Hemsö's CDO: 'I believe strongly in usability'

At property giant Hemsö, the importance of not digitalizing just for the sake of it is emphasized — every solution should be evaluated on how it can add value to operations. The new pilot project with Vyer, in which digital twins are being developed for use in operations and facility management, is no exception.

I believe strongly in usability. It creates engagement and practical value in everyday work.
— Fredrik Hörnsten, digitalization director at Hemsö

The traditional property sector is undergoing a digital transformation. According to Hörnsten, 2021 looks set to be an eventful year for Hemsö, with many of the upcoming digital initiatives centered on streamlining the company's information management from concept through to operations.

There's a buzz among property companies. In some cases it's so far from digital that drawings still exist on paper. Now everyone wants to get a grip on digitalization, and there's a huge amount you can do — which is what makes working with Hemsö so exciting.
— Fredrik Hörnsten

Pilot project overview

The pilot project began at the end of November and runs until June 2021. Vyer is building digital twins for five care home properties in southern Sweden. Selected staff from Hemsö's operations and facility management teams are actively testing how their work can be made more efficient with access to digital tools for information and communication on the Vyer platform. The work will result in a template for how Hemsö can scale smart maps across its entire portfolio.

How Hemsö works to stay ahead

To drive digitalization forward, Hörnsten actively works with innovative start-up companies.

There are large traditional players offering services, but they often have an older product underneath. Working with new, hungry companies that focus on one specific problem and want to crack that idea is a strategy for staying ahead.
— Fredrik Hörnsten

But choosing the right technology in a crowded market of new entrants can be a challenge.

Because digitalization is still at a relatively early stage, there's a frontier spirit — many companies in the proptech sector will probably come and go. You need to keep an eye on which technology to back and which companies you believe in, to try to build something long-term.
— Fredrik Hörnsten

How well you then succeed in anchoring the new technology — which can involve changing how an entire organization works — is also a critical success factor.

We need to want to use the technology and actually use it. Otherwise it becomes worthless.
— Fredrik Hörnsten