Protect's year 2019 paves the way for future growth in all forms

  The year 2019 looked like To Protect Positive results have been achieved not only in terms of revenue but also in other ways. Persistent in-house development efforts have paid off: new customers and services. Significant changes—to be announced shortly—have also resulted from an acquisition made within Finland and the expansion of operations beyond Finland’s borders. “International companies demand the same safety standards at all their factories, whether they’re located in the United States, Central Europe, or even the Baltic states,” says Pertti Salo, the company’s CEO. More details about the acquisition and international expansion will be announced after the New Year.

There has been noticeable movement among the client base, particularly in the outsourcing of management-related services. Protect, which already offers occupational safety and health manager services, has also received inquiries regarding management services related to quality and environmental responsibilities. As a new and exciting expansion into this area, the company will also offer its clients expert HR manager services, which clients can purchase on a customized basis to the extent that they need them. —In SME organizations, it is not possible to hire a dedicated expert for every area of responsibility; instead, these responsibilities are assigned as tasks alongside employees’ regular work. Unfortunately, this often means that even important tasks end up being handled in a rush. By outsourcing these services, a company gains access to up-to-date knowledge and efficiently managed operations. Protect’s team of experts possesses up-to-date legal knowledge and clear operational models for handling tasks. A particular advantage of outsourced services is that clients gain access to the expertise of our entire team of experts. “Under the Protect umbrella, knowledge is shared for the benefit of everyone,” Salo explains.

Steady revenue growth enables the company to pursue long-term development goals. For example, Protect has invested in comprehensive health services for its employees, ensuring access to medical care and specialists even on short notice. This improves both individual well-being and ensures the company’s operational reliability. The staff has worked together to define the core elements of the company’s values and operations, and everyone has been actively involved in service design and the development of operating practices. By streamlining our operations, the company has managed to free up as much as 50 percent of working time for core functions in some areas. —The team has truly internalized Protect’s core mission and the idea of why we exist. Everyone has realized, in their own way, how they can add value for the customer in their specific role. We want to show through our actions that we genuinely care—and that we’re not just a resource.”

This strong performance is the result of hard work, and we aim to build on it even further. That is why Protect continuously invests in the development of its service offerings and operations. We are committed to providing our customers with the very best, now and in the future. —We are planning a large-scale collaboration project related to the PRO-24 enterprise resource planning system, involving both our customers and other partners. In addition, we are also working on our own project to ensure we meet future needs. This growth and development are also reflected in the company’s headcount. Last year, Protect hired four new experts, and since the start of the new year, the team has grown by another four people. —Our position as the industry leader is strengthened by these experts. As our expertise grows, we can offer an even broader range of services at many different levels.”