Nestled in the heart of Norway's bustling Greater Oslo region lies Bærum, the nation's fifth-largest municipality, where a vibrant community of 128,760 residents thrives. Bærum Municipality is renowned for its unwavering commitment to enriching the lives of its senior citizens, a dedication that extends far beyond the ordinary.
Not too long ago, Bærum's senior centers halted their use of visitor data, as its potential remained untapped, and its significance largely unknown. However, Bærum's senior centers have now taken a fresh perspective on visitor data, utilizing it for both decision-making and resource management.
Morten Heggelund serves as the Service Manager for Bærum's 11 senior centers and is at the helm of this exciting transformation. He shares the plan to use visitor data as a key performance indicator (KPI) by 2024.
Rediscovering Visitor Data
When Morten took on his leadership role, the senior centers were already using IMAS' people counting technology. However, the data remained underutilized, with no clear ownership, resulting in the termination of the visitor counting service.
Despite this setback, Morten and his team recognized the potential of utilizing this type of information.
A Fresh Focus on Visitor Data
This renewed approach is driven by a clear purpose: providing data for the operation and policymakers to make more informed decisions. Morten explains that the centers are eager to gain a deeper understanding of their visitor numbers and the times of day when visits occur. This insight is crucial for understanding utilization rates, making better decisions, and efficiently managing available resources based on visitor numbers.
The goal for 2024 is to use visitor data as a KPI for the operation.
A Commercial Mindset in a Municipal World
Morten further emphasizes what sets the senior centers apart from, for instance, nursing homes and hospitals is a degree of commercial thinking. The senior centers understand the value of attracting visitors, and this is where visitor data technology plays a central role.
Looking Ahead – Dedicated Resources for Utilizing Visitor Data
Today, the organization is well-equipped to harness the potential of the data collected by the visitor counters. On-site, there's a quality coordinator, along with a team of five individuals, responsible for collecting and analyzing visitor data. The intention is for visitor data to become a significant key performance indicator for the management starting in 2024, says Morten.
Looking forward, further integration of visitor data is considered. For instance, strategically placing sensors in proximity to restaurant and café areas can provide an enhanced understanding of movement patterns within the facilities.
Thanks to the previous collection of visitor data, the senior centers have been able to compare visitor numbers before the COVID-19 pandemic. They have noticed that visitor numbers have now returned to pre-pandemic levels, Morten concludes.
Bærum Municipality's senior centers serve as an excellent example of how visitor data can be used in a municipal setting to better understand utilization rates, make adjustments, and make well-informed decisions.
More Facts About the Senior Centers
The senior centers are open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and offer senior citizens a variety of courses, entertainment, and other preventive and health-promoting activities.