Exploration of work duties through gaming
An experiment where the duties of a property manager are explored through two games was launched in Espoo in January. The idea of a mobile game that participants can play on their own phones is to help young people in particular learn more about the work of a property manager. This onboarding game based on virtual reality technology will also test how gamification could support onboarding.
Property managers are responsible for the functionality of the city’s properties, which means that they are responsible for building maintenance technology, safety and outdoor areas. There is a constant need for property managers, and the sector wants to attract new professionals. The aim of the experiment is to test whether a mobile game could get young people excited about studying in the sector and apply for property management positions in Espoo.
The purpose of the onboarding game is to help the employee understand their work during recruitment, before the work even begins. In the game, the player gets to explore properties and the work tasks to be performed in them in a virtual environment.
“We look forward to experimenting with digitalisation in the development and promotion of recruitment. The games and their setting give us a new opportunity to demonstrate to young people all the tasks that are carried out in properties to keep them in order and to maintain their value. At the same time, they show how important property managers are in everyday life. We hope that the opportunity to learn about a property manager’s duties through realistic exercises in a game setting will increase the attractiveness of the sector,” says Mari Ahlgren, Development Manager at the Premises Department.
Follow the game development on Discord
This experiment to promote recruitment and onboarding is one of the experiments included in Espoo’s Digital Agenda and it will continue until December. It is implemented in cooperation with the city’s Premises Department, Recruitment Services and Virtual Dawn, which was selected as a partner for this project.
Onboarding will be enhanced using virtual reality technology: people will have the opportunity to learn about the work of a property manager through a graphic, gamified adventure. The applications use the latest technology, including artificial intelligence.
“Usually, a project has a specific framework and the client and the creator do not really take the end user into consideration. This is not the case here, as best thing about this experiment is that we can create something that truly meets the end users’ wishes. In the end, we compete for young people’s time, which is why it is important that our creation is as interesting as possible and that it reflects young people’s world as much as possible. Our cooperation with Espoo is about a new kind of experiment which, if successful, will improve awareness of the sector and bring in more applicants,” says Virtual Dawn’s CEO Antti Martikainen.
The games will be completed in May and their development can be followed by joining the Discord channel Virtual Dawn Games Discord(external link, opens in a new window).
More news about the experiment will be released at the hybrid event Digiagenda 3.0 -kokeilujen satoa (external link, opens in a new window) on 28 February 2024.
Trailers for the games are available on YouTube:
Espoo Kiinteistönhoitaja the game(external link, opens in a new window)
Perehdytyspeli - VR(external link, opens in a new window)
Inquiries:
Espoo’s Digital Agenda’s aim is to a promote the digitalisation of the city’s services, utilisation of new technology, introduction of electronic services and adoption of new operating methods.
espoo.fi/digiagenda
Development Manager Mari Ahlgren, Premises Department
mari.ahlgren@espoo.fi, tel. +358 40 6343825
CEO Antti Martikainen, Virtual Dawn
company@virtual-dawn.com