Naming the service

When an organisation deploys Suomi.fi Messages for a service, it must define a name for that service at the beginning of the deployment process. This page explains how to plan the service name and what factors should be considered when choosing it. By following these guidelines, you can select a name that is clear, descriptive and easy for end users to recognise in Suomi.fi Messages.

The service name is submitted to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) using the service information form. A separate form must be completed for each deployment of Suomi.fi Messages.

• For end users, the name of the sending organisation and the selected service name are displayed in the format: "Organisation Name, Service Name".

Please note that not all system solutions support the use of multiple services. Read more on the Administrative deployment page before naming the service and completing the service information form.

Choose a Clear, Short and Descriptive Name

A well-chosen service name makes it easier for customers to manage their affairs. A descriptive name also benefits the organisation by reducing unnecessary customer contacts and enquiries that are directed to the wrong service.

The service name should tell the recipient as clearly as possible what the messages are about. Customers should be able to understand why they have received a message based on the name alone. A descriptive name helps recipients identify messages quickly and increases trust in the sender.

A short and clear name is easier for customers to read and recognise. The service name should be as concise as possible, as message subjects in Suomi.fi Messages begin to wrap after approximately 40 characters. A long service name can make messages more difficult to read, particularly on mobile devices.

Please note that both the organisation name and the service name are displayed automatically in Suomi.fi Messages. Therefore, the organisation name does not need to be repeated in the service name.

Make Sure the Name Describes the Topic and Content of the Messages

The service name should describe the matters for which messages are sent through the service. When choosing a name, consider the following questions:

• What types of matters are handled through the service?
• What types of messages are sent to customers through the service?
• Can customers understand what the messages concern based on the service name?

The service name is displayed to end users:

• in email notifications about new or unread messages
• in the Inbox view of the web service
• in the details of an individual message in both the web service and the mobile application
• in the recipient list, if your organisation receives new messages sent by end users

If necessary, the organisation name and service name can be hidden from email notifications sent to customers. Instructions for managing notifications can be found on the Suomi.fi for Service Developers website.

The service name is also not displayed in push notifications sent to the user's device by a browser or mobile application.

Example of a Service Name: E-Government

The service name E-Government may work well if your organisation's services relate to a single clearly defined area of responsibility.

For example, in an organisation whose activities focus on a single service or function, users can easily understand what a message concerns. If the sender is displayed as Vehicle Inspection X and the service name is E-Government, the user will likely understand the context of the message.

In large organisations such as cities, however, E-Government is often too general as a service name. Because users may interact with many different services, the name does not help them identify what the message is about. For example, City of Tampere, E-Government does not clearly indicate the subject of the message.

Consider Different Suomi.fi Messages Use Cases When Naming the Service

The service name entered in the service information form is displayed in connection with all messages sent through that service. Therefore, make sure that the name is sufficiently general and suitable for all messages sent through the service, not only for a single use case.

When deploying Suomi.fi Messages, you may optionally allow end users to send messages to your organisation. If the service being named is intended for general use and can receive messages related to various matters, choose a sufficiently broad and descriptive name. This helps users direct their messages to the correct service when starting a new message thread.

The examples below illustrate what a clear and easily understandable service name looks like from the customer's perspective. You can use them as inspiration when planning the name of your own service.

Examples of Service Names

• Building Permits
• Customer Fees
• Early Childhood Education
• Aggregate Extraction Permits
• Release of Materials Requiring Identification
• Vehicle Removal Notice or Removal Decision

Provide the Name in All Three Languages

The public name of the service must always be provided in Finnish, Swedish and English on the service information form. Deployment of Suomi.fi Messages cannot begin if any language version is missing. Therefore, make sure that the service name is available in all three languages before completing the service information form.

End users choose the language in which they use Suomi.fi Messages. It is therefore important that the service name is displayed correctly in both the web service and the mobile application in the language selected by the user.

How Is the Service Name Displayed to End Users?

The service name entered in the service information form is displayed differently depending on where the end user reads the Suomi.fi Message.

Suomi.fi Web Service

An incoming message is displayed in the following format:

Organisation, Service Name, Message Subject

City of Hämeenlinna – Building Permits – Decision on Your Application

Suomi.fi Mobile Application

An incoming message is displayed in a simplified format: Organisation, Message Subject.

The service name is therefore not shown in the message list, but it is displayed when the user opens the message.

After Opening the Message

When the user opens the message, the subject is displayed at the top of the message. The Sender field shows both the organisation name and the service name.

Email Notifications

Email notifications about new messages display the service name so that recipients can quickly identify what the message concerns.