Digital transformation: New association as "sparring partner" for SMEs

It is of central importance for Switzerland as a business location that SMEs successfully master the digital transformation. "SMEs are the backbone of the economy, but they often underestimate the challenges of this new industrial revolution," says Sita Mazumder from the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. With the Chief Digital Community (CDC) association, the university has now created a vehicle to help SMEs better master the transformation.

Sparring partner for SMEs

"We see ourselves as a sparring partner for SMEs," explains Mazumder, who heads the association as president. "With the Chief Digital Community, we support them in as practical a way as possible." The new association offers SME decision-makers advice on specific questions about digitization, access to a broad network, continuing education, and events close to everyday business life.

Workshops with "Challenge

A core element of the CDC offering is the SME Challenge. In this workshop, one company at a time presents its digitization efforts to the representatives of other SMEs in attendance. The aim is for the companies to learn from each other and support each other in their digitization efforts. The first company to present itself is Arcmedia AG, a Lucerne-based e-business and Internet service provider, on April 12, 2018.

Research results tailored to SMEs

The CDC's approaches are based on current research findings on the topic of digital transformation of the economy. The majority of existing analyses, however, focus on large companies in the English-speaking world, as Sita Mazumder says. For Swiss SMEs, these are of limited direct use, she says. "That's why we select the studies that are relevant for SMEs and make them available to our members. In addition, we conduct our own studies together with colleges, universities and other institutions."

More information is available on the association's website: www.chiefdigital.ch