How Kompis Sverige Scaled Community Connections Across Sweden with Podio Software

Keeping the Human Connection at the Center 

When Sami Iskandar arrived in Sweden, Kompis Sverige gave him a way to meet people, practice Swedish and find a place in his new community. He was connected with a Swedish friend to help him feel included and understood by society, and joined activities ranging from museum visits and football to hiking and kayaking. After a year as an active participant, he began working for the organization part-time. Within months, the role became full-time. Today, he oversees the Stockholm region and serves as the organization’s IT lead. His journey gives him a personal understanding of the people behind every registration and match. 

Kompis Sverige connects newcomers with established Swedes, but the administrative work was once handled manually and on paper. As programs expanded, the team had to coordinate participant profiles, bookings, cancellations, event details and follow-up communication without losing the human attention that makes those connections meaningful. 

The organization also handles detailed personal information. Staff and volunteers needed access to the right records, but not to anything beyond their responsibilities. Growth, therefore, depended on more than speed. It required a centralized approach to operations with appropriate access controls and careful handling of participant data.  

Building One Operational Home for Every Program

Kompis Sverige built that operating model around the Progress® Podio® work management platform. Information from the organization’s website, including events, activities and registrations flow into structured apps and workspaces. Participant profiles are created automatically, while event records capture details such as dates, capacity and attendance.

The team also automated the repetitive communication surrounding each event. Booking confirmations, practical information, cancellations and follow-ups can move through workflows without requiring staff to send each message individually. Museum visits and other activities follow the same pattern, giving participants a clearer experience while reducing routine administrative work. 

Matching workflows bring newcomers and established Swedes into connected profiles that staff can filter and review. After a match, automated outreach follows at one, three, six, twelve weeks, and six months. If something is not working, the team can step in and help. Dashboards also give staff visibility into activity and reporting, while partners can receive relevant updates. 

Access is separated by role and workspace. A volunteer supporting one event can see the information needed for that event without seeing unrelated records. Iskandar began with little knowledge of Podio software but learned to work with the system and adapt it to the organization’s needs. He now develops workflows and continues refining how the organization works.