VR service spreads across the public sector after unique procurement

By testing a new procurement methodology, Karlstad Municipality wanted to create a better solution for training care staff in handling challenging situations. The aim was to increase understanding of clients with cognitive impairment – an umbrella diagnosis that includes dementia, among other conditions.

Initially, seven companies were procured to participate in the innovation process. Through the various phases of the Demand Acceleration methodology, the companies then iterated with the Health and Social Care Unit in Karlstad Municipality. Finally, the solution judged to have the greatest potential to address the challenge was selected, with Virotea being awarded the development contract.

All procured companies contribute insights

In the process, good ideas from all the procured companies could be put to use, while Virotea retains full ownership of the final service that was developed. The new VR tool has been available for training in Karlstad Municipality since the turn of the year.

– This way of training leads to deep learning – you gain both an understanding of why certain situations can arise and how they can be experienced by a person with cognitive impairment. It also provides knowledge of how to best avoid such situations, says Sonja Mirkovic, assistant nurse at the Health and Social Care Unit in Karlstad Municipality.

Watch the film for a deeper insight into the work of creating the VR service through the new procurement methodology.

A key principle for services procured using the Demand Acceleration methodology is that they should be scalable and of interest to a wider target group within the public sector. This benefits both the first customer, who does not have to bear the entire cost, and the developing company – which gains greater business potential and a service that is viable over time.

Services can spread within the public sector

Since Karlstad’s procurement was the very first using the Demand Acceleration methodology, it also serves as a test of how these principles work in practice. So far, the results look very promising, with the service “Virotea ED” now spreading to more and more municipalities.

– We started selling just before Christmas, and we already have three other municipalities that have purchased the service. In addition, we have started trial periods in seven other municipalities and many other stakeholders are making enquiries, says Ivan Perlesi, CEO of Virotea.

Company sees great value in the collaboration

He is positively surprised by how the Demand Acceleration methodology and the collaboration with Karlstad Municipality have both influenced the development of the service and the interest among other customers in the public sector.

– I have worked in LSS and knew we had a valuable tool, but I didn’t really know how many other municipalities shared Karlstad’s challenge around competence development. Karlstad has truly helped pave the way for the service, partly through the interest in the new methodology but perhaps above all as an engaged reference customer.

The Demand Acceleration methodology has been developed within DigitalWell Arena and combines scalable innovation procurement with incubation.

Here you can read more about Demand Acceleration here.