VILPE’s CEO Encourages Companies to Harness the Potential of eSports
There is a lot of potential in electronic sports, or eSports, for the construction industry – it just hasn’t been fully utilized yet. However, VILPE’s CEO Tuomas Saikkonen has experienced quite the opposite.
“I encourage construction companies to collaborate with eSports. The industry is facing a shortage of skilled workers, and we need engineers and craftsmen. eSports is a cost-effective way to reach a difficult-to-access target group,” says Saikkonen.
Through eSports, VILPE has especially reached individuals in the early stages of their careers. The company, which manufactures ventilation products and roof accessories, has received job applications from people who saw VILPE’s current employees playing together in Kanaliiga. Kanaliiga is a Finnish corporate eSports league.
eSports also interests those who have more experience in their careers. When VILPE invited its customers to watch an eSports event from a sauna lounge at a sports arena, participants ranged from 18 to 60 years old, with an average age of 27.
In addition to job applications, another positive effect has been on advertising.
“Customers have personally sent me positive feedback about VILPE’s ads in Finnish construction magazines (Talotekniikka and Rakennuslehti) when our ad mentioned eSports,” says Saikkonen.
It All Started at a Christmas Party
Construction companies are already participating in leagues like Kanaliiga. In fact, VILPE’s team plays CS2 at the second-highest division.
“Kanaliiga isn’t just for coding companies. There are design firms playing as well, which are important partners for VILPE,” Saikkonen points out.
The idea to participate in Kanaliiga, and eventually eSports more broadly, came up during VILPE’s Christmas party.
“Some colleagues from the warehouse approached me and suggested we should play together. I had heard about the corporate eSports league just two weeks earlier,” Saikkonen explains.
The games started in January 2020. The timing was perfect, as within a few months, practically all other sports were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, except for eSports.
“We realized that our company team was skilled. First, Kanaliiga offered a partnership, and later HAVU Gaming and Elisa Esports got involved,” Saikkonen recalls.
The Best Part is the Sense of Community
VILPE’s fall is packed with eSports activities. Visitors at the FinnBuild construction fair will have the opportunity to test their driving skills in a sim racing simulator. VILPE has also reserved a suite for its customers at the Elisa Esports Masters event, where the audience can watch top CS2 players compete against each other.
Kanaliiga’s games kicked off in September.
“The best part of eSports is the sense of community. We started with the aim of having fun together, and anyone who wants to play gets to join in,” says VILPE’s team captain, product information coordinator Stefan “stexii” Syring.