The Swiss ICT market grew by 2.3 percent in 2017, generating total sales of CHF 31.4 billion. This is shown by the latest data from the European Technology Observatory (EITO), which was presented at the Swico annual media conference in Zurich on January 16. For 2018, EITO again forecasts a 2.2 percent increase in sales for the Swiss ICT industry. The European ICT market is also doing well: Total revenue grew by 2.5 percent in 2017 to 688 billion euros.

Successfully representing the interests of the ICT industry

Swico's intensive lobbying for the interests of the ICT industry seems to be paying off: There was a clear increase in Parliament's understanding of the need to revise the labor law. The Federal Council has made the required upward adjustments to the quotas. Furthermore, it is becoming apparent that the referendum against the network blocks in the Gaming Act, which Swico has strongly supported, will be carried out.

As the trade association of Digital Switzerland, Swico will continue to campaign for a free and secure network in 2018, for example in the consultation on the nationwide cyber strategy or in the vote on the Money Gaming Act. Another topic remains the Switzerland-wide electronic identity (eID): "A practicable eID is the central prerequisite for numerous new digital business models," says Swico CEO Jean-Marc Hensch. Politicians tend to respond reflexively to technical innovations with new bans and restrictions. Therefore, Jean-Marc Hensch is convinced that the strong voice of the supplier side is needed more than ever. "We are the association of digitalizers. If our member companies can't do their job, then the Swiss economy as a whole has a problem."

Arrived in French-speaking Switzerland

The Swico community is growing: In 2017, the association once again welcomed numerous new members and for the first time counted over 500 members. Particularly pleasing is the accession of over two dozen start-up companies, for which the association set up a special program in 2017. Swico also successfully expanded its presence in French-speaking Switzerland.

Shortage of ICT specialists puts the brakes on growth prospects

One key issue that continues to preoccupy the industry is the shortage of well-trained ICT specialists. "Demand from industry is high and prices are correspondingly stable. However, sales forecasts would be much better if companies were able to recruit enough qualified ICT specialists," emphasizes Giancarlo Palmisani, member of the Swico Executive Board. Swico is once again making an urgent appeal to politicians.

Review 2017: The Swiss ICT market in figures

The Swiss IT market (excluding telecoms) generated sales of CHF 19.8 billion in 2017, representing growth of 3.5 percent. At 6 percent, the software segment again posted the strongest growth, generating sales of CHF 6.4 billion. At 20.4 percent, the market share of the Swiss Software segment is significantly higher than the European comparison (EU: 13.8 percent). IT Services, still the largest segment in terms of volume, grew by three percent to a total of 10.6 billion Swiss francs. The IT Hardware segment lost slightly (-0.5 percent) and generated sales of 2.8 billion Swiss francs.

The telecoms market recorded slight growth of 0.3 percent in 2017 and generated a total of CHF 11.6 billion. Switzerland remains a smartphone country: After the market slumped in 2016 (-21.6 percent), there was moderate growth in 2017 (+4.5 percent) to CHF 1.7 billion. A total of 3.2 million units were sold, which means that sales stabilized at the level of 2016.

www.swico.ch

The Internet of Things" has long been established as a buzzword. But what exactly is behind the term? What is in store for us? And what opportunities and challenges does it present? These and other questions are answered in the new, almost 70-page publication, which was produced by the publishing house buch & netz on behalf of Suissedigital, the trade association of Swiss communication networks, and the HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft Zürich.

New business areas are in demand

According to their own statements, the companies associated in Suissedigital have an excellent communications infrastructure. This enables them to survive in the Swiss telecommunications market. However, the traditional markets of television, Internet and telephony are largely saturated; new business areas are therefore in demand.

Internet of Things: A topic with a promising future

Against this backdrop, Suissedigital is increasingly addressing various topics of digitalization. The Internet of Things, the
applications with objects or devices that can exchange information with each other, this seems to be a
particularly interesting and promising topic. The publication "The Internet of Things" can be downloaded from the home page of
www.suissedigital.ch can be downloaded free of charge as a PDF.

The Swiss software company Proffix AG aims to simplify the business administration of SMEs. The product portfolio of the company in Wangs (Canton St.Gallen) includes an SME software that can be used in any industry. It is used by more than 2500 customers with over 10000 users.

Now the company has reshaped its sales and marketing team. "Our sales network continues to grow steadily. In order to provide the sales partners with the appropriate professional support, we have started looking for a new Head of Sales," explains CEO Peter Herger. "With Maurizio Di Pizzo, we have been able to gain a proven ERP salesman with whom we want to strengthen the competencies of our sales partners in this important phase of the digitalization of the business world." The new sales manager Maurizio Di Pizzo brings almost 20 years of experience in the ERP sector as a project manager and in sales. As a former senior sales consultant at proALPHA and project manager and consultant at Sage Switzerland (Bäurer), he knows the challenges in the market. Remo Kalberer, former Partner Manager at Proffix, is now responsible for Product Management.

www.proffix.net

Today, nothing works without content marketing: aspects such as an inspiring customer experience (CX), an end-to-end customer journey, and high-quality content should not be underestimated. In order to achieve their greatest goals - increasing sales and improving the customer experience - companies must develop a targeted content strategy and publish excellent content. This is the only way to keep your finger on the pulse and make your customers' hearts beat faster. Why content is at the heart of digital transformation and why companies should publish relevant content is shown by BloomReach (www.bloomreach.com) based on the following findings:

1. good content enables a continuous customer journey

"Content is king" - this credo is still true. This makes it all the more important to prepare and personalize content according to needs. If a customer finds exactly the content he is looking for during his research, he is very likely to stay on the website and take a closer look - his customer experience is simply better. By relying on an appropriate software solution, companies establish integrated cross-channel commerce - without isolated solutions that fragment CX. Content should therefore preferably be centralized in order to share it with further data across all systems and touchpoints.

2. good content can be published across channels

Exciting content is perfect for playing out across different channels. This offers the advantage, for example, that customers can be provided with relevant, personalized, and consistent content in a targeted manner across all channels - from the corporate website to the online store and the app to various social media platforms.

3. good content binds customers in the long term

If a customer finds what he is looking for on a website, he is very likely to return to find out more if necessary. As a result of the growing demands on the customer experience, content has a completely new significance: it is no longer a marketing product that is scattered across digital channels, but often the unique selling point par excellence. Many companies therefore use powerful web content management systems to gain an advantage over the competition.

4. good content meets the growing demands of customers

Customers today are permanently connected - flexible and agile methods are therefore necessary to improve interaction with them while addressing them consistently at every single point of contact. Therefore, companies need to create a unique CX for their customers - also by publishing engaging, personalized and branded content. In addition, consumers expect intuitive search and that the brand is constantly learning as they interact with it. In addition, content must master different channels, platforms and formats. Companies should therefore use intelligent technologies to achieve the best possible results.

Content marketing for an inspiring customer experience

Personalized, high-quality content and a content suite, such as a flexible, self-learning digital experience platform, are the basic requirements for an inspiring customer experience. For more help and tips to get your customers' pulse racing, interested parties can read BloomReach's free whitepaper, "Customer-centric digital transformation," at https://goo.gl/xYLWKA.

To BloomReach: BloomReach, headquartered in Mountain View, California (USA), is the market leader in the field of personalized digital experiences. According to the company, its goal is to offer every user an optimal customer experience and to effectively support users in increasing their conversion rates. Applications for content management, site search, site management, SEO optimization and role-based analyses round off the BloomReach portfolio.

Every year, von Rundstedt, a leading outplacement provider in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, presents its outplacement statistics. Outplacement is a service that a company offers to those affected in the event of dismissals in the spirit of social responsibility. The Outplacement Barometer, published annually, covers the whole of Switzerland and is based on information from 1370 employees affected by a dismissal and from 201 companies from various industries that had to make redundancies in Switzerland in 2017. It thus provides an interesting picture of the mood on the Swiss labor market in 2017. The current edition shows some findings that are surprisingly positive, but also some that give pause for thought.

Outplacement of Ü50: "Older employees are still a risk group, but not a problem group"

Today, employees older than 5o years are treated as the biggest problem group in Switzerland, sometimes with a lot of smoke and polemics. But von Rundstedt's figures paint a different picture. In 2017, the share of employees over 50 among those terminated was 31%, which, as in the previous year (2016: 27%), roughly corresponds to the reference size of the over 50 share of the workforce of 30.5%. In terms of search duration, the study authors continue to note a large difference between "difficult profiles" (11 Mte) and "easy profiles" (4.5 Mte). This affects those with a low marketability. However, these are not primarily older than 50. When looking at the search duration by age group, it can also be seen that the search duration of the Ü50 with 7.9 months (2016: 8.3 Mte) is no longer so much above the reference average of all age groups of 6.3 months. The data also show a very large variance in the over-50 group, i.e. there are over-50s with a short search duration and those with a long search duration, in some cases over 12 months. In contrast, the search duration of the 30-40 age group has increased to 6.5 months (2016: 6.2 months) and is thus no longer so much below the over-50s.

From these results, the study deduces that the difficulties on the labor market are not primarily characterized by age, but rather by the marketability of an individual. The current structural change in various industries and functional areas affects almost all age groups, not just those over 50, it says. The over-50s are still one of the risk groups because they are relatively more strongly influenced by the old market structure. Nevertheless, they do not represent a problem group. This is shown by the large number of over-50s who find a new job quickly and easily. Rather, there is a polarization between marketable and "difficult" profiles, irrespective of age. Age is only one of the relevant factors influencing marketability.

Zero Gap: "Employers hardly allow mobility between industries and functions"

Last year's study already pointed out that employers do not allow any profile deviations from the requirement profile during the search and selection process. They look for the 100% matching profile and exploit the full potential of the global labor market to do so. This creates a structural labor market problem in which there is a shortage of skilled workers and qualified unemployment at the same time. One consequence of this is that, despite demonstrable potential, those affected find it difficult to move to a new industry or a new function if they do not have this experience to show for it. After falling to 16% in 2016 (2015: 32%), industry mobility recovered somewhat in 2017 to 21%, but remains markedly below the 2015 figure. Functional mobility in 2017 is also slightly higher than the previous year's figure (2016: 21%) at 23%, but remains at a very low level. The slight increases in 2017 are due to special measures at von Rundstedt to support those affected in their mobility.

This leads to the conclusion that Zero Gap is still a strong trend and a phenomenon in the Swiss labor market that causes trouble for those affected. Against the backdrop of the increasing economic challenges of the digitalization era, this trend is worrying.

Downsizing trend at international headquarters: "Qualified staff functions are increasingly being relocated abroad".

Another finding of the outplacement study is that terminations in 2017 were more frequently due to explicit headcount reduction measures than in previous years. In 2017, 26% of the terminations were due to a reduction in headcount (2016: 15%). In addition, at 33%, staff functions and management support functions were more affected by terminations in 2017 than in the previous two years (2015: 24%; 2016: 31%). These two developments can be explained by the fact that in 2017, many headquarters of global companies based in Switzerland reduced their staff. This affects both headquarters of Swiss groups and EMEA headquarters of foreign groups. According to the study, it can be observed that, on the one hand, highly qualified staff positions, which are not tied to a specific location, are being systematically relocated abroad. After Switzerland as a production location, Switzerland as a headquarters location is also coming under increasing pressure. On the other hand, the fast-moving "hire & fire" culture is increasingly gaining a foothold at headquarters and noticeably increasing staff turnover.

Positive salary development in the highly qualified sector: "Contrary to many reports, no salary correction is taking place in Switzerland".

Employers and business associations frequently complain that Switzerland's high wage costs are becoming an increasing competitive disadvantage as a location. This is apparently being corrected by a creeping migration of highly qualified staff positions abroad. In contrast, however, it does not seem to have a real impact on wage development in Switzerland. In 2017, for example, the re-entry wage of an unemployed person after a layoff was on average 6% lower than the previous wage (2016: 8%). At the same time, as in the previous year, new hires who were directly poached by another employer achieved a starting wage that was 10% higher on average than with the previous employer. In total, this leads to a wage increase of around 2%. It can be deduced from this that wage pressure in Switzerland, at least in the highly skilled sector, is not having an impact on wage development, but is rather being corrected via a creeping but targeted outsourcing of highly skilled staff positions.

Source: von Rundstedt

The PPRO Group as a specialist for cross-border electronic payment, has identified the trends in the payment sector for 2018. The following seven developments are to be expected in 2018 - especially at European level:

Internet of Payments

According to Gartner, the number of devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) will increase from 6.4 billion to 20.8 billion between 2016 and 2020. Consumers increasingly expect their IoT devices not only to perform tasks automatically, but also to handle payments. For example, appropriately connected refrigerators will automatically replenish and pay for groceries, and users of electronic voice assistants, such as Alexa and Siri, will increasingly shop using a simple voice command.

Context-based payment

People who go to the checkout with their virtual or real shopping cart often reconsider whether the purchase is really worth it. To make the payment process easier, it should be integrated into the context of use as much as possible. This means that the checkout is practically invisible and the payment process runs largely automatically in the background of the application being used. What is already being implemented to a greater extent online will also be used in real retail stores: In the future, customers will no longer have to fork out cash or credit cards, but will be able to pay in passing via wireless transmission - whether via Bluetooth with a smartphone, RFID chip on a customer card, or automatic payment via facial and voice recognition.

Peer-to-peer payment

Payment processes will also be increasingly integrated into peer-to-peer (P2P) systems in 2018. For example, in India, WhatsApp already allows money to be transferred to a friend via P2P payments while the user is chatting with them. Apple is also launching this feature with Apple Pay Cash. With the help of the new voice input options - for example via Alexa, Siri or Cortana - P2P payments and banking transactions will also be able to be instructed verbally.

Real-Time Payments

Push payments (i.e., payments initiated by the consumer, such as SEPA credit transfers) enable payments to be made in real time. In the euro zone, the necessary infrastructure has been available since November 21, 2017 with SEPA Credit Transfer Instant (SCT Inst). Various financial institutions have already implemented corresponding systems. Others will follow as market pressure increases. It will be interesting to see to what extent SCT Inst will open up new payment options and to what extent online merchants in particular will use the speed and binding nature of real-time transfers to convert their processes to full real-time processing.

Partnership between banks and fintechs

The Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) defined by the European Commission for the new Payment Service Directive (PSD2) represent a major compromise between the interests of the established banking industry and European fintechs. Overall, and especially from a fintech perspective, it would certainly have been best if the bank's free choice to offer an API or allow access via online banking had also been offered to fintechs. That is, good APIs would have been used and bad ones would not, thus resulting in simple self-regulation. At the very least, however, the new version is less threatening to the European fintech sector than the EBA's original version from late February 2017, likely resulting in a solid foundation in 2018 that will lead to more competition and security in payment processes and provide choice and data control to merchants and consumers alike.

Decentralization through blockchain technologies

The technological basis of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies will provide further novel solutions in finance in 2018. Institutions will establish direct connections with each other via blockchain technology to avoid correspondent banks or other intermediaries. Nasdaq, for example, already provides a platform where private companies issue and trade shares via blockchain. Here, all trading - from execution to clearing to settlement - takes place in near real-time, with the technology enabling tracking. In addition, blockchain can be used as a fully transparent and accessible system of record for regulators, making auditing and accounting much more efficient. The number of use cases for blockchain is growing every day. While the actual breakthrough of the technology is yet to be seen, as with many fundamental technology changes, it will take time to catch on.

Commercialization of MNO wallets

Globally, more than two billion people are currently without access to formal financial services. In many countries with low financial inclusion, peer-to-peer payments via mobile wallets or MNO (mobile network operator) wallets are the norm. With the increasing growth of e-commerce in these countries comes the commercialization of such wallets for B2C payment methods. Thus, in the future, there will be a merging of P2P payment systems with B2C payment systems in many countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Source

Bechtle AG, headquartered in Neckarsulm, Germany, acquires Acommit AG, Horgen, one of the leading Swiss service providers for software and IT infrastructure solutions. Founded in 1983, the company is a recognized specialist for ERP software solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics/NAV and its own development DIAS. Acommit focuses on creating industry-specific ERP solutions, especially for customers in the trade/retail sectors, and concentrates primarily on the digitalization of business processes. The company employs 60 people at its sites in Horgen, Wallisellen, Lyss and Lucerne and generated sales of around 14 million Swiss francs in the past financial year. The IT service provider has a broad customer base of more than 200 medium-sized Swiss companies. The current owners Martin Küng, Christoph Kleiner, Erich Wieser and Robert Zanzerl will remain with the company in unchanged management positions. The company name will also be retained.

"With Acommit, we have been able to win a very well-positioned company for Bechtle. We are pleased that an excellent team of specialists is strengthening us in the future-oriented area of Microsoft Dynamics software solutions," says Andreas Staudigel, Divisional Board Member for Application Solutions at Bechtle AG. This company is active in Germany, Austria and Switzerland with around 70 IT system houses and, according to its own information, is one of the leading IT trading companies in Europe with e-commerce companies in 14 countries. Founded in 1983, the group currently employs over 8,300 people.

Acommit's customers will benefit from the Bechtle Group's even broader range of IT solutions, cloud portfolio and multi-vendor infrastructure offering, according to a statement from the two companies. "Our competencies fit perfectly into Bechtle's range of services. At the same time, the merger strengthens our own market position and enables us to provide our customers with even more comprehensive support in the areas of user solutions, software engineering and IT infrastructure. We are convinced that the two companies are an excellent fit for each other, and that they can enrich and benefit from each other," says Robert Zanzerl, CEO of Acommit AG. Both partners have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

Source

The year 2018 is still young - so there's still time to look into the "crystal ball" for a forecast. Michael Rudnich from Riverbed has also given it some thought and presents the following IT trends and predictions for 2018:

The Internet of Things (IoT) and hyper-connectivity will fundamentally change traditional security measures

In the past, there were only a few ways to gain access to a system. Today, the number of devices and access points, and thus the number of access points, is increasing rapidly. Traditional security measures are therefore no longer sufficient. The idea that the network is protected by deploying a firewall that separates trusted and untrusted traffic is antiquated. Instead, companies can ensure the security of their network by looking at it holistically and relying on solutions that monitor user behavior and capture these deviations.

Forecast: Service providers will be crucial for the success of IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) is rapidly gaining acceptance: 30 billion IoT devices are expected worldwide by 2020. The devices all need to be connected to the Internet, managed and secured, while also delivering a high quality of service to end users. Service providers offer the most comprehensive set of communications systems. Enterprises, in turn, rely on mobility services, bandwidth or network infrastructure if they want to provide the connectivity they need. Managing the connectivity of IoT devices is a huge challenge for enterprises, which is why service providers will benefit from offering appropriate services.

For service providers, the user experience becomes a competitive advantage

Today, high availability, security and performance determine how valuable the services provided by service providers are to customers. In contrast, little attention is paid to the user experience regarding these services, as it is difficult to measure. Service providers will therefore begin using natural language processing technology to determine users' subjective sentiment in 2018, according to the forecast. This technology can interpret human communication channels (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, message boards, etc.) to measure user satisfaction. These results can then be used to identify problems with applications or the network based on user sentiment. In other words, they complement traditional monitoring technologies. Providers thus gain another source with which to determine how and where to address problems. This, in turn, provides a competitive advantage as they can point to high levels of customer satisfaction.

A positive user experience is only possible with next generation networks

An enterprise is essentially a distributed network consisting of smaller workgroups that are interconnected via the network. The user experience regarding key applications and services may vary from branch to branch and for a variety of reasons. However, the different experiences employees have with applications can negatively impact how those applications and services are valued and how frequently they are used. If applications and services are not used because of poor user experience, the functionality hoped for will not be available, even though budget has been invested for it. The traditional network is hardware dependent and runs on fragmented or even inefficient technologies that result in fluctuating performance. Performance management of applications and services is difficult for enterprise IT in such networks: there is no holistic view of the activities and demands on the network as to why the necessary steps cannot be taken.

Next-generation networks, on the other hand, will be largely software defined. This will allow IT to leverage the optimal network paths, properly prioritize network traffic, and ensure the smooth operation of the network everywhere. These networks also provide integrated, end-to-end visibility into the user experience - from the data center to the endpoints at the network edge. This means that any factors that may be impacting performance can be identified and remediated before users are affected.

Source: Riverbed

Tobias Ackermann is taking over the management of Sage Schweiz AG with immediate effect. The 37-year-old succeeds Marc Ziegler, who is leaving the company at his own request. In his new position, Tobias Ackermann will continue to drive the business with cloud-based accounting, payroll and payment systems in Switzerland. He reports to Rainer Downar, Executive Vice President Central Europe.

Tobias Ackermann started his career at Sage in June 2015 as Vice President Revenue Marketing Business Development in Dublin (Ireland), where he was responsible for the development and strategic realignment of marketing. Subsequently, he was responsible for the European new customer business as Vice President New Customer Marketing. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President, Performance Marketing. Before joining Sage, the Swiss native held various positions in marketing and sales, including Adobe Systems and ERNI Group Holding.

Tobias Ackermann completed his studies in International Management (Business Economist) at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) in Olten.

Source: Sage Switzerland

Personnel files contain all the data on an employee that is relevant to HR managers: employment contracts, interview records, wage and salary data and much more. Proper storage of these numerous sensitive documents is a major challenge for many companies. However, if the company implements a digital personnel file solution, all data is made available electronically: centralized, independent of time and location, and easily searchable. The forcont business technology gmbh (www.forcont.de), a software company specializing in enterprise content management (ECM), explains which functions a digital personnel file solution must have in order to sustainably optimize HRM processes. The following seven functions are essential for a digital personnel file:

• Contract preparation: Standardized employment contracts are best managed via a contract creation tool, with predefined fields and dynamic text modules.
• Document creation: Thanks to integrated document creation, employees can create not only contracts but also, for example, form letters or employee circulars - directly in the personnel files, where they are then also stored. HR managers can then send their documents directly from the system by e-mail.
• Resubmission: The advantage of a resubmission function is that HR employees do not lose sight of important deadlines. Ideally, this is flanked by an e-mail notification function that provides timely reminders of upcoming deadlines. In the case of fixed-term contracts, for example, it makes sense to set up an automatic reminder or resubmission in the system.
• Release processes: Many HR processes involve internal coordination and approval processes. The personnel file should support these processes comprehensively. Not only by automatically or semi-automatically obtaining approvals, but also by storing the - ideally electronically - signed documents in the system.
• Task management: HR managers should be able to easily manage and track the same processes - such as the return of an employee from parental leave, a change in tax class, or the preparation and execution of personnel interviews - in the electronic personnel file using templates. The person responsible can then also assign such tasks directly to the responsible processor.
• Full text search: Scanning documents is one thing, but making them conveniently searchable using OCR text recognition is another. If this is done automatically, all documents can be searched quickly for the desired keywords.
• Data erasure: Especially against the backdrop of new regulations (such as the EU General Data Protection Regulation DSGVO), it is essential for HR departments to handle contract or personnel files in a legally flawless manner. An electronic personnel file supports compliance by providing timely reminders of the necessary deletion - whether it's old applications, contracts of former employees or warnings.

For more information on the creation of digital personnel files, see a Whitepaper from forcont business technology gmbh.

The "Digital Switzerland" SME study, conducted for the third time, examines the goals and challenges of digital transformation for Swiss companies and comes to the conclusion that a majority of 87% of the respondents can be classified as digital dinosaurs. The so-called digital dinosaurs are disproportionately represented among microenterprises (1-9 employees). "The study shows that a lot of potential remains untapped, but at the same time there is precisely a resource problem to drive digital transformation," says Manuel Nappo, head of the Institute for Digital Business at HWZ, which is responsible for the study. Stefano Santinelli, CEO of localsearch, is not surprised by the study results: "With 40 years of experience, localsearch knows SMEs in Switzerland inside out. Microbusinesses in particular often have neither the time nor the know-how to deal with digitization. In doing so, many are in danger of losing touch, because: Anyone who is not present online today is simply no longer noticed and the competition is just a click away."

Lack of resources is key challenge

General challenges in the course of digital transformation are a lack of financial resources, insufficient technological equipment and a lack of expertise. For companies with more than 100 employees, the biggest challenges include a lack of expertise, a non-existent culture of change and unclear responsibilities.

Goal customer loyalty and cost reduction

Customer loyalty, cost reduction and increased reach for new customer acquisition are cited as the most important goals of digital transformation. For companies with more than 100 employees, improved customer experience also plays a central role. However, 54 percent of the companies surveyed do not have a strategy for digital transformation, and 71 percent are not even planning to introduce such a strategy in the next two years. Thus, little is likely to change for these companies in their "digital dinosaur" status.

Potential not exploited

For the future development of the companies, digital security is rated most important by the respondents, followed by social media and digital marketing. Asked about knowledge, the survey participants state that they are most familiar with social media, wearables and e-commerce.

In day-to-day business, however, the digital possibilities are still hardly being exploited: for example, 77% of the companies surveyed with services that can be scheduled - such as hairdressers or physiotherapists - it is not possible today to book an appointment online. 60% accordingly also do not have a software solution to manage the appointments. Microbusinesses in particular struggle with online marketing: only about a third of respondents contact customers online with personalized offers, and just 11% use a digital loyalty system. There are also still deficits in the area of social media and ratings. 74% of the survey participants have no mechanism or process that informs them about online reviews and only 34% actively respond to reviews and experience reports on the Internet. 78% therefore also refrain from actively asking customers to rate the company, products or service online.

Carried out for the third time

The Digital Switzerland study was conducted by the Institute for Digital Business at the HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft Zürich and localsearch. The study looks at digital transformation, its current status, and opportunities and threats for Swiss companies. 1,294 companies took part in the online survey. The survey was conducted from October to November 2017.

The Institute for Digital Business at the HWZ is the place to go for application-oriented digital knowledge. It runs research projects, offers degree courses, supports SMEs with consulting and project services, and provides knowledge on digital topics free of charge. The institute is headed by Manuel P. Nappo, "Digital Mastermind" 2015. localsearch, in turn, says it is the leading marketing and sales partner for Swiss SMEs and markets with local.ch and search.ch the widest-reach Swiss information and directory services for easily finding addresses, phone numbers and detailed information on companies - on the web, on the mobile app and in the printed phone book (Local Guide).

Sources: www.fh-hwz.ch and www.localsearch.ch

The turn of the year is just around the corner and with it the time for good resolutions. Most people think about exercising more, eating healthier, or spending more time with their families - but who thinks about their online security? That's a mistake, because there are a few things users should definitely do without in 2018 if they and their mobile devices want to get through the next year well! The European security manufacturer ESET has compiled the three most important things you should do without for a safe new year.

1. (Re)use weak passwords

Do passwords like "password", "secret", "FIFA18" or "lassmichrein" sound familiar? Then you're not alone. "Far too many attacks are only successful because users use passwords that are too easy. Criminals now use fully automated tools that try out simple words or test different variants through so-called dictionary attacks," says Thomas Uhlemann, Security Specialist at ESET (see image).

If you also use the same password on different websites, you make it especially easy for cybercriminals - no matter how easy or difficult it is. "Unfortunately, it happens again and again that Internet providers are hacked and users' login data is stolen in the process," says Uhlemann. So anyone who wants to do more for their own online security in the new year should take these two tips to heart:

• Instead of words and abbreviations, use easy-to-remember but more complex phrases, such as "Here at Facebook, I like to log in!" - including upper and lower case letters as well as all spaces and punctuation marks. This makes it easier to remember the passwords and makes attackers' work more difficult.
• Additional protection is provided by the so-called 2-factor login, as offered by Facebook, Twitter or Amazon. In addition to the user name and password, a one-time code is required that is generated via SMS or app, for example. This makes the theft of login data useless for attackers.

2. outdated systems and programs are threats to online security

The longer a computer, smartphone or tablet is in use, the higher the chance that all kinds of programs are on the device, some of which have not been used for years. On the one hand, this can slow down the system, and on the other hand, every piece of software also offers a target for cybercriminals. - especially when forgotten tools and programs are no longer kept up to date with software updates. This means that known security gaps are no longer closed. This also applies to outdated operating systems like Windows XP or Vista. Microsoft recently discontinued support for both operating systems with program and security updates. "Take the time to check your devices for old software that you rarely or never use and consider disconnecting - i.e. uninstallation - has come," advises security expert Uhlemann.

3. do not call back unknown numbers

So-called "ping calls" are on everyone's lips right now. Here, criminals let the phone ring once and hope that the unsuspecting subscriber will call back out of curiosity. "The calling numbers are deceptively similar to those from Germany, for example. So in the heat of the missed call, you don't think anything of it at first. - but these callbacks are immensely expensive," warns Thomas Uhlemann. Anyone who does not know the number of a missed caller should stay on the safe side and check the number on the Internet beforehand and, if in doubt, not call back. If it's important, the caller will try again. But even beyond ping calls, you can get caught in the net of online criminals. "Another scam used by cyber gangsters are fake survey calls that ask targeted questions that with 'Yes' and 'Gladlye' - so clearly agreeing - answered and are also aimed at confirming or stating one's own name," explains the ESET expert. "Subsequently, those called receive expensive cell phone contracts or have made other purchases over the phone by having their answers edited into a sales pitch in a completely different context."

The expert tip: "If you are called and accept the call, start with a 'Hello' - usually you will be asked 'Is this Mr./Mrs. XY'. Do not answer here, but ask what it is about. In this short time and based on the answers, you can quickly find out the nature of the call. If it's a survey or an offer to optimize your cell phone rate, you'd better end the call with a 'No, goodbye!' Avoid 'Thank you' as in 'No, thank you,' as that can already be cleverly tailored accordingly."

More tips for more online security can be found on the German ESET blog WeLiveSecurity