In 2023, while living in the Netherlands, Viktor Iovenko — a father of two energetic children aged 7 and 9 encountered the absence of an orienteering club in the local community.

Inspired by the idea of giving his children the opportunity to develop in this dynamic discipline, he organized the first training sessions himself.

Having created a detailed map of the surroundings and launched the classes, Viktor immediately discovered the key problem: how to reliably verify that each child had visited all control points?

The first solution — primitive “crocodile clips” for punching cards — proved to be too inconvenient and unreliable, clearly demonstrating the lack of a ready-made, effective marking system.

In 2024, inspired by the rapid development of digital technologies, Viktor wondered: could he create a convenient, autonomous punching system that wouldn’t require an army of judges and volunteers?

Success criteria:
• Ease of management — the coach can independently organize any training session.
• Minimal cost of control points — equipment that is easy to install and protect in urban parks and forests.
• Online access to results — real-time analysis and reporting.

Based on these requirements, the first version of the digital system was developed:
• RFID tags as lightweight and inexpensive control points.
• A mobile phone for data collection and instant upload to the cloud.

By the end of 2024, the system had undergone its first trials, and an open announcement on the internet gathered valuable feedback and set the stage for extensive improvements — evolving from a narrowly specialized family solution to a flexible platform for all orienteering enthusiasts.

In 2025, the project reached a new level: the Orienteering Future System (OFS) online platform was launched and is now actively evolving. It is designed to become a universal tool for coaches, clubs, and competition organizers. To improve reliability and usability, the mobile phone was replaced with a specialized OFS portable device developed with the needs of coaches and athletes in mind.

In 2026, OFS sets its sights on reaching a new level of international adoption, combining affordable technology with industrial-grade reliability and flexible pricing models.

In 2027, the Orienteering Future System enters a new phase of deep AI integration, transforming the digital tool into a smart learning ecosystem.