Direct user contact lays the foundation for R&D

I
n the winter of 20132014, the Active Life for
Finland project arranged three R&D workshops
where companies had the chance to present their
product provision to representatives of their
target customer segments and to listen to user
feedback. The aim was to generate open discussion
while end-users familiarized
themselves with the companies
products and services.
Moderators ensured that
the companies gained valu-
able data to support their
R&D, directly from potential
customers. The workshop partic-
ipants, 1015 users, familiarized
themselves with the products of 46
companies, targeted at consumers aged 55 or older.
The topics were always as closely linked as possible
to the product or service assessed. The companies
were encouraged to embrace all feedback and to also
collect as much criticism as possible to be utilized in
future development.
THE WORKSHOPS WERE WIDELY PRAISED by both
users and companies. Everybody expressed their
willingness to participate in similar events in the
future.
The users were particularly interested in the infor-
mation they gained from product presentations and
they appreciated the opportunity to simultaneously
examine the versatile product and service provision.
Many participants thought that they or their relatives
would need these products or services in the near
future.
The companies all agreed that customer orien-
tation is key to R&D and service design. Direct user
contacts are of the utmost importance to them. If
R&D workshops continue in the future, the compa-
nies wish that they will attract myriad users.
Our company participated in
two R&D workshops, organized
by Active Life for Finland.
Our views about the workshops are
highly positive. During the workshops,
we had a chance to focus on in-depth
discussions with users, many of whom
found our Armi Aktiivituoli a very inte-
resting product. We received excellent
feedback and good tips, a few of which
we will certainly consider in our further
development.
Customer orientation constitutes
the backbone of our operations. Armi
Aktiivituoli was specifcally developed
to satisfy the needs of many of our
customersthose who need a chair
that helps them get up and that is also
rehabilitative.
PETRI PALO-OJA
CEO
TamErgo Oy