The Zug-based SAP consultancy retailsolutions, which specializes in wholesale and retail, is expanding further: it is strengthening its presence in Scandinavia and opening a branch office in the Swedish capital Stockholm. This step seems consistent if you take a closer look at its activities. After all, the company has already been active in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland since 2015 with projects at retail companies.

Closer support for customers possible

The establishment of a first branch office in Sweden is therefore now intended to further strengthen SAP's presence among medium-sized and large companies in Scandinavia. Michael Niestroy, Managing Partner for UK and Nordics at retailsolutions, says: "With the establishment of the branch office in Sweden, we will be able to serve our customers even more closely and assist them with implementations, services and application support in the respective national languages. We intend not only to offer consulting services, but also to be certified as an SAP Value Added Reseller and SAP Partner Centre of Expertise directly in the region with other locally based specialists in due course." In addition to its headquarters in Zug and its newest branch office in Stockholm, retailsolutions is present in four other locations in Germany, Austria and the United Kingdom. The branch is headed by Måns Nilback. He comes from the SAP consulting company Sapliment and has been working as a consultant and solution architect in the SAP retail environment in Scandinavia since 2006.

Scandinavia as a growth market for the SAP consulting company

The Nordic market is an essential part of retailsolutions' growth strategy and has contributed significantly to the success of the company's expansion. The company is positive about the prospects for further growth with existing and new customers in Scandinavia. Both customers and partner SAP welcome the idea of having an internationally experienced organization specializing in SAP Retail in the regional partner ecosystem. Among other things, the RapidRetail solution developed by retailsolutions as a supplement to SAP Retail, as well as complementary products based on SAP technologies, are expected to contribute to achieving the sales targets. 

Source: retailsolutions

Digital invoicing is on the rise and appears to be enjoying increasing popularity. In 2021, more than 50 million transactions were made via eBill for the first time, according to SIX, which operates the infrastructure for processing digital. Banks Around 100 Swiss banks offer eBill to their customers. With around 2.5 million users, the digital bill now reaches a good half of all Swiss households, according to the statement. The payment of a bill takes place in online banking with one click or can be automated if desired. Incoming bills are therefore not lost and can be accessed at any time in online banking.

More and more companies are turning to digital invoicing

Business customers are also benefiting from the advantages of digital invoice processing. They are also increasingly switching their invoicing to eBill. More than 4,000 well-known companies already send their invoices via eBill and thus directly into their customers' online banking. Thus, all leading telecommunication providers, health insurances, energy providers, transport companies, public administrations and credit card providers already rely on eBill. And more providers are joining every month.

Further innovations announced

This year, further innovations for eBill are on the horizon. For example, it will be possible for companies to not only send invoices via eBill with their business software, but also to receive and process them directly without media discontinuity. This will create a significant efficiency advantage over conventional methods, from which SMEs in particular are likely to benefit. Foundations and donation organizations will also be able to use eBill to collect their donations from autumn 2022, in a way that is very transparent, secure and convenient for donors. SIX describes this as another important step towards the full digitalization of accounting in Switzerland.

More info at: www.eBill.ch and www.einfach-zahlen.ch

The last two years have been an object lesson in the power of events to throw the carefully calibrated machinery of global trade into chaos. In early 2020, it was Covid and the associated global power outages that threw supply chains into disarray. In March 2021, it was the container ship Ever Given that blocked the Suez Canal, the world's most strategic waterway. Companies need to prepare for the following in particular in 2022:

1. something unpredictable will happen

My first prediction is therefore the simplest of all: There will be an event that comes completely out of the blue and for which most manufacturers and suppliers will not be prepared. This event will further highlight the vulnerability of just-in-time supply chains. By this I mean the whole model of supply chains in general, where every broken link has an impact on the whole world.

Buyers and suppliers are increasingly aware that the models they have built over the past decades are no longer fit for purpose. They recognize that a paradigm shift is urgently needed to create the robust, resilient and agile supply chains of the future.

2. supply chains 2022: volatility is the new normal

Before the pandemic, companies were preparing for local or, at most, regional disruptions. Covid was an order of magnitude bigger than anything we had prepared for: hardly anyone had played out such a scenario or conducted a stress test on this scale. We will be busy for years to come trying to understand the implications of Covid, but we can predict one of the medium-term outcomes, which is that volatility will be a feature of global trade well into 2022.

This is already clearly evident: The Index of Global Trade Health Q3-2021 shows a significant decline in trading activity on our platform, with order volumes down 24 points - the sharpest decline we have seen since the peak of the first lockdown. Longer lead times, tightening bottlenecks and rising commodity prices are beginning to influence buyer behavior. With no compelling evidence that suppliers have begun to manage their backlog, we can expect a bumpy ride for the foreseeable future.

3. technology will not replace people, but support them

There is a fear that automation will drive unemployment, but in reality it is the other way around. As robots and artificial intelligence become more widespread, so will the need for people to analyze and interpret the information they generate.

In 2022, companies will find themselves in a race for talent like never before. They will quickly realize that their biggest procurement challenge is not sourcing raw materials or components, but how to secure the expertise they need to successfully drive innovation as well as make intelligent, data-driven business decisions to maintain the overall stability, integrity and diversity of supplier relationships.

I would go even further and say that the companies that are most successful at doing this are not simply hiring top talent, but are able to leverage the capabilities within their supplier network. To navigate the events of the coming year - be it changing consumption patterns, supply chain revolutions or changing user experience expectations - companies will need to work closely with their suppliers. They will need to pool their resources, including the insights and analytics they generate, to develop solutions that deliver results across the value chain.

The demand for these skills will lead to a "revolution of the human" in everything from recruitment to education in the coming years, but its impact will be felt first in the supply chain - and it will undoubtedly be one of the defining themes of the year ahead.

4. truly mean environmental awareness

In one respect, 2022 will be like all the years before: companies will continue to stress their environmental friendliness and sustainability, paying lip service to saving the planet. These claims are often little more than hot air, as a study this year found that 42 percent of "green" claims of companies are false or misleading.

Over the next 12 months, that will change. Not only are consumers more concerned about climate change, pollution and other sustainable issues. They are also increasingly intolerant of companies that talk about sustainability without making real changes, recognize so-called greenwashing and denounce it.

In 2022, companies will be under pressure to prove that they are taking meaningful action on sustainability. There is no question that it is in the interest of companies to be demonstrably green. The problem is measuring this across complex international value chains. Deloitte recently found that 65 percent of the companies have limited or no visibility into their first-tier suppliers.

I predict that the most effective standards will not be hammered out at climate summits or in corridors of power, but will evolve organically - as a byproduct of the ongoing quest for digitization and transparency throughout supply chains.

5. the move towards more technology

Digitization cannot fix global volatility, but it will give companies the agility they need to respond effectively - but only if it is accompanied by a change in mindset. Instead of looking at each element of the supply chain individually, we need to take a step back and see it as a whole. The companies that stand to gain the most from this crisis will be those that figure out how to connect buyers and suppliers more dynamically as part of a richer, digitally focused ecosystem - a community where interconnectivity creates a network effect far more powerful than any technical application.

Companies are recognizing how technology can help create end-to-end resilience that protects not only their own interests, but the interests of the entire ecosystem. Innovation will accelerate in areas such as trade finance, which has not adequately supported suppliers during the pandemic. A new wave of digitized financing products will close this gap and provide suppliers with faster access to working capital, encouraging them to replenish their depleted inventories.

The use of B2B marketplaces will also continue to grow as procurement teams look to build more flexible and diverse supplier relationships. The curated marketplace model plays an important role in helping buyers and suppliers brace for disruption by intelligently aggregating supplier capabilities and aligning them with high-demand areas.

Source reference: 

• https://hub.tradeshift.com/research-and-reports/the-tradeshift-index-of-global-trade-health-q3/
• https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/42-percent-of-companies-exaggerate-sustainability-claims-says-new-report/2021020253349
• https://www.truthinadvertising.org/six-companies-accused-greenwashing/
• https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/media-releases/articles/deloitte-finds-leaders-dont-have-visibility-supply-chain-070318.html

Author:
Christian Lanng is CEO of Tradeshift. Tradeshift is active in e-invoicing and accounts payable automation as well as B2B marketplaces and access to supplier financing.

More information: www.tradeshift.com/de

In the study "Why Shopping's Set for a Social Revolution," the consulting firm Accenture looks at the market potential of social commerce. The term "social commerce" covers a person's entire shopping experience, from product discovery to the final purchase transaction, which takes place on a social media platform. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of social media users surveyed said they had made a social commerce purchase in the past year, which Accenture estimates equates to nearly two billion social commerce consumers worldwide.

Pandemic also fuels social media shopping

The fact that social platforms serve as an entry point for online activities and that users consume news, entertainment and communication offerings there was demonstrated once again not least by the pandemic. The continuous increase in the amount of time users spend on social media underscores the importance of online platforms in everyday life. This also influences people's buying behavior. This opens up new revenue streams and opportunities for platforms and brands to design user experiences.

Attractive for smaller brands

Smaller brands and individual companies can benefit from this development. 54% of the surveyed social media users:inside expressed that they would like to support small and medium-sized businesses when purchasing via social commerce sites. At the same time, 64% and 57% of the respondents, respectively, said that they would rather buy something for themselves when buying through social commerce platforms, considering the same sellers:ins or influencers:ins. This confirms the importance and potential of correct positioning on social commerce platforms.
"Social commerce can make it easier for smaller brands and individual entrepreneurs to creatively engage with customers, while also requiring big brands to rethink traditional e-commerce strategies," said David Holtmann, Accenture's managing director for consumer goods and services. "The right approach to social commerce requires manufacturers, sellers and brands to take their products and services to where consumers are and will be. A dynamic ecosystem is emerging in which platforms, marketplaces, social media and influencers interact. Data and expertise should be shared. This is the only way to create the right incentives for customers and offer the best customer experience in an integrated digital marketplace."

Create trust

Despite the upward trend in social media shopping, half of the social media users surveyed are concerned that purchases are not adequately protected or refunded when necessary. A lack of trust is thus becoming the biggest obstacle to the new sales channel, similar to the situation at the beginning of e-commerce.

"One of the main reasons for the reluctance to engage in social commerce to date is the lack of trust in the credibility of providers. Active social commerce users point to inadequate guidelines for returns, refunds or exchanges and see room for improvement here," says Holtmann. "Lack of trust is a problem that can only be overcome slowly. However, sellers:inside that focus on these consumer:inside concerns are in a better position to gain market share."

Who buys what in social media shopping?

Accenture predicts that by 2025, most purchases via social media shopping worldwide will be in apparel (18%), consumer electronics (13%), and home textiles (7%). In China, fresh food and snacks are also among the big product categories, accounting for 13%. Cosmetics and personal care, while smaller in terms of total social commerce sales, will quickly gain ground on traditional e-commerce. This category is expected to account for over 40% of digital spend on average in the major markets by 2025.

Source and further information: Accenture

The Bernese bear and the St.Gallen bear, the heraldic animal of the city of St.Gallen, are making common cause in matters of digitization in eastern Switzerland: Bern-based Edorex AG, a developer of individual software, is expanding to St.Gallen and means a reinforcement of the IT location there. As a well-connected company, it can hope for rapid growth. "We see great potential in the SME environment in particular. Eastern Switzerland is characterized by market-leading, innovative SMEs and offers the ideal basis for new projects and the further growth of Edorex AG," says its CEO Robert Benetik.

Large enterprises and SMEs as customers

The customer base of Edorex AG ranges from public administration, to medium-sized SMEs, to companies such as Swisscom, SBB or Migros. The company with its approximately 60 employees relies on modern methods such as Design Thinking, Design Sprint and develops agilely according to the framework SCRUM. In addition to its core business of individual software development, it supports its customers in the database area. The company is a Gold Partner of Oracle and a certified Microsoft Partner.

Nico Dudli will set up Edorex's Eastern Switzerland location

Edorex AG is anchored in the Bern region and focuses on Swissness. Now it wants to bring its expertise to the region of Eastern Switzerland. In building up the region, the software company is deliberately relying on Nico Dudli, a native of eastern Switzerland. He is excited about his new task and says: "Right now, in a time of digital upheaval, many companies are facing major challenges. They have to break new ground, optimize their core processes or meet growing customer needs. We can support companies right from the idea generation stage with various workshop formats and, if required, take over development & operation of a software."

Source and further information

It became apparent in recent days that major events would have a hard time in January. The organizers of the 27th Rheintaler Wirtschaftsforum already suspected this in December and looked for a possible alternative date with the speakers - and found it: The popular Rheintaler Wirtschaftsforum will take place this year on Thursday, June 2, 2022.

Keller-Sutter and Schneider are at WIFO

Of course, the survey of the speakers' schedules did not result in a perfect match on which all of them would have been able to attend. But both Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter, despite her session, and Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider chose June 2. The moderator, Sonja Hasler, was also able to "shovel" this day off. Gerd Gigerenzer and Ursula Nold are currently clarifying whether the date also suits them. If not, the organizers are convinced that they will be able to engage competent substitute speakers.

Registrations remain valid

More than 600 registrations have been received for the Rheintaler Wirtschaftsforum. Registrations for January naturally retain their validity for the June date. The organizers will gladly accept additional registrations. Tickets are available at www.wifo.ch available.

In fact, it is already becoming apparent that 2021 was one of the most successful years for cybercriminals. In the first half of the year alone, the theft of almost 19 billion data records became known. Damage caused by cybercrime reached a record sum of 223.5 billion euros in Germany in 2020, for example (source: Bitkom). Here, it is not only companies offering online services that have a duty to take security precautions. It is just as important that private users take responsibility for their security online.

10 cyber security resolutions

Security software maker ESET reveals the ten worst habits of Internet users that they should reconsider in 2022.

1. Use outdated software: Vulnerabilities in operating systems, browsers and other software on PCs and devices are one of the most important attack opportunities for cybercriminals. The problem is that more and more of these flaws are being discovered every year. The good news is that this task doesn't have to interfere too much with everyday life if you enable the automatic update function and click through when prompted to update.
2. Poor password hygiene: Passwords are the keys to the digital four walls. On average, Internet users have to remember about 100 passwords. Using the same password for multiple accounts and easily guessed login data gives hackers a big advantage. They have software to crack weak encryptions, try commonly used variants, and try to use cracked passwords for other accounts. Instead, use a password manager to create and retrieve strong, unique passwords or passphrases. And enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for all accounts that offer it.
3. Use of public WLAN networks: Nowadays, we are all on the move more. This also leads to more frequent use of public WLAN networks. But that carries risks. Hackers can use these same networks to eavesdrop on users, access accounts, and steal identities. To be safe, you should avoid these public hotspots altogether. If you must use them, don't log into important accounts while connected. Moreover, you should always have a VPN enabled while doing so.
4. Don't think before you click: Phishing is one of the biggest cyber threats ever. The attacker tries to trick his victim into clicking on a malicious link or opening a malware-infested attachment. The attackers take advantage of the gullibility of many users and often try to force quick decisions by giving the message a sense of urgency. The most important rule to thwart these attacks is to think before you click. Verify with the person or company sending the email that it is a legitimate sender.
5. No security on all devices: It goes without saying that in this age of numerous cyber threats, all PCs and laptops should have an IT security solution installed from a trusted vendor. Research shows that users spend nearly 5,000 hours on smartphones and tablets every year. And during that time, there are many opportunities to encounter malicious apps and websites. That's why these devices should be protected with a reliable security app as well.
6. Use of unsafe websites: HTTPS websites use encryption to protect traffic between the browser and the website in question. This serves two purposes: It authenticates the website as genuine and not a phishing or fraudulent one, and it ensures that cybercriminals can't eavesdrop on the communication to steal passwords and financial data. This is not a 100% guarantee that nothing bad will happen, as even many phishing websites use HTTPS these days. But it's a good start. Therefore, users should always look for the padlock icon while browsing.
7. Do not separate work and private life: The Corona pandemic has led to a blurring of the once clearly defined boundary between work and private life. As that line has become increasingly blurred, cyber risks have crept in. One example is the use of work emails and passwords to register on shopping and other websites. What happens if these sites are hacked? Attackers could use them to hijack the company account. Using unprotected personal devices for work also poses an additional risk. Keeping work and personal life separate is worth the extra effort.
8. Giving out data on the phone: Just as email and SMS phishing use social engineering techniques to trick users into clicking, voice phishing, also known as vishing, is a popular method of eliciting personal and financial information from victims. The scammers often disguise their real number to lend legitimacy to the attack. The best rule of thumb is not to reveal confidential information over the phone. Ask who the caller is and where they are calling from, then call the company directly to verify - and don't use phone numbers provided by the caller.
9. No backups: Ransomware costs companies hundreds of millions of euros every year. That's why it's sometimes easy to forget that there are still variants lurking for consumers. One horror scenario: the home PC is locked and no access is possible anymore. All the data on it, and possibly cloud storage, could be lost forever - including family photos and important work documents. Regular backups give you peace of mind in case the worst happens.
10. No protection for the smart home: Almost a third of European homes are equipped with smart devices such as voice assistants, heating thermostats, smart TVs and security cameras. However, by being networked and connected to the Internet, these devices are also an attractive target for criminals. They can be hijacked and turned into botnets to launch attacks on others, or used as gateways to the rest of your devices and data. Change default passwords at startup to ensure the security of your devices. Also, be sure to choose a vendor that fixes known vulnerabilities in their products and learn about potential security holes before purchasing a device.

Source: ESET

Venture Kick, a leading startup funding program, is increasing its budget by 10 percent to CHF 6.1 million. This budget increase will allow it to further increase its impact, the organization says. Over the past 15 years, juries of successful entrepreneurs and investors have selected 841 startup projects from nearly 5,400 applications. Since its inception in 2007, the competitive program has already invested CHF 39.71 million. "Being able to increase support further in 2022 is a tribute to the impressive achievements of the entrepreneurs we have supported so far: it shows how impactful our support has been and gives us confidence that we can continue to create even more value in the future," said Pascale Vonmont, President of Venture Kick's Strategy Committee. In addition, the support program will celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2022.

The path to CHF 1'000'000+ in seed funding

For 2022, Venture Kick plans 51 jury sessions - one per week. The jury will select 89 new projects to enter the Venture Kick process in 2022, joining previous 2021 winners for the next phases. This year, 173 "kicks" will support the financial and business acceleration of spin-offs. By participating in Venture Kick, the selected startups will have access to more than CHF 1,000,000 in potential funding, consisting of CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick, CHF 150,000 from the Gebert Rüf Foundation's InnoBooster program for candidates that passed Venture Kick Stage 1, and up to CHF 850,000 from the Kick Fund for startups selected in Venture Kick Stage 3.

Startup funding that goes beyond money

Over the years, entrepreneurs who have benefited from Venture Kick have consistently emphasized that the "kicking" goes beyond the money. "The Venture Kick process has been a transformative experience. Throughout the year, the challenging panel of judges and the Kickers camps helped us tremendously in developing the company and our entrepreneurial skills," said Denys Sutter, co-founder and CEO of Venture Kick winner condenZero. The credibility offered by the selection and the direct and structured feedback are important contributions to the startups' development. "Venture Kick has provided us with extensive visibility and support to grow our network and find a path in the value chain. The kicks at Kickers Camp were memorable and very helpful! Venture Kick laid the foundation for our future market entry with a solid pipeline of relevant partners and customers," said Margaux Peltier, co-founder and CEO of Venture Kick winner Enerdrape.

Venture Kick is on a mission

"What started as a small initiative 15 years ago has become a reference in early-stage support, and thanks to the feedback from the startups we support, we find the motivation to keep improving," explains Jordi Montserrat, co-managing director of Venture Kick. "We are ready to implement the ambitious 2022 goal and have our 'Mission 2027' in sight: To create 1,000 high-tech startups in Switzerland that create 15,000 active jobs.

Source and further information: www.venturekick.ch

The TLS Telemetry Report 2021 by F5 Labs, a cloud and security solutions provider, studied 1 million of the world's top websites. According to this study, attackers are increasingly using Transportation Layer Security (TLS) to their advantage in phishing campaigns. TLS, also known as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), is an encryption protocol for secure data transmission on the Internet, so its misuse is understandably all the more serious. More than half of all web servers still allow the use of insecure RSA keys.

Insecure servers behind important websites

Additionally, according to F5 Labs, new fingerprinting techniques raise questions about the proliferation of malware servers hiding in key websites. "More than ever, both nation-states and cybercriminals are trying to circumvent strong encryption," said David Warburton, senior threat research evangelist at F5 and author of the study. "Given these pervasive risks, it has never been more important to use strong and up-to-date HTTPS configurations. This is especially true when using digital certificates from various services."

Two steps forward, one step back

According to F5 Labs, the faster and more secure TLS 1.3 protocol is increasingly being used. For the first time, TLS 1.3 was available for most web servers on the Tranco Top 1M List the encryption protocol of choice. Almost 63 percent of servers now prefer TLS 1.3, as do over 95 percent of all actively used browsers. In the U.S. and Canada, as many as 80 percent of web servers use TLS, compared to only 15 percent in China or Israel.

DNS Certification Authority Authorization (CAA) can prevent the fraudulent issuance of certificates. From 2019 (1.8 % of sites) to 2021 (3.5 %), usage shows a significant increase, but it remains at a very low level. Also of concern is that while almost all servers in the top list prefer secure Diffie-Hellman key agreements, 52 percent of servers still allow the insecure RSA key exchange mentioned at the beginning.

In addition, F5 Labs' analyses have shown that key revocation methods are almost completely useless. Therefore, certification authorities (CAs) and browser manufacturers increasingly want to move to extremely short-term certificates. Revoking a stolen certificate is much easier if it expires in a few weeks anyway. Currently, the most common certificate lifespan is 90 days, which applies to just over 42 percent of all websites.

Increasing security risks

The number of phishing sites using HTTPS with valid certificates increased from 70 percent in 2019 to nearly 83 percent in 2021. About 80 percent of malicious websites originated from only 3.8 percent of hosting providers. Phishers prefer Fastly here, closely followed by Unified Layer, Cloudflare and Namecheap.

The most frequently spoofed brands in phishing attacks are Facebook and Microsoft Outlook/Office 365. At the same time, stolen credentials from these sites have great value, in part because many other accounts use them as an identity provider (IdP) or password reset function. In addition, F5 Labs found that webmail platforms are imitated almost as often as Facebook to conduct phishing attacks, at 10.4 percent.

Source: F5 Labs

The pandemic has - as we know - some serious effects on companies. At the forefront of these effects are the employees. According to the latest work barometer of the personnel service provider Randstad, many employees are very specifically concerned with their professional situation and their future. It is striking that employees are increasingly concerned about their work-life balance. According to Randstad, more than two-thirds worldwide (67 %) and over half in Switzerland (52 %) feel encouraged to strive to improve their situation in this area.

Employees now act when they are dissatisfied

This sense of clarity prompts more than half (56 %) of employees worldwide to start looking for a job. A quarter (26 %) have recently changed jobs and 30 % are currently actively looking for work. In Switzerland, just under half (49.8 %) are open to a new professional challenge or are actively looking for a job, according to the Labor Barometer. For quite a few employees, there also seems to be a certain amount of frustration with the existing situation at their workplaces: 66 percent of respondents in Switzerland have not been promoted and 12.1 percent have been promoted but did not receive a salary increase in the process. Against this background, what could be more natural than to take advantage of the so-called candidate market to achieve an improvement in their professional situation?

Change in the mentality of employees

The wind has changed in some companies: At the beginning of the pandemic, respondents said they felt supported by their employers, even as jobs were eliminated and layoffs were announced. Later, a strong desire for a return to normalcy emerged, accompanied by a sense of optimism. The latest survey now reveals a new surprising trend: the "big realization."

For workers around the world, the pandemic has brought a new sense of clarity. They are taking a hard look at what is important to them in their professional and personal lives. And they are also ready to embrace change to achieve an improvement in balance as well as in their professional situation. Almost half of employees worldwide (49 %) say they feel more stressed since the pandemic and therefore want to change their work life. In Switzerland, this proportion is much lower, at one-third (33 %). Three quarters (76 %) worldwide and two thirds (65 %) in Switzerland are looking for more flexibility in their jobs and careers.

Employees are ready for change

The results of the Randstad survey show: The pandemic is encouraging people to get clear about what they really want. Before COVID-19, workers were primarily focused on their daily tasks at work. During the pandemic, many found the time and leisure to reevaluate their lives and careers. They asked themselves whether the company they work for offers them the value they want. If the answer is "no," a job change is the obvious choice. One of the most important questions employers must now ask themselves is whether they are adequately meeting the needs of their employees.

In Switzerland, 43 % of employees feel undervalued. For this reason, they are looking for a job where they are valued more and paid better. Globally, 54 % feel insufficiently rewarded. Among younger employees, 25-34 year olds, two-thirds (62 %) are looking for a job with better pay and benefits for this reason.

Now is the time for companies to act

So what does this mean for employers? One of the most important things employers can do to ensure the loyalty of their employees is to show empathy. This is no easy task, though Randstad's survey a year ago found that most companies were sufficiently competent at it. But a year later, employee expectations have shifted, as is now evident. This is because a majority feel they are not being adequately compensated for their skills.

Offering competitive salary and benefits is one of the minimum requirements in the battle for the best talent. Randstad recommends that companies continue to strive to offer added value to their employees: Be it flexible working hours, home office options, professional development opportunities and others.

Randstad Work Barometer

The Randstad Work Barometer was launched in 2003. The survey is now collected in 34 markets in the Europe, Asia Pacific and Americas regions. The Randstad Work Barometer is published twice a year and highlights both local and global mobility trends over time. In addition to changing topical issues, it also surveys topics such as job satisfaction and employees' desire to change jobs. The survey also paints a comprehensive picture of labor market sentiments and trends. The survey is conducted online among employees aged 18 to 65 who work at least 24 hours per week in a paid job (not self-employed). The minimum sample size is 800 interviews per market. the Dynata panel is used for sampling.

More information: www.randstad.com

The Omikron variant of the Corona virus also proves to be too big a risk for the award ceremony of the Prix SVC Espace Mittelland 2022: The award ceremony planned for January 19, 2022 will be postponed to spring 2023. The new date is March 15, 2023. "It is important to the Swiss Venture Club to be able to hold the Prix SVC Espace Mitteland without restrictions and in a dignified, festive setting - with over 1,000 guests and a networking aperitif," says the SVC, explaining the decision. "The Prix SVC thrives on emotions, on appreciating the finalists and on networking. We want to offer this to our guests, finalists and partners without restrictive measures, which is why we have decided to postpone the award ceremony," explains OC President and SVC Regional Director Roland Schaller.

The nominees for the Prix SVC Espace Mittelland

So now the six finalists must continue to exercise patience, because the prize should actually have been awarded in August 2021. The companies nominated for the award are:

• Hugentobler Swiss Cooking Systems Ltd, Schönbühl (www.hugentobler.ch): More than 50 years of experience and the lifeblood of a Swiss entrepreneurial family are behind Hugentobler cooking systems. The company is a market leader as a total provider of development, manufacturing, training, sales and service of modern commercial kitchen equipment and cooking systems. The company is managed by Reto Hugentobler in the second generation and employs around 120 people at six locations.
• Kästli & Co. AG, Belp (www.kaestlistoren.ch): Textile sun and weather protection systems have been the world of the Kästli family for over 80 years. The company, managed in the third generation by Marc Kästli, is the market leader for custom-made textile sun protection. The strategic orientation and the size of the company allow the flexible realization of individual ideas tailored to the shape and use of the building. 45 employees work in the in-house manufacture and sewing shop in Belp.
• MB-Microtec AG, Niederwangen (www.mbmicrotec.com): The company is a global market leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of microcomponents for the watch, security, automotive, space and aerospace industries. Under the brand name trigalight, the company manufactures self-luminous gas capillaries that glow with unchanged luminescence for years without an external energy source. The in-house watch brand traser offers uncompromising functionality and robustness with highly resistant materials as well as the trigalight self-luminous technology. The family-owned company is led by CEO Roger Siegenthaler and employs around one hundred people.
• Lanz Dairy Ltd, Obergerlafingen (www.lanzmilch.ch): Quality, milk from the region, natural ingredients and gentle processing are the principles according to which Privatmolkerei Lanz AG produces dairy products, yogurt, whipped cream and other milk-based specialties in its modern production building in Obergerlafingen. Six days a week, it supplies over 300 Engro customers. Founded in 1941, the family business is now run by Olivia and Gregor Lanz in the third generation and employs 60 people.
• SANITIZED INC, Burgdorf (www.sanitized.com): The company is a global leader in hygiene function and material protection for textiles, plastics and paints. For over 80 years, the company has pioneered, developed innovative, effective and safe technologies for antimicrobial finishes. SANITIZED AG has a worldwide network for distribution, production support and quality control. Sanitized® is a globally used and valued ingredient brand present on end products from over 300 brand manufacturers worldwide. The company is led by CEO Urs Stalder and employs 60 people.
• Thommen Medical, Grenchen (www.thommenmedical.com): Thommen Medical is an independent Swiss manufacturer of dental implants and is led by CEO Livio Marzo. Even after more than 33 years of clinical experience, Thommen Medical continues to research and develop in close collaboration with leading international dentists, dental technicians and renowned academic institutions with the aim of ensuring that every patient has access to the best available tooth replacement solution. Thommen Medical manufactures its products at its own facility in Grenchen, Switzerland. The company, which employs over 115 people, has subsidiaries in Switzerland, Germany and the USA. In other markets in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Thommen Medical is represented by exclusive distributors.

More information: Swiss Venture Club

The online platform provider Visable draws a positive balance for the year 2021. The company achieved record sales of CHF 68.4 million. This is a growth of 14 percent compared to the previous year, according to the company. "We are pleased with the successful year 2021 despite the ongoing corona crisis," says Visable CEO Peter F. Schmid. "We were able to make further significant gains, particularly in new customer business, with an increase of 15 percent compared to the previous year," Schmid explains.

Mechanical engineering and respirators

The Corona pandemic visibly impacted demand on Visable platforms. For example, the most frequently searched product categories on wlw (formerly "Wer liefert was") in 2021 were mechanical engineering, respirators, food, freight forwarders and metal construction. The strongest search increases were for industrial computers, power transmission elements, design systems, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers (EVOH) and engine monitoring systems.

Demand on the Visable platforms is also becoming increasingly international and is no longer limited to Europe. Accesses from 180 countries were recorded on wlw, and even from over 200 countries on Europages. Traffic from the Asian region is growing disproportionately on both platforms, according to another Visable observation.

Improving the existing offering as a basis for further growth

The needs of users have changed. Visable has responded to this and expanded its existing mobile offering in 2021 to include an app for suppliers. Among other things, the new wlw Supplier app ensures simple mobile management of the company profile and incoming requests. The integration of the Message Center on Europages to centralize communication between buyers and suppliers as well as the integration of financial data in the company profiles on wlw were further milestones in product development.

The company is also announcing new features for 2022 to bring buyers and suppliers together even more efficiently, according to reports. For example, a new free service is to be implemented in Europages that will allow buyers to submit a detailed inquiry, on the basis of which Visable experts will search for and contact relevant suppliers. Procurement experts can thus significantly shorten their purchasing process. The launch of the "Visitor of my Profile" function, which has already been implemented on wlw, is also planned for Europages in spring 2022. Customers will be able to see which companies have visited their profile and thus target their sales activities to make valuable contacts.

Source and further information: Visable Ltd.