Communication with digital signage reaches the entire staff at Valio

For Finnish consumers, the food company Valio is a familiar name on store shelves. In addition to dairy products, Valio’s factories also produce many other food items, such as fruit soups, oat based products and pulled oats (Nyhtökaura®).

Products sold in Finland, as well as those exported to over 50 countries, are manufactured domestically in 12 different locations. In addition, Valio has two factories in Estonia. Although often perceived as a local dairy and food company, Valio is in fact a highly international operator. When turnover is measured in billions and the number of employees in thousands, smooth internal communication becomes essential.

Easy to use, versatile and scalable

Valio has been using digital signage for internal communication for several years. However, the previously used system did not fully meet expectations. The new content management system for digital signage needed to meet the demands of a large organization.

— When comparing digital signage providers, it quickly became clear to us that iDiD would be the choice moving forward. iDiD performed exceptionally well in the tender process because it is extremely easy to use. At Valio, more than 200 people are responsible for the digital signage content, therefore the system must be something everyone can use effortlessly. That was one of our basic requirements, Valio’s Head of Internal Communication Elina Halme, says.

— The versatility of the system was another clear strength of iDiD, as were the support and training provided. In a large organization, we greatly value keeping users up to date on how to use the system. Thanks to its scalability, implementation was smooth not only in Finland, but also in Estonia where we have factories.

Teemu Hänninen, Service Manager in Valio’s IT department, shares the same view.

— What made us choose iDiD was especially its easy-to-use SaaS service, in which content management is simple. Using production data on digital signage has also been effortless, as Power BI reports have been ready, and the systems integrate well with each other.

Decentralized content creation

The use of iDiD at Valio started in 2022 with internal communication for factories, warehouses and wholesale operations in Finland. Most recently, both factories in Estonia have joined in. This means iDiD now covers all production sites. Since work is focused on production, the intranet does not serve as an effective communication channel for the entire staff.

With iDiD, we can reach people working in production in real time through glance media.

Elina Halme / Valio Oy

— iDiD is also a key prerequisite for success in my own work. Since the majority of our staff do not work at computer terminals, iDiD is the tool that enables us at Valio to communicate internally in an efficient, clear, fast and memorable way.

Reach is secured through roughly 300 digital signage displays. The content is targeted based on who sees the display. Some displays are dedicated to internal communication for employees, while others are for external communication such as visitors or contractors.

Creating content for the displays is not solely in the hands of the corporate communications team. In addition to centralized digital signage content, it is easy to display location-specific or even display-specific content, thanks to iDiD’s hierarchical content management.

— In our use of iDiD, we have a clear division of responsibilities. I act as the main administrator and ensure that certain content is sufficiently visible at the locations. At the same time, I make sure there is always enough space for the locations’ own content. For us, iDiD is primarily a tool for internal communication within the locations, and there must be enough room on the displays for local information.

— At Valio, we believe in decentralized content creation. We are a big enough organization that we need many Valio employees to create information, in order for it to be relevant for each specific location. We have over 200 iDiD users. With these strong shoulders, we make sure that information truly reaches Valio employees, Elina concludes.

Diversified and targeted content quickly 

At the locations, content for their own info displays is created under the guidance of a production assistant. This way, corporate communications are conveniently complemented with timely and interesting location-specific topics.

The arrival of iDiD was a huge relief for us. With it, I can easily and quickly create content for our staff, and, when needed, target it to the displays of a specific function. The versatility and user-friendliness of iDiD have significantly sped up my internal communication work.

Minna Palosaari / Valio Riihimäki

On the displays intended for staff at production sites, the content includes topics such as production and performance matters, guidelines related to work or food safety, and other current announcements. Internal campaigns, recruitment notices, and events also gain valuable visibility on the info displays.

When needed, content can even make its way to the screens on the fly.

— My work is very mobile. As I move around our factories, I can quickly create new content or update existing material when needed. Just open the laptop, make the correction, and the content immediately appears as intended on the display. When it comes to my work, this is an absolute strength of iDiD, Production Assistant at Valio Riihimäki, Minna Palosaari, summarizes.

Valio & iDiD

• Valio Oy is a major Finnish food company and the largest exporter of food products in Finland.
• The exports account for a quarter of Finland’s food exports. The turnover in 2023 was 2.3 billion euros.
• In Finland, Valio produces its products in 12 different locations. In addition, two factories are located in Estonia. The production covers around one thousand different products.
• Info displays are the main channel for communication at factory sites, as the majority of the more than 4000 employees work in production, warehouses or wholesale locations, without access to computer terminals.
• iDiD has been in use since 2022. In addition to the communications team, around 200 employees create content for the company’s more than 200 info displays.