The "Expert at Mediconsult" series introduces our professionals who talk about their work and Mediconsult's culture. This time, it's Sales Manager Johanna Vaha's turn.

What does your daily job involve? 

As a Sales manager, I sell the social welfare client information system Saga Social Care and the home care management system Saga Home Care or its components (mobile logging as well as management and optimization) or our solution for Housing Services to both private social and health care operators and wellbeing services counties.

In wellbeing services counties, sales progress through public procurement competitions. I participate in possible negotiations or initial surveys, where the company and our solution are presented to the county. If it is a negotiation procedure, I participate in rounds where some area of my responsibility is discussed, as well as in the preparation of competition documents, including references, and pricing.

As a customer account manager, I meet with the client according to a pre-agreed model, for example, monthly, to check the status of ongoing services and the smooth running of everyday operations. The Service Manager also participates in these meetings. They view the client's reality through technical lenses, with the task of reporting on the implementation of ongoing services (ticket handling) and addressing any potential technical challenges.

The account manager's perspective is more sales-oriented: Her goal is to keep the customer informed about both current solutions and future developments and new functionalities.

If the implementation is still ongoing, the project manager for the implementation will also attend the meetings in addition to the previous participants. This way, the customer's situation is comprehensively understood, and we can act proactively regarding new needs and acquisitions. In addition to regular meetings, calls are made and messages are exchanged as needed.

The events that punctuate the course of this work year, where I am involved in presenting Saga Social Care and Saga Home Care and meeting our clients, include the social and healthcare IT days, social care expert days in Tampere and Oulu, and the Esko days organized by our partner Esko Systems.

What is currently at the forefront of your work?

Currently, I am making a lot of proposals for change requests related to the implementation of ongoing wellbeing services counties. Certain content is agreed upon in the tenders, but during implementation, there may be a need for additional changes.

For example, if the integrations between systems are defined as one-way, but two-way integrations are desired, a change request is made for broader functionality, and a proposal is made based on that. In one-way integrations, information only moves from the customer information system to, for example, the financial management system, but in two-way integrations, summary information is also brought back to the customer information system..

When the implementations begin, I review the system as a whole with the clients and conduct joint investigations with them. I aim to clarify for them what they will be getting and at what stage different sections will be implemented. The client needs to consider and provide us with information, for example, on when they want to include residential services or home care, and at what stage electronic services and appointments will be integrated into the whole.

Our goal is for clients to have access to a system that best supports the nationally defined requirements, the operating models of the wellbeing services county, and the everyday work of social and healthcare professionals.

Name three best things about your job.

In my opinion, the best part of my job is definitely the friendly and knowledgeable colleagues. We have a good spirit of getting things done and a willingness to help. I visit our office in Ruoholahti, Helsinki, on average once a week. It's always nice to leave the office for home after seeing people and chatting with them, also about non-work-related topics. Of course, work matters can be handled efficiently at the same time.

It's rewarding when a good understanding is reached with clients and partners. For example, when I present our social services system package and the client recognizes its value, it feels rewarding, even if it doesn't always lead to a sale. Thanks to my background in social and health services, I can highlight functionalities that enhance everyday work, which the client finds beneficial. The most important thing is mutual understanding and respectful discussion.

The third good thing is the flexibility of work. I can plan my work flexibly. This is important to me because there are other meaningful things in my life besides work.

Who are your key partners? 

In my role, I am widely connected internally, for example, with Business Management, Project Management, Product Management, Customer Solutions, Product Development, and the UX team. Of course, I also cannot forget my own Sales and Customer Relationships team.

In the wellbeing services counties, I collaborate with Service Managers, Project Leaders, and Business Management. Often, in the first meetings with potential clients, the Development Manager or Quality Manager sits on the other side of the table. During usability testing, I meet the leaders of the tenders and social service professionals from the regions, who in many wellbeing services counties get to test the systems involved in the tendering process already at the tendering stage.

What does our slogan "Sustainable code for Finnish healthcare and social welfare sector" mean to you?

In terms of social welfare, it is currently important that the system meets national requirements. Although these requirements and functions are continuously being developed and have been developed for several years, the development work will continue at least until the 2030s.

It is important that the system can evolve and keep up with the times and also meet other needs besides national requirements. I hope that our system is not a solution that is discarded after the 2030s – no fast fashion of systems – but that it stands the test of time like true classics and continues to develop.

Is there something that others might not necessarily know about you or might not guess?

Sports are close to my heart. I have been leading a functional exercise group for thirteen years that meets every Monday, outdoors year-round. This pro bono activity has become a lifeline for me. Some group members have been involved the whole time, while others have come to try it out. The group includes people of all ages, with the oldest participant over sixty and the youngest in their twenties. It accommodates both a former world-class athlete and regular fitness enthusiasts. Everyone trains at their own level.

Nowadays, the media talks a lot about how children and young people should engage in a variety of activities rather than specialize in one sport too early. I agree with this, and I have a diverse sports background, having competed in six different sports at the national and European championship levels.