{"id":26327,"date":"2024-06-22T04:03:12","date_gmt":"2024-06-22T11:03:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/taking-service-network-planning-to-the-next-level\/"},"modified":"2024-06-22T04:03:16","modified_gmt":"2024-06-22T11:03:16","slug":"taking-service-network-planning-to-the-next-level","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/taking-service-network-planning-to-the-next-level\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking Service Network Planning to the Next Level"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"-\"<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

\n

Cities and
\nmunicipalities are basically systems for delivering services for the benefit of
\ntheir citizens. An experimental project demonstrated how improving the flow of
\ndata between these services could save a lot of time and taxpayer money.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\"Emilia\"
Emilia R\u00f6nkk\u00f6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Emilia R\u00f6nkk\u00f6<\/strong> is an architect who worked for the Finnish city of Kuopio<\/a>. Besides that, she is a Docent of Urban Planning at the University of Oulu.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Kuopio, my job included doing architectural
\nprogramming for public investments and service network reviews. More
\nspecifically, surveys about Growth and Learning Services that were focused on
\ndaycares and schools,\u201d R\u00f6nkk\u00f6 explains. \u201cTypically, a service network review
\nwith manual data collection procedures takes place every three to five years. I
\nand other functionaries involved in the process wondered if there might be a
\nbetter, more efficient way to do the reviews.\u201d<\/p>\n

Developing Through
\nExperimentation<\/h2>\n

R\u00f6nkk\u00f6 had learned about KIRA-digi, a national
\ndigitalization program that supported quick experimentation projects. Kuopio
\ndecided to apply for the program and partnered with a consultancy called FCG.
\nTogether, they submitted a project proposal titled Operating model for dynamic network planning for municipalities.<\/em> It received government funding in February 2018.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did not think of digitalization as carrying
\nout manual processes with electronic tools. The main part of our project was
\nabout devising a model for dynamic service network planning,\u201d says R\u00f6nkk\u00f6. \u201cWe
\nwere out to change the way we operated, using digital tools as enablers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Service networks consist of functions and their
\nfacilities. There are a variety of municipal functions: daycare, education,
\nsocial services, healthcare, libraries, youth centers, public parks, and so on.
\nThe new operating model that the project modeled is horizontal, crossing the
\nboundaries of organizational silos. It covers the core function\u2013education, for
\nexample\u2013and all connected activities, like city planning and building projects.<\/p>\n

Anticipation Is a Key Success
\nFactor<\/h2>\n

\u201cWhile doing grassroots work, I noticed that
\nthe planning can be a wiggly process. If we cannot anticipate that in five
\nyears there will be a certain number of children in a particular area, we end
\nup putting out fires,\u201d says R\u00f6nkk\u00f6. \u201cIn autumn, just before school starts, we
\nrealize that the children don\u2019t fit in, and we need to set up temporary\u2013and
\ncostly\u2013facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

R\u00f6nkk\u00f6 points out that even small cities like
\nKuopio spend hundreds of millions of euros on growth and education services.
\nUnderstanding how to optimize welfare services is a huge money-saving
\nopportunity.<\/p>\n

R\u00f6nkk\u00f6 talks about \u201csocietal forethought,\u201d
\nwhich is the ability to anticipate changes and adjust land use and building
\nplanning accordingly. Existing planning processes are not dynamic enough to serve
\nthis purpose. That\u2019s mainly because there\u2019s no easy and quick way to aggregate
\ndata from various municipal sources.<\/p>\n

From Data to Scenarios<\/h2>\n

The team started the experimentation project by
\nidentifying the data needed for service network planning. They then tried to
\nlocate the data within the city\u2019s organizations. Once that was done, they
\nfigured out how to make the data flow into the user interface they had
\nenvisioned. The project team created the prototype of a digital tool that
\ncollects and visualizes the data, for example, on a map.<\/p>\n

The other half of the project was the
\ndevelopment of the optimized operational process. The project team created
\nflowcharts of the process, starting with the city\u2019s strategy.<\/p>\n

The project organized a workshop with Kuopio\u2019s
\nofficeholders and councilmembers and came up with five scenarios for future
\nservice networks. They used the digital tool to simulate various aspects of the
\nnetworks, including investment costs of the alternatives.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn optimizing service networks, you must work
\nyour way from the network strategy to planning and projects,\u201d R\u00f6nkk\u00f6 advises.
\n\u201cAn element that\u2019s been missing is the monitoring and benchmarking of the
\nnetwork\u2019s performance with key indicators\u2013for example, cost per pupil.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spinning Off<\/h2>\n

The experimentation uncovered a demonstrated
\nneed for a tool that the project had prototyped. Inquiries from several cities
\nconfirmed that finding.<\/p>\n

Consequently, R\u00f6nkk\u00f6, with a team of
\ndevelopers, started Locia Solutions<\/em> in early 2019. With R\u00f6nkk\u00f6 as the CEO, the company will further develop and
\ncommercialize the tool.<\/p>\n

Locia has chosen Platform of Trust<\/a> as a strategic partner since it provides tools to harmonize the vast amount of data needed in service network planning and access to a digital ecosystem that allows Locia to scale up. R\u00f6nkk\u00f6 doesn\u2019t want to limit her company to the public sector. She believes that Locia\u2019s solution can serve any service organization around the globe.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur solution is all about managing a complex
\nentity. It covers service structures, city structures, even smart cities. With
\nour strategic partner, I don\u2019t see any limits to how much information we can
\nmanage,\u201d says R\u00f6nkk\u00f6. \u201cI can envision a future where services are not provided
\ntop-down. Instead of production-based service networks, we could have
\nhuman-based networks. We want to be the experts in that vision.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can connect with Emilia R\u00f6nkk\u00f6 on <\/em>LinkedIn<\/em><\/a> and visit Locia\u2019s website at <\/em>http:\/\/www.locia.fi\/<\/em><\/a> (in Finnish).<\/em><\/p>\n

Update:<\/strong> Meet Emilia R\u00f6nkk\u00f6 at WDBE 2019 <\/a>in Helsinki on September 24, 2019, where she\u2019s giving a presentation.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n