The KOKO fund is currently undertaking a major project that will reform the operations of the entire unemployment fund sector in the coming years. Kallio Software, an IT company founded by KOKO, the YTK Unemployment Fund and the Open Unemployment Fund A-kassa is building new, modern systems for the funds, enabling them to deliver services more smoothly and efficiently than ever before.
The first phase of the project began a few years ago, when an assessment of the needs of the benefit processing system was initiated. At the same time, the need to develop other existing systems, such as the online service and the membership register, was also identified. Now all the systems are being updated at once.
“At KOKO, we are reforming both our systems and our operating practices. Our goal is to improve the customer experience, streamline service processes and provide our staff with modern tools for their daily work,” says Heli Lahtero, Project Manager at KOKO.
Convenient transactions and faster service for members
For customers, this reform will result in smoother and faster service, as well as an easier experience when conducting business. The new systems will also increase transparency. For example, you will be able to get more information about the processing status of your daily allowance application more quickly than before.
The unique characteristics of the unemployment fund sector as a starting point for development work
Unemployment security is a highly regulated, complex and people-oriented field of work. The ongoing changes to the Unemployment Security Act present their own challenges, and the systems must be flexible, reliable and ensure excellent data security. The number of members in unemployment funds has grown in recent years as funds have merged. These specific characteristics of the fund sector also serve as the starting points for the system reform.
Automation supports expert work
The new systems are designed to operate as automatically as possible. For example, the automation of the benefit processing system supports the processing officer by completing part of the work and identifying cases that require further investigation.
“Automation and modern digital tools reduce routine tasks, allowing our experts to focus more on interacting with and serving our customers. At the same time, the work of the unemployment fund keeps changing and evolving. The system reform is also a great opportunity for us to learn and adopt new ways of working,” Lahtero explains.
Together, more cost-effectively
Cooperation among the three largest unemployment funds creates opportunities for cost savings, as the development and maintenance of the systems are shared among several funds. Collaboration also brings broader expertise and a more diverse perspective to the development work. At the same time, each fund is preparing for the reform in their own way, as system requirements and priorities vary.
The rollout of the new systems is scheduled for spring 2027. We will provide further updates on the phases and timeline of the system reform as the project moves forward during 2026.