Six major IT and technology trends predicted by IT company Cisco for 2017 and the future. Companies should therefore also keep an eye on these in the short term.

1. Growth in Internet data traffic requires even more broadband: By 2020, global traffic over the Internet will be about 95 times greater than it was in 2005, predicts the Cisco Visual Networking Index 2015-2020. This growth will result in more Internet users (4.1 billion in 2020), more Internet-connected devices, higher broadband speeds, and greater video usage. In 2020, 71 percent of all IP traffic will be generated by non-PC devices such as smartphones, tablets and smart TVs. Digitization and the Internet of Things (IoT) are also driving stronger IP traffic. Applications such as video surveillance, smart meters, digital health monitoring and M2M services are generating more and more traffic and new requirements for broadband networks. So infrastructures need to keep pace with technology trends.
2. Digitization requires digital-ready networks: Already today, everyone is concerned with digitization. Whether manufacturer, technology company, consulting firm, politician or market expert: Everyone is jumping on the new technology trends. At the World Economic Forum 2016 in Davos, Industry 4.0 was the central topic. As the world becomes more digital and connected, data is emerging as the most important strategic asset for every company and country. The ability to secure, analyze and provide services based on data will determine the success of any organization. But there is one important prerequisite for this: digital-ready networks.
   In the future, network connections will be simple to create. Just as the World Wide Web hid the complexity of the Internet and enabled its use by any user, the enterprise network is evolving into an open model. A digital-ready network offers controller-based automation, real-time and context-based analytics, network function virtualization (NFV) and the unlimited scalability of the cloud. How does an open, software-based network support digital transformation? It provides network-based insights, automates processes and protects against threats. For example, in the digital age, network devices can automatically detect and close a line leak or enable predictive maintenance in production factories.
3. Artificial intelligence and deep learning improve cybersecurity: Technology trends also have dark sides. Frozen data, blackmail through ransomware, stolen identities - awareness of the threats posed by cyber attacks has now reached many companies in Switzerland. According to a new study by IDG Research Services, 74 percent of the strategic decision-makers surveyed in the DACH region rate the threat posed by cyber attacks to their company as "very high" or "high" in the future. Today, the detection and defense against threats must be automated. Artificial intelligence helps to analyze and automatically examine suspicious web traffic. This allows attacks to be detected before they can lead to the theft of sensitive data.
   Artificial intelligence systems continuously learn from the huge amounts of data they evaluate. They independently recognize what normal and suspicious behavior looks like. Subsequently, they can respond to harmful behavior in new and more effective ways. This type of deep learning enables automation of defenses against new and unknown threats. Automation is also important to manage additional threats arising from the Internet of Things. Cisco uses Artificial Intelligence to create a Self-Defending Network that automatically detects potential risks and activates a managed response.
4. The way of working is changing: According to a 2016 Harvard Business Review study, 72 percent of executives say effective team communication has become increasingly important over the past two years. Sixty-eight percent of respondents say that collaboration with external partners, suppliers, customers and consultants, as well as colleagues in other locations, has also become more important. The most common complaints about the collaboration tools in use are that they are not integrated with other business processes (according to 38% of respondents), they are not aligned with users' work styles (35%) and are therefore underutilized by employees (44%). Collaboration tools rated as most effective include cloud and file sharing, video conferencing, and enterprise portals for content management. The next generation of collaboration tools is cloud-based, mobile-first, and open to integrating different workflows.
5. Fog computing extends the cloud to the edge of the network: In 2017, Fog Computing will continue to bring the benefits of the cloud to the edge of the network, as well as increasingly integrated into solutions such as Smart Cities. There, the technology enables the use of server, storage and network functions in devices located in even the most remote locations. This improves urban services such as traffic management, intelligent lighting, security and parking guidance systems. For example, a video camera detects the blue light of an ambulance, causing traffic lights to automatically turn green so it can get through traffic faster. Fog computing also allows sensors on trains to monitor components. If they detect problems, they send an automatic warning to the train operator so he can fix them at the next stop. Fog computing also enables intelligent power supply. For example, load-balancing applications can run on devices at the edge of the network, automatically switching to alternative energy such as solar or wind power depending on demand, availability and price.
6. Alternative realities are taking hold: The mixing of dimensions will continue in 2017. For example, previous online-only retailers such as Amazon are opening real-world branches, while at the same time Pokémon Go focused the attention of the masses on augmented reality. Virtual reality technologies are now available to every customer. This is because devices such as smartphones or tablets enable new, open, software-based platforms through which companies can deliver novel applications - whether online, in real life or in virtual spaces. IT and technology trends will therefore continue.

Source and further information: www.cisco.ch

In 1983, Willy A. Nauer (75) bought Solis, a traditional Swiss company founded in 1908 with headquarters in Glattbrugg (ZH) and production in Mendrisio (TI). Originally, the production and distribution of a heating pad formed the core business. This was followed in 1933 by the development of the first hair dryer. After his takeover, Willy A. Nauer expanded Solis into an international group. 1985 was a milestone: the company launched the world's first fully automatic espresso machine for private households. At the same time and systematically, the Beauty and Wellness as well as the Kitchen and Air Conditioning divisions were expanded both at home and abroad. Today, Solis is one of the leading experts for high-quality small household appliances. According to the company, its values are solid business relations, high-end products, quality, innovative spirit, power of implementation and visionary corporate development. These values are to be deepened and expanded in the second generation of Nauer entrepreneurs, according to a company statement.

CEO Thomas Nauer becomes new owner of Solis

Now CEO Thomas Nauer (38), son of Willy A. Nauer, becomes the new owner of the Solis Group. He holds a B. Sc. in Business Studies (City University of London) and an M. Sc. in International Management (King's College London). After his studies, he worked for three years in various sales and marketing functions for Nestlé in Beijing and Shanghai. Well equipped, Thomas Nauer joined the family business in 2008, initially as Director Sales & Marketing, and then, thanks to excellent results, took over operational management in 2013. At the same time, Willy A. Nauer withdrew from operational management. The same applies to Hildegard Nauer, Head of Communications/PR for the company for 25 years. Since then, Thomas Nauer has invested even more in research and development and expanded the Mendrisio (TI) production facility. The group of companies, which employs around 100 people, has its own subsidiaries in Germany, the Benelux countries, China, Singapore and Japan.

Source and further information

The online B2B marketplace "Wer liefert was" has compiled the top search terms of 2016. The on http://www.wlw.ch/ by far the most searched term this year was again "mechanical engineering". The search term "plastics" came in 2nd place. The term "CNC", the abbreviation for today's method of controlling machine tools, was thus pushed down to 3rd place. The search term "machines" also made significant gains in the top 10 search terms. It has risen from 7th to 4th place and has pushed back the term "metal construction" to 6th place. Food" has made it to position 5. They have gained one position. "Aluminum" has moved up from 10th to 7th place. The terms "cosmetics," "sheet metal" and "electronics" made it into the top 10 for the first time, taking 8th to 10th place. "Steel" and "laser" (ranked 8 and 9 in 2015) have dropped to 20th and 16th place.

Detail information asked

In contrast to product searches on Internet marketplaces, which are geared toward the end consumer, there is a greater need for detailed information in the B2B segment. "B2B products are significantly more complex," says Peter F. Schmid, CEO of "Wer liefert was." "Many products have a high degree of individualization. These are not easy to buy with a click." In the daily exchange with the suppliers and users of "Wer liefert was," it was the logical consequence for the market leader to advance the presentation of products on the platform. Today, every searcher can find products on www.wlw.ch not only the contact details of a suitable supplier for certain search terms, but also find the corresponding companies via product images, product details, price information as well as availability.

The online B2B market is only now really taking off

More and more suppliers are taking advantage of the opportunity to present their products on Wer liefert was. "In just one year, we have cracked the five million mark in terms of the number of products on the platform," emphasizes Peter F. Schmid. The result shows how much the online B2B segment continues to pick up speed in Europe as well. But what makes the online B2B market so lucrative? In 2020, B2B e-commerce sales are expected to reach $6.7 trillion, more than double the total B2C e-commerce, which is expected to be around $3.2 trillion, according to a study by Frost & Sullivan Global. "B2B customer behavior will continue to converge with that of B2C consumption, so B2B users expect the same usability and user experience they already know from B2C," knows Peter F. Schmid.

New in 2016: The facet search

A great deal was done in 2016 to make products easier to find, and the search function was further improved. For example, the "facet search" offers users the option of adapting their own search to their individual needs via various filters and thus finding the product they are looking for in a targeted manner. The search dynamically adapts to each individual category - depending on what is being searched for, different filter options are offered.

Source: http://www.wlw.ch

Many skills guides say, "We need to take more responsibility for our lives." "We need to make sure today that we don't get into a crisis in the future." That sounds good, but it's not specific enough. But what skills will we need in the future to manage our lives? An attempt at an answer.

Competence 1: Think in alternatives

Our living environment is changing faster and faster. That's why, for example: If we have a good job today with brilliant opportunities for advancement, this does not guarantee that we will still have it in five or even ten years. Maybe the company we work for will merge with another and our division will be shut down? We have to learn to live with such imponderables, and also with the fact that we don't know what our living environment will look like in five or ten years. We must not be afraid of this. Otherwise, we'll go through life with the handbrake on - as if it were already clear that we're going to lose our job. Instead, we must work today to ensure that we still have several options even if the future turns out to be different from what we expect.

Competence 2: be sensitive to weak signals

We can only develop realistic options if we are sensitive to weak signals in our environment. What dangers could threaten us in the future? What opportunities might open up for us? Because the future is never the present, we can rarely base our (future) decisions on facts. We have to rely on assumptions. So we have to learn to perceive signals for upcoming changes in our environment and to deduce from them which consequences might result for us.

Competence 3: trusting our intuition

In the future, we will have to make decisions more often even though we lack important information. We also have to make decisions whose consequences we do not yet fully understand, which is why we also do not know whether they will lead to success.

Parents are already faced with this challenge when raising their children. No one can tell them how much harshness, indulgence or patience will be necessary for their children to master their lives in the future. However, just because it is unclear whether their actions will lead to the (desired) goal, parents cannot refrain from educating their children. The same will apply to other areas of life in the future. Here, too, we must increasingly rely on our intuition.

Competence 4: Seeing the big picture

In order to make the right decisions, we need to keep an eye on our lives as a whole. Only if we can assess what effects, for example, our professional decisions also have on our private life and our personal well-being, can we lead a satisfied and fulfilled life in the long term. If we lack this overall view, our attempt to find and maintain the right balance in life will fail.

For example, many young adults who take the plunge into self-employment underestimate the impact of this decision on other areas of their lives. For example, they overlook the fact that they will then have little free time because of the heavy workload. And after two or three years, he is shocked to discover that although my business is flourishing, I have lost my friends in the meantime.

Competence 5: Seeking and accepting advice

In our private lives, our view of our counterpart is often more "clouded" the closer the person is to us. We regard our child as a "treasure of gold," even though others see him or her as a spoiled brat. We perceive our love relationship as successful, although we give ourselves up in it. It is similar with our work. Therefore, we should learn to consult neutral observers or consultants from time to time to help us discover our blind spots. People often consult experts too late. Employees, for example, do not contact a coach or consultant until the termination notice is already on their desk. It would make more sense for them to check now and then whether their qualifications will still be in demand in the future. Then they could be proactive - for example, by continuing their education.

Competence 6: being able and willing to learn

However, high sensitivity to weak signals and all good advice are in vain if we are not willing to learn and draw the necessary conclusions from our findings. Many people are excellent at analyzing their lives and saying what would be necessary - but their analysis is not followed by action. This means that we must also develop a certain toughness against ourselves and take action - even if it is difficult for us.

Competence 7: be open to new solutions

In the future, we will have to design new solutions for many challenges because the old ones are no longer suitable for coping with the future. In some cases, we will even have to do the opposite of what we were successful with in the past.

This is difficult for almost all people, because we have trained our current thought and behavior patterns over decades. They are a part of us; accordingly, we find it difficult to discard them. For example, many employees are convinced that a permanent position offers them the most security. This can be a fallacy. After all, if the distant corporate headquarters decides to sell the store tomorrow, they could be out of a job tomorrow - even if they were top employees for years beforehand. Sometimes, therefore, it's safer to go into business for yourself, provided you have a good business idea and the requisite "entrepreneur gene".

Competence 8: Establish and maintain networks

Jumping over one's own shadow requires courage. We often can't muster it on our own. So we should forge alliances. That means we must learn to seek and find allies. We can only do this if we are willing and able to communicate our needs to others and compromise with them when necessary.

Here's an example: In the future, it will probably be even more difficult than it is now for both partners in a relationship to have a top career and at the same time lead a fulfilling family life with children. So they need to reach an agreement that enables both partners to realize their life vision as far as possible. To do this, they must first put their desires on the table. They also have to be prepared to give up certain things, for example a possible career move, so that they can achieve the good that is more important to them - for example a fulfilling family life, a satisfying partnership.

Competence 9: Know your own values

To develop sustainable compromises and partnerships, we need to know what is really important to us. Only then can we say what we are willing to do without and what we are not. If we don't have clarity in this regard, we either can't cooperate with others or we subordinate ourselves to their wishes - professionally and privately.

Generally speaking, what is important to us is also reflected in what we are willing to give up to achieve this. For example, some professionals want to have a top career and earn a far above-average income, but at the same time they want to have as much free time as possible - for their family, their hobbies. However, it is only possible to do both at the same time in exceptional cases. So it's a matter of deciding: What is more important to me?

Competence 10: be confident

A positive attitude toward change is one of the key qualities we need. Because if we are afraid of change, we don't dare to develop new life plans. Then we don't ask experts for advice in time, but close our eyes to the challenges we face.

A positive attitude toward change is also reflected in the fact that we accept the risk of failure and do not interpret failure as a personal failure. Because our failure proves: We have tried - unlike many of our fellow human beings. So why not give it a second try?

About the authors: Frank Linde and Michael Reichl are the managing directors of im-prove coaching und training GmbH, Lingen (Germany), which supports (service) companies and SMEs and their employees in change projects and trains change consultants (Tel.: 00 49 591/120 702 43; Email: kontakt_fl@im-prove.de; Internet: www.im-prove.de).