4.6.2025 09:09:16 EEST
Gofore has released an English version of its book, A Humanely Digital Society. This highly anticipated edition brings the stories of a humanely digital society to a broader audience. The book, originally written by Martti Vaalahti, has been translated into English by Ian Mac Eochagáin. It compiles perspectives from 12 organisations on what is needed to design and build digitally humane, sustainable, and secure societies.
The goal of the book is to encourage Finnish organisations to maintain their leading position and share knowledge and practices about digitalisation across Europe. At the same time, Gofore aims to foster meaningful, open, and deepening discussions at the international level about what humane digitalisation is and how it is practically built.
The book features contributions from Markku Heikura of the Tax Administration, Janne Viskari of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, Nina Nissilä of Kela, Jarkko Levasma of the Ministry of Finance, Hannu Krook of SOK, YLE, Business Finland, Eloisa from the South Savo Welfare Area, the City of Tampere, TTL, and the KEHA Center. Gofore’s perspectives are shared by CEO Mikael Nylund and Chairman of the Board, co-founder Timur Kärki.
Originally published in Finnish in the summer of 2024, the book was also released in German in October 2024. After receiving a warm reception in German-speaking Europe, the English version is a natural continuation of the book’s story. The book will be available in print, as an e-book, and as an audiobook.
“Every society is different. Therefore, the structures and solutions of digitalisation must be designed individually for each society. This requires a lot of open and trust-building discussions. Model examples from around the world also help to understand ways to advance digitalisation,” says Mikael Nylund, CEO of Gofore Oyj.
Export potential in Finnish digitalisation expertise
Gofore is a digital transformation expert company that has been building the Finnish digital society for over 20 years.
Gofore held a book launch event for its English-language book in early June, attended by dozens of ambassadors from various countries and other international dignitaries. The opening remarks were delivered by Stefan Lindström, Digital Ambassador of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, who also participated in a panel discussion at the event with Mikael Nylund and Janne Järvinen, Mission Head of Digitalization at Business Finland.
The key message of the book launch event was trust in digital services and structures.
“Trust is a multifaceted issue in digital services. When people feel they can trust digital services, they are more likely to use them. The more digitalized a society becomes, the more important trust becomes. In the big picture, trust is a key element of societal resilience. This is perhaps needed now more than ever in the current geopolitical situation,” Nylund notes.
Safe, open, and a trustworthy digitalisation belongs to everyone
In a country consecutively chosen as the happiest in the world, accessible, open, and secure digitalisation belongs to everyone. There may even be Finnish export potential in humane digitalisation expertise.
“Finland is known as one of the world’s leading countries in digitalisation, as evidenced by the European Commission’s annual Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) comparison. “We wanted to compile stories in one book about what everyone should know about digitalization now and on our journey towards the future. It is a pleasure and privilege to make our country’s various digitalisation solutions known to the world through the book,” Nylund summarizes.
The book “A Humanely Digital Society” is now available on Spotify:
For more information about the book, visit https://gofore.com/en/a-humanely-digital-society-book/.