As if dilemmas weren't difficult enough, trilemmas are popping up everywhere to add to all the misery in the world. Not only in global politics, the global economy or the global climate debate, but increasingly also in more mundane areas such as advertising and marketing. The "trilemma" is a newly launched, linguistically ancient expression that complements an existing word (dilemma) - just like "proactive", for example. So if you want to tackle a trilemma proactively, you'd better be suspicious. Because the use of such exaggerated neologisms always has something boastful and exclusive about it. They are perceived as appropriate for a certain period of time and spread rapidly before they - usually rightly - sink back into insignificance. The dilemma, on the other hand, is holding its own in our industry. And not just since Henry Ford's attributed quote "Fifty percent of advertising is always thrown out. But you don't know which half that is". Even if this "rule" has lost much of its charm in the age of data-based marketing, at least it was reliable.

A new word at the right time

While we only have to choose between two options in the good old dilemma, the trilemma complicates the situation massively. Nevertheless, agencies still tend to suggest three routes when presenting naming, branding or campaigning solutions to clients. In doing so, they usually not only overtax themselves, but also their clients. This is because the choice of three options, each of which is unacceptable, often leads to the emergence of a fourth, which is a toxic mix of the three. Although everyone hopes it will be a convincing result, the opposite always happens. Even in the best-case scenario - a selection of three good proposals where only one can be chosen in the end - things remain difficult. In the end, it is often the arbitrariness of superiors or customers that decides. Therefore: avoid trilemmas and rather work out just one proposal. Because the "real" world is already full of real trilemmas: political, economic, ecological and psychological, there's no need to create artificial ones.

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* Benno Maggi is co-founder and CEO of Partner & Partner. He has been eavesdropping on the industry for over 30 years, discovering words and terms for us that can either be used for small talk, pomposity, excitement, playing Scrabble, or just because.

As the leading trade fair for measurement technology, Control, the international trade fair for quality assurance (QA), has been an ideal forum for personal contact and business exchange for decades. "The high demand for personal trade fair participation has been unbroken for months on the part of the QA industry", confirms project manager Fabian Krüger from trade fair promoter P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG. "All over the world, the industry values Control as an indispensable platform, and is especially anticipating this year's live trade fair after a forced break of two years," says Krüger. "Particularly in these weeks and months, when uncertainty again prevails due to the pandemic, many companies see Control at the beginning of May as a must-attend event," says the project manager, recalling the successful, smooth execution of the attendance trade shows last fall.

QA has never been as important as it is at present

The need for expert discussion on new developments in the QA industry is huge. Many companies are currently introducing enhanced or entirely new QA systems - driven by increasing automation and digitization, more contactless processes, remote services, small batch sizes and zero-defect manufacturing. The need for quality verification of any process, including data analysis and end-to-end traceability, now affects almost all industries from both industrial and service environments. "QA solutions have never been as significant as they are at present," the Control project manager points out. Solutions and systems in measuring and testing technology, materials testing, analysis equipment, vision technology, image processing, sensor technology, and weighing and counting technology have undergone significant further development over the past two years and will find a highly interested trade audience at Control 2022.

High proportion of foreign exhibitors at Control 2022

And the trade public seems to be just waiting to finally be able to visit a trade fair live again. According to project manager Fabian Krüger, visitors have been asking for tickets for months before the trade fair. "Exhibitors and trade visitors want to finally exchange information about QS innovations in person, because a lot has happened in recent months." The fact that Control is still regarded as the world's leading trade fair for QS is reflected in the high proportion of foreign exhibitors: around 35 percent come from outside Germany, including Switzerland. Progress in automation, digitalization, contactless processes, remote services and end-to-end traceability affects all industries, including service sectors. Testing technology users utilize various QA solutions inline in networked processes - including contactless. The Fraunhofer Vision Alliance's special show "Non-contact measurement technology", which is being held for the 17th time at Control 2022, will explore this in greater depth. It will showcase a cross-section of innovative technologies from the field of non-contact measurement and testing technology in Hall 6. More information: https://www.control-messe.de/

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/control-2022-macht-sich-startbereit/

If the cross-sections in the lines of injection molds are reduced as a result of contamination, it is no longer possible to dissipate sufficient heat. This makes regular cleaning of cooling channels on injection molding equipment necessary. Previous chemical methods of cleaning often have to be carried out manually, with contact with the aggressive cleaning substances posing an increased health and safety risk for employees. Therefore, wattec GmbH offers the Dreyproper, a fully automatic, mobile cleaning aid that removes such deposits quickly and safely. Now the fourth generation of the cleaning device has been revised once again in terms of cleaning performance and user-friendliness.

Optimized cleaning of cooling channels

The new Dreyproper 4.1 version removes all deposits in an injection mold by simply connecting the device to its cooling channels. This avoids direct contact of personnel with cleaning agents, as is common with conventional manual methods. Subsequently, the first thing that activates is the drinking water flooding, then the circulation pump is switched on and fresh water is pumped through the channels to determine if there is a leak in the mold. If no leakage was found, the unit begins to introduce the cleaning chemical and starts the actual cleaning process. "To ensure that even layers of sludge that have sometimes formed on lime or rust in the pipes are not only loosened but also removed, the so-called rampling process complements chemical cleaning," explains Joachim Rohmann, managing director of wattec GmbH. "In this mechanical cleaning method, air bubbles of different sizes act as air brushes and loosen the deposits and incrustations from the sewer wall." Throughout the process, various sensors monitor and document the flow rate as well as the cleaning performance. This can be viewed via touch screen; likewise, the control of the automatic cleaning is carried out via this console.

Double number of cleaning channels reduces process time

When revising the Dreyproper to version 4.1, the focus was on improved cleaning economy. An optimized geometry now enables the connection of eight instead of four cooling channels for flow-monitored rinsing. At the same time, more cleaning fluid can be pumped through. This is fed into the channels via a multi-stage, frequency-controlled centrifugal pump that can generate high pressure. Behind this is a compressed air connection, which is used to inject air bubbles into the volume flow of cleaning agent. "The air bubbles are alternately enlarged and reduced via a fully automatic change in pressure," explains Rohmann. "The resulting flow whirls the air bubbles around and causes them to repeatedly collide with the deposits. In this way, even stubborn incrustations are detached and carried away." This allows the inner surface of the cooling channels to be brushed over a large area so that both insulating layers of sludge and the deposits underneath are removed. Following the entire cleaning process, the chemical is neutralized with a second solution and then rinsed out with fresh water. This procedure ensures that all chemical residues are removed from the injection mold. An additional heat exchanger quickly dissipates the heat generated. As a result, the cleaning cycle can be started up to 45 minutes faster. "To further reduce the downtime of the system, the channels can be automatically blown out via the compressed air connection at the end of the cleaning process," says Rohmann. "This removes any remaining liquid from the injection mold, which would otherwise have to be removed in an additional work step. It is immediately clean and dry." All connections of the Dreyproper are then removed from the respective injection mould and the cleaning device, which now contains the neutralized solution, is removed. The injection mold is immediately ready for use.

Test phase and on-site consultation

To convince themselves of the efficiency and simple operation of the Dreyproper 4.1, users can also rent the device on a trial basis. The cleaning experts from wattec will be happy to provide advice, for example to help optimize the cooling water. "These appointments are also extremely valuable for ourselves, as we receive feedback directly from the field," adds Rohmann. "The experience gained is naturally incorporated into the continuous improvement of the cleaning programs and their operation, which is reflected in the current variant." With these personal contacts, the manufacturer ensures that the injection molds are always optimally cleaned and the Dreyproper is always state of the art. Further information on the Internet at: www.wattec.de

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/saeuberung-von-kuehlkanaelen-in-der-kunststoffindustrie/

The achievements of the industrial revolutions have led to enormous efficiency in production - but not to Sustainable Productivity: everyday products from the fields of electronics, consumption and transport are produced so cheaply that they can be made available to the entire population. A prosperity that at the same time makes it possible to afford a sometimes shockingly low level of utilization of the objects used. For example, the average utilization rate of a private car is just four percent. A large proportion of consumer and electronic goods are disposed of after a short period of use - efficient production makes this possible.

A long way from Sustainable Productivity

The continuous pursuit of cost optimization and increased efficiency has led to a capital- and resource-intensive productivity mindset. This is evident in the increased CO2 emissions, which have almost doubled since 1990. The social and ecological effects of this development have become increasingly apparent in recent years. In particular, the worsening climate crisis has caused capital- and resource-intensive productivity thinking to differ from the future image of a more ecologically aware society. As one of the polluters, the manufacturing industry bears a great responsibility in this regard. German-speaking industry must initiate a sustainable production turnaround - and do so immediately!

The production turnaround is both a necessity and an opportunity

As a result, the concept of productivity must be fundamentally rethought, taking into account a holistic view of sustainability. This is where the "Sustainable Productivity" study by the Chair of Production Systems at the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) at RWTH Aachen University comes in. The aim of the study was to develop a new understanding of the concept of productivity in order to initiate a turnaround in production. While financial targets have been the main focus up to now, these need to be supplemented by ecological, social and regulatory targets. These new objectives have an impact on the design of products in the product development, production and use phases. This new interpretation is made possible by digitalization and, in particular, by the "Internet of Production", which provides the transparency required for a holistic increase in sustainability. In addition to the necessity associated with responsibility, the production turnaround also represents an enormous opportunity for a sustainable orientation of German-speaking industry. On the one hand, this includes the socially perceived as well as the real shaping of the holistic change by the German-speaking manufacturing industry. On the other hand, it creates a clear competitive advantage over rival locations. In the interaction of these two factors, a monetizable added value is achieved. This study provides companies with specific recommendations for shaping their production towards "sustainable production". In addition to key figures for evaluating the current situation and progress, existing success stories of manufacturing companies are presented. Source and further information: WZL

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/ustainable-productivity-studie-fordert-neues-produktionsverstaendnis/

The two awards will be presented at the Marketing Day and the Sales Power Event respectively. Tarkan Özküp, Managing Director AZ Konzept and CCO of Watson, says: "The Swiss Marketing Forum has thrived on personal encounters, expertise and marketing power for over a decade. Supporting this format and putting it on a stable footing after its suspension due to the pandemic is what drives us. The format convinced us on all levels." SMF President Uwe Tännler says of this strategic partnership: "Joy reigns. A big step for the Swiss Marketing Forum. AZ Konzept, embedded in the ecosystem of AZ Medien AG, offers us a colorful bouquet of services to catapult our messages around Marketing Tag and Sales Power to new heights".  AZ Konzept is a marketing and consulting company that enables end-to-end content marketing solutions for its customers. AZ Konzept is a subsidiary of AZ Medien AG, which operates watson and holds 50 percent of the media company CH Media.  Swiss Marketing Forum is an association in the field of marketing and sales and organizes the events "Marketing Tag" and "Sales Power" with the presentation of the Marketing Excellence Award (MXA) and the Sales Excellence Award (SXA).

Testing and measurement technology expert Hottinger Brüel & Kjaer (HBK) has been recognized for its 50-year membership in one of Germany's most important quality organizations, the German Society for Quality (DGQ). The award, or rather the corresponding certificate, was presented on September 14, 2021 at HBK's location in Darmstadt and recognizes the company's long-standing commitment to high-quality solutions in the interests of its customers. HBK's German headquarters was the first company of its kind to receive ISO 9001 certification in 1986. The registration number of HBK's certification also reflects this: DQS-000001 for ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management), ISO 50001 (energy management). Thanks to these standards, HBK's customers can be sure of receiving products and services of the highest quality. This is particularly important for customers in the military sector or for sensitive projects, for example in the aerospace industry. The DGQ (German Society for Quality) is a central, national quality organization in Germany. It acts primarily as the first point of contact as well as a moderator and mediator in quality issues. The umbrella organization is a registered association and can draw on a unique network of experts. HBK - Hottinger, Brüel & Kjaer - offers a complete portfolio of solutions across the entire product life cycle of test and measurement technology, bringing together the physical world of sensors, tests and measurements with the digital world of simulation, modeling software and analysis. By creating a scalable and open system for data acquisition hardware, software and simulation, product developers can shorten time-to-market, drive innovation and lead the way in a competitive global market. More information: https://www.hbkworld.com/en/about/quality-management

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/auszeichnung-fuer-hottinger-brueel-kjaer/

The study shows: All countries surveyed blame Russia for the war in Ukraine - with the exception of China and India. Solidarity with Ukraine is strong and has a positive impact on the global perception of the country. The current study is a supplement to the "Brand Finance Global Soft Power Index 2022" report, which records the perception of country brands every year. The USA takes first place in the ranking, followed by the UK in second place and Germany in third place. When asked who bears the main responsibility for the war in Ukraine, a clear majority of respondents in the study blamed Russia. This was also the case in Germany: 67% of Germans surveyed blamed Russia for the war in Ukraine. As a result, Russia has lost 19 percent of its reputation worldwide. Other countries, such as China (52%) and India (46%), however, blame the USA. Interesting: almost a quarter, 22% to be precise, of Americans blame their own country for the Russia-Ukraine conflict

Division in the USA

"This new study shows how strongly different news sources influence how people around the world classify current events. While on a global level the perception of Russia has undoubtedly worsened, the specific impact varies from country to country. What is most surprising, however, is the division of the American public regarding the war in Ukraine," explains David Haigh, CEO of Brand Finance. Last year's winner Germany slips to third place in the Global Soft Power Index 2022 - overtaken by the USA (first place) and the UK (second place). And yet: the overall ranking for Germany remains very stable and at a high level. Switzerland slips three places Switzerland and Austria also lost places in the "Brand Finance Global Soft Power Index 2022" report. Switzerland is in the top ten - but has slipped from fifth place (2021) to eighth place (2022), with a total score of 56.6 points. Austria dropped four places compared to the previous year - to 27th place. The Global Soft Power Index is a fully survey-based annual research study on the perception of country brands. The Global Soft Power Index records the opinions of over 100,000 respondents worldwide on 120 national brands. Brand Finance is a leading independent global brand valuation and analysis consultancy headquartered in London. Soft power is defined as the ability of a nation to influence the preferences and behavior of various actors in the international arena (states, companies, communities, the public, etc.) through attraction or persuasion rather than coercion.  

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The report on the Download and more information

Manufacturers have spent the last few years looking at their data and adopting IoT sensors, architectures and applications to better understand their processes and optimize them for efficiency. But the focus on efficiency has left some manufacturing companies unable to see the forest for the trees when it comes to digital transformation. A study by McKinsey found that 70 % of digital transformation initiatives fail to achieve their goals. However, pioneers in the industry are already looking beyond efficiency. The 2020s will be the decade when more mature, accurate approaches to digital transformation in the manufacturing sector evolve. Manufacturers will become more effective and strategically leverage cloud technology to drive better business outcomes.

Data nourish new models

In the past, a sale was seen as the end of the sales process. A customer decides to make a purchase, receives the product, and when they are satisfied with it, the manufacturer's involvement is over. However, manufacturers are increasingly seeing ongoing maintenance and other services as a profitable part of the sales process. We are now seeing new approaches move beyond a single transactional interaction with customers and use data to bring sales and services together. The result is a move to a pay-for-use model and then a pay-for-outcome model based on the delivery of a service - for example, connectivity as a service. Based on customer usage, manufacturers can offer personalized services. IoT thus enables the prediction and automation of maintenance and therefore effective and sustainable value creation. These models should be underpinned by cloud platforms that enable manufacturers to connect their operations, manage data and introduce machine learning, AI and analytics solutions. A suite of cloud applications also enables them to continuously innovate and develop new features. Manufacturers can also gain a unified view of their customers with cloud technology/solutions, which is essential for ongoing service-based relationships.

Circular economy is the future

I also believe that the circular economy will play a central role in the new models that are being introduced. At present, the global economy is circular only to 8.6 %while 100 billion tons of materials are produced every year. This linear approach to products means that we will produce 65 billion tons of greenhouse gases in 2030. Manufacturers will play a key role in completing the circular economy, reducing both waste and emissions. For manufacturers, the circular economy can be anything from aftermarket services throughout the lifecycle of a machine to clothing lines that use recycled fibers and resale platforms to reduce waste in the fashion industry. Once the entire lifecycle of a product becomes a manufacturer's responsibility, they need the analytical tools to determine when and how to service or reuse it.

Thanks to cloud technology: manufacturers can flourish

Switzerland, its emerging technology and its political and economic stability offer global companies a safe place to develop their digital manufacturing and supply chain processes. The FM Global Resilience Index 2020, which provides insights for companies that need to make equipment decisions, expand supply chains or enter new markets, has ranked Switzerland as one of the most resilient economies in the world. However, manufacturers are under pressure to take action, and cutting costs and increasing efficiency is a priority. This is also why they are turning to cloud technology to improve the efficiency of their operations. In 2021, McKinsey found that 64 % of industrial companies actively using the cloudalthough 50 % see cloud technology as more complex than originally expected. Rather than trying to "boil the ocean" by taking on a daunting challenge all at once, it would be most effective for manufacturers to use the cloud to quickly test new solutions and services and then expand them as needed. Siemens, for example, is working with Oracle on a high-performance processing solution that will help utilities better manage large-scale data processing requirements. This will use Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) to retrieve and process readings from smart meters at 30-minute intervals in homes and small, non-domestic sites to facilitate the transition to the smart grid. So far, volume and performance tests have been successfully conducted with 1.5 million meters. However, the Siemens application and OCI can be scaled far beyond this as the industry moves to an event-driven architecture. Swiss steel wheel manufacturer, Alcar Ruote, is another example, as it needed to rely on technology to continue producing with Swiss quality while remaining competitive in the global market. The company chose Oracle Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing and Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP applications to manage its planning, procurement, manufacturing and distribution while improving visibility in these areas.

Training for the digital transformation

However, we must not forget that alongside the introduction of new technologies, the digital capabilities of businesses depend on the right skills. Manufacturers need to ensure that their staff are trained in how to use the new solutions most effectively and support them with retraining where necessary. To ensure that the full benefits of cloud technology are realized, this should be done across the organization. Digital solutions are also at the heart of this employee training process. The Digital Capability Center Venice, a joint venture between McKinsey and Confindustria that uses Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications, was recently established to provide manufacturers with hands-on experience of operational transformation. Through realistic simulations, trainees can explore rapid prototyping and test modular solutions to gain hands-on experience. In this way, employees learn how digital capabilities can increase productivity and collaboration and improve safety on the factory floor and in the back office.

Cloud technology: efficiency and more

Manufacturers have the opportunity not only to gradually improve the efficiency of their operations, but also to change their operating models. In this way, they can achieve long-term positive outcomes for their customers while bringing much-needed circularity and resource productivity to their approach. To achieve this goal, they need to acquire the necessary tools to quickly test, iterate and scale new solutions. They also need to support their employees on this digital transformation journey with the latest training solutions. If they get it right, the result will be an improvement in effectiveness and efficiency. Author: Billy Kneubühl is Country Manager Oracle Switzerland

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/cloud-technologie-und-schweizer-hersteller-ueber-effizienz-und-viel-mehr/

The virtual trade fair ConSense EXPO of the software provider ConSense GmbH presents software solutions and services around management systems including all novelties. The program offers varied live conferences, the presentation of the 4th ConSense ScientificAward and many opportunities for networking. Registration for the visit is now open at www.consense-gmbh.de/expo possible. Here you can also find the complete conference program as well as the registration for the conferences.

Virtual trade fair with comprehensive product information

At the ConSense EXPO digital trade show, experts from ConSense will be available for personal discussions at various topic booths, e.g. about QM software and to solutions for IMS - regardless of whether it consists of a QM system, data protection, occupational health and safety, environmental protection management or other management areas. The trade show also offers helpful information material on GxP-compliant QM solutions as well as measures, training and risk management. It will also present in detail the end-device-independent, web-based management system solution ConSense PORTALwhich provides user-friendly access to the entire digital documentation from any location and at any time. The ConSense Hosting Services take care of provisioning, backup, maintenance, monitoring and the installation of updates on request.

Live conferences, keynote, networking and more.

The highlights of the ConSense EXPO include a diverse conference and event program that is in no way inferior to a presence trade fair. The Live Conferences deal with current topics from the QM world. They are presented by experts for management systems from well-known companies and by ConSense GmbH. For example, the accredited DAkkS calibration laboratory Eumetron GmbH will describe how it can use the Integrated Management System to quickly and transparently demonstrate compliance with standard specifications. For safe ship operation with mandatory documentation in digital form and intelligent form management, see the example of BBC Chartering GmbH & Co. KG. Another conference will demonstrate how the QM methods of the Automotive Core Tools from the automotive industry can also ensure systematically good quality in other industries. Following the various technical presentations, the speakers will be available for discussion. Networking and exchange of experiences will take place in the digital Coffee Lounge. Visitors can also deepen their knowledge in on-demand webinars. Existing customers of ConSense GmbH will have access to extra slots for consulting sessions, additional live conferences and the keynote speech by Dr. Alexander Künzer from the management of ConSense GmbH via an exclusive area.

Presentation of the ConSense ScientificAward

For the first time, visitors can also be present live at the presentation of the 4th ConSense ScientificAward. With this interdisciplinary scientific award, ConSense GmbH honors final theses with innovative ideas for living management systems. The independent expert jury, consisting of Prof. Dr. Mendling (Humboldt University of Berlin and Chairman of the Society for Process Management), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rosenbaum (Dresden University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering) and Dr.-Ing. Sommerhoff (Head of Innovation and Transformation at the German Society for Quality), will evaluate the submitted theses. Following the announcement and the award ceremony, the award winner will present his or her award-winning work in a lecture.

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/virtuelle-messe-fuer-qms-software/

m&k Werbewoche.ch : Tobias Müllhaupt, forFor many people, the metaverse and everything that goes with it areört, nor "New territory". However, you have already created a GeschäThe company has developed its own business model. What, in simple terms explainärt, does your agency "Miss Wolf"? Tobias Müllhaupt: With Miss Wolf, we produce all advertising media that can be displayed on a digital screen: whether social ads, sophisticated HTML5 ads, DOOH or complex dynamic feeds. With the advent of Metaverse, it is natural that we have now expanded the above portfolio. We have recently started offering productions for Metaverse platforms, NFTs and also AR productions. Brands or agencies come to us who already have a mature idea of how and where they want to be present in the Metaverse. We then take over the production job.   If you still ühas no idea at all what the metaverse is about. is: Can you give us a crash course? The basic idea of the metaverse is not complicated. Simply put, the metaverse encompasses any digital experience that is three-dimensional, immersive, permanent, and virtual - that is, that does not take place in the physical world. There are two terms of the metaverse in particular that need to be distinguished: Virtual reality refers to an entirely new 3D digital world that replaces reality; in augmented reality, digital content is added to the natural environment.   Why should companies in Switzerland already beür interested in what happens in the metaverse? Nowadays, we are no longer in a linear, but in an exponential development of technologies. This means that it can happen unimaginably quickly that new technologies become accepted by the masses and the development of the metaverse is thus massively accelerated. As a company in Switzerland, I would therefore already start thinking strategically about how I can use the current or future Metaverse technologies. Modern and scalable business models will emerge. I see "growth hackers" and digital marketing pioneers as responsible for pitching and driving the entry into the metaverse within a company. Another term that you can always häThe one that reads more often is that of "NFT". Digital images of bored looking monkeys are used by pop stars füThe auction was held for horrendous sums of money.ünstler Wolfgang Beltracchi launches a DaVinci collection on the Blockchain. Once again füFor laymen like me, what is an NFT? Non-fungible tokens are non-exchangeable, blockchain-based tokens that can be used to digitally map ownership. The beauty of this is that, thanks to the transparency of blockchain technology, anyone can check whether someone actually has the rights to a digital asset or not. For example, a digital image or piece of music can be copied and downloaded thousands of times. Nevertheless, there is only one token that represents the original, and the blockchain can be used to show whether someone is in possession of this token or not. This is regulated via so-called smart contracts. These are "digital contracts" that can also be viewed transparently. What I find exciting is that with NFT transactions, Creators are rewarded for each transaction. For example, a Creator can program royalties into their NFT. Each time the token changes hands, a portion of the resale value is returned to the original creator or to any person or organization.   Here, too, the question arises: Which applicationöThere are many possibilities forür company? Already now there are interesting possibilities to get involved as a company: The "simpler" way is to launch your own NFT collection with art, trading cards ... or to buy virtual land. If you want to get started in a more complex way, you can create virtual brand experiences on platforms like Roblox and Decentraland. Here, the focus is on brand awareness and engagement for now. Great examples are Vans World and Alo Sanctuary. Alternatively, as a simple end user, you can get the Oculus Quest 2 and take your first steps into the metaverse. Let's talk üWhat are your Metaverse visions for the near future, what will möbe possible? The one extreme is: Everything collapses and the fundamental idea, the decentralized vision does not prevail. The other extreme is: The whole life takes place only in the metaverse and the "virtual me" has at some point more value than my "real me". As we know, the solution will settle somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. The key is to first overcome fundamental hurdles: The technology has to be there - you need VR goggles, for example, that won't make you dizzy if you wear them for a long time. The big tech companies are working on such solutions right now. Profitable business models for companies also need to develop.   And how köBrands can leverage these developments to create new revenue streams.öme and generate leads? The Metaverse has the potential to be a fully functioning economy. Individuals and businesses will be able to create, own, invest, sell, and be compensated for various "works." The metaverse can become a gigantic marketing channel for businesses.

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* Tobias Müllhaupt (pictured below as Digital Avatar) is founder and CEO of the digital production agency Miss Wolf in Zurich. The 29-year-old previously worked as Head of Social Media for Globus, among other positions. The company produces säAll advertising media that can be displayed on a digital screen can be used in the same way.öand has recently started to offer productions for theür Metaverse-platforms, NFTs and AR productions.

Freshhaus has been building individual single-family homes throughout Switzerland for many years. As a general contractor, Freshhaus assumes overall responsibility for the construction project and assists future homeowners with construction advice, architecture, construction management and interior design. In the past, however, Freshhaus has repeatedly been confronted with prejudices against prefabricated houses and has repeatedly had to prove that a concept house is not a prefabricated house. In order to dispel these prejudices once and for all, Freshhaus - together with Jung von Matt Brand Identity - further developed its own brand with the aim of highlighting the brand's differentiating services and appealing to customers in a more emotional way. In joint workshops, the agency and company developed a brand story that was intended to get to the heart of the unique selling points: Individual and high-quality concept houses that make the wishes of future homeowners come true through comprehensive support, flexibility and guaranteed costs.

Enabling individual life dreams

In order to express the brand history even more strongly in the brand design, the individual design elements were further developed. The logo and colors were modernized and refreshed. In addition, floor plan animations were developed to make it clear that Freshhaus does not simply place ready-made house templates on the plots. The various Freshhaus concept houses can be visited via a digital tour and experienced with the help of a 360-degree view.

The brand experience taken further

Further touchpoints were also developed on the basis of the new brand experience: From a print media concept to sales documents and a new website. The website was implemented in close cooperation with the digital experts from Jung von Matt Tech. Using a brand-first approach, a modern, digital brand experience was created based on Webflow. The website should impress with its simplicity, user-friendliness and striking corporate language.

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Responsible at Freshhaus: Ivana Milanovic, André Kressebuch, Kerry de Zilva. Responsible at Jung von Matt Brand Identity: Alessandra Bally, Julius Jäger (Strategy), Monica Bühlmann, Boris Stoll, Christina Widmann (Design). Responsible at Jung von Matt Tech: Andrin Gorgi (implementation, project management), Stefanie Pfeffer (project management), Manuela Tappe, Michelle Scholz (design).

The high importance of Digital Employee Experience (DEX) has arrived in the mechanical and plant engineering and industrial production sectors. This is shown by a survey conducted by Nexthink among 300 IT experts from six industries in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The study was conducted in May 2021 by the independent market research company Sapio Research. For the majority (industrial production 81%, mechanical and plant engineering 70%), the topic of DEX plays an important role and is to be driven forward with a team or employees specifically responsible for it (industrial production 76%, mechanical and plant engineering 66%). The main focus is on measures against IT disruptions.

Systematically and with a high level of automation, resolve IT faults more quickly

Comprehensive measures for disruption-free digital working environments are planned primarily by manufacturing companies. 87% (average 81%, mechanical and plant engineering 75%) will use systematic processes and tools with a high degree of automation to accelerate troubleshooting in digital workplaces. According to the Nexthink study, 85% of manufacturing companies use metrics and key performance indicators to measure the quality of digital workplaces (average 76%, mechanical and plant engineering 72%). A similar picture emerges for the plan to use a central management platform for the IT helpdesk that covers everything from ticketing and user communication to reporting, analysis and troubleshooting instructions.

Predict and prevent IT disruptions with predictive analytics

What are the causes of IT disruptions? To answer this question, 85% of the manufacturing companies surveyed (average 75%, mechanical and plant engineering 68%) plan to use an integrated system that correlates data from the IT backend with the service desk's management platform. Predictive analytics technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning are also very popular in industrial production (81%) in order to predict or prevent potential disruptions (average 76%, mechanical and plant engineering 75%).

Majority lives with compromises in the digital workplace

The measures are a logical consequence of the fact that companies have so far tended to wait passively for IT disruptions instead of avoiding them proactively and with a high level of automation from the outset. A critical aspect here is that the majority of the companies surveyed live with many compromises in the digital workplace (industrial production 70%, mechanical and plant engineering 62%). In addition, many faults occur repeatedly (industrial production 46%, mechanical and plant engineering 55%) and usually take a long time to rectify (industrial production 57%, mechanical and plant engineering 58%).

In the event of IT disruptions, the situation of users is unnecessarily complicated

The situation is also made unnecessarily difficult for users. They are often left in the dark as to how long a disruption will last (Industrial Production 70%, Mechanical and Plant Engineering 66%) and the IT self-service portal often proves not to be very helpful (Industrial Production 48%, Mechanical and Plant Engineering 62%). In addition, users are inadequately informed about major or planned impairments to the digital workplace (Industrial Production 85%, Mechanical and Plant Engineering 77%). Frustrating from the user's perspective is that although employee feedback is obtained, this usually does not lead to improvements (Industrial production 54%, Mechanical and plant engineering 70%).

Often abandonment of new applications due to possible additional problems

The existing shortcomings in the IT experience of employees are particularly evident with regard to the introduction of new applications. A full 91 percent of respondents from manufacturing companies believe that more or better assistance should be made available for new applications (Machinery and Plant Engineering 81%). To make matters worse, end users avoid calling the ticket hotline when they have problems with new applications (industrial manufacturing 57%, mechanical and plant engineering 72%). The result: as few new applications as possible are introduced to avoid problems, as confirmed by 59 percent of respondents from industrial production and a full 75 percent from mechanical and plant engineering.

DEX and the user perspective gain importance

The results of the Nexthink study show that the dynamic development of digitization is also bringing the topic of digital employee experience to the fore among companies. 81 percent from industrial production and 83 percent from mechanical and plant engineering say that this topic will have high priority in their company. And the manufacturing companies (80%) in particular want to take greater account of the user's perspective - an aspect that is significantly less in focus in the mechanical and plant engineering sector at 55 percent.

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/flow-statt-frust-massnahmen-gegen-it-stoerungen-an-digitalen-arbeitsplaetzen-verstaerken/