For a long time, databases were regarded as reliable but comparatively static systems: store, query, deliver results. But with the triumph of artificial intelligence, architecture and operation are changing rapidly. AI-supported query optimization and indexing as well as integrated machine learning models for predictive analyses are increasingly becoming standard. As a result, governance and compliance requirements are growing - and with them the remit of database administrators. From Redgate's point of view, they should take four measures to take advantage of the new AI functions without falling into regulatory pitfalls:

1. Establish data governance. A good framework for the data is the basis of any successful AI strategy. DBAs should define guidelines that ensure data quality, integrity and security. This includes clearly defining data responsibilities, regulating access rights and implementing procedures for stringent data lifecycle management. So-called data catalogs facilitate the classification and management of metadata and ensure a transparent data flow. The use of data masking techniques is also essential. They anonymize sensitive information before it is used in development, testing or other environments. Data is modified in such a way that unauthorized persons do not gain access to personal information, but the data can still be used for testing and analysis. This is particularly important in order to comply with regulations such as the GDPR or the US HIPAA.
2. Carry out regular data audits. Audits are as essential for databases as preventive medical check-ups are for health. However, they not only check compliance with regulatory requirements, but also reveal optimization potential. Special data observability tools are particularly helpful here. They make processes transparent and traceable, log every input and output of AI models, uncover possible distortions and ensure that the data used for a model can be traced at any time. Especially in the database context, AI is often perceived as a „black box“. When machine learning models are directly integrated - for predictive analytics or automatic optimization, for example - DBAs must ensure that decisions and results remain explainable. 
3. Consistently secure access. AI not only brings efficiency, but also new threats: prompt injection, data poisoning or the targeted exploitation of vulnerabilities in machine learning models can directly affect databases. Proactive protection concepts and continuous monitoring are therefore more important than ever. Multi-level security concepts are mandatory to prevent unauthorized access in the best possible way. Multi-factor authentication (MFA), role-based access control (RBAC) and regular checks of authorizations ensure that only authorized users with the minimum required rights work on databases. Transparent access logs also make it easier to provide evidence during audits and reduce the risk of costly data breaches. 
4. Automate reporting. If you want to prove compliance, you need complete documentation. DBAs should record in detail where data comes from, how it is processed and how AI models were developed. Automated, continuously updated documentation by the tools used is ideal. At the same time, the regulatory framework for AI is evolving dynamically, which is why DBAs should also seek out exchanges in specialist forums and associations. This is the only way they can adapt new regulations and best practices at an early stage. 

„With the increasing use of artificial intelligence, the profile of database administrators is also changing. Query tuners are becoming specialists who, in addition to their traditional tasks, also have an eye on governance, model monitoring and security. In future, knowledge of machine learning and a deep understanding of data protection guidelines will be just as important as traditional database expertise,“ says Oliver Stein, Managing Director DACH at Redgate. „Clear governance rules are therefore essential. This ranges from role and rights concepts to audit trails for machine-generated query plans and ML models to explainable AI in order to meet regulatory requirements - such as those arising from the GDPR or industry-specific requirements in the financial and healthcare sectors.“

Source: www.red-gate.com/de/

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/compliance-im-ki-zeitalter-worauf-dbas-achten-muessen/

Courage, personality and cohesion

What does a prison have to do with first aid? Sometimes more than you might like. Because legal issues are on the minds of many a first aider. There are fears that they could do something wrong and be prosecuted for it. But there are also doubts about what is allowed and what is not. And sometimes there are various myths involved. The fifth First Aider Symposium on November 8, 2025 at the KKL Lucerne was dedicated to such legal aspects of first aid under the title «First aiders - one foot in prison already?».

420 participants and 25 exhibitors responded to the organizers' call and came to the First Responders Symposium 2025 in the Lucerne Hall at the KKL Luzern. Donat Hofer led through the program, structuring the day with his friendly and clear moderation and linking the topics in an inspiring way.

At the scene of the accident: what the police and public prosecutor's office want

Michael Muther is head of the Security Police South and opened the First Aiders Symposium 2025. He explained to the participants how the police proceed at the scene of an accident and how they can be supported in the best possible way. With humor and at the same time great professional depth, he showed which legal aspects are crucial for first responders. In particular, that every scene of damage is potentially also a crime scene. His appeal: act prudently, protect evidence and know your own responsibility.

Media: what journalists want

Also often at the scene of an accident: journalists. They also like to trample into a danger zone, stand in the way and provoke statements from first responders that they would be better off not making. So how do you deal with these darn media professionals? Kay Schubert, media trainer and long-standing journalist, took the audience on a lively journey through the world of media work. With great energy and vivid examples, he explained how media professionals act in emergency situations and highlighted the importance of media freedom and mutual understanding between emergency services and the press.

Medication: what the Therapeutic Products Act wants

Should we or shouldn't we? Dispensing medication is a sensitive issue. Dr. Ruedi Hauri, Cantonal Physician of the Canton of Zug and former President of the Association of Cantonal Physicians, shed light on the legal framework for the dispensing and use of medication by first aiders. His presentation made it clear how important sound knowledge, clear guidelines and professional safety are in order to help those affected in a professional and legally correct manner.

First aid behind bars

Marcel Ruf, Head of Lenzburg Prison, concluded the event. As someone who, figuratively speaking, has both feet in prison, he provided impressive insights into security and crisis management within the prison. With humor, authenticity and real-life examples, he showed how medical emergencies, fires and crises are dealt with professionally in a high-security environment.

The First Aider Symposium 2025 broke records

The move from the auditorium to the Lucerne Hall of the KKL Luzern meant that more first aiders were able to take part in the First Aider Symposium 2025 than before. 420 company paramedics, Samaritans, firefighters, safety officers, first responders and other first aiders responded to the call and ensured a full house. All presentations were simultaneously translated from German into French and participants received 3.5 hours of credit towards their IVR certificate and two SGAS training units.

The extended exhibition was also actively used and visited - a total of 25 exhibitors presented their products and services. The First Aider Symposium 2025 was also supported by betriebsapotheke.ch (Gold Sponsor), JDMT Group AG and Procamed AG (Silver Sponsors) and sureVIVE AG (Bronze Sponsor).

A success story continues

The joint event of the Swiss Association for Industrial Paramedics (SVBS) and IVF HARTMANN took place for the first time in 2021 and quickly developed into a success story. The organizers also attach particular importance to the supporting program, the exchange of ideas and the lively Q&A sessions after the presentations.

The next First Aider Symposium will take place on October 31, 2026, once again in the Lucerne Hall of the KKL Luzern. Under the title «Accident - up close and personal», an accident will be followed from A to Z, from first aid on a sports field to air rescue and rehabilitation to documentation by first aiders and data protection.

Sources and further information: www.ersthelfersymposium.ch, www.svbs-asse.ch

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/teilnahmerekord-420-ersthelferinnen-am-5-ersthelfer-symposium/

The cybercriminals' arsenal is extensive: social engineering, deepfakes and AI-supported chat tools have turned everyday communication into attack vectors. Stolen passwords or intercepted calls are often enough to gain access to internal systems.

Manipulating identities with AI

With the help of artificial intelligence, which enables phishing, voice cloning and fake job interviews, cybercrime has developed into an instrument of identity manipulation. Attackers use seemingly legitimate credentials to bypass traditional security mechanisms. Although ransomware is no longer constantly setting new records, the market has stabilized at a high level. Today, the blackmail economy relies less on brute force encryption and more on stolen data and strategic pressure.

The six most dangerous offender groups

According to the annual Nastiest Malware Report from OpenText six groups have significantly shaped the year 2025.

1. Qilin (also known as Agenda) is behind over 200 confirmed attacks on hospitals, laboratories and community facilities. In one case, the failure of diagnostic services demonstrably led to the death of a patient. A feature in the ransomware control panel that allowed partners to chat directly with a negotiation consultant provided by Qilin was conspicuous. The aim was to standardize extortion and offer professional support even to inexperienced perpetrators. This form of professionalization sets a new benchmark for ransomware-as-a-service and shows just how much the criminal infrastructure in the digital underground has evolved.
2. Akira focused on financially strong companies and managed service providers and was responsible for almost one in five documented ransomware incidents worldwide. The group operates with technical precision and clear processes, including support structures and controlled negotiations. Discount campaigns and fixed rules are intended to signal reliability - an approach that is more reminiscent of corporate processes than cybercrime. Akira makes targeted use of VPN vulnerabilities, operates internationally and has developed into a professional ransomware-as-a-service platform.
3. Scattered Spider is one of the most influential groups in 2025. They used social engineering, SIM swapping and deepfake voice imitations to compromise large companies and even bypass modern identity and access systems.
   In September, coordinated arrests broke up the core team, but copycats and spin-offs continue the methods. The combination of technical sophistication, psychological manipulation and targeted identity abuse made the group a key player in the area of access procurement.
4. Play Ransomware was one of the most destructive groups despite receiving little media attention. It compromised entire customer environments by attacking more than 900 managed service providers. It is characterized by the use of intermittent encryption, in which only parts of files are affected. This speeds up execution and makes detection more difficult. In addition, the group uses customized binary files and expanded its toolkit to include modules for virtualized environments such as Linux and ESXi. The targeted exploitation of IT dependencies made Play one of the most dangerous actors of the year.
5. ShinyHunters is one of the most dangerous actors in 2025. The group infiltrates cloud platforms, often remains undetected for months and only publishes stolen data when it can be exploited. Global brands such as Google, Salesforce and Kering have been affected. A key feature is the targeted exploitation of regulatory obligations. In Europe, ShinyHunters often timed the disclosure to coincide with official GDPR notifications. As a result, reputational damage and compliance risks became part of the extortion. The attacks show how closely cybercrime and regulation are now linked.
6. Lumma Stealer is considered the backbone of many modern ransomware operations. The malware collects masses of access data, cookies and tokens from infected systems. This data circulates quickly on darknet marketplaces and is used by groups such as Akira, Qilin and Play as an entry point for targeted attacks. The combination with social engineering campaigns, such as fake CAPTCHA messages or error messages that trick users into executing malicious commands, is particularly effective. This hybrid method undermines many classic protection mechanisms. Lumma shows that even well-secured environments can become vulnerable if a single compromised account gets caught up in the collection routine.

What matters now

Despite improved protection measures and a growing number of organizations refusing to pay, the ransomware scene remains extremely lucrative. Although ransom demands and payments have leveled off at a high level after an increase at the beginning of the year, overall financial losses continue to rise. While some groups are struggling to enforce their claims, well-organized players continue to negotiate settlements in the millions with frightening precision.

This development underlines the extent to which ransomware has professionalized as a business model and how important it is to act in a structured manner on the defence side as well. Many effective measures are known: regular patches, credible backup strategies, robust access controls, hardened remote access and targeted awareness of social engineering. Those who firmly establish these principles in practice not only improve their own ability to react, but also reduce the attack surface in the long term.

Source: OpenText

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/malware-2025-die-gefaehrlichsten-gruppen-des-jahres/

«Many people start with a tool before they know what they want to achieve with it,» says Matthias Zwingli in the Text Academy's AI podcast with host Christoph Soltmannowski. For him, one thing is certain: AI agents should be treated like digital employees - with clearly defined tasks and measurable benefits. «If the training costs more than the benefits, there is no need for the job - and no need for an AI agent.»

Zwingli sees a lot of «FOMO», or fear of missing out, in the current AI euphoria. However, companies first need to understand where AI really creates added value: in repetitive, standardizable processes with a high volume of inquiries - for example in customer support or sales. This is where its use quickly pays off, provided you start small. «The most common mistake is to start too complex. It's better to test, adapt and expand step by step.»

For Zwingli, AI is not just a technology issue, but a cultural issue. Skepticism and fear of job loss are normal - until employees feel the effect. «After a few weeks, teams see that AI takes over the volume business and they can concentrate on complex cases.» Humans remain central because of empathy and social skills: «AI can imitate emotions, but it has none.»

Another success factor is data quality. «AI doesn't learn automatically,» emphasizes Zwingli. «It needs well-maintained data and good monitoring.» Connectai.ch therefore works with an iterative development process: minimum viable product, test phases, evaluation and ongoing optimization.

Data protection and digital sovereignty also play a central role. ConnectAI hosts its systems entirely in Switzerland for sensitive tasks. «Especially in sensitive industries, it is crucial to retain control over your own data.»

His conclusion: AI is worthwhile where companies have many recurring requests and clear goals. Zwingli's recommendation is: assessment - strategy - gradual development. And above all: take employees with you instead of overwhelming them. «AI doesn't replace jobs - it changes them.»

The St. Gallen entrepreneur and former Director of Digitalswitzerland founded the start-up in 2024 Connect AI, which develops specialized AI agents for customer service, sales and events. Connect relies on Swiss hosting, agile development and close collaboration with customers - from strategy to rollout.

The video podcast «AI and Society - Paths into the New World» is produced by the Text Academy Foundation. Two episodes are published monthly, on Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms.

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On its 100th anniversary in 2025, Migros duly celebrated its origins, its values and its achievements. Now it is clearly looking to the future. The Board of Directors of the Federation of Migros Cooperatives has presented its Vision 2035 to the Assembly of Delegates. The Assembly of Delegates approved it unanimously.

The vision defines the long-term direction of the Migros Group, sets priorities for the coming years and provides employees with guidance for their daily actions. It is based on the guiding principle «A Switzerland worth living in for everyone» and is built on three central elements:

• Firstly: Migros is the first choice in everyday life.It sets standards for everyday services and focuses on people's needs. It delights customers with high-quality products and services in the areas of nutrition, health, everyday goods and finance. It makes no compromises when it comes to price and performance.
• Secondly, the strong Migros community is the driving force behind its success.Employees, Cooperative members and customers form the foundation of Migros and play an active role in shaping it. Together, they shape the success of the Group and promote identification. The Migros Group focuses on participation, opens up perspectives and creates trust.
• Thirdly, the Migros Group uses its economic success for the benefit of society. As a cooperative, it gives back a significant part of its success in a targeted manner: firstly to society through investments in education, culture, leisure and sustainability, and secondly to the Migros community, i.e. to customers, cooperative members and employees. Migros allows them to actively participate in its success.

Edith Spillmann, President of the Assembly of Delegates, says: «I am delighted that the vision was received so positively by the delegates. It shows how we can actively shape the future as a community.»

Migros is optimally positioned with its four strategic business segments to live the vision in everyday life: Food (including Migros, Denner, Migrolino), Non Food (Digitec Galaxus), Financial Services (Migros Bank) and Health (Medbase, movemi). These companies make a key contribution to the provision of basic services to the Swiss population and bring the vision of a Switzerland worth living in to life.

Ursula Nold, President of the Board of Directors: «Migros has always been more than just a company - it was also an idea for a better society. With this vision, we are building on this tradition and taking responsibility for the future. We want to be there for people and play an active role in shaping Switzerland.»

Building on the vision, the next steps will focus on how the role of the 2.3 million Cooperative members can be sharpened, how customer benefits can be strengthened across the entire Group and how the Migros Group can be further developed organizationally. In doing so, it will remain true to its claim of creating a Switzerland worth living in for everyone, today and tomorrow.

Source: Migros

«Willy Michel stands for entrepreneurial vision, innovative strength and social responsibility. With the companies Disetronic and Ypsomed, he has left a lasting mark on medical technology and strengthened Switzerland as a location for precision and innovation. His pioneering work, particularly in the field of insulin delivery, has set new standards and improved the lives of millions of people worldwide. We are honored to present him with this year's Prix Suisse,» says Stefan Linder, Head of Initiative Switzerland. Federal Councillor Albert Rösti presented the Prix Suisse 2025, which has been awarded annually since 2021 by the non-profit organization Initiative Switzerland to individuals who have made outstanding achievements for Switzerland with courage, creativity and vision. Previous winners include Peter Spuhler, honored in 2021 for his entrepreneurial achievements, Martine Clozel, honored in 2022 for her achievements in science, Marco Odermatt, honored in 2023 in sport, and Büne Huber, honored in 2024 for his cultural work. For Willy Michel, the Prix Suisse is a special recognition of his life's work and entrepreneurial commitment.

Fireside Chat with human rights lawyer Amal Clooney

A highlight of the evening was the Fireside Chat with Amal Clooney, one of the world's leading lawyers for human rights and international law. In an impressive conversation, she spoke about responsibility, justice and the protection of press freedom. Amal Clooney has been campaigning for victims of war crimes, genocide and abuse of power for many years. She represents personalities such as Julian Assange, Maria Ressa and Nadia Murad and works closely with the United Nations and the International Criminal Court in The Hague. As UN Special Advisor on Justice and Accountability, she campaigns worldwide for the prosecution of war crimes and the strengthening of international law. With the Clooney Foundation for Justice, she supports people who are disenfranchised because of their beliefs or background. The foundation offers free legal aid in over 40 countries and is committed to freedom of expression, equality and women's rights.

The gold, silver and bronze winners of the second «Best of Swiss Software» awards were announced on November 6, 2025 as part of a festive award night at the Zurich Kongresshaus and duly celebrated with over 450 guests. 30 nominated projects competed for the medals in four categories. The expert jury honored all nominated projects in an intensive Q&A session and selected the best works of the year. Best of Swiss Apps is supported by sponsors and partners such as Hostpoint, Swico, the University of Bern and Digicomp.

The winning projects of Best of Swiss Software 2025

Business Solutions
In this category, awards are given to individual software that automates and optimizes complex business processes and thus contributes to increasing efficiency in everyday working life.

• Gold: Online hut reservation system (OHRS). Client Swiss Alpine Club SAC, Contractor Elca Informatik
• Silver: Jazz 2.0 Workforce Management Solution
• Bronze: AIQuans

Cloud Native Solutions
The award recognizes individual software projects that are consistently optimized for cloud platforms and take modern architecture and development principles into account.

• Gold: Forward Publishing - A scalable, cloud-based publishing architecture for all CH Media news portals. Client CH Regionalmedien, Contractor G+D Netcetera
• Silver: Swiss made Identity and Access Management for the next generation
• Bronze: Energy dashboard

Data & AI Solutions
This category evaluates individual solutions that build company-wide data platforms, create data applications and train AI models or develop generative AI solutions based on them.

• Gold: Sanitas Data Platform. Client Sanitas, contractor Valtech and IPT
• Silver: Open Datastack - Business Intelligence & Data Quality Management
• Bronze: Energy dashboard

Enterprise Software Solutions
This category focuses on integration projects for ERP, CRM and industry software platforms. Implementations that are optimally adapted to individual company processes are convincing here.

• Gold: ForstControl. Client Siabit, Contractor Siabit
• Silver: ITSENSE strengthens digitalization in Liechtenstein: CoreOne Suite as access gateway and eVertretungs-Portal as key component for e-government
• Bronze: Hitobito for the Swiss Alpine Club

Best of Swiss Software sets quality standards

Best of Swiss Software honors the best Swiss individual software and system integration projects. The aim is to support innovation and make outstanding achievements visible. In this way, Best of Swiss Software sets quality standards and puts the best teams and companies in the Swiss software industry in the spotlight.

In a two-stage judging process, the submitted projects are carefully examined for their quality and innovative strength. In the first stage, the assessment partner, the Institute of Information Systems at the University of Bern, evaluates the submitted projects. A maximum of 12 projects per award category are nominated for the award. In the second step, on the jury day, the nominated projects are presented to the expert jury in a Q&A session.

Source: Best of Swiss Web GmbH

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/die-besten-schweizer-software-projekte-2025/

The latest BPM study by the ZHAW School of Management and Law in collaboration with the BOC Group analyzes the maturity level of business process management (BPM) in companies in the DACH region. The study examined how organizations manage their processes, the extent to which AI and agentic process automation are used, the goals companies pursue with BPM and the challenges they face in doing so. Over 290 experts were surveyed.

Importance of BPM: efficiency, transparency and digitalization are key

The results show that business process management continues to gain strategic importance and increasingly forms the foundation for AI-based automation. At the same time, companies are facing clearly identifiable maturity limits and implementation barriers. «BPM remains central for Swiss companies and will gain in importance in the future with AI. Our study shows that AI adoption is only just beginning and will only develop its potential on the basis of solid process foundations,» concludes Dr. Tim Geppert, lecturer in process management at the ZHAW School of Management and Law.

The study shows that companies are increasingly using BPM as a central management tool. 75% of the organizations surveyed cite increased efficiency as their primary goal, followed by the creation of transparency and traceability as well as the creation of a basis for the digitalization of processes and business models. In regulated industries in particular, BPM is also seen as a tool for ensuring compliance and governance.

Agentic Process Automation in the early stages - AI use in BPM still hesitant

Many companies see Agentic Process Automation (APA) as the next step in the development of process automation. 49% of experts expect APA to become increasingly important in the coming years. However, actual use is still at a low level: only 6% are currently experimenting with pilot projects. The study classifies APA as an AI-supported further development of workflow automation. APA has the potential to autonomously plan, control and dynamically adapt business processes.

According to the study, the biggest hurdles to the integration of AI in process management are data protection and security concerns (70%), a lack of internal expertise (59%) and high implementation costs. These factors show that AI-supported BPM is not just a technological issue, but requires far-reaching organizational and regulatory changes.

Relevance of BPM tools is increasing significantly across all industries

The survey shows that the use of BPM software is playing an increasingly important role in almost all sectors. This trend is particularly pronounced in the public sector, where 84% of respondents expect BPM tools to become increasingly important. A clear increase in importance is also predicted in IT (71 %), industry (68 %) and the finance and insurance sector (63 %).

The results make it clear that BPM tools are no longer just seen as operational support, but increasingly as a strategic building block for increasing efficiency, digital process control and compliance with regulatory requirements. «Our study proves it: BPM is the indispensable foundation for optimization, digitalization of value creation and regulatory compliance. At the same time, we recognize The AI potential is immense - but we are still at the very beginning when it comes to implementation. That is why it is now crucial to strategically anchor BPM in order to create a database with reliable information (‚golden source‘) and unleash real added value in the age of AI.»

Source: BOC Group

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/bpm-studie-2025-effizienz-treibt-unternehmen-ki-stoesst-auf-grenzen/

Swiss companies face a unique risk landscape in 2025. Cyberattacks remain at the top of the list of current risks in Swiss boardrooms - in line with global and EMEA results. While fire and natural disasters used to be the main causes of business interruption, cyberattacks are now the main cause. This underlines the fact that cyber security must remain a key strategic priority: A single incident can disrupt operations, shake customer confidence and have significant financial and regulatory consequences.

Geopolitical risks are becoming increasingly important

Geopolitical volatility has gained in importance and ranks 3rd in Switzerland - higher than in the EMEA region (5th place) or worldwide (9th place). This reflects the increased sensitivity to international instability, supply chain disruptions and the impact of changing trade relations on the export-oriented Swiss economy.

Exchange rate fluctuations and failure to innovate/meet customer needs are specifically Swiss issues that appear in the national top ten, but do not appear in the EMEA or global results. The importance of exchange rate risk highlights Switzerland's strong integration into global markets and the challenges posed by currency fluctuations. The focus on innovation underlines the country's technological leadership and the need to stay ahead in a rapidly changing business environment.

Climate change still seen as a major risk

Climate change also appears in the top ten Swiss risks, highlighting the growing awareness of environmental issues and the need for sustainable business strategies.
Looking ahead, geopolitical volatility is classified as the number one risk for Switzerland. This reflects growing concerns about international instability, regional conflicts and their impact on the Swiss economy and supply chains. Climate change is one of Switzerland's top three future risks, while it does not appear in the top five globally - a sign of the strong local awareness of environmental and sustainability issues. The absence of increasing competition and commodity price risk/material scarcity in the Swiss top five future risks globally is striking. Instead, Switzerland places more emphasis on climate and geopolitical risks.

AI not a top ten risk in Switzerland

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the biggest climber in the future risks category for Europe, entering the EMEA top ten for the first time and rising nine places. This is a notable divergence: while EMEA organizations increasingly see AI as a future risk, it is not yet a top issue for Swiss respondents.

Companies in Europe continue to strengthen their governance and risk management: 62 % have an established risk committee on the board. 67 % of European companies have their own risk management department (by comparison: UK 75 %, North America 76 %).

Source: Aon. Aon's Global Risk Management Survey is based on the insights of nearly 3,000 risk managers, C-level executives and executives from 63 countries and 16 industries in organizations of all sizes.

The Swiss top ten current risks in 2025

1. cyber risks
2. economic slowdown/slow recovery
3. geopolitical volatility
4. business interruption
5. failure of the (supply) supply chains or distribution channels
6. raw material price risk/material shortage
7. regulations/legislative amendments
8. exchange rate fluctuations
9. failure to innovate/fulfill customer needs
10. climate change
10. cash flow/liquidity risk

From trade shifts and new tariffs to AI-driven upheavals: Companies are facing a volatile landscape that challenges traditional risk frameworks. But in the midst of upheaval, there are also opportunities. Companies that rethink their approach to risk - seeing it not just as a compliance task but as a strategic lever - are better positioned to adapt and grow.

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/top-ten-der-aktuellen-risiken-fuer-die-schweiz/

From 2027, the digital product passport (DPP for short) will be gradually introduced in the EU to promote the circular economy and create more transparency along the entire value chain. This development will be crucial for access to the EU market in the future. The digital product passport provides access to relevant product information along the entire supply chain. It enables companies to store, update and share detailed information about their products in digital form.

In partnership with GS1 and Circular Economy Switzerland, BloqSens, a leading provider of Digital Product Passport solutions, has published a white paper. This white paper, entitled «The Digital Product Passport (DPP) - The entry ticket to the EU and circular economy of the future», explains the concept, significance and implementation of the DPP as a key EU instrument under the European Green Deal and the Eco-Design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). From 2027, the DPP will gradually become mandatory for product groups such as steel, batteries and textiles. The aim is a transparent, resource-efficient and climate-neutral economy. The DPP serves as a digital data carrier that bundles information on the origin, materials, reparability, recyclability and environmental impact of a product. This enables sustainable purchasing decisions, repair and reuse models and traceability along the supply chain.

The white paper describes opportunities such as increased transparency, resource efficiency and new business models, but also challenges in terms of IT infrastructure, data security, interoperability and costs - especially for SMEs. Using concrete pilot projects, it shows how companies can analyze their database, build DPP prototypes and use existing GS1 standards (e.g. QR codes with Digital Link). The guide emphasizes the importance of cooperation, standardization and the courage to transform. The DPP is positioned as the key to the circular economy, a competitive advantage and a practical tool for implementing sustainable business models.

The white paper can be downloaded here. In addition, Circular Economy Switzerland and BloqSens will present the Digital Product Passport and the latest developments in EU regulations at an event on January 21, 2026. Participants will learn from two companies how to prepare for the DPP in the furniture and textile industry.

More information and registration: https://www.bloqsens.com/de/news/dpp-whitepaper/

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/whitepaper-zum-digitalen-produktpass-veroeffentlicht/