[et_pb_section fb_built="1″ admin_label="section" _builder_version="3.22″ custom_padding="11px|||||"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" _builder_version="3.25″ background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" custom_padding="4px|||||"][et_pb_column type="4_4″ _builder_version="3.25″ custom_padding="|||" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" _builder_version="3.27.4″ background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat"]Europe's biggest HR fairs in Cologne, and it was an excellent experience. I have to say that the biggest HR fairs in Europe are "a bit" different from the ones in Finland. The fair was branded in the name with a focus on the future, agility, "permanent beta" and so on. The desire for change seems strong, but in several discussions it was still pointed out that change is not that fast or easy: traditional companies often operate in traditional ways.

 

 

 Our objectives for the fair were:

• Find at least 20 good leads (either larger companies or consultants)
• Learn about the sector: where Europe's HR tech goes, what's on offer
• As a by-product of working for four days with our German reinforcements

We achieved all of these targets, and about double the lead target.

Our German reinforcement Jannis was the key person in the discussions, the language at the fair was practically German for the most part. Yes, the conversations in English went well with almost everyone, but despite this, my impression was that Jannis was central in building contacts.

We were very well received. People bought the idea, asked relevant questions and the feeling is that not only were they polite, but many people really thought about it and bought the idea. There were some critical angles, mainly on individual simulations.

There were also several dozen other startups in the HR tech sector - by far the most new services are at different points in the application process, but there are also openings on the HRD side. There was not really much of a surprise from the larger firms. Impressive departments, good sounding stuff, but not very groundbreaking. 

Business simulations seem to be reasonably available, so you're playing a business game or some part of a business in a fictional world. For ourselves, using the word "simulation" is a bit of a mouthful, as we are quite different things, even though we use the same word. But it works.

Just practical lessons from being at the fair:

• It is very important what the graphics say as the biggest keywords. We have Gamified Team Development, which clearly got the right people to stop and worked quite well. 
• Through our partner, we had puzzle boxes related to our product connected to the escape room. Originally we thought these were an important thing to have something tangible to hyped. They didn't really matter, only a few people wanted to spend time on them, and people wanted to talk centrally about what we had to offer - which is nice, of course.
• You have to be active to get involved in discussions. There is a certain social code for when a passer-by wants to be approached - it's fine to be active, but not intrusive.

In practice, puzzle boxes are mainly just props.

The evening was relaxed, although the sleeping mummy called me early.

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Thanks also to ELY for supporting internationalisation, we would certainly not have gone to the fair without a little help.

Aleksis Nokso-Koivisto, CEO of SmoothTeam[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]