Holger Schultes is COO/CIO of the Bellevue financial services group. This group of companies includes Bank am Bellevue AG and Bellevue Asset Management AG with various locations worldwide. Information technology is operated centrally from the headquarters in Küsnacht. Holger Schultes is responsible for the smooth functioning of the IT of the Bellevue Group as well as the back office of Bank am Bellevue. It was also he who came across the right solution to eliminate a persistent grievance in the management of meeting rooms.

Manual management no longer up to date

Always looking to increase efficiency, the somewhat hand-tied meeting room management in the Zurich property caught Holger Schultes' attention: "In January 2018, we moved into a new building on Rennweg. On one floor, there are exclusively meeting rooms. At that time, the administration of the rooms ran completely manually. Daily printouts were created from the Exchange calendars and pinned to the meeting rooms. On the one hand, this was no longer up to date, and on the other hand, the meeting culture suffered as a result. It was not uncommon for reservations to be forgotten or not to work properly. For me, there's nothing worse than having to barge into an occupied meeting room with a visitor." So an automated solution was needed.

Convincing solution found

The CIO was looking for wireless displays that are linked to Exchange calendars and automatically show their availability for each meeting room. An acquaintance drew his attention to the solution of a young Freiburg-based company: ROOMZ. Its solution seemed to meet his needs perfectly. Schultes recalls, "The slim and elegant displays and the range of functions convinced me right away." The day after next, he contacted the manufacturer. The conversation confirmed to the CIO that this solution met all his requirements: "For me, the direct connection to the Exchange calendars and the ease of use were primarily important. Since we have many glass walls, the solution also had to work wirelessly. I also place a lot of value on the aesthetics."

Security is also an important topic in the banking environment. Holger Schultes explains: "The classic bank robbery is shifting more and more into the digital realm. That's why we also checked the display solution to see if it met our security standards and decided on an on-premise installation."

Flawless operation

Holger Schultes ordered the necessary displays. Via remote service, ROOMZ co-founder Patrick Terreaux installed the server at the headquarters in Küsnacht and configured the solution together with Holger Schultes. The CIO and his team commissioned the individual displays themselves. Since then, the solution has been running absolutely flawlessly and the users are also very happy with it, as Holger Schultes confirms: "The front office staff are happy. They save themselves the trouble of printing out calendars and manually attaching them to the meeting rooms. In addition, we have the possibility to book free meeting rooms directly on the sign itself for ad hoc meetings or to release the rooms again in case of meetings that ended early. With the ROOMZ displays, you thus save time, optimize processes and you can improve the meeting culture."

ROOMZ solution with integrated sensors

Holger Schultes is also very interested in the developments at ROOMZ. For example, the intelligent ROOMZ sensor, which has just been introduced and enables a number of new functions: automatic meeting room release for meetings that are reserved but not taking place, analysis of data, and a useful overview of where a meeting room would be free at a given time. "The integration of sensor technology into the solution allows us to expand the ROOMZ portfolio into an ecosystem ", Holger Schultes is pleased to say.

More information: www.roomz.io

The Swiss Climate Foundation supports projects by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that contribute to climate protection. Since its establishment in 2008, the foundation has awarded grants totaling 20 million Swiss francs to over 1,400 SMEs in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. And SMEs continue to be innovative when it comes to climate protection: For example, it is not enough for dhp technology AG from Zizers to have developed an award-winning solar folding roof. The folding roofs still rest on steel girders, the production of which consumes a lot of gray energy. The Swiss Climate Foundation is now supporting the development of a CO2-neutral wooden structure. This structure is one of more than 20 innovation projects that SMEs submitted to the Swiss Climate Foundation this fall. The Foundation Board has examined the projects in detail and decided to provide financial support for 15 of them.

"We cannot afford inaction".

Other innovation projects supported by the foundation include a new process for coating surfaces that saves a third of the material required, and a new dehumidification technology that requires only half as much electricity. In addition, the Swiss Climate Foundation also supports three SMEs that save electricity or CO2 in their own operations. "I am always impressed by how much can be achieved for climate protection through innovative products developed in Switzerland and Liechtenstein," says Vincent Eckert, Managing Director of the Swiss Climate Foundation. "We cannot afford inactivity. This was also recently shown by ETH Zurich and MeteoSwiss climate scenarios for Switzerland. That is why I am particularly pleased that we are able to award so many grants in our tenth year."

Foundation from the economy for the economy

Two sides are to benefit from the foundation's support: On the one hand, climate protection, because measurably less CO2 is emitted and electricity is consumed. And on the other hand, the companies that can implement their innovative ideas and thus remain competitive.

The Swiss Climate Foundation is backed by 27 major service companies from Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. They donate money from their rebates of the CO2 tax to the joint foundation. The foundation pools the money and uses it for SME projects.

www.klimastiftung.ch

30 promising start-ups were nominated, 3 qualified for the final. Since tonight it is clear: Auterion is the big winner in the category "Next Global Hot Thing" in front of more than 500 guests in the Hallenstadion in Zurich. The drone tech start-up builds complete operating systems (OS) and is working very successfully to establish this as the global standard for enterprise drones. Already more than 1 million drones are operated by Auterion's technology. Jury President Pascal Kaufmann, founder of AI high-flyer Starmind, recognized the winners as follows: "The combination of top Swiss know-how and entrepreneurship, the absolutely scalable open source model, and the international team of top talent from around the world ideally position Auterion to become The Next Global Hot Thing."

With over 70 entries in the categories "Digital Innovation of the Year," "Digital Transformation" and "Highest Digital Quality," top-class projects and companies were also represented in the other categories. In the newly established jury process with new jurors, the applicants were analyzed and judged more extensively this year than before.

These are the winners

• Digital Innovation of the Year: Modum.io with Modsense. Jury president Lukas Bär: "It combines innovation in a hardware and software solution and brings together the flow of information and value in the transport of critical goods. The focus today is on the transport of medical products over the last mile, for example to pharmacies, hospitals or doctors."
• Digital Transformation SME: Ex Libris. Jury president Samy Liechti: "Digitization runs through the entire company, from procurement to the point of sale. In this way, it becomes a daily experience for every employee and customer. Ex Libris started the journey years ago and has continued to pick up speed over the past year."
• Digital Transformation NPO & Government: Amnesty International Switzerland. Jury President Marc Uricher: "The will to change is evident at all levels and - very crucially - it is supported and exemplified by management. Donors and supporters generally feel that you play a central role."
• Digital Transformation Large Enterprise: Sonova. Jury President Bramwell Kaltenrieder: "In recent years, the tradition-rich company has transformed itself from a manufacturer of hearing aids that sells its products via global distribution partner networks to an integrated ecosystem operator. By consistently analyzing customer needs and their "customer journeys," the company has been able to optimally reposition its products and, above all, its services - digitized from start to finish."
• Highest Digital Quality: SBB with the NOVA platform. Jury President Marcus Dauck: "The focus is on an optimized experience in which the customer can move around very easily in his familiar environment or with the help of partners. The NOVA platform wins in the Highest Digital Quality category in particular because it is clear that quality standards were kept extraordinarily high in a digitally agile environment throughout the entire project and also in the operating phase.

Company certified for the first time

During the Digital Economy Award Night on November 21, companies and organizations were also awarded 17 certificates in four special disciplines. Gold certificates were awarded to:

• Industry 4.0: Sulzer Management AG with BLUE BOX™ IoT Advanced Analytics
• Lean, Agile & Scrum: Trivadis with Digital Blockchain Class Book
• Sourcing & Cloud: SBB with NOVA platform
• User Experience: Netcetera with pressure ulcer prevention app, FOEN with "Common Information Platform Natural Hazards (GIN)".

The following companies and organizations receive one or more silver and/or bronze certificates: Apps with love, Federal Office for the Environment, dreipol, Ergon Informatik, Greenliff & Museum of Digital Art, Inside Reality, interactive friends, Ivaris, Liip, newhome.ch, Siemens Mobility.

The Digital Economy Award is organized by the ICT industry association swissICT and the specialist publisher Netzmedien AG and was created through a merger of the Swiss ICT Award and the Swiss Digital Transformation Award. The next award ceremony will take place on November 28, 2019 at the Hallenstadion in Zurich.

www.digitaleconomyaward.ch

Around 800 guests from business, politics and the authorities - never before have so many people attended a business forum or other event in the Zurich airport region. Following the successful premiere last year, the 18th edition of the top event was again held in 2018 in the atmospheric ambience of the Salto Natale circus tent.

Laugh until the doctor comes

None other than Eckart von Hirschhausen - German TV star, doctor, comedian and book author - was the main protagonist of the lively audience. In his well-known sovereign and witty manner, the trained physician took a close look at a topic that is occupying more and more people in the fast-paced world of work. In his show entitled "Burning without burning out - what positive psychology means for the mental health of employees", he impressively demonstrated how burnout episodes can be avoided - and earned many laughs and great applause for his intelligent humor. At the same time, he involved his audience in the program. Whether as comedian, magician, coach or doctor - well-packaged, meaningful advice was taken home by everyone in the stands. "Humor has great value and helps heal. Laughter works throughout the body," assured the doctor, who spent his sub-assistant time in Switzerland, at the end.

A physicist in the circus

Beforehand, Professor Dr. Gian-Luca Bona, CEO of Empa Dübendorf, had smiled and wondered how he, as a physicist, had ended up in the circus. On the one hand, he presented his research and demonstration platforms. He also emphasized the importance of the future Dübendorf Innovation Park: "Many of Empa's project partners are likely to be found there one day," predicted Bona, who is committed to the rapid transfer of knowledge and technology in this context. Earlier in the afternoon, Professor Heike Bruch had given an interactive input lecture on healthy and productive employees. Furthermore, René Huber, President of Kloten and the FRZ, announced the latest developments in the emerging association organization. The major goal of the association, which will soon have 500 members, is the successful cooperation and networking of politics and business in the booming Glattal airport region.

New Meet and Greet booth

Christoph Lang, FRZ Managing Director, appeared in front of the audience in a matching ringmaster uniform and already presented event delicacies of the coming year. Beforehand, he had held a meet-and-greet with the guest participants in the foyer tent for the first time.

In between, the breathtaking performances of the acrobatic cracks of the economic forum host Salto Natale offered completely different entertainment. But also the vocal flights of fancy of the only 15-year-old talent Joya Schedler aroused emotions. The entire circus atmosphere lent a very special touch to the record-breaking event - also at the concluding aperitif, which was once again used for successful networking. (jdw)

More under www.flughafenregion.ch

Photos landscape - or portrait format Caption: Eckart von Hirschhausen with FRZ Managing Director Christoph Lang (in circus director outfit) at the Manage in Kloten. (Photo jdw)

The other day I came across a Study by Ethan Bernstein and Stephen Turban - two academics from Harvard Business School - who came to the conclusion that people communicate less openly in open-plan offices than in structures with small offices (and more by email instead). The reason seems clear: people don't want to expose themselves to others with what they say.

Here's my diagnosis: If you notice this symptom - that people are afraid to open up in front of their colleagues - we have a real problem with your culture. And open-plan offices simply expose that (much like reducing inventory exposes problems on the shop floor).

Instead of tweaking the symptoms, let's tackle the root causes. Here are the top three reasons when your people are hiding and not communicating openly (no matter the office structure):

1. No trust in others. As a leader, you know that when people talk behind others' backs or prefer to write emails rather than address problems openly, we don't have a communication problem, we have a trust problem. No team can achieve top performance without mutual trust. Work on it, preferably with a coach. The good news: Trust can be built in a targeted way.
2. No fun. I've experienced this myself for years (at SAP, one of the best employers in Germany and Switzerland): With fun, you get twice as much done in the same amount of time: Even if time is sometimes wasted on jokes and craziness, you end up being much more productive. How much fun do your people have at work?
3. No confidence. Those who hide in communication often have low self-confidence. This is something that can be worked on. That is also the responsibility of the leader. By the way, lack of self-confidence is also an important reason why salespeople sell less. You can increase order intake relatively directly by increasing the self-confidence of the sales team.

One thing is clear: working on your culture is worthwhile in any case. The consequences are higher productivity, better results and - not to forget - more fun.

To the author:
Volkmar Völzke is a success maximizer. Book author. Consultant. Coach. Speaker. www.volkmarvoelzke.ch

Companies that handle customer data are under particular scrutiny today: global headlines about data protection breaches are not abating, and stricter data compliance regulations are being introduced around the world. The Swiss Data Protection Act is also under revision. It is therefore more important than ever for companies to have structured risk management in place to secure data and gain necessary insights to drive the business.

Need to catch up on data compliance

The new study by Vanson Bourne on behalf of Veritas shows that IT decision-makers and data managers still see room for improvement in some areas, such as ensuring data compliance (73 percent) and data security and risk (79 percent). In addition, 85 percent of the interviewees stated that there is still room for improvement in terms of data transparency and control, while another 73 percent complained about the processes for recovering data after loss or a ransomware attack. Only 17 percent believe their company is effectively using data to drive the business forward.

The survey also shows that in Switzerland, only 18 percent of IT professionals believe that employees from different functions already have seamless access to corporate data and that it can be transferred across different departments. Two-thirds (66 percent) of respondents think their company could still improve data sharing across divisions.

The challenge of data overload

According to the interviewees, the following factors make data management in their company particularly difficult:

• Data management costs are rising (51 percent).
• Too many different tools and systems are used to be effective (40 percent).
• The skills and/or technology to fully leverage the value of data are lacking (36 percent).
• There are too many data sources to get an overview of (34 percent).
• Data cannot be reliably backed up and restored (23 percent).
• There is no central strategy or approach to data management (20 percent).

In contrast, only 3 percent of IT professionals said their companies face no data management challenges.

"The exponential growth of unstructured data has led to organizations storing information in many different environments. On average, 35 percent of it is in the cloud, and 54 percent of the data is stored on-premises," said Thomas Benz, Country Manager Switzerland and Austria at Veritas Technologies. "The more isolated and extensive the data becomes, the more difficult it is to find it, manage it, access it and secure it. Then companies face a big challenge."

"We live in a time when effective data management can drive digitization in companies, open up new business models and reduce costs through automation. Equally, however, it can bring companies to their knees if it is lacking. That's why they should invest in simplifying data management, removing complex processes to create a solid foundation - not only to protect themselves from cybercriminals or comply with data regulations, but also to pave the way for innovation and success in today's digital economy."

For more information on managing and securing your data, see www.veritas.com.

To stay ahead of the competition, B2B companies need to offer content that is tailored to their target audience and moves them forward in the customer journey. Retailers spend a lot of effort to find out exactly what existing customers want, what prospective customers might want, which diverse target groups the customer base is divided into, and which channels they use to address them in an attention-grabbing way. By centralizing systems and interfaces, they can effectively exploit the data potential. Digital commerce expert Blackbit knows these problems and provides action guidelines that save a lot of money, time and nerves.

Lots of info - lots of chaos

Determining what potential customers want and providing them with consistent, helpful information across different channels proves to be a complicated and difficult matter to tame. This is because product information and user data are usually widely scattered in different systems and departments. Those responsible fill websites, online stores, marketplaces, catalogs, newsletters, etc. with content using different tools. Manual data reconciliation requires a great deal of effort and often leads to errors, duplications and gaps in the data stock. Sometimes data is exchanged via an interface, often still laboriously by hand - and just as often simply not at all. Errors multiply, time is wasted inefficiently, duplications and gaps thwart high data quality.

Put an end to data chaos

A significant reduction in the number of systems and interfaces solves the problem in the long term. A single system is responsible for all marketing-relevant data and combines all important digital commerce tools. If you maintain all relevant marketing, sales and customer information from a central hub, you always have access to an up-to-date, consistent database. However, centralized data storage not only means less maintenance effort and a lower error rate, but also enables the sketching of accurate marketing measures. If the "data brain" is seamlessly connected to the sales channels, marketers can evaluate user data across all channels and use it for smart communication campaigns - for example, to generate personalized landing page content based on the websites accessed by users or to automatically send suitable product recommendations by e-mail.

Open source example: Pimcore with "Connect anything" architecture

The free open source framework Pimcore is one of the tools that B2B companies use for central data collection and control. Its applications range from database publishing and master data management to multi- and omnichannel retail.

• Database publishing builds a bridge between online data and print catalog. With it, users automate catalog printing, especially when print editions are to be reproduced and appear multiple times. The product information management system (PIM) enables automated print output from multiple sources. With the help of a central PIM system, users transfer data to a freely selectable layout program such as InDesign, Adobe FrameMaker or an open source program, create templates for the various product groups or output a catalog or brochure fully automatically.
• Master Data Management (Master Data Management, abbreviation MDM) refers to the handling of a company's most important basic data and helps with data centralization. It combines information from the various source systems, cleans it up and enriches it with additional details as required. With the help of the data, employees in sales, service, marketing or accounting stay on the same level and advise customers individually on the basis of the evaluated transaction data.

Also models for Multi-channel trading allow different possibilities for the further development and centralization of data streams. In classic multichannel commerce, sellers use multi-track sales channels that do not interact with each other. Ebay, amazon or etsy serve as examples. The customer decides on his favorite channel and orders there. The omni-channel principle develops the structures further: here, too, the consumer uses all sales outlets, but optionally also purchases across channels. The prerequisites for success are uniform data and overarching processes. "Pimcore's 'Connect Anything' architecture and its holistic API approach lead to high connectivity with business enterprise systems such as ERP, CRM, BI, ESB or external 3rd party applications," knows Stefano Viani, CEO of Pimcore's gold partner Blackbit. Consolidation of content, community and commerce intensifies the digital brand experience.

Example Feature DAM: Providing Digital Assets Centrally for All Channels

A consistent brand image is based on central management, uncomplicated access and fast distribution of media content. This is where a powerful digital asset management system comes into play, which can be easily operated, for example, via the web-based user interface or via a WebDAV network drive at the workplace. With Pimcore, the DAM system is directly connected to the CMS, PIM, web-to-print and e-commerce framework. For example, users drag and drop images stored in the DAM into the content pages of the corporate website or assign user manuals to the appropriate products in the product information management system. The DAM automatically converts image data into desired target formats and displays a preview in advance. If those responsible want to prepare a publication in catalogs and in the online store, they edit image data directly in the DAM, add copyright notices or watermarks automatically and convert images into the desired color space (CMYK for print media or RGB for display on the screen). For photo retouching, a user-friendly tool palette is available for cropping images, frames, color filters and text. All assets are versioned in Pimcore, so image changes can be undone at any time.

Provide data for suppliers and external service providers

Via the DAM brand portal, companies grant their suppliers or sub-distributors access to selected assets without having to set up back-end access or send files manually. Customers and sales partners independently select provided product images and service documents, choose the required asset variant (resolution, format, color profile) themselves and exchange media with external service providers and suppliers. Individual authorizations protect data from unwanted access. Whether it's the scope of functions, user groups, specific assignment of rights or front-end design - the flexible DAM system adapts to specific company requirements and integrates into the existing IT structure.

Tidying up pays off

The switch to central data management pays off: Companies save time and money on data maintenance and target customers with appropriate content. Flexible frameworks offer a wide range of functions for managing diverse types of data and using them efficiently for profitable marketing and customer loyalty measures.

Source and further information: www.blackbit.de

On January 31, 2019, Zürcher Kantonalbank will award the ZKB SME Prize, with which it has been honoring particularly sustainable small and medium-sized Swiss companies since 2009. "We have achieved a lot: For ten years, we have been offering outstanding SMEs a stage on which they can present their commitment and sustainable work to a larger audience and thus also inspire other companies," says Bruno Dobler, Vice President Bank Council of Zürcher Kantonalbank and member of the jury.

The ten finalists have been determined

A team of experts from Zürcher Kantonalbank, together with an external environmental expert, subjected the 50 or so participants to a detailed analysis over a period of several months and assessed them in terms of current and forward-looking aspects from the fields of business, management, the environment and society. The following ten companies made it to the finals (in alphabetical order):

• Diebold & Zgraggen Gartenbau AG, Fislisbach (AG)
• Frei Metallbau AG, Herrliberg (ZH)
• Killer Interior AG, Lupfig (AG)
• Nanovis GmbH, Illnau-Effretikon (ZH)
• Swissframe AG, Münchenbuchsee (BE)
• Tschopp Holzindustrie AG, Buttisholz (LU)
• Türenfabrik Brunegg AG, Brunegg (AG)
• Webrepublic AG, Zurich (ZH)
• Wegmüller AG Wood & Cardboard Packaging, Attikon (ZH)
• Wyon AG, Appenzell Steinegg (AI)

The jury, which is made up of the partners CCRS (Center for Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability) and öbu (Network for Sustainable Business), well-known SME representatives and representatives of Zürcher Kantonalbank, will select the five award winners. These will be selected at the award ceremony on January 31, 2019.

Three main prizes plus special prizes for small businesses and exceptional performance

In addition to the three main prizes totaling CHF 120,000, two special prizes of CHF 15,000 each will be awarded. With the special prize for small businesses, Zürcher Kantonalbank awards companies with up to 20 full-time positions. The special prize for exceptional performance honors, for example, special innovative projects, a high level of social commitment or an outstanding economic performance. All winners also receive a company video with their company presentation and benefit from the publicity. Zürcher Kantonalbank has made quite an impact with this award: Since it was first established in 2009, 40 award winners of different sizes and from different industries have been honored.

More information on www.zkb.ch/kmupreis

Half of the participants in a survey of 500 employees commissioned by the personnel service provider Robert Half say they are very nervous when discussing salary with their boss. Only the admission of mistakes and the termination interview generate a similar amount of stress.

Appear confident and self-assured

For the salary interview, a skill is required that not everyone masters perfectly: negotiation skills. The Salary Survey by Robert Half shows, however, that many professionals are in a good negotiating position. A trend that is also confirmed by Zerrin Azeri, Associate Director at Robert Half in Zurich: "There is a shortage of qualified specialist staff on the market. Companies are therefore very interested in retaining their long-term top employees for the long term."

Negotiating more pay: Nervousness is high

Source: Labor Market Study 2018 by Robert Half; Respondents: 500 employees in Switzerland

Asking a supervisor for a raise is always a difficult task. Even if the first request is rejected, employees should not give up their request too quickly, reveals Azeri: "Too much restraint is the wrong way to go. Supervisors expect that employees will soon reiterate their desire for more money after a rejection. In contrast, our study shows that nearly two-thirds of employees wait up to a year before making another attempt."

If the request for a higher salary is not met, additional benefits such as flexible working hours, further training or other allowances could be renegotiated. Many bosses would also have expected this reaction - but only just under one in five of the employees implemented it.

Four tips for salary negotiation

If you want to negotiate a higher salary, there are certain things you should keep in mind. Zerrin Azeri, Associate Director at Robert Half in Zurich, offers the following tips for salary negotiations:

1. Correct timing: There are better and worse times to have your conversation. Intercepting the boss in the morning to negotiate salary is not a good idea. After the successful completion of a project or the quarter, the chances are much better. In general, you should also keep an eye on the overall situation of the company: If there is an upward trend at the moment, the timing is of course even more promising.
2. Powerful arguments: The interview will be more successful if you can mention personal successes, goals already achieved that were set in the previous appraisal interview, or taking on additional tasks.
3. Know market value: When estimating a realistic salary, it helps to know how much other people in similar positions earn or what the average salary is. Salary surveyssuch as Robert Half's for the IT, finance and commercial sectors, provide you with an overview and assistance in naming an appropriate salary range.
4. Good preparation: Salary negotiation is an exceptional situation. The better prepared you are, the higher the chances of success. You should know what you want to achieve. In any case, think about in advance which Counterarguments your boss might raise and how you can rebut them. However, your professional well-being should not depend exclusively on salary - rather, you should keep an eye on the additional benefits. Consider what benefits the company can offer you and whether it is relevant for you to negotiate them.

Source: Robert Half

The consulting firm DOIT-smart advises and supports companies in the implementation of gender diversity strategies to increase the proportion of women in management positions. In order to get a more differentiated picture of the individual industries, DOIT-smart examined the representation of women in the management and on the board of directors of the largest Swiss companies by industry. The analysis is based on publicly available company data and was conducted between April and October 2018. An overview of the companies (incl. ranking) is available on the DOIT-smart Homepage published on an ongoing basis - other sectors will follow.

Proportion of women on many management boards non-existent

According to this analysis, Adval Tech (industry sector: industry), Unilever Switzerland (industry sector: consumer goods & retail), Biogen Switzerland (industry sector: life sciences), AXA Versicherungen (industry sector: insurance) and Switzerland Tourism (industry sector: federal companies) currently have the highest proportions of women on the executive boards of their industries. In an industry comparison, Unilever and Biogen share the top spot with 50% women on the executive board. However, in 55% of the companies surveyed to date, there are no women at all on the management board (here is the list of "men's groups). The situation is better on the boards of directors, however, with around 73% of the companies surveyed having at least one woman on their board. Overall, gender parity does not seem to play any role at all in around 20% of the more than 130 companies surveyed so far - there are no women either in management or on the board of directors.

Overcoming unconscious thought patterns

But why do many companies still underestimate the economic benefits of a more balanced gender distribution? In most cases, there is no direct intention to deliberately keep the proportion of women in management at a low level, according to the authors of the study. However, there is little appetite among many companies to remedy this situation. Stereotypes and biases are often very pronounced - these unconscious thought patterns can hardly be overcome with conventional methods, they continue. DOIT-smart wants to remedy this "grievance" with its own consulting approach. Companies are supported from a neutral point of view in the implementation of a successful diversity strategy. In the center thereby a business-economically aligned Gender Diversity management stands. In addition, DOIT-smart conducts an analysis of the current situation from two perspectives - employees and management. Existing strategies and processes are scrutinized and analyzed with the goal of creating a company-specific gender profile and identifying the need for action based on the findings. In a second phase, solutions are worked out in cooperation with the company and suitable implementation proposals are developed. DOIT-smart is supported in the start-up phase until 2019 by the Federal Office for Gender Equality (EBG) and by the Canton of Zurich - the Office for Gender Equality.

One thing is certain: People remain the most important factor in events. This is especially true for those people who have mastered the core social skills. With this book, readers realize what gates their rediscovered curiosity opens for them. They focus inexorably on their goals. But only the supreme discipline of the courageous reveals how powerfully people can shape things together with others.

Edith Karl addresses many important topics and comes up with both well-known and lesser-known wisdom and conclusions. The wealth of examples presented is taken directly from life and is therefore easy to follow. This more serenity and strength lets people find their personal way through the huge range of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence. More and more clearly, they recognize their possibilities. Freed from heavy physical work and boring routine, people can turn to challenging activities and do what suits their personality.

We have long been able to step out of the confining hamster wheel. Working life is becoming more diverse. In many companies, three generations are already working together across professional and often national boundaries. The so-called digital natives support the digital immigrants in terms of new working methods and speed. In return, they want to communicate at eye level and grow through meaningful challenges.

Last but not least, Edith Karl shows how readers can even digitize their own courage. Current sciences such as brain research, medicine, cell biology, epigenetics and quantum physics are currently proving the effectiveness of what wise men from East and West have been practicing for a long time. Scientific findings and experiments support people to create and realize their own way of life. This path is described in an easily readable and comprehensible way. The book can serve as a valuable stimulus for looking at digitization from perspectives other than the usual ones.

Further information and reader comments on the book can be found on www.digitalisierter-mut.com

This year's Logistics Forum Switzerland was held for the second time at the Museum of Transport in Lucerne on November 6. The focus was on the hot topic of "Digital Value Chains". Digitalization is on the rise, no question about it. More digital solutions for logistics and SCM are available almost every day. But how can your company generate competitiveness and customer value through these digital offerings? Companies and logistics must prove their ability to change, because as Carsten Vollrath, Swiss IPG Partners Group AG quoted in his short presentation: "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, not the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change" - Charles Darwin.

Focus on digital value chains

The day began with a warm welcome by VNL Switzerland President Prof. Dr. Herbert Ruile. This was followed by exciting keynotes by Claudio Marconi, IKEA Supply AG as well as Carsten Leuters, KPMG Holding AG on the respective topics "Integrated Supply Chain IKEA" and "Digital Value Chains - Roadmap."

In the subsequent pitches for the 2018 Regional Logistics Award, which the detranz and VNL associations presented for the second time as part of the Logistics Forum, attendees had the chance to cast their vote for the best pitch throughout the day.

After a short coffee break and informative visits to the exhibitors' stands and various poster walls, the participants were able to split up into the three parallel streams on different topics. The diverse short presentations provided discussion material for the subsequent stand-up lunch with a view of Lake Lucerne.

Following the active expert discussion on the topic "State of Implementation - Digital Value Chain", the participants moved on to the parallel afternoon session. There, they learned from Thomas Heynen, AdNovum Informatik AG, among others, that digitalization can be used to work more efficiently even in concrete logistics.

Regional logistics prize awarded

At the end, the participants gathered again in the conference hall to wind down together, where the award ceremony for the regional logistics prize met with great recognition and widespread interest. The project "Mitfahrmarkt Surselva" by Urs Giezendanner (regional developer of the Regiun Surselva) prevailed over the two co-finalists "Collectors" and "UriTicket" in the vote of the expert audience. All three finalists of the regional logistics award are invited to participate in the next detranz-Denklabor in 2019 in Altdorf.