Kela
It has been a while since I last used services of Kela. Kela’s online services became quite familiar when I was studying and when my kids were a few years younger. For now, my only point with Kela is the healthcare fee that I must pay every semester. In my opinion, Kela’s online services are functional and efficient. For about two years ago I applied for parental allowance because I was having a parental leave from my work. The applying process was easy and I do not remember that I should have to send any attachments afterwards. I use my bank credentials for login. Based on a current knowledge, using bank credentials for login safe. Of course, you must be careful using bank credentials nowadays because there have been fake websites that have imitated Kela’s website.
OmaKanta
Accessing OmaKanta was effortless. Logging in was possible with bank credentials provided by all Finnish banks and with mobile ID. I used my personal bank credentials from my own bank OP. To be honest, I haven’t visited OmaKanta for several years. My occupational health is organized by Mehiläinen so I use to check my lab results on Mehiläinen’s mobile app.
Keva
I logged in to Keva’s online services with my bank credentials. However, my pension statement was empty. I haven’t worked in public sector, so I guess that is the main reason for empty pension record in Keva. However, I’m able to see my pension record on Ilmarinen’s online services. The checking of pension statement is effortless because I can login Ilmarinen’s online services through my mobile bank (OP). There is not much pension yet, but that’s to be expected at this point of my job career.
Booking.com
Travel agencies must be the ones that suffered the most from digitalization. I remember when I was a kid, it was normal to plan and book every trip abroad in travel agencies. Even ship cruises to Sweden were booked in travel agency offices. Booking.com and Trivago, to name a few, were the first ones that literally killed the travel agency business.
On the online travel agencies customers have more freedom to plan their trips. Flights and accommodation are easy to book on the same site. Online travel agencies can even solicit competitive offers in seconds so customers benefit by saving money.
I prefer Booking.com and Trivago when booking flights and hotels for my trips. From my point of view, the customer experience is smooth and effortless on these travel agencies. These online travel agencies use reliable paying methods and reward its member customers. Booking.com and Trivago also increase customer value by providing information about nearby taxis and local attractions close to the accommodation.
Electronic signature in banking
Most of the bank agreements can be signed online nowadays. Electronic signatures became possible approximately ten years ago. Before that, it was common to visit bank branch for signing agreements. Simple agreements like bank account agreements and banking card agreements were the first ones that were possible to sign with bank credentials. Over the years, the signing options have expanded and currently almost every agreement is possible to sign electronically. Even the mortgage documents can be approved electronically.
Digitalization has changed banking sector a lot. Customers want fast and effortless customer experience. There is also no denying the fact that customers prefer online services in banking, just like they prefer online travel agencies in traveling or online shops in shopping. In my opinion, electronic signature service is the cornerstone of banking nowadays because it enables all the dealings to be done remotely. Electronic signature also saves from paperwork because documents are in digital form.
Digital gap – risks and challenges
As far as I’m concerned, the benefits of digitalization are bigger than the disadvantages. Digitalization makes everyday life easier, and it creates countless possibilities for people and companies all over the world. However, there are people who don’t use digital solutions for one reason or another. The speed of digital evolution is so fast that there is a real risk that low usage of digital solutions leads to social inequity.The
Elderly or disabled people are one of the examples who are at the risk of falling behind in digital development. Especially them who are living in smaller towns and rural areas. Many public services offer face-to-face service only in bigger cities, so if there is not possible to use online services, then the only way is to travel long way to the nearest office. Difficulties in service can lead to frustration and trigger protest feelings towards digitalization.
To bridge the gap, it is important to develop digital skills among vulnerable groups. It is also vital to develop digital services as simple to use as possible. Digital security is one of the hot topics nowadays, so it essential also to educate the significance of cybersecurity.
Digital competences
As a part of assignment, I completed the Digital competence test. The result of the test was not a big surprise. I consider myself skilled at finding information and evaluating it critically. Safety was also strength according to results. The use of trustworthy information and precise handle of data are very crucial in my professional work, so I guess these two areas are my strength due to my work.
Automation and health were my weaknesses based on the results. I recognize that technical issues are not my strengths and I consider myself a little bit lazy to use new solutions. My working posture and break management need also development.
Self-evaluation
This part of an assignment was kind of eye-opening. Many of the services we need in everyday life are on internet. I have played with computers from a young age, so I have not noticed any problems in adopting new digital solutions. However, it is essential to maintain and develop digital skills. Acceleration of development is rapid, so current skills are not a guarantee in the future. For example, artificial intelligence has not been here for a long time, but it has changed ways of working already. It is important to be open to change and be ready to identify benefits of change.
I commented on these blogs:
Annina’s site:
Sonja’s site:
Niina’s site:
Hi Henry!
Your post made me think about many similar experiences I’ve had with Finnish digital services. What you wrote about Kela felt familiar. The processes are usually smooth, and I’ve also relied on bank credentials for everything, while still staying aware of fake sites and security risks.
Your thoughts on OmaKanta resonated as well. I use it regularly because of my own health follow-ups, and I agree that it’s convenient to have all prescriptions and diagnoses in one place. It was interesting to read how your use has shifted more toward occupational health.
The part about Keva especially caught my attention. I had almost the exact same experience: my pension details didn’t show up there either, but in my case, it was because my information is handled by a different pension provider. Once I logged into the right one, I was able to see the full calculation.
Your reflections on Booking.com and how it changed the travel agency world also brought back memories. I compare multiple sites the same way, and I’ve noticed the same easy booking experience you mention.
I also agree with your points about the digital gap. In my own background I’ve seen how older people struggle with strong identification and online health services, so your examples felt very true.
Overall, your post highlighted how deeply digital services shape everyday life — something I also realised while reflecting on my own habits.
My blog: https://blogi.savonia.fi/sonjamalmstrom/
This was a very thoughtful and well-written blog post!
I especially liked how you connected your personal experiences with Kela, OmaKanta, and pension services to the broader impact of digitalization. I had the exact same experience with KEVA as you and had to log into ELO to review my pension plans.
Your reflections on Booking.com reminds us how digital services have become part of everyday life. I also remember the times our family holidays in the 90’s were booked via local travel agencies. The section about the digital gap was highlighting real risks without being overly negative. Overall, your blog text shows strong digital awareness!