Strategy Days at Kakola - Tracking customer and market interactions
The Strategy Days in Kakola brought together Funidata employees to think about what customer and market interaction means to us - now and in the future.
Funidata's annual Strategy Days were held this year in the historically magnificent setting of Kakola, a hotel in Turku, built on the premises of a former prison. Nearly 70 Funidata employees gathered to reflect together on what customer and market interaction really means to us - and how it is reflected in our daily lives now and in the future.
The Strategy Days have become a tradition for us. In the past we have met in Aulanko and Vierumäki, and as usual, the programme included both hard work and relaxed socialising.
Shared understanding and action statements
This year, the Strategy Days focused on customer and market interaction - a theme strongly related to Funidata's present, but also to its future. The aim was to create a shared understanding of what customer and market interaction means to us, to strengthen the sense of its importance and to start formulating the statements that will guide our actions.
By better understanding our customers and the market, we can provide the right solutions - for current and future customers. Guiding principles help us to keep a clear sense of direction in our day-to-day decisions and actions.
Towards concrete action facilitated by Lifted
The Strategy Days were facilitated by our partner Lifted, who guided us to build shared understanding and concrete steps. The work was interactive, inspiring and genuinely forward-looking. Discussions between the different teams highlighted how each team could contribute to strengthening customer centricity - be it in terms of sales support, product development direction or future capabilities.
The action statements were built up in small groups in several stages, from brainstorming and summarising to voting for the best proposals. Although the final summaries were not finalised during the strategy days, a strong basis for further work was created.
Learning and relaxing together
To balance the work, we also had time to relax. The range of activities was varied: some enjoyed the tranquillity of Kakola Spa, others dived into the mysteries of the escape rooms and others enjoyed local flavours on a brewery tour. This togetherness and light-heartedness alongside strategy work is important to us - the best ideas are often born when you don't try to force them.
The journey continues with shared understanding
The Kakola Strategy Days not only gave us new ideas but also strengthened our sense of shared direction. Customer and market interaction is not just a theme - it is part of the way Funidata works.
We will continue to work on the action statements and will use them in our decision-making and in our day-to-day development work. As in previous years, the biggest thanks go to the people of Funida themselves. The way people threw themselves in, listened to each other and shared their ideas made the days a success. The strategy is not just slides or documents - it is built on discussions, a common direction and a desire to work together to improve things.
After the Strategy Days, we felt a little wiser again, a lot more inspired - and maybe a little more relaxed. This is a good way forward.
