In an experiment launched last September, the Finnish government created remote service points in the cities of Imatra, Porvoo, and Nurmes to provide remote access to various public services including those from the Digi and Population Data Services Agency. However, the initiative saw a disappointing turnout, with only 50 customers taking advantage of the services during its six-month run. Jaakko Jäppinen, the marketing and tourism manager for Imatra, noted that the initial months were particularly slow, although there was a slight uptick in usage towards the end of the trial period.

The remote service point in Imatra, located at the city hall, recorded just under twenty users, primarily for handling tax-related matters. While the service aimed to make access to government services more convenient, the low customer turnout has prompted the state to reconsider the effectiveness of such remote setups. The service point will continue to operate until the end of February, allowing more potential clients to try the service before it is fully discontinued.

Following the cessation of this trial, the government is looking for new ways to improve public access to services and better meet the needs of citizens, suggesting that although the experiment did not succeed as planned, it may lead to future innovations in service delivery.