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Doerz - a service platform for authentic experiences while travelling
Published on 29 March 2021
Finland
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The idea originates from the founder’s own experience and desire to try authentic activities with locals, instead of traditional tourism services. In addition, the company identified preliminary changes for global tourism, which includes a new way of buying experiences and the need of platform economy. Doerz did a pilot test in Finland and noticed that there was demand for such service. At first, external technology was used to run the company's platform but in 2017, Doerz developed own sharing platform for the service.
Doerz works as a technology supplier to experience providers and offers a platform for their use. The provider offers an experience to the platform and Doerz links customers to it. The customer can be for example, a US tourist in France or a local person in Utrecht. Experiences on the other hand can be for example, a wine tasting held by a local person, a sport experiment, or a walking tour in the city. Doerz also helps the customer in marketing and search engine optimization and handles the payments and feedback channels, which makes the administrative side for the customer easier. In 2020, Doerz operates mainly in 6 countries in Europe.
For the cities, municipalities and other businesses, Doerz offers a software as a service model (SaaS). The customer buys the license to use the Doerz platform for offering their regional experiences.
There are three main target groups: experience end-users, service providers and B2B customers.
Doerz works as a technology supplier to experience providers and offers a platform for their use. The provider offers an experience to the platform and Doerz links customers to it. The customer can be for example, a US tourist in France or a local person in Utrecht. Experiences on the other hand can be for example, a wine tasting held by a local person, a sport experiment, or a walking tour in the city. Doerz also helps the customer in marketing and search engine optimization and handles the payments and feedback channels, which makes the administrative side for the customer easier. In 2020, Doerz operates mainly in 6 countries in Europe.
For the cities, municipalities and other businesses, Doerz offers a software as a service model (SaaS). The customer buys the license to use the Doerz platform for offering their regional experiences.
There are three main target groups: experience end-users, service providers and B2B customers.
Resources needed
Doerz currently employs 8 people, who manage and take care of the platform and ancillary services. The core business model is based on providing a platform for the external clients. The service license for the client costs about 3,000 euros + VAT per year.
Evidence of success
There is already almost 500 experience providers around the Europe and over 758 activities is being offered via the platform. In addition, total of 64 cities and municipalities in Finland are using the SaaS-model. Other sign of success is the company’s rapid increase of sold activities due to the Covid19 situation. In July 2020, around 1,000 experiences were sold.
Doerz has also received many awards, e.g. Turku Junior Chamber of Commerce's productive idea competition.
Doerz has also received many awards, e.g. Turku Junior Chamber of Commerce's productive idea competition.
Potential for learning or transfer
The platform provided by Doerz can be implemented in any region or city and it makes it easy to sell the local experiences and have more variety on the tourism services offered in the region. For example, the concept has currently spread to 64 municipalities in Finland.
According to the entrepreneur, Doerz would not have been able to operate without various public subsidies. In total, the company has received approximately € 100,000 external public funding to start the operation. Funding has been received e.g. From Tekes / Business Finland and the regional Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, e.g. in the internationalization of business and technology.
Depending on the company's situation, it is good to consider using an external board to run the business more effectively. In addition, finding the right people for different jobs is also important for running a successful company and a service platform.
According to the entrepreneur, Doerz would not have been able to operate without various public subsidies. In total, the company has received approximately € 100,000 external public funding to start the operation. Funding has been received e.g. From Tekes / Business Finland and the regional Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, e.g. in the internationalization of business and technology.
Depending on the company's situation, it is good to consider using an external board to run the business more effectively. In addition, finding the right people for different jobs is also important for running a successful company and a service platform.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Doerz Co Ltd Oy
Finland
Etelä-Suomi
Contact
Senior Advisor