Cluster partner The data service offers digital tools during the corona crisis

Cluster partner The data service offers digital tools during the corona crisis:

- New solutions make us less dependent on the infrastructure in the office

When the coronavirus stopped the normal everyday life of most companies and enterprises within Norway's borders, digital solutions have become more important than ever. Smart Innovation Norway's cluster partner Datatjenesten provides just such services.

By Mari Kristine Buckholm , 22 April 2020

- Server operation and IT support are operational as normal and we have the same staffing, but approximately 75 per cent perform this from home offices. When handling physical goods such as the repair of a computer, we have implemented routines to sterilize this. The premises are open for inquiries that require physical presence or handover, says customer and marketing manager in the Data service, Håkon Jonassen, about how the IT company looks after customers and operations during the corona pandemic.

Since much of the company's work is carried out remotely, the computer service can still provide normal service via remote control and dialogue by phone, e-mail and chat.

- Fortunately, our industry is such that it is less important where we are geographically and the interaction takes place online. All meetings and courses have been moved to digital platforms such as Microsoft Teams and planned service assignments are carried out over the internet, he explains.

Covid-19 presents challenges

Jonassen reveals that the Data Service continues to experience good sales of small items and receives many inquiries, especially related to home offices. At the same time, he makes no secret of the fact that the Covid-19 crisis creates certain challenges - both for the Data Service and everyone else.

• Read also: TotalCtrl helps the restaurant industry during the corona pandemic

- Crises bring with them a demand for information that attackers try to exploit. There are a lot of cybercriminals who want to take advantage of the situation by pretending to have corona-related information, or try to exploit systems that are now available on the internet so that employees can work remotely, Jonassen (pictured) points out. He adds:

- We live in a global world and the pandemic makes that very clear. It affects supply chains not only of medical equipment and food, but also of other in-demand goods such as computers, servers and network equipment.

Digital tools for the future

However, Jonassen is very satisfied with how technically unproblematic it has been to work from home. He believes that what companies and society as a whole are learning and experiencing now, both in terms of new routines and methods as well as digital tools, will stay with us when things eventually return to normal.

- The situation has forced the adoption of digital tools for interaction on a large scale. The tools work well and new solutions make us less dependent on the infrastructure in the office. We have tested this properly during this period, and most will probably remain on these platforms afterwards. Many will work with increased mobility, now that they have this established, he says.

As a member of the Cluster for Applied AI , the Data Service is a valued and central supplier of IT solutions to Smart Innovation Norway - also during the corona pandemic.

- This year, several of our activities and events have been threatened by the COVID-19 crisis, but with the help of solution-oriented employees and partners, we have managed to implement them using digital technology. The data service helps us get the tools we need to automate, inform and transform our business processes with the help of digital tools, says Lorenzo Ruscelli, head of Incubator & IT at Smart Innovation Norway.

Offers help with digitalisation

He hopes that both Smart Innovation Norway and the rest of business make use of the increasing use of digital technology to work further with digitalisation.

- I think most people in business and society in general have had to recognize that digital technology is like water. It is everywhere, all the time. A natural part of everyday life, which does not stand out. Now I think it has become easier for people to understand that digitization is about more than the development and adoption of digital technology. Digitization is about the way we use digital technologies to change business models and create new sources of income and value-creating opportunities, emphasizes Ruscelli. He continues:

- At the same time, it is important that all managers out there understand that the adoption of digital technology does not come without threats. Cybercrime has never occurred more often or cost companies more than it does today. Those who have not put in place a strategy and plan for information security should certainly prioritize this.

During the corona pandemic, Smart Innovation Norway has made arrangements to help and assist cluster partners in NCE Smart Energy Markets and Cluster for Applied AI in the best possible way - and offers, among other things, various webinars, digital meeting places and advice.

- First and foremost, we can help our partners understand what demands digitization places on an organisation, and how they can utilize digital technology to both improve and automate existing processes and innovate, concludes Ruscelli.

• Do you have questions about digitalisation, or do you need help with the digital transformation of your company? Contact