The most important business event in southeastern Switzerland is celebrating a special anniversary this year. The 25th edition of the Südostschweiz Economic Forum will take place on Tuesday, August 29, at the Stadthalle Chur and will be held under the motto "Aufbruch Südostschweiz" ("A new departure for southeastern Switzerland"). Renowned representatives from politics, business and science will show how the business location of southeastern Switzerland can take advantage of the opportunities in the current difficult environment.

Captain of industry and well-known economist

The anniversary program features a number of familiar faces. One of the keynote speakers is Peter Spuhler, an entrepreneur from eastern Switzerland. The co-owner and Chairman of the Board of Directors of rail manufacturer Stadler Rail will show how he believes Switzerland can overcome the current challenges of high inflation and uncertain export markets. Stadler Rail trains are also in operation on the lines of the Rhaetian Railway.

Another speaker is Reiner Eichenberger. He is one of the most pointed voices and has been one of the most important Swiss economists for years. The Fribourg economics professor will talk about the starting position for the economic region of southeastern Switzerland. Eichenberger knows the region very well: He owns a second home in Prättigau and is convinced that new forms of home office and mobile working offer special opportunities for southeastern Switzerland.

Self-made millionaire and Grisons innovation pioneer

Another successful entrepreneur is Giada Ilardo. The Swiss entrepreneur with Italian roots will describe to the audience how she opened her first tattoo studio at the age of 16 and today runs Europe's largest tattoo and piercing label with more than 50 employees in five studios. Markus Wolf is known far beyond southeastern Switzerland. The CEO of the Weisse Arena Group manages the Flims-Laax mountain railroads with various hotel and restaurant operations, sports stores and schools, as well as his own construction company. Weisse Arena employs more than 1,000 people during the winter season. Bergbahnen manager Wolf will address how innovation can help alleviate the shortage of skilled workers.
Learning to deal with uncertainties

The renowned scientist Markus Hengstschläger will take the audience on a journey through current issues. The geneticist will show how people react to uncertain situations and deal with unpredictable events. Hengstschläger is head of the Institute of Medical Genetics at the Medical University of Vienna and has written successful non-fiction books such as "The Average Trap" and "The Solution Talent".

On the panel, regional decision-makers and entrepreneurs will discuss the current opportunities and challenges for Southeastern Switzerland as a business location. Enrico Uffer is a fourth-generation timber construction entrepreneur and is setting milestones in modular construction for different areas of application. The first digital and fully automated sawmill will start operations in 2023. More guests at the panel discussion will follow shortly. SRF journalist and "Einstein" presenter Tobias Müller will lead through the Südostschweiz Economic Forum.

Event under new management

After a quarter of a century, the Wirtschaftsforum Südostschweiz is passing into new hands. The event agency Skunk has taken over the event from the Domenig Group, which had launched the Wirtschaftsforum Südostschweiz together with the then Graubünden Autumn Fair Gehla, as part of a succession plan. "We would like to thank the Domenig Group for their trust and are very pleased to be able to work with the previous main partners Graubündner Kantonalbank, ÖKK, Somedia and Domenig Group," says Skunk managing director Markus Goop. The event agency organizes, among others, the Entrepreneur Day in Vaduz, the Business Day for Women and the Finance Forum in Liechtenstein, St. Gallen and Zurich.

The new organizers want to position the Südostschweiz Economic Forum even more strongly as a central meeting place for decision-makers from business, politics and science. To this end, the program, which will be more interactive, will focus on regional and national economic topics such as the shortage of skilled workers, education policy, digitalization and the export economy. The event will be framed by an attractive supporting program and a high-quality networking aperitif. The organizers expect 300 to 400 participants. The main partners are GKB, ÖKK, Domenig and Weisse Arena, while Somedia is the media partner. Numerous other partner companies and organizations are supporting the 25th Südostschweiz Business Forum.

Further information and registration at www.wifo-suedostschweiz.ch

With over 12,000 graduates per year, the commercial apprenticeship is the most popular basic education in Switzerland. In order to monitor the situation during and after the apprenticeship as well as the future plans of young professionals, the Swiss Commercial Association has conducted an annual survey of commercial apprentices in Switzerland since 2006. In the first survey wave of this year's apprenticeship leavers survey in July 2022, around 4,000 people took part, i.e. just under a third of all commercial apprentices in Switzerland; in the second survey wave in November 2022, around 1,600 people took part. In view of the KV reform, which will start in the summer of 2023, the Swiss Commercial Association, in cooperation with the Institute of Political Science at the University of Zurich, has placed the focus on digitalization.

Stable job situation and many further training plans

The majority of graduates (65.9%) are employed at the time of the second survey wave in November 2022 (see chart 1). Although the proportion of employed persons is slightly lower than in the previous year, it remains in line with the average of the last five years. Around 25.5% are in a non-employment situation after apprenticeship, such as further education, language study or military service. Only 5.5% are looking for a job in November 2022.

Overtime and compensation during apprenticeship

One focus of the 2022 survey is on overtime during apprenticeship: Almost two thirds of all participants (63%) stated that they had to work overtime during their basic training. Of these, 40% of the cases are voluntary overtime as part of flexitime and flexible working hours. Also 40% worked involuntary overtime to complete work assignments. "The proportion of people who had to work involuntary overtime on a weekly basis is worrying," emphasizes Kathrin Ziltener, specialist in charge of vocational training at the Swiss Commercial Association. That is around 7% of all participants. Another 12% had to work involuntary overtime several times a month. "Especially during apprenticeships, where work and school already represent a double burden, frequent and long overtime hours can have a negative impact on the mental health of learners."

Majority positive perception of digitization

Digitization is changing the world of work in many industries and is also having a significant impact on everyday working life in the commercial sector. Routine activities are increasingly being eliminated, while analytical, coordinative and interpersonal activities are becoming more central. This is why the Swiss Commercial Association, in collaboration with the Institute of Political Science at the University of Zurich, investigated how apprentices perceive digitalization. The majority of participants see digitization as an opportunity (72%) rather than a risk (21%) - 7% did not comment on this question. The most common reason given by apprentices for their positive view is that digitization makes work easier. Prof. Dr. Thomas Kurer, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Political Science at the University of Zurich, adds: "The participants confirmed that they feel well prepared for the working world as a result of their training. Nevertheless, Kurer points out, "However, digitization is not seen by everyone only as a positive force. Around one-fifth are worried about their professional future." The main reason for this, he says, is the fear that computers or software will replace human labor.

At the same time, the apprenticeship graduates realistically note that automation and digitization will fundamentally change many areas of daily work. The participants estimate that, theoretically, an average of 48% of their work could be digitized (see Figure 2). This roughly corresponds to an empirical study by the OECD, which estimates the proportion of automatable activities in the commercial sector at 57%.

Commercial apprentices feel well prepared

In summary, most participants see changes brought about by digitization as an opportunity and have a positive view of the digital transformation. "Basic commercial training is seen as a valuable foundation and good preparation for the modern job market," adds Ziltener. "At the same time, there is a high awareness of the importance and necessity of ongoing training."

Source: KV Switzerland

A recently published study shows how credibly Swiss companies can position themselves. The "Purpose Readiness Index" (PRI), specially developed for the representative study by the management consultancy Globeone, is made up of 15 purpose-relevant image attributes in five image dimensions. The PRI, which is based on the survey results, indicates on a scale of one to one hundred and in four levels how credibly companies and institutions can represent a socially relevant corporate purpose in the public perception. Companies with a PRI score of less than 50 often lack the appropriate basis for credibly communicating their purpose, while companies with a score above 70 have a high purpose credibility that is hardly overshadowed by negative associations. The current PRI ranks 60 leading Swiss companies.

Almost two-thirds of brands are "purpose ready

The study revealed: After all, 64 percent of Swiss brands are perceived by the public as at least partially "purpose ready" - they do not exhibit any major deficits in purpose-relevant image dimensions. Five brands (eight percent) are considered fully credible and thus have a very good basis for successful purpose activation. With a score of 72.3, Victorinox ranks first in the Purpose Readiness Index (PRI). Migros, Geberit, Lindt & Sprüngli and Coop are also among the leaders with PRI scores of more than 70. Around 36 percent of the brands surveyed are struggling with credibility problems, which also make them more susceptible to greenwashing accusations.

"Retailers, technology brands, cooperatively organized retail companies and traditional consumer brands in particular are proving to be particularly credible in terms of purpose-centric positioning in the public perception," says Carina Hauswald, Managing Partner at Globeone. "Many PRI winners certainly also benefit greatly from their everyday proximity to customers."

Consumers take a critical view of companies

Compared with the first Purpose Readiness Study for Switzerland in 2020, however, it is noticeable that the top performers in the Purpose Readiness Index (PRI) no longer score quite as highly: Second-placed Migros, for example, lost 6.5 index points, PRI winner Victorinox 5.1 index points. Mobiliar lost 6.2 index points and slipped from fifth to 15th place. "The decline in ratings is probably also a sign that Swiss consumers are generally becoming more critical of companies in terms of their purpose promises - a trend that is also increasingly evident in other industrialized countries," says Hauswald. "There is also an increased demand on particularly credible brands to constantly improve their socially relevant contribution, to provide concrete evidence of it and to communicate it transparently." Even brands that score fully on future viability, sustainability, authenticity and social relevance would have to live their purpose around the clock and make it clear in order to maintain or enhance their reputation.

Pharmaceutical and financial sectors suffer from negative image

As the backbone of the Swiss economy, financial and pharmaceutical companies are not very convincing in the public perception, especially in the image dimensions of sustainability, honesty and profit orientation. Companies from these sectors, such as Novartis (58.1), Vontobel (56.7), Roche (56.7), Julius Baer (56.2) and UBS (53.0), suffer from the risks posed by the tarnished image of their industries in a purpose-centric positioning. In the case of Credit Suisse (48.6), the data shows that a significant credibility crisis was already evident before the recent turmoil that culminated in a takeover by UBS.

Construction and raw materials bring up the rear in the sector rankings

The transformation of the construction and raw materials industry to greater sustainability is only slowly reaching the public. Implenia (PRI 59.2), Holcim (58.1) and Glencore (41.0) all have critical Purpose gaps in public perception. With an average PRI of 52.8 points, the industry is thus at the lower end of the ranking. Consumer brands such as Nestlé (49.8) or Philip Morris (48.3) have frequently been criticized in recent years and also rank far behind in the 2023 PRI.

Source and further information: Globeone

Traditional Swiss retail banks primarily serve private customers and SMEs and primarily offer standardized services - from paying, saving, and investing to financing. Besides the two big banks, the cantonal and Raiffeisen banks are the dominant players in the market. Compared with their European competitors, the Swiss retail banks operate in a very attractive market environment. A characteristic feature is the robust and stable domestic market, which only accepts far-reaching changes with long lead times.

Peculiarities of the Swiss market will increasingly disappear

As far as the different historical development of Swiss and European retail banks is concerned, three core factors stand out: First, the high business volume of around 150,000 Swiss francs per customer, which leads to an annual operating profit of a whopping 550 Swiss francs on average - also per customer. In a European comparison, the total business volume per customer ranges between 30,000 and 60,000 euros, and the operating profit is between 150 and 350 euros. The second factor is the boom in the Swiss mortgage market, which has provided Swiss banks with consistent revenue growth over the past two decades. The third differentiating factor of the Swiss retail banking market is the high level of brand loyalty among customers. Customers have built up a close relationship with their respective house bank and are hardly willing to change it.

However, as the study by the audit and consulting firm Deloitte shows, these factors are changing and will lead to major challenges in the Swiss retail banking market in the medium term. In view of the current uncertainties and changes in the Swiss banking center, the willingness of bank customers to switch is tending to increase - an opportunity for retail banks that are now acting quickly.

Structural changes jeopardize retail bank earnings

"It is becoming more difficult for Swiss retail banks to maintain high levels of profitability and growth," Cyrill Kiefer, Head of Banking at Deloitte Consulting Switzerland, is convinced. He sees reasons for this in the conversion of society and the economy to "net zero" emissions, the higher maturity of the market, the increasing saturation of the residential real estate market, the aging of the customer base, and the growing demand of customers for functional "end-to-end" solutions of the banking services offered.

Neo-banks, challenger banks and non-banks get on board

Another challenge is posed by the emerging neo- and challenger banks. With their sophisticated digital banking models, they offer a better customer experience - and at lower cost, too. Well-funded non-banks (NBFIs) are also increasingly becoming serious competitors for some core banking services. These include, in particular, insurance companies and pension funds. Various NBFIs have entered the attractive mortgage business for retail customers in recent years and are working with independent brokers and providers of lending platforms for this purpose. NBFIs will also seek to increase their market share in other financial services such as financial advice and asset management.

New "open banking" ecosystems compete with the traditional banking model

The traditional business of Swiss banks is facing fundamental change. The magic word is "open banking. This will make it possible to combine separate services from banks and other service providers on digital platforms and offer them to customers as a complete package. The development of these new ecosystems is being driven primarily by agile FinTech companies that collect, process and make available content and offers.

"In light of changing customer needs and expectations, new interaction models, the increasing decomposition of value chains, and technological advances, retail banks need to develop new strategies for dealing with and positioning themselves in emerging ecosystems," Kiefer elaborates, adding, "Banks should move away from traditional strategic planning and think much more in terms of scenarios. This is the only way they can survive in the long term."

Measures help retail banks cope with the future

Depending on the scenario and their position in it, Swiss retail banks have to make important strategic decisions quickly. In doing so, they basically have two options: They can either develop and offer innovative and attractive products or focus on managing customer channels and relationships. They also need to think about how to merge the elements of traditional banking with services from a broader ecosystem.

"To increase business agility and drive innovation and growth, retail banks need to look from the inside out. They would be better off focusing on external partnerships and collaborations rather than internal practices and policies," advises Kiefer. Digitalization will also be an indispensable success factor in the current decade, he adds. And he adds, "But this requires more than keeping up with current technological trends. After all, customers today expect the best of both worlds: a personalized interaction coupled with the benefits of a digital offering."

Source and further information: Deloitte

In the Campus Hall at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland FHNW in Brugg-Windisch on March 22, 2023, more than 110 companies presented themselves as attractive employers for starting a career after graduation. A wide range of industries are on the lookout for the sought-after skilled workers: represented were numerous different economic sectors from technology and IT companies to service and consulting firms to financial institutions and industrial companies. 600 students from the three FHNW universities took the opportunity to get an impression of possible career paths, make contacts and compare job offers.

A premiere: the career profile lounge

This year, for the first time, there was a career lounge. Specialists such as IT system engineers, portfolio managers, and project managers talked to students in person about their day-to-day work. Those who wanted to deepen the conversations beyond the day of the fair could register for virtual one-to-one talks with the participating companies via the Talentspace app. These took place from March 27 to 29 and offered the chance for a personal exchange with the employer of choice.

Prof. Stephan Burkhart, head of the FHNW career organization next Career Services is very satisfied with the event: "Career Day 2023 was a great success. The more than 110 companies were able to hold exciting discussions with 600 students. The students appreciated the diversity of the companies and the relaxed atmosphere. We are already looking forward to Career Day 2024."

Source and further information: FHNW

Where is the digital transformation heading? Where are we today? What are common misconceptions about what digital transformation must be able to do? Prof. Dr. Bastian Widenmayer explored these and other questions in his keynote address "Digital Transformation - Quo vadis? His keynote formed the thematic prelude to the evening. "Digital transformation is a process that has already been ongoing for several years. Instead of wanting to manage and simplify digital transformation, we should rather learn to endure its complexity and reflect on digitization - for example in our own company - and ask ourselves whether what we are doing is actually the right thing to do," Widenmayer continues. Prof. Dr. Stefan Grösser, Head of Industrial Engineering at the Bern University of Applied Sciences, adds: "Instruments, methods and processes that enable digitization are indispensable, but not the sole key to success. It is much more important to train people who can apply them properly and, as drivers of change, make their knowledge effective in companies." Industrial engineers bring precisely these competencies with them to be able to analyze, interpret and optimize technical and economic aspects in company processes, business models and supply chains across disciplines.

From a data-driven persona tool to an on-demand urban air mobility network.

This year, the WI Award honored the best papers in the Bachelor and Continuing Education Master (MAS) categories. "We are proud to be able to contribute to the visibility of the profession with our nationwide network of partner schools. The submitted works testify to the diversity of application and activity areas: From production to marketing, industrial engineers* can occupy a key position with their work," says Daniel Büchel, Deputy President of the Association of Industrial Engineers Switzerland. The issues addressed in the theses show how broad, interdisciplinary and relevant the work of industrial engineers* is for addressing current challenges in business and society: the nominated theses cover topics ranging from creating personas for companies using data from Google Analytics to working on strategic and operational aspects for the introduction of an urban "on-demand" air mobility network in the Zurich region. The jury judged the submitted works according to criteria such as economic viability, the way in which the topic was presented, sustainability, and real-life practical relevance and feasibility. The Bachelor's thesis "Data-supported process and cost optimization for order picking and shipping" by Alexander Zingrich (University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland FHNW) and the Master's thesis "Development of an on-demand urban air mobility network in the greater Zurich area" by Fabiano Ulmke (Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW) were ultimately convincing.The audience award for the best presentation went to Sandro Gafner (BFH) for his bachelor thesis "Google Analytics as Basis for Creation of Personas".

WI-Award is awarded on a rotating basis

According to the rotation principle, the WI Award 2024 will guest at another university from the network of partner schools.
Partner schools: Bern University of Applied Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland FHNW, University of Applied Sciences Eastern Switzerland OST, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences HSLU, Distance Learning University of Applied Sciences Switzerland FFHS and Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW.

Industrial engineers design products, digitize supply chains, and optimize logistics processes and production facilities. They deal with technical and economic issues of the digital world and form the link between business, computer science and technology. In a digital world that is no longer imaginable without sustainability, they bring with them the best prerequisites for assuming a key position in a networked, future-oriented and competitive company.

Source: Bern University of Applied Sciences

With the Succession Demography of Switzerland, the Swiss Confederation for Business Succession (CHDU) underlines the importance of company successions. Depicted on the canton of Zurich, a "succession map" was presented for the first time. It shows 100 years of Swiss and Zurich succession development and demographics - from 1922 to 2022. The surveys of the succession demographics of Switzerland and the Canton of Zurich in the Succession Map 2022 result from the comparison of foundations and the current stock of sole proprietorships, collective limited partnerships, cooperatives, limited liability companies and stock corporations registered in the Swiss Commercial Register over the period from 1922 to 2022, in each case in 10-year steps.

Company successions on the rise

The figures are impressive: Whereas only 80,000 companies were entered in the commercial register in 1922, by the end of 2022 the number had risen to 680,000, with a further upward trend if the developments in company formations further into consideration. If around 15% of all companies continue to enter the succession process, the threshold of 100,000 companies in the succession process will soon be exceeded. This is an unprecedented number of companies, most of which want to be handed over or taken over. There is a real pressure wave of succession with consequent pressure to act for the Swiss economy, because about 800,000 jobs are linked to these companies.

It is also noteworthy that of the 5,756 organizations founded in Switzerland in 1922 and registered in the HR, only 97 or 1.7% can be found today, 100 years later. Figures that once again make clear how demanding long-term entrepreneurship is. Integrated into the 2022 succession map is the "100 list" for Switzerland and the Canton of Zurich. This lists the companies, organizations and enterprises that have successfully mastered this challenge and thus also several succession arrangements.

Canton by canton

With the Succession Map 2022, the CHDU has launched the first edition of this publication, which will be published annually in the future. The map is divided in equal parts into a nationwide and a cantonal representation of the current succession development and demographics. The cantonal representation in particular serves as a supplementary service for the cantons, in order to make the companies located there aware of the relevance of successful business succession by means of meaningful figures and graphics, as well as pointing out cantonal contact points and support options.

From now on, every canton has the option of a succession map with its own cantonal succession demography. The canton of Zurich kicked off the Succession Map 2022 by highlighting the high importance of business succession. Government Councillor and Director of Economic Affairs of the Canton of Zurich Carmen Walker Späh commented: " (...) In order to remain competitive, our economy will continue to depend on an agile, innovative and sustainable SME landscape in the future. The timely preparation of company succession is an important part of this. Only in this way will it be possible for our traditional SMEs to hang on to their company history for as many more decades as possible."

The location promotion department in the Office of Economic Affairs and Labor (AWA) of the Canton of Zurich supports the development and expansion of the association as a partner organization. The digital follow-up map 2022 is available there on the website at this link: www.wirtschaftsraum-zuerich.ch/100-jahre-nachfolge-entwicklung-die-druckwelle-steigt

The chemical industry is characterized by sometimes complex supply chains. The Dachser Chem Logistics webinar will discuss how logistics can become a competitive factor for chemical companies. The added value for participants lies in sharing their own views with other company representatives and the speaker, discovering potential for innovation and optimization, and discussing recommendations for action and feasible solutions.

The webinar will focus on the study "Purchasing Logistics Services in the Chemical Industry," the results of which will be presented by Prof. Dr. Christian Kille from the Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Applied Sciences (THWS). This will be followed by a discussion round moderated by Dachser Chem Logistics Business Development Managers Selina Hipp (Switzerland) and Manuel Schmelz (Austria).

The webinar provides new impetus for logistics services in the chemical industry of tomorrow and offers an interactive exchange of knowledge and experience. Decision-makers from purchasing, logistics and supply chain management as well as representatives of the trade press can participate.

Registration is done by e-mail to selina.hipp@dachser.com.

In 2022, the telecommunications provider Quickline not only recorded growth in mobile subscriptions and TV streaming, but can also be pleased about an increase in customer satisfaction. "The high level of customer satisfaction and excellent recommendation rate confirm the high quality of our products and services. Since September 2022, customers throughout Switzerland have been able to benefit from our offering," says Frédéric Goetschmann, CEO of Quickline. "As a Swiss company, we generate value in Switzerland, act agilely thanks to our size, and have a presence in the regions. This is part of our DNA and is highly appreciated by customers."

Win new customers, reward loyalty

In September, Quickline changed from a regional to a national provider and now also offers its entire product range outside the network area of Quickline partners. "Customer feedback shows that Quickline is perceived as a likeable telecom provider. Our performance in product development, marketing and support is well received by our customers. I am very proud of our employees in the Quickline network, whose daily commitment ensures an excellent customer experience," says Frédéric Goetschmann.

Quickline not only offers attractive deals to new customers, but also rewards existing customers. In February 2022, Quickline launched the Benefit customer loyalty program. Customers are rewarded for their loyalty with free or discounted tickets to sports, cultural and leisure events. In 2022, more than 50,000 customers benefited from the program.

Quickline has simplified the portfolio

For its entry into the national market, Quickline has simplified its offering and doubled the Internet speed of the two smaller subscriptions. Internet Only products can now also be subscribed to. Customers can now choose between Quickline Internet S (100 Mbit/s) and Quickline Internet XL (10 Gbit/s). Currently, customers benefit from Internet subscriptions for just CHF 34 per month for one year. Quickline TV and fixed network telephony can be added as required. The mobile offering has proven its worth and has been retained.

Quickline launched mobile Internet as a supplement to wired Internet in June 2022. With this product, Quickline meets the needs of mobile customers who want to use their personal access to the Internet at any time. This is regardless of whether they spend their time in a vacation apartment or a camper.

Smart meter solutions as a contribution to the energy transition

Since July 2022, small and medium-sized energy supply companies (EVU) have been relying on Quickline Energy's comprehensive smart meter solution. From procuring the meter and communication modules to data management and integration into the billing system and customer portal, Quickline Energy's complete solution offers great synergies. This allows the utility companies to focus on their customers and operations. "Smart meters are an important component of intelligent distribution networks. With Quickline Energy, we are making a contribution to the implementation of the Energy Strategy 2050 and thus to the energy transition," says Frédéric Goetschmann.

Source and further information

ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence that can access huge amounts of text and answer questions based on it. Helvetia is the world's first listed insurance company to use this technology in a live experiment with Clara, Helvetia's digital assistant in Switzerland. Clara's new chatbot service provides information on insurance, retirement planning and home ownership. To do so, the software draws on web content from Helvetia Switzerland - for example, product pages or advice articles. Everyone is invited to try out the new chatbot service free of charge.

Recognizing added value for customers

Helvetia clearly characterizes its new service as an experiment: the company wants to explore the potential of language models such as ChatGPT and find out how customers accept corresponding services. The main focus here is on the new service as defined in the strategy. helvetia 20.25 defined ambition to set standards in customer convenience and access, as Jan Kundert, Head of Customer and Market Management and member of the Executive Board of Helvetia Switzerland, explains: "We invest continuously and at various levels in a positive customer experience. That's why we want to recognize the added value that artificial intelligence can offer our customers."

Joint exploration is in the foreground

Helvetia was quick to offer chatbot services to its customers; it is considered an industry pioneer in this field thanks to its digital assistant Clara. When OpenAI published the ChatGPT application programming interface (API) at the beginning of March, Helvetia immediately began internal testing. Achim Baumstark, CTO of Helvetia Group, says, "It is clear to us that artificial intelligence and, in particular, language models will be an important competence in the future. Accordingly, we are interested in gaining experience with this technology as quickly as possible within a clearly defined test environment." The experiment is being accompanied by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. The latter will also support Helvetia in evaluating the results. The fact that this is an experiment is clearly described in the terms of use. Project manager Florian Nägele: "We are testing the possibilities of artificial intelligence together with interested customers. The chatbot in no way replaces an individual consultation with a specialist." Helvetia will decide how to proceed with Clara and its GPT capabilities after evaluating the initial findings.

Source and further information: Helvetia

Basically, we are all motivated. But we are all demotivated again and again by all kinds of factors (especially by leadership). Therefore, it is your important task as a leader to stop demotivation again and again and thereby indirectly increase the motivation of your people. Here are five things through which you demotivate your people:

1. treat your people like children

I know it sounds provocative, but many managers treat their people like children. This is expressed in language ("Why did you do it that way and not differently?") and also in many rules, regulations and strong control. If you declare your people to be immature, they will behave that way. And just because there were one or two cases where more control was needed, you don't take everyone else into clannish custody by issuing more regulations.

2. always give answers immediately

It may sound strange, but if you always give immediate answers to all questions, you demotivate others. This is because you deprive others of the chance to come up with answers and solutions themselves. If you do this consistently, your people will come to you before they have even thought about it. This is anything but motivating and leads straight to service by the book.

3. postpone decisions

I see this very often - especially in leadership teams: decisions are repeatedly postponed, or they simply peter out. Or the decision is not communicated. People notice that: "They up there don't decide anything anyway!" It's demotivating. Every motivating leadership is decision-making.

4. be afraid to be clear

It's amazing, but many leaders are afraid of too much clarity. Because then you have to stand by your statement. Unclarity, on the other hand, keeps some options open. The only thing is that lack of clarity creates uncertainty and demotivates your people. Behind this is often the need to be liked a lot. But that is not good leadership. Sometimes you simply have to "show the edge". If you use this correctly, it has a motivating effect. Ambiguity always has the opposite effect.

5. do not tackle unpleasant things

If you don't tackle unpleasant issues, you demotivate your people. In the end, these are the famous "skeletons in the closet" that eventually start to stink. By the way, a common example of this are decisions about people who should not stay in your team in the long run.

Conclusion: If you stop these five things, your people's motivation will go up. Try it out.

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

A recently published industry study shows that Europe's companies are still lagging behind in terms of digital business models. For the study "Europe's Industry in Transition" conducted at the end of 2022, 442 executives in 19 European countries were surveyed on behalf of the product innovation platform Aras. The survey participants are employed in companies with a minimum turnover of 40 million euros in the automotive, aerospace & defense, mechanical engineering, medical technology, chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries.

The wish is father of the thought in digital business models

The distorted self-image revealed in the study is dangerous and restricts the scope for action, the study authors complain. At the same time, companies are under great pressure to adapt. Nine out of ten industrial companies expect their business model to change further in the coming years. "The growing amount of data in everyday business life is obviously leading to overestimation of one's own capabilities," says Jens Rollenmüller, Managing Director of Aras Germany. "If 82 percent of the study participants already describe themselves as a digital industrial company, the wish is probably father to the thought here." The sentiment, he says, is too positive and hides the failures to date. "In reality, companies are not yet that far along. They often only understand digitization as broad data collection or the digital dispatch of data. However, the actual possibilities, right up to new, digital business models, are not yet being exploited," industry expert Rollenmüller continues.

Analyze and correlate existing and new data

Although 78 percent of respondents say that everyone in their company has access to the product data they need for their work, 62 percent admit that the quality of this data is poor. At the same time, however, 62 percent admit that the quality of this data is poor. And 79 percent complain about a silo structure, i.e., that the information is located in compartmentalized systems in various places in the company. Aras CEO Rollenmüller therefore believes that the industry is only at the beginning of its digitization journey: "To remain competitive in the long term, companies must leverage hidden potential. This can only be achieved if existing and new data is analyzed and correlated. This requires digitally mapped products and supply chains, which can then be developed into a true digital twin in the next step."

According to industry expert Rollenmüller, companies must make up for past failures as quickly as possible. This is because the upcoming changes are putting the industry under great pressure to transform. For example, 87 percent of those surveyed assume that their business model will continue to change over the next few years. Jens Rollenmüller: "The change is in full swing. More and more companies are already focusing on a modern product world. For example, according to our study, 36 percent of companies already offer PaaS (Product-as-a-Service) solutions, 35 percent are in the implementation phase for this and 15 percent are planning to do so."

Source: Aras