MUNICIPAL SERVICE CENTRE

At the beginning of 2009, Sitra launched the Municipal Service Centre project. Calculations had been made based on a preliminary survey within the municipalities, and it was evident that savings of up to several billion euros could be achieved if processes were streamlined and fragmented information management systems integrated. Optimisation of municipalities’ applications and processes would free resources from administration to allow further investments in health care and other core functions.

The two-year project brought together a large number of municipalities and municipal federations – representing nearly 56% of the population of Finland – as well as interest groups such as the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities and the Ministry of Finance. The project included surveys on the municipalities’ interest in collaborating through service centre companies, preparation of business plans for two service centre companies and creating a shared vision of the ownership, networked operational methods, steering system and long-term strategic objectives of the centres.

On 15 September 2010, municipal operators established two service centre companies to produce unified, jointly developed IT and financial administration services for the municipal sector. KPK ICT Oy included 24 founding members and KPK THH Oy 11. During the project, more than 100 municipal operators submitted a letter of intent that expressed their interest in being involved in the ownership of the service centres. The ownership base of both companies has expanded significantly. 

The municipal ICT service centre Kuntien Tiera Oy (earlier name: KPK ICT Oy)

• Offers its owners information management and IT specialist, application and infrastructure services.
• Organises and develops services by coordinating ICT development projects and service needs within the municipal sector.
• Combines applications and expertise to create packages, solutions and services that can be utilised in municipal operations.

The municipal financial and HR administration service centre Kunnan Taitoa Oy (earlier name: KPK THH Oy)

• Specialises in the production and development of financial and HR administration services.
• Ensures efficient financial and HR processes for its owner municipalities.
• Produces compact high-quality information on the spending and income of municipalities to be used in decision-making.

• Actively influences, develops and coordinates municipal financial and HR management together with other operators.

Both companies are to be developed into major operators in their fields, aiming at creating new ways of producing municipal services. Significant financial benefits and better service levels are expected. The companies are fully owned by municipal operators.  

The Municipal Service Centre project coordinated by Sitra ended in October 2010. For further information on municipal service centres, please contact:

Kuntien Tiera Oy (formerly known as KPK ICT Oy), CEO Ari Ikonen, company exchange +358 9 6189 9567, tiera.fi

Kunnan Taitoa Oy (formerly known as KPK THH Oy), CEO Anne Lindqvist, company exchange +358 20 610 9200, taitoa.fi

Contact information:

Antti Kivelä

people

Antti Kivelä