OmaSp and Samlink: Co-Creation in Lending Leap

The Lending Leap project between Samlink and OmaSp is not just a software project or system renewal. It is a great example of collaboration and shared thinking. The goal is to develop better services for managing lending, loan collateral, and customer data, and at the same time, to create a new culture of co-creation. 

“We have a completely new co-creation model where we work closely with the customer from the very beginning. We have built one team and one direction, and that shows in our daily work,” says project manager Simo Heikkinen. 

In this model everything is planned together. OmaSp was already involved when building the team, to make sure the right people were chosen for this specific project. 

Trust makes development agile

Sirpa Koskipalo is responsible for OmaSp account and has been actively involved in the project from initial planning and proposal phase onwards. She emphasizes the importance of trust and openness in the success of the project. 

“This is not a traditional customer–vendor setup. It’s more like a partnership, with everyone working toward the same goals. We have a good, continuous dialogue and a strong will to develop things together,” Sirpa says. 

Together, we have built a working atmosphere where things can be discussed openly. Feedback flows both ways, and any issues are solved right away. This way of working has helped the project stay smooth and flexible. Moreover, everything fully transparent, for example we work with the same project backlog and conduct daily status meetings. 

Shared language, shared understanding

At the core of Lending Leap are customer business expertise, customer experience, and the strong technical skills of Samlink specialists. In co-creation, it is very important to understand what the end-users need – and how the system can best support those needs. 

“Our job is to make sure our customers have services that support their business now and in the future. We don’t just deliver software, we design together” Simo highlights. 

Sirpa emphasizes the importance of business and technology speaking the same business language.  

Speaking the same business language helps us understand what is really needed. Once we become familiar with the customer’s world, we can suggest the right solutions and work smoothly and avoid unnecessary bureaucracy. We have also received positive feedback from the customer. 

The collaboration between the team members works well in practice. When the developers know the customer, their needs, and requirements, it becomes easier to proactively suggest new ideas and solutions. 

Lending Leap is a large project with long-term impact. It moves forward step by step and continues in close cooperation. Together with our customer, we are building new solutions and at the same time shaping the future way of working in bank branches. Every step is also an opportunity to learn something new. 

“This kind of co-creation model requires all of us to adopt a new mindset and be open to learning. Its benefits clearly outweigh the demands of change. One important aspect is also making sure that the new good practices are applied beyond the project itself,” Simo concludes.