to better public service processes.
“It allows us to look at public services from altogether new angles. We are not out to automate everything; we only seek to apply automation where it is of the greatest benefit.”
He continued, “Automation and robotics are not an end in themselves, nor are they cure-alls. Automation is good for some things and not so good for others. But when it is applied optimally, it can bring a decisive advantage.”
The service-digitalization projects are already underway in Helsinki in sectors such as education and healthcare.