CEO's review of the past and coming year

The year 2018 has been Protecta year of growth, development, and excellent results for us. One of the highlights of the year was our company winning the Kokkola Entrepreneur of the Year award. The award was presented in recognition of our determined growth and systematic development efforts. We’ve managed to climb to the top of our industry and secure several major Finnish organizations as clients. Receiving the award was a great honor, not least because past winners of this award include highly respected and successful companies. This title can only be earned once. Our persistent work in the field of digitalization has also been recognized at the national level. Last fall, we were invited to participate in a TV series produced by YLE that highlighted companies making exceptional use of digitalization in today’s workplace. The program explains how we utilize digitalization in our own work and with our clients.

One of the key factors in our growth has been the development of our internal operations. We have streamlined our processes through measures such as a new enterprise resource planning system. In addition, management team collaboration has become more cohesive, and the division of responsibilities has been clarified. Time is now saved through clear processes, the profitability of which can be monitored transparently by both managers and experts. Clearly documenting processes also benefits the client. The client gets a clear picture of what their project entails, the order in which tasks are performed, and what they are paying for. By increasing interaction and communication, we aim to place the client even more firmly at the center of our focus.

Our revenue is growing strongly, and we have hired new staff in Kokkola, Tampere, and Helsinki. Next year, we plan to expand our operations to at least one new location. Next year, we also plan to utilize artificial intelligence to increase the efficiency and improve the quality of our back-office work. Artificial intelligence is one aspect of leveraging new technological opportunities.

However, a versatile and motivated staff is both a prerequisite and a driving force behind our growth. We want to offer our staff the right balance of freedom and structure to enable them to move things forward. Everyone who works for us can influence decision-making through their expertise. When everyone is genuinely enthusiastic about their work, results follow. Our customers also play a major role in driving motivation. They motivate us through their own enthusiasm and their commitment to growth.

We want to hire people with work experience in various fields. A good education or theoretical knowledge alone is not enough; applicants must also have a natural aptitude for leadership, which is needed to manage and carry out projects. Listening skills help us understand the context behind a client’s challenges and find the right solutions. Strong negotiation skills help maintain a positive atmosphere so that development work can move forward. We require the courage and boldness to take on even the most challenging situations. The fact that our employees have personally worked in diverse work environments helps them grasp and understand the operations and challenges of various projects. Multidisciplinary expertise is, and will continue to be, one of our key competitive advantages.  

A heartfelt thank you to all our customers and partners for the past year. We work every day to ensure that our services remain one step ahead in the coming year as well. Happy New Year!