Operating income amounted to CHF 117.1 million and was therefore slightly below the previous year's level. While revenue in the user market fell by 2% overall - in particular due to declining revenue from the architecture and design community DAAily platforms - growth in the digital sector partially offset the structural decline in the print business.

In the advertising market, NZZ grew in the online segment thanks to a new marketing partnership in Germany and the acquisition of the digital agency Attackera: advertising income rose by 3 percent overall to CHF 47.3 million. However, the negative trend in the print advertising market continued and dampened growth.

Investing in quality and innovation

The editorial team and digital products were further expanded - with new podcasts, newsletters and app functions. This contributes to the strategy of strengthening the position in the reader market and increasing customer loyalty.

According to NZZ, the second half of the year will remain challenging: the pressure from artificial intelligence and the economic uncertainty will demand a lot from the media company. Nevertheless, thanks to its clear strategy and strong brand, NZZ believes it is well equipped to actively shape the digital transformation and make targeted investments in promising areas.

According to Deloitte, one in four companies already using generative AI will test AI agents in pilot projects or proofs of concept. This figure is likely to double by 2027. In Switzerland, particularly in the financial sector, this development is already in full swing. But the challenges are real: outdated systems, inadequate data quality and a shortage of specialists are still slowing down some projects. The companies that will be successful are those that integrate AI into their strategy, invest in modern interfaces and provide their teams with targeted training. Why are AI agents winning over more and more organizations? Here are the reasons.

1. automate to focus on value creation

AI agents execute complex business processes quickly, precisely and consistently. They take on repetitive tasks - from document processing to real-time analyses - and enable the complete automation of certain workflows. Example: The onboarding of suppliers or logistics partners, which used to be done manually, can now be fully automated. The agents analyse documents, standardize them and generate inquiries, invoices or payment orders within seconds - ready for approval. The result: more time for strategic, creative and interpersonal tasks. Capgemini estimates that 64 % of companies are aiming for exactly this effect, and BCG predicts up to 60 % productivity gain in the long term.

2. a personalized experience for All employeesn offer

AI agents are not rigid: they adapt to roles, contexts and preferences in order to provide individual support. Some concrete examples:

• In HR: An agent helps employees to update their rights, benefits or personal data after a marriage or birth.
• In sales: An agent creates dynamic customer profiles with history, sentiment, contract status and generates personalized e-mails that can be sent immediately.
  The result: higher individual productivity and a better employee experience.

3. promote human-machine collaboration

In the future, multiple AI agents will collaborate with each other and with humans to solve complex problems and achieve common goals. In a networked environment (ERP, collaboration tools, CRM, etc.), this intelligent cooperation paves the way for finer, contextual automation - and more job satisfaction. It is the transition from incremental improvements to real business transformations.

4. increase resilience and competitiveness

Using AI agents today means preparing for the future. Every project launched strengthens the culture of innovation, increases digital maturity and creates sustainable value. Waiting probably means widening the gap with the competition. Taking action means creating a competitive advantage based on performance and agility.

Conclusion: The time of isolated experiments is over. AI agents are redefining work, processes and collaboration. Companies that focus on a structured, mature and well-managed AI strategy now will benefit in the long term. Now is the time to turn technological momentum into a real business lever.

To the author:
Yvan Cognasse is Head of Enterprise Architects, Continental Europe, at Oracle.

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/warum-unternehmen-auf-ki-agenten-setzen/

Rodolphe Eurin, born in 1975, completed his studies in physics (BSc.) and as an operations and production engineer (MSc.) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ) and holds an MBA from IMD in Lausanne. Rodolphe Eurin has extensive experience in the healthcare sector. He worked in the pharmaceutical industry for F. Hoffmann-La Roche and later in medical technology for Medtronic as part of the EMEA management team of the spine surgery business unit before moving into the world of hospitals and healthcare. Rodolphe Eurin was COO of a group of private clinics before becoming CEO of Hôpital de La Tour in Geneva in 2018, a position he held until the end of 2024. Since the beginning of 2025, he has been an independent Board member and consultant. He is passionate about patient-centric care and optimizing medical outcomes as differentiating factors for the future of healthcare institutions.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Wilhelm Schulthess Foundation, Peter E. Bodmer, says: "I am convinced that with Rudolphe Eurin, a proven expert will lead Schulthess Klinik successfully into the future. I would like to thank the outgoing CEO Andrea Rytz for her outstanding services to Schulthess Klinik and the Wilhelm Schulthess Foundation. She is handing over to her successor a successful company with an excellent national and international reputation." And Rodolphe Eurin says: "I am looking forward to shaping the future of Schulthess Klinik together with the management, medical staff and all employees. The clear focus on outcome research and the resulting outstanding results are key success factors for a healthcare institution and have long inspired my admiration for Schulthess Klinik. It is a great honor to lead an institution that enables patients to regain the best possible quality of life, while at the same time being committed to education and research for medical excellence in orthopaedics and thus also contributing to the sustainability of the healthcare system."

Source: Schulthess Clinic

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/rodolphe-eurin-zum-neuen-ceo-der-schulthess-klinik-berufen/

Cyber criminals do not stop at job seekers: cybersecurity service provider Trend Micro has uncovered a widespread, global criminal infrastructure that imitates reputable companies, exploits trustworthy communication channels and lures job seekers into traps with gamification elements. Victims take on simple tasks, such as liking and subscribing to social media pages or writing product reviews, which are completed in groups of typically 30 to 40 tasks at a time. Many victims report that they initially receive small commissions to build trust. Subsequently, however, they have to make higher and higher deposits in order to receive supposedly more lucrative commissions. This continues until the victims no longer make any new payments and lose the sums paid in and the supposed wages.

Millions moved in cryptocurrencies

According to security researchers, the perpetrators transfer millions of euros via cryptocurrency wallets, while the victims lose between a few hundred and hundreds of thousands of euros. In one case, a single wallet received payments of over 160,000 euros (187,000 USD) in less than two months. Another wallet was linked to transactions amounting to more than 1 million euros (1.2 million USD).

The report is based on direct interactions with scammers, infrastructure mappings of malicious websites and forensic analyses of associated cryptocurrency wallets and shows the key approaches of the "task scammers":

• Imitation of real companiesincluding recruitment agencies and digital agencies
• Gamified cheating platforms with VIP levelsreward series and incentive systems
• Widespread use of SMSWhatsApp, Telegram and fake websites to create credibility
• Domain registrations via notorious registrar services, with 
  Hundreds of identified lookalike domains
• Cryptocurrency paymentsthat conceal money flows and facilitate international money laundering

Those affected report a high level of emotional stress and behavioral patterns that are reminiscent of gambling addiction. In some cases, task scams are also linked to larger criminal structures involving forced labor in scam operations and human trafficking in Southeast Asia.

More transparent recruitment practices required

"Task scams have become one of the most financially and psychologically damaging cybercrime threats facing individuals today," said Robert McArdle, Director of Forward Looking Threat Research at Trend. "The underlying infrastructure - from domain registrars to SMS delivery services - requires immediate attention. Companies can reduce the risk by being transparent about their recruitment practices and training job seekers on how to recognize legitimate communications."

Such modern fraud methods are highly targeted and designed to remain undetected. In a recent Trend Micro global study of over 6,500 consumers, 39% of respondents said they only realized they had fallen victim to a scam after they had already lost a significant amount of money. To protect against such scams, Trend Micro has developed the apps ScamCheck and Scam Radar developed. This allows users to recognize early on when they are being targeted by fraudsters. Scam Radar provides real-time protection by identifying the scams used by cybercriminals as they happen. Users are warned immediately and can take countermeasures before any damage is done. 

Source: Trend Micro

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/task-scams-betrugsform-mit-starkem-wachstum/

Pollutec has been the leading European trade fair for environmental and climate protection for 47 years. It is aimed at industry, cities and regions. Last year, an additional format was held in Paris, Porte de Versailles, for the first time. Nevertheless, Lyon remains an extremely attractive location every two years: 51,000 trade visitors and 2,000 exhibitors, including 200 start-ups, attended in 2023.

Springboard for eco-innovations

We are currently seeing ecological regression and dwindling commitment. Nevertheless, Pollutec continues to see itself as a springboard for eco-innovations. The trade fair is convinced that ecological change is a transnational issue and even sees it as a key to European sovereignty. Pollutec Exhibition Director Anne-Manuèle Hébert comments: "Pollutec 2025 is taking place in an unusual political context - unfortunately, the signs for an ecological turnaround are not green. The environment is not a political issue - ecology is a science. Pollutec's task is to present solutions for the ecological transformation of companies and regions that could make a more liveable future possible. In doing so, we always pursue a systemic approach - in our view the only one that is viable and sustainable in the long term. Science will therefore be a central theme of the upcoming edition of the trade fair. Because without reliable, verified data that has been validated by research experts, we will not make any progress. Pollutec is firmly committed to action and to change in industry and regions."

Diverse supporting program

With its 2025 edition in Lyon, Pollutec remains clearly focused on environmental issues. The focus remains on key topics relating to the transformation of companies.
The event will focus on four main topics, from which the supporting program of Pollutec 2025 will also be derived:

• Health: making the interdependence of environment and health visible and rethinking our lifestyles to create a healthier and more sustainable future.
• Decarbonization: exploring innovative solutions to effectively reduce the carbon footprint in industry and regions.
• Bioeconomy: moving away from fossil resources, strengthening local and natural resources and promoting a regenerative, nature-based economy.
• Science: Putting knowledge and research back at the center of environmental policy debates.

Once again this year, Pollutec is offering a wide-ranging program with an international scope - including panel discussions with leading minds in the industry and inspiring presentations: 400 specialist lectures, 16 discussion forums, the Pollutec Innovation Awards, business meetings, themed forums and villages, international delegations, etc.

Tickets are already available on the website: https://www.pollutec.com/fr-fr/registration.html

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/pollutec-2025-zentrale-themen-fuer-industrie-umwelt-staedte-und-regionen/

The Swiss family business Avesco, now in its 6th generation and active throughout Europe in the fields of construction machinery, energy systems and construction technology solutions, has developed a new brand positioning together with Day Partners. The aim was to formulate the company's own entrepreneurial attitude more precisely, to sharpen its profile in the market and to further develop its communication with customers and potential employees in a coherent manner.

Positivity as an entrepreneurial decision

The development of the positioning was based on a comprehensive analysis of the corporate culture, the company's own competencies and the perception of external target groups. In a multi-stage process, central internal company convictions that characterize Avesco's self-image were identified. It emerged that, in addition to technical expertise, it is above all a positive, solution-oriented attitude that shapes day-to-day activities. Characteristics such as openness, accessibility, trust and confidence are key to the company's identity.

Following the analysis, an overarching positioning was formulated. It expresses the fact that Avesco combines economic objectives with value-based corporate management: Positivity is seen as a driver of progress within the company - both in dealing with challenges and in working with customers, partners and employees.

"For us, positivity is an entrepreneurial decision," explains Group CEO Mario Meier: "It enables us to make constant progress and is based on our expertise and many years of experience. We always look to the future, with the will and ability to take responsibility and solve seemingly unsolvable challenges for our customers." This attitude runs through all business areas and strengthens Avesco's market position in a competitive environment.

Providing authentic insight

The strategic foundations formed the starting point for two films that were created as part of the collaboration. The cross-business corporate film uses the word "yes" to illustrate how Avesco works with customers and how challenges are tackled on a day-to-day basis. The employer branding film is aimed at potential new employees and - based on the same basic idea - provides insights into the working environment and the basic attitude of Avesco.

Both films were realized with the film production company Mint Mediahouse and the director Lorenz Klapfer. A conscious effort was made to ensure an authentic portrayal. Philipp Pongracz, Head of Marketing at Avesco: "We didn't want to show a staged façade, but rather Avesco as it is: accessible, pragmatic and with a clear yes to progress."

Specialized in partnership-based cooperation

The collaboration between Day Partners and Avesco took place in a close, equal exchange, which is what the agency founded by Annette Häcki and Marcel Walzl (both previously Jung von Matt) at the end of 2023 specializes in. Since then, DAY Partners has used its collaborative approach to support companies such as FIS, BKW and the international brand Prolicht alongside Avesco.

"In every project, we see ourselves as a joint team in which everyone involved contributes their skills and perspectives - and these are taken seriously by everyone," explains Annette Häcki. As a result, both the positioning of Avesco and the development of the films were created in close collaboration between the agency and the client or film production. The films are now in use and can be seen on the Avesco website and other company channels.

Responsible: Julia Ewers (DAY Partners), Tobias Gruber (Sandgrain), Annette Häcki (DAY Partners), Lorenz Klapfer (Director), Michael Mair am Tinkhof (Mint Mediahouse), Mario Meier (Group CEO Avesco), Philipp Pongracz (Head of Marketing Avesco), Marcel Walzl (DAY Partners)

The natural cosmetics brand thus takes over first place from the Bavarian Andechser Molkerei Scheitz. In the observation period from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, Weleda was able to convince current customers the most of its quality (90.9 score points).

The top 10 quality champions 2025

Andechser Natur is once again in 2nd place (88.6 points), followed by the Italian coffee company Lavazza in 3rd place with 88.5 points. Lavazza was in 5th place last year and was therefore able to move up two places. The German automotive group BMW is in 4th place (88.3 points). BMW is a newcomer this year. TeeGschwendner follows in 5th place with 88.3 points. The tea trading company improved by 3 places compared to the previous year.

Peek & Cloppenburg ranked 6th with 88.0 points. The retailer was already in the top 10 in 2023, but not in 2024. The same applies to Breuninger: the department store chain is in 7th place this year (87.2 points), was in third place in 2023 and not in the ranking in 2024.

LEGO is a newcomer and comes in 8th place with 86.8 points. The cleaning brand Frosch is also represented in the top 10 quality champions for the first time. The brand is ranked 9th with 86.5 points. Finally, the tool brand Makita takes 10th place with 86.4 points. Makita is also a newcomer.

The ranking is based on population-representative data from the Brand Monitor YouGov BrandIndex.

Ranking again dominated by retail and FMCG brands

As in the two previous years, the top 10 German quality champions are dominated by brands from the retail and FMCG sectors.

Felix Leiendecker, Head of Data Products DACH at YouGov, says of the ranking: "From organic yogurt to luxury cars - these top 10 brands represent what consumers in Germany value most: Product quality and reliability. The top 3 brands in the ranking, Weleda, Andechser Natur and Lavazza, stand for a new form of quality awareness - where closeness to nature, responsible production and genuine enjoyment come together."

The Quality Champions 2025 comprise 45 categories from the banking & insurance, FMCG, retail, mobility, tourism & leisure, electronics & streaming, automotive and service provider sectors.

Walthert and his team of around 70 people have been responsible for the successful marketing, sustainable branding and high-profile campaigns of Digitec and Galaxus for years. A large part of the work is done in-house. The team regularly uses unconventional approaches - with demonstrable success: the company's turnover and brand awareness have grown continuously.

Every year, personalities are nominated for the award who are particularly committed to their brand, focus on customers, take sustainability into account and are role models as managers. We are looking for people who break new ground and create real added value for companies and consumers alike.

The candidates are nominated by 24 experts from business, marketing, research, media, consulting and education. The Institute for Marketing & Consumer Insight at the University of St. Gallen evaluates the nominations and draws up a longlist. From this, the jury selects a shortlist of six nominees.

A special feature of this year was the first double nomination: Sara Jerman and Angelika Leemann from Rivella. Also on the shortlist were (alphabetically): Gregor Eicher (Bank Cler), Marco Greco (Ochsner Sport), Sonia Milici (Yuh) and Martin Schweikert (BKW).

After being named "Advertiser of the Year 2020" and "Marketing Thought Leader 2022", Martin Walthert has now also been awarded the title of "CMO of the Year 2025". He started his career directly at Digitec Galaxus after completing his studies and has been working there since 2006. Today, as CMO, he relies on a clear in-house strategy with short decision-making paths. Since he joined, the company's turnover has risen from CHF 62 million to CHF 3.228 billion.

The award ceremony took place on Thursday, August 21, in the Papiersaal Zurich in front of 120 invited guests. Vanessa Meier hosted the evening for the third time. The guest of the Spotlight Session was David Degen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of FC Basel 1893.

The "CMO of the Year" is an initiative of Serviceplan Group Switzerland (Serviceplan Suisse AG, Mediaplus Suisse AG and Plan.Net Suisse AG) in partnership with Admeira, APG, 20 Minuten, m&k, persönlich, swissmarketing and the University of St. Gallen.

The owner-managed branding, packaging and marketing agency Allink is an established name on the Zurich creative scene. Based in Binz, the agency develops holistic brand solutions - strategically sound, creatively implemented and precisely tailored to the respective needs.

What began in 2005 as a joint project between three childhood friends is now an interdisciplinary team of around 30 specialists who design, position and bring brands to life. With enthusiasm, understanding and creativity, Allink writes success stories for Swiss customers.

Allink supports companies throughout the entire brand management process, focusing on four disciplines: Brand Design, Packaging Design, Brand Websites and Brand Marketing. Clients such as Migros, Lidl, Ramseier, Schreiner48 and LUMA Delikatessen rely on the agency's expertise.

Fabian Schiltknecht, Managing Director of Allink, is delighted to be included in the LSA: "The Allink team has been shaping the brands and communications of well-known Swiss companies for 20 years. We are proud to now be one of the Leading Swiss Agencies and look forward to shaping the future of our industry together with the other LSA agencies."

According to communications company Verizon's CX Annual Insights report, the future of customer experience (CX) is not just about implementing AI, but strategically integrating it to strengthen human relationships and address key customer issues.

Empathy gap revealed

The report, based on a survey of 5,000 consumers and 500 executives in seven countries, reveals a serious divide:

• The human factor is still crucial: Overall, 88 % of consumers are satisfied with interactions that are mostly or entirely carried out by human employees. Only 60 % say the same about interactions with AI. This trend illustrates a fundamental insight: the efficiency of AI cannot replace the empathy and trust that a human conveys.
• The biggest frustration: no direct communication with people: The most common cause of consumer frustration with automated interactions is the inability to speak or chat with a human agent when needed. Almost half of all consumers (47 %) cite this as the biggest problem. Businesses themselves are aware of this, with a similar percentage of executives stating that this is the most common complaint they receive in relation to AI-powered interactions.
• The contradiction of personalization: Although personalization is one of the most important use cases for AI for brands, most consumers don't see the benefits. In fact, more consumers said that personalization has impacted their overall experience (30 %), than that it has improved it (26 %). An important factor is data privacy, with 65 % of executives stating that privacy regulations limit their ability to use AI for personalization. This point is particularly critical as 54 % of consumers state that their trust in the proper use of their personal data by companies has decreased.

"The future of CX is not about AI replacing humans, but about using AI to enhance human interactions," says Daniel Lawson, SVP Global Solutions at Verizon Business. "Companies that use AI to meet customer needs, empower their employees and improve personalization while respecting privacy will be the market leaders of tomorrow."

Closing the gap: Practical examples of AI that works

Companies are successfully using AI to improve the skills of their teams and optimize the customer experience instead of replacing human labor. The "Insights Report" gives an example of how an energy supply company was able to provide proactive support thanks to AI. During the COVID-19 lockdown, the company used AI and predictive analytics to identify middle-income households that might be struggling to pay their energy bills. This allowed the company to target households with personalized recommendations, for example by also pointing out government-organized energy assistance. In this way, the company demonstrated and proved not only customer proximity, but also that AI can solve concrete social challenges with a human-centered approach. The same company also uses AI to assist advisors, for example to process calls more efficiently. This involves providing them with the right data at the right time and consolidating calls, thereby reducing the burden on employees. This is in line with the report's finding that companies now prioritize investments in improving the customer experience through human employees and AI equally.

Source: Verizon

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/empathie-luecke-gleichgewicht-zwischen-ki-und-customer-experience-finden/

Data center provider Digital Realty has announced that its 45MW campus in Glattbrugg - consisting of the ZUR1, ZUR2 and ZUR3 data centers - has been awarded the "Gold+" certificate by the Swiss Datacenter Efficiency Association (SDEA). This makes the campus in Glattbrugg the first data center location in the world to receive this prestigious award. This is a significant milestone for sustainable infrastructure and data center operations in Switzerland. This announcement follows an earlier milestone in which ZUR2 and ZUR3 received the "Gold+" certificate and ZUR1 the "Silver+" label. With ZUR1 now also "Gold+" certified, the entire campus in Glattbrugg has achieved the "Gold+" label. The three data centers underwent a strict certification process in which their energy efficiency and carbon footprint were assessed. ZUR1 was opened 25 years ago. Thanks to targeted technical upgrades, it still meets the latest technological standards today.

Strategic importance of sustainability

The SDEA certifies companies that meet particularly high sustainability standards over an extended period of time with 100 % measured and verified performance. The award of the "Gold+" certificate underlines Digital Realty's commitment to consistently reducing its environmental impact while providing a high-performance digital infrastructure. "Sustainability and energy efficiency are key drivers of innovation," explains Lex Coors, Chief Data Center Technology & Engineering Officer at Digital Realty. "In a world where resource scarcity, climate change and decarbonization pressures are becoming ever more present, sustainable solutions are becoming increasingly strategic."

Delighted with SDEA certification

Babak Falsafi, President of the SDEA, shares this assessment: "The fact that an entire campus has been awarded "Gold+" for the first time is exceptional proof of Digital Realty's leading role in terms of sustainability in data centers. Digital Realty is the first company ever to achieve Gold+ certification for all three data centers on a campus, setting a new benchmark for the entire industry to follow." Yves Zischek, Managing Director at Digital Realty in Switzerland, emphasizes: "This SDEA certification is an important milestone on our path to a sustainable future. We have been striving to play a pioneering role for over 25 years and will not rest on our laurels with the "Gold+" certificate. Especially in the age of AI, this is an important and strong signal."

Data centers have high energy requirements

With increasing digitalization, the demand for data storage capacity and computing power is constantly growing. From cloud computing and AI applications to everyday digital services, data centers play a crucial role in global connectivity. This development goes hand in hand with increasing energy consumption. AI-based workloads require up to 30 times more power1 than traditional server operations, making the importance of energy-efficient infrastructures ever more critical. Digital Realty is meeting these challenges with the consistent use of renewable energy and innovative colocation solutions, according to the company. Digital Realty's entire European portfolio - including its data centers in Switzerland - is powered by 100 % of renewable energy, according to the company.

Source: Digital Realty

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/rechenzentrumsbetreiber-digital-realty-erhaelt-sdea-zertifizierung-gold/

The professional handling of flammable, corrosive, toxic or explosive substances is essential in order to minimize risks to people, the environment and property. The legal requirements are extensive - but many questions arise in practice: How can extinguishing water retention be implemented efficiently? What should be done in the event of a chemical accident in the company? What are the consequences of banning or replacing certain substances? And how can know-how be retained despite staff changes in the company? All of this leads to challenges for chemical processing companies, project managers, enforcement authorities and insurers.

Existing know-how is often lost due to personnel changes, which can lead to new safety gaps. It is therefore imperative to regularly review the correct and proper handling of chemicals in the company as well as the safety measures and to adapt them to the new circumstances with sound knowledge. With a practical program, the presentations will get to the bottom of the above and other questions. Experts from the fields of enforcement, planning and application will provide up-to-date knowledge, highlight solutions and shed light on common weaknesses in day-to-day operations. Specific recommendations for adapting the safety system in companies where chemicals are used and where there is a risk of explosion are on the agenda.

The conference brings together the various players and promotes a well-founded exchange between specialists with similar questions and tasks.

More information and registration: https://save.ch/event/chemikaliensicherheit-2025/

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/tagung-chemikaliensicherheit-und-explosionsschutz-wo-fehlts/