Why we are giving Danish municipalities a free channel to their residents
We are offering Danish municipalities a free outbound channel to their residents: a basic version of Indbyggerappen, with no commitment. We are not doing this out of pure generosity. Here are our reasons, including the ones that are about us.
The website and the app do two different jobs
The website is the municipality's inbound channel: residents come to it when they are looking for something. It is essential, but it cannot reach out. An app with push notifications is an outbound channel: the municipality reaches residents when it has something important to say, without them having to look for it.
Most municipalities already own their inbound channel. The outbound channel, on the other hand, is often rented from social media. That is the gap we want to help close.
We want to get to know a new market
We have worked with municipal communication in Norway and Sweden for many years, and nearly 100 municipalities across the Nordics use our solutions today. Denmark is new to us. We would rather learn what Danish municipalities need in practice than guess. Every municipality that joins gives us experience that makes the solution better for everyone.
Rented or owned: who owns the connection to residents?
When municipalities need to reach out to residents, they often do it through social media. That gives reach, but the municipality owns neither the channel, the reach nor the data. Algorithms, rules and business models are decided somewhere else. We want to contribute something concrete to that conversation: an outbound channel the municipality owns itself, and can try out without risk.
A preparedness channel has to be in use before the crisis
When something happens, it is not enough for the information to be on the website. It has to reach residents, including those who do not know they should look for it. And an outbound channel only works in a crisis if residents already have it and use it in everyday life. It cannot be built on the day the power goes out.
Low threshold, no commitment
New digital channels often require budgets, procurement and long decision processes before anyone has seen whether they work. With a free basic version, the municipality can try first and decide afterwards. If you want more, you can add modules or get your own app with the municipality's name. If not, there is nothing to cancel.
A shared app gets stronger with every municipality
Indbyggerappen is shared by several municipalities. The more that join, the more relevant the app becomes for residents, who often live in one municipality and work in another. And the more the municipalities can learn from each other.
We develop it together with the municipalities
The first Danish municipalities get a say in how the solution develops. Vallensbæk is already on board, and Halsnæs will soon launch its own app with us. Their experience shapes what we build.
What you get for free
The basic version follows the same model municipalities in Norway and Sweden already use, but in Denmark it is a little more generous, because we are new here. It pulls content automatically from the municipality's website, so what you already publish on your inbound channel also reaches residents. It takes no extra work day to day:
- The three latest service notices are shown automatically
- Push notifications to residents who have downloaded the app
- The five latest news items from the municipality's website on the front page
- Local weather
- Residents can choose up to three areas of interest and target groups
- Connection to Innocode Calendar, if you use it, with push from selected organisers
- Integration of one web service that matters to you and your residents, such as Giv et praj or a local culture calendar
We set it up for you, and you can be live within 24 hours.
Want more? You can always build on it when you are ready: with more features, with preparedness information that works offline when power or network fails, or with your own app carrying the municipality's name. We will work out what suits you together, in a one-to-one conversation.
But don't you want to make money?
Yes. We are a company, and we hope that over time some municipalities will want more than the basic version offers: more features, more preparedness or their own app with the municipality's name. That is part of the strategy, and you should know it from the start.
But the basic version is not a trial period. It has value in itself. If you never upgrade, you still have an outbound channel you own, and we have still learned something from you.
Want to join?
Get in touch, or book a short 20-minute call. We are happy to set up the basic version for your municipality, so you have something concrete to show internally. You can also meet us at stand 3 at KL's Kommunikationsdøgn on 26–27 November.
