About the Digital Neighbourhood Network

For all answers to frequently asked questions for users, see our help page.

What is Hoplr?

Hoplr is digital neighbourhood network (free of both cost and advertising) that allows local residents to connect with each other on neighbourhood-related topics.

Hoplr makes it easy for you to:

• get in touch with people who live in your neighbourhood;
• stay informed about alerts from your neighbourhood: road works, waste collection, noise nuisance, etc;
• get second-hand items from and give them away to your neighbours: after all, exchanging items is much easier with people who live nearby;
• have an overview of all activities and events in your neighbourhood, or organise an activity for your neighbours yourself; and
• help your neighbours or ask for help.

How does Hoplr work?

A roll-out in a municipality starts with the determination of the geographically defined Hoplr neighbourhoods. This is done in consultation with the local government and based on official data. 

Residents receive an invitation by letter with a neighbourhood code. They use this code, together with their name, address and e-mail address, to gain free access to their one and only Hoplr neighbourhood via hoplr.com or our app. The neighbourhoods are thus private, only members of that specific neighbourhood get to see them.

Neighbours can also register without a neighbourhood code; in that case they have to use a different verification method.

Once registered, members can use all functionalities of the neighbourhood network, and they receive e-mails and/or push notifications when there are new messages in their neighbourhood. They can personalise these notifications. 

What can you do with Hoplr?

Private neighbourhood network Hoplr offers a lot of functionalities that are especially tailored to neighbourhood life. Amongst others, you can do this with the app:

• I'm looking for...: for example, you can share a call about a lost or found pet with as many of your neighbours at once. Or ask which of your neighbours you can quickly borrow a certain item from.
  
  
• Help request: your neighbours can surely give you their recommendations or experiences with local craftsmen and babysitters.
  
  
• Idea: do you have an idea for a mobile library or renewed playground in your neighbourhood? Share it with your local community, they can vote for or against it and get involved.
  
  
• Notification: keep the neighbourhood safe by notifying each other of burglaries or suspicious events.
  
  
• Neighbourhood list: see who lives nearby, quickly filter by street name or name.
  
  
• Private Chat: create a private or group chat. This allows you to easily communicate with a specific part of your neighbourhood, a BIN (neighbourhood information network), a neighbourhood committee or your street for example.
  
  
• Neighbourhood calendar: create events and stay informed of activities in your neighbourhood.
  
  
• Local directory: get a handy overview of local traders in your area.
  
  
• Be in touch with your local government: receive notifications, activities and participation projects (such as surveys) from the city or municipality, provided that they are connected to Hoplr.

Is Hoplr safe?

Due to the nature of our digital community network, Hoplr is safer than most social media:

• Hoplr is ad-free, so no personal data is exchanged with third parties
  
  
• Each Hoplr neighborhood is private and access is granted only after verification
  
  
• Hoplr has a common feed with a limited number of messages, so questionable messages will be quickly
  
  
• captured by neighbourhood residents (who may be digitally stronger than others)
  
  
• A digital neighbourhood network even contributes to a safer neighbourhood through the effect of social control

Hoplr takes some additional measures to keep the digital neighbourhood network safe. For instance, we work together with Intigriti, a network of ethical hackers.

Read more about Hoplr security here.

What is Hoplr's revenue model?

Hoplr is free and ad-free. Local authorities and relevant organisations such as utility companies and project developers can take out a licence. 

This does not give them any insight into the Hoplr neighbourhoods, but it does offer them some functionalities to be in touch with the Hoplr neighbourhoods. Moreover, these partnerships are currently the only way to roll out Hoplr Neighbourhoods.

Our offer to local authorities and organisations

How does Hoplr stimulate citizen participation?

A digital neighbourhood network makes it easy for local residents to get in touch with each other and their environment. The reach is large and the threshold for many is much lower than in the physical neighbourhood. 

• Hoplr serves as a virtual space where local residents can get to know each other, organise activities, and ask and answer questions;
  
  
• It is an environment where local residents can discuss their ideas and opinions about the neighbourhood; and
  
  
• it is a local social news medium that quickly disseminates information about the neighbourhood and its inhabitants.

The above not only reinforces the neighbourhood feeling (online with a proven spill-over effect to the entire community), but also stimulates physical meetings. Neighbours become more and more involved in the community.

Hoplr then also connects local governments and relevant organisations to the Hoplr neighbourhoods, using a Service Dashboard. The Service Dashboard stimulates citizen participation based on three programme lines: 

• community care (build a self-supporting support network)
  
  
• community communication (inform, raise awareness and activate at community level)
  
  
• community participation (involve local residents top-down and bottom-up)

What is the Service Dashboard?

The SDB is a dashboard that is connected to the digital neighbourhood network. Users of the Service Dashboard do not gain insight into the Hoplr neighbourhoods. It does offer them some functionalities.

• Anonymised and aggregated data: how many households are connected, which neighbourhood themes are discussed most often, how many people are reported, ...
  
  
• Neighbourhood care: connect community workers, speak to volunteers, place a call, etc.
  
  
• Neighbourhood communication: post messages, reports, activities or surveys in one, a few or all neighbourhoods
  
  
• Neighbourhood participation: publish surveys, participation projects, citizen budgets, etc.

Who is the Hoplr Service Dashboard for?

90% of our customers are local governments in the Benelux. Other organisations are also eligible for a license for our Service Dashboard. 

These are always parties that can bring non-commercial value to the neighbourhoods. Examples are utility companies, project developers, welfare organisations, etc. They can, for example, inform the neighbourhoods about upcoming nuisance. 

What advantages does Hoplr offer its customers?

Reach and grow

We launch the Hoplr neighbourhood network from A to Z. Hoplr guarantees a reach of 15% to 25% of all households during the first weeks after launch. Neighbourhoods grow organically through word of mouth.

Save time

Hoplr is an independent social network that is grown and supported by its own team of developers. You do not have to worry about any technical issues and the platform is constantly evolving.

Transcend services and departments

One integrated Service Dashboard with modules for all services and departments. This ensures more transparency and synergy on the work floor.

Technology under own management

We build everything ourselves. This allows us to be on the ball and equipped for customisation. Our applications are tested daily by thousands of users.

24/7 support and expertise

A complete worry-free service in the field of community building, support and curation. Moreover, we are available to our partners around the clock.

Social added value

We connect neighbours and stimulate offline meetings, involvement and social cohesion. Community building is essential for neighbourhood care, inclusion and civic participation.

How does a cooperation with Hoplr look like?

1. Municipalities and cities contact us for an exploratory meeting.
   
   
2. If there is interest on both sides, we conclude a licence for the platform which can be terminated annually. The licences vary according to the chosen formula. This determines the possibilities of the Service Dashboard.
   
   
3. Then we get to work. The Hoplr neighbourhoods of your municipality are drawn up based on your expertise about the region on the one hand and our expertise about community building on the other. This is a close collaboration.
   
   
4. Then we provide each household within the region with an invitation. These letters give a short explanation about Hoplr and what the platform is for; and provide the recipients with a code. With the code, residents are quickly and verifiably directed to the right neighbourhood.
   
   
5. The municipality often helps with the announcement of the neighbourhood platform. It calls on the local press and organises information sessions. We promise that at least 10 to 15% of the households will be active on Hoplr one month after the roll-out. In the first year, this can increase organically to 40%. After three years to 60%.
   
   
6. Finally, we deliver the dashboard. From then on, the municipality can use the platform.