As part of the wide range of measures, Migros is planning a nationwide campaign with direct customer contact this coming weekend. Employees will welcome customers with drinks such as the new non-alcoholic "non-sparkling wine", Migros Ice Tea or coffee from the Coffee-B system. A newly created apricot tartlet will be handed out at the checkout and children will receive craft materials - while stocks last. In addition, selfie walls in 80 larger locations and musical performances will create a special atmosphere.

The campaign is intended as a gesture of appreciation in the anniversary year. According to Migros, it is intended to emphasize the proximity to customers and show that even small gestures can have a big impact.

Wirz's anniversary campaign for Migros went live at the beginning of the year. More here.

Technology alone is no longer a guarantee of competitive advantage - a strong positioning is also required. With this in mind, Netrics is now specifically strengthening its brand management: with immediate effect, Daniel Howe will be responsible for the company's strategic positioning as Head of Communications & Marketing. The aim is to differentiate the brand more clearly in the market and to promote the company's growth.

"Digitalization alone is no longer a distinguishing feature - technologies are available, comparable and interchangeable," says Pascal Kocher, CEO of Netrics. "Real differentiation arises where complexity is reduced and the benefits are brought to the point. With his experience at the interface of technology, transformation and brand management, Daniel Howe brings exactly the expertise we need for this."

Daniel Howe can look back on over 25 years of experience in brand management and communication, including at companies such as Zühlke, KPMG, Switch, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and most recently as Director of Strategy at an agency. He has supported numerous organizations in transformation processes, repositioned brands and implemented data-driven communication strategies.

"If you want to survive in a dynamic environment, you have to consistently make visible what you stand for - and what makes you special," says Howe about his new role at Netrics. "A strong brand arouses desire, provides orientation and serves as a compass for entrepreneurial decisions."

At the SVI general meeting in Olten on Friday, the association looked back on a difficult year. Financial challenges and increasing regulatory pressure characterized the situation. The SVI closed 2024 with a loss of CHF 12,756. Managing Director Andreas Zopfi therefore called for a change of perspective in which the industry leaves "crisis mode" and views the current circumstances - including regulatory changes and geopolitical uncertainties - as the new normal.

The meeting focused on the elections to the Board of Directors: After 13 years, President Philippe Dubois stepped down. Board members Micaël Müller (Migros Industrie), Hansruedi Schafflützel (Wipf) and Patrick Semadeni (Semadeni Group) also stepped down. Tobias Leischner (Bourquin) was unanimously elected as the new President. Rolf Eicher (JobTalente), Roberto Polizzi (Migros Industrie), Othmar Wohlhauser (Wipf) and Rudolf Zimmerli (Proderma) were also newly elected to the Board.

In his laudatory speech for outgoing President Dubois, Managing Director Zopfi paid tribute to his consistently focused work and his role as a bridge builder.

In the statutory part of the meeting, the members unanimously approved the annual report, minutes and budget for 2025. They also approved a 5% increase in contributions from 2026 - the first since 2010. The full minutes will be available at the end of May 2025 on the SVI website available.

Switzerland has committed to converting its energy system to net zero by 2050. A central element of this is the expansion of renewable energies. Researchers at the University of Bern and the Università della Svizzera italiana have developed the SWEET project as part of the federal funding program. Online game "Ensured Energy" in which participants can simulate and control Switzerland's energy supply over the next 30 years. The game is designed to increase understanding of the complex interrelationships within Swiss energy policy.

Energy transition brought to life

In "Ensured Energy", players make decisions on energy infrastructure, electricity imports and political measures and directly see the effects of their choices on the security of supply. Unexpected events also occur, such as extreme weather conditions or fluctuating energy prices.

Focus on opinion-forming

The project was led by Isabelle Stadelmann-Steffen, Professor of Comparative Politics at the University of Bern. Her team provided the thematic foundations, while the researchers at the Università della Svizzera italiana were responsible for the game design, model development and technical implementation. "Our aim is for the game to make it easier for players to form an opinion on energy policy alternatives on the path to net zero," explains Stadelmann-Steffen.

The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) is financially supporting the game as part of the SWEET consortium "Sustainable and Resilient Energy for Switzerland" (SURE), which is researching sustainable energy solutions for Switzerland. The game is also part of a population survey that is investigating whether such interactive offers strengthen opinion-forming and confidence in one's own ability to act on the energy transition. The results of this study are not yet available.

In light of the increasing fragmentation and polarization of the public and the growing problem of fake news, the HarbourClub sees an urgent need for companies to take action. According to the newly presented "CCO Compass 2025" communication managers should increasingly act as stakeholder relationship managers in order to take on a more active role in the company and ensure the credibility of communication.

The publication was created on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the HarbourClub with the participation of around 100 members and was presented for the first time at the Swiss Media Forum in Lucerne. It formulates thirteen concrete measures as recommendations for five central communicative fields of action. These include, in particular, building trust, dealing with a fragmented public and positioning on socio-politically relevant issues. Companies are often faced with the decision of whether to speak out publicly on controversial issues or to deliberately keep a low profile. According to HarbourClub, stances should be taken more strategically and less tactically in future. In recent years, this has often happened "on a whim or due to the mood of individual managers in the company".

An informal survey of Swiss communication managers shows that companies are expected to comment on climate change, sustainability issues, Switzerland's relationship with the EU and issues relating to social peace in particular. There are also industry-specific topics such as geopolitical developments and dealing with technology and artificial intelligence.

In the future - the turning point, as the HarbourClub puts it - communication will become more demanding, with fact-based, transparent and consistent storytelling being crucial. Hans-Peter Nehmer, President of the HarbourClub, summarizes as follows: "The head of communications is no longer just concerned with 'sending', but with shaping relationships with all stakeholder groups. This also means listening and entering into dialog. In future, we need to pay even more attention to facts and transparency. Heads of communication should be in a position to take responsibility for the sincerity of communication for the company. A communications department that is merely an 'internal service provider' and not a steering function will sooner or later be a reputational risk."

The Swiss Siemens companies are recording significant growth. This is shown by the latest quarterly figures. This growth is being driven largely by digitalization, according to the statement. "We are seeing strong growth in the software business in all areas. With our digital solutions, we are accelerating Switzerland's digital transformation in the areas of buildings, industry, mobility and healthcare," says Gerd Scheller, Country CEO of Siemens Switzerland. "The Mobility business in particular is recording a positive sales trend. The Vectron locomotives in particular continue to enjoy great popularity in Switzerland."

Various major projects implemented

In the current financial year, Siemens has implemented a large number of forward-looking customer projects in Switzerland, according to the company. For example, the Baden Cantonal Hospital (KSB) was opened at the end of February. KSB is relying on a cooperation with Siemens. Thanks to solutions such as an open IoT platform from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, an app-based navigation system and state-of-the-art Siemens building technology, KSB has become one of the most modern hospitals in Switzerland and Europe. Siemens also commissioned the latest blue GIS medium-voltage system in Davos in January 2025. The switchgear is completely free of climate-damaging sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and guarantees a safe, clean and reliable power supply for around 40,000 people.

Above-average growth in Smart Infrastructure

The Zug-based global business unit Siemens Smart Infrastructure, which employs around 78,500 people worldwide, also reported positive key figures. Revenue increased by 11 % to €11.030 billion in the first half of the current fiscal year and the profit margin climbed from 17.4 % to 20.6 %. "We have now been able to increase our profitability globally for 18 quarters in a row. We have also achieved above-average growth in Switzerland and have won several large orders from data centers and customers in the energy and industrial sectors," says Matthias Rebellius, Global CEO of Siemens Smart Infrastructure and member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG. "We received a lot of positive feedback on Siemens Xcelerator at our Transform 2025 customer event in Zurich in March. This open, digital platform helps Swiss companies to optimize their operational efficiency and overall quality and to successfully master challenges such as sustainability, cyber security and increasing competitiveness."

Leading in many areas

In Switzerland, the Siemens companies have a strong market position in building technology and energy distribution (Smart Infrastructure) as well as in industrial and drive technology (Digital Industries and Siemens Industry Software). The company also holds a leading position in rail technology (Siemens Mobility). Siemens is also the majority owner of Siemens Healthineers, a leading provider of medical technology with a strong presence in Switzerland. Siemens Energy is a separately managed company in energy transmission and generation, which is also active in Switzerland. Siemens holds a minority stake in Siemens Energy.

Source: Siemens

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/siemens-gesellschaften-wachsen-in-der-schweiz-deutlich/

The shortage of skilled workers has Switzerland firmly in its grip. One answer to this comes from a perhaps unexpected corner - from pensioners. For several years now Rent a pensioner a platform on which experienced retirees can offer their services for small jobs. What once began as a pioneering project has now developed into a trend. Working in retirement is not only socially accepted, but also in demand.

With the new job platform "Hire a pensioner", the employment opportunities for retirees are being significantly expanded. Companies can recruit retirees not only for small jobs, but also for demanding tasks and temporary projects - for example as a replacement during maternity leave or military service.

"We are killing two birds with one stone," explains Managing Director Reto Dürrenberger, who founded the company together with Sarah Hiltebrand. "Our platforms help to combat the shortage of skilled workers - and at the same time we support pensioners who want to remain active or make ends meet financially." In Switzerland, around 20 percent of people of retirement age with an income of less than CHF 2,506 per month are at risk of poverty or are considered poor. This financial situation means that many of them have to continue working after retirement in order to secure their livelihood. In addition, around ten percent of pensioners are dependent on supplementary benefits in order to reach the minimum subsistence level.

Because everything revolves around the Boomer generation, the operators have changed the name of their public limited company to "Boomer AG". Now not only as a company operating the platforms, but also as a specialized marketing agency focusing on the baby boomer target group. "Everyone only talks about the GenZ generation, but hardly anything about the baby boomers, who make up 20 percent of the population. We want to change that," says Sarah Hiltebrand.

Dürrenberger and Hiltebrand and their creative agency Die Antwort are also responsible for the overall appearance, logos, branding and the realization of the various platforms.

Swiss air navigation service provider Skyguide has been recognized for its commitment to the environment: It is the first air navigation service provider in the world to achieve the so-called full maturity level 3 of the international environmental program "GreenATM" (more on this below). Skyguide is thus seeking to underline the fact that environmental awareness is an integral part of its corporate culture. This rating was awarded by the international air navigation services industry association CANSO. It thus recognizes skyguide's leading role in the sustainable development of air navigation services - both in Switzerland and beyond its borders. "This recognition is proof that innovation and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand in aviation," says Alex Bristol, CEO of Skyguide.

Flight paths play an important role

In 2023, skyguide became the first air navigation service provider ever to receive GreenATM recognition. The traffic routes on which air traffic controllers guide aircraft on a daily basis play an important role here. Whereas in the past a network of major airways criss-crossed the Swiss skies, on which air traffic controllers guided aircraft, pilots now have a much freer choice of routes. "For the airlines, this means that they can opt for more direct routes - and therefore need to refuel less fuel," says Bristol. This has a double effect on CO2 emissions: Shorter routes require less energy. In addition, an aircraft that carries less fuel is lighter - and therefore needs less kerosene.

Skyguide also achieved this first ecological recognition at the time thanks to its energy-efficient infrastructure and the environmental awareness of its employees in their respective activities. Further examples of skyguide's ecological commitment include

• participation in the federal government's "Exemplary Energy and Climate" initiative,
• the promotion of direct and freer route selection in air traffic
• the active involvement of employees and partners in environmental projects

"The 2023 award was just the beginning for us," Bristol looks back. After the classification, air navigation service providers must prove over a period of two years that they are sustainably strengthening their commitment to the environment. This is the only way to achieve full recognition at the respective ecological maturity level.

Drones instead of airplanes survey the navigation systems

Skyguide has further intensified its efforts since 2023 and has taken on a pioneering role, for example, when it comes to the regularly required survey flights. This involves calibrating
technicians, for example, the instruments of the landing systems at the airfields. "Where possible, we no longer use a survey aircraft for this, but rely on a drone instead," says the Skyguide boss. This is a measure that has an impact on the ecological footprint.

This ultimately led to CANSO being able to confirm the Swiss air navigation service provider's ecological maturity level 3 after successfully passing several audits - something that no other air navigation service provider has ever achieved, as Skyguide proudly announces. For CEO Alex Bristol, however, it is clear: "This recognition is undoubtedly an important step for us and reflects our commitment to sustainability. However, we don't see it as the end goal, but rather as a stage in recognizing ourselves and our pioneering work.
to develop further." Skyguide intends to further strengthen its commitment to more climate-friendly flight paths. Bristol sees potential for improvement in arrivals and departures, for example. "Instead of letting the aircraft ascend or descend like a staircase as they do today, we want to increasingly guide them on a continuously ascending or descending route," says Bristol. This will have a positive effect on fuel consumption.

Source and further information: Skyguide

GreenATM, an environmental standard for air navigation services

The GreenATM program was launched by CANSO in 2022 to make the environmental performance of air navigation service providers comparable worldwide and to improve it in a targeted manner by air navigation service providers exchanging information. It assesses how environmentally friendly air navigation service providers work - both in their own processes and in the management of air traffic. It examines 24 areas, including infrastructure, operations, energy consumption, procurement and governance. Independent auditors assess the participating air navigation service providers and classify their environmental performance into one of the program's five maturity levels. Further information: Green ATM Environmental Accreditation Program - CANSO

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/skyguide-setzt-neue-standards-fuer-umweltbewusste-flugsicherung/

Control 2025 came to a successful close in Stuttgart on May 9. Many satisfied exhibitors summed up the four days of the trade fair in four full exhibition halls: "Control is one of the most important industry get-togethers," stated Nadeem Sawani, Vice President Sales EMEA at Mahr, for example. He highlighted Control as the ideal platform for showcasing innovations and exchanging ideas with customers. Manuel Müller, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence Germany, also emphasized: "For us, Control is the most important meeting place for the measurement technology industry." Trade visitors can not only inspect systems here, but also test them live. Dr. Raoul Christoph, Deputy Managing Director at Werth Messtechnik, also expressed his satisfaction: "Control remains the most important trade fair for quality assurance." Florian Schwarz, CEO of CAQ AG Factory Systems and long-standing Control exhibitor, also praised Control as a "super team-building event."

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/control-2025-vermeldet-erfolgreichen-messe-abschluss/

With the roadshow, Electrolux wants to present its top products to consumers in urban centers and also show the innovative technologies in action. The walk-in washing machine serves as an eye-catching, mobile experience space.

"With the nationwide roadshow, we want to reach consumers directly and get in touch with them. Our innovative technologies are best demonstrated on site through an interactive experience that is also fun," explains Roland Bienz, Marketing Director of Electrolux Switzerland. The live communication activation builds on the advertising campaign with brand ambassador Marco Odermatt from previous months.

In addition to the technology presentation, the event will also feature a wheel of fortune with prizes worth over 100,000 francs and a meet & greet with Marco Odermatt. The roadshow will be stopping off in a total of six Swiss cities: Lausanne, Zurich, Winterthur, Basel, Lucerne and most recently at the Swiss Wrestling Festival in Mollis at the end of August 2025.

The Zurich Logistics Colloquium celebrated its 40th anniversary this year! The event was founded 45 years ago by Peter Rupper. He was the guest of honor at this year's event in the ETH Lecturers' Foyer. 71 guests from industry and commerce were able to follow three practical presentations with great interest.

Smart logistics for machine tools

After the welcome to the anniversary edition of the event by the two event chairs Dr. Peter Acél and Prof. Dr. Konrad Wegener, Dr. Fabian Stoop, Technical Director at Lestoprex AG, kicked off the lecture series with his presentation "Highly complex, expensive, indispensable". He focused on smart logistics in the machine tool supplier industry. The machine tool (WZM) is a key technology. Switzerland plays a leading role among hundreds of manufacturers worldwide: precision, innovation and reliability have enabled it to assert itself as a niche market leader with an export quota of over 80 %.

Machine tools are long-term capital goods with life cycles of up to 30 years and more. Dr. Stoop emphasized the importance of efficient logistics services over the entire life cycle of the machines, from production to spare parts logistics and recycling. Competitive pressure constantly demands innovation from suppliers, while at the same time small batch sizes and strict regulatory requirements (e.g. ESG) must be met. Stoop illustrated this with two case studies: Clamping systems, safety-relevant, high-precision components, and modular coolant hoses, so-called C-parts with a high variety of combinations; standardization is the key.

Circular economy for electrical appliances

Pasqual Zopp, Managing Director of SENS eRecycling, spoke about the importance of efficient take-back and recycling of electrical appliances under the title "Circular economy in action". He showed how a voluntary, effective circular economy works successfully. He also mentioned an innovative collection and pricing concept developed together with Dr. Acél & Partner AG.

In Europe, the average household owns 74 electr(on)ic appliances, of which around eleven are broken or unused. Electronic waste is a complex type of waste. Worldwide, only 23% is professionally recycled. Thanks to SENS and Swico, Switzerland is a pioneer in returning recyclable materials to the cycle. The rate here is 95%. The system is financed by the advance recycling fee, which covers all costs for collection, logistics, recycling and administration.

There is a need for action to educate the public. Many consumers do not know what counts as an electrical appliance - a question that was also raised in the subsequent discussion. There is also a lack of convenient return options. Zopp presented the "Electro Recycling Bag" as a solution. Inspired by the return concept for used Nespresso capsules, the bag was created in collaboration with Swiss Post.

Recycling starts at the source

Nicolai Solenthaler, COO of soRec AG, closed the lecture series with his presentation "Recycling starts at the source" on the key functions of information and logistics. soRec specializes in the physical recovery of recyclable materials from electronic scrap, industrial metal waste and municipal materials (e.g. glass, aluminium). It sees recycling as an industrial process that should begin at the source, i.e. the point of disposal. High-quality recycling is only possible if materials are properly collected, sorted and passed on with the correct information. The motto "Leading in Closing Circles" sums up this philosophy. Precise information on material composition, origin and shape along the entire production chain enables a direct decision to be made as to whether a material can be shredded, sheared or supplied directly as special steel. Without information, time-consuming sorting is necessary. Solenthaler shows that the success of high-quality recycling management depends to a large extent on the installation of sensible collection concepts, information systems and logistical solutions at the beginning. High-quality recycling does not start at the end, but at the beginning of the chain.

The evil of the throwaway society

In the ensuing discussion, one of the frustrations voiced was that intelligent recycling strategies only tackled symptoms of the true evil of the throwaway society: non-replaceable or separable components and a lack of repair options. The situation in the industry due to developments in the USA was also addressed. Uncertainties are making planning more difficult and China is becoming increasingly important for us.

After a brief review and closing remarks on the anniversary logistics colloquium by Prof. Dr. Konrad Wegener, the guests continued their discussions with speakers and organizers over an aperitif riche with a magnificent view of the lake and the sea of lights of the city of Zurich.

Source and further information: Dr. Acél & Partner

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/zukunftsgerichtete-impulse-am-40-zuercher-logistik-kolloquium/

The latest Textakademie AI podcast welcomed two guests this time. Yariv Adan co-developed Google Assistant, Google Cloud and Google Lens, and Murièle Solange Bolay is co-organizer of the "Future of Humanity Experience" - a parallel event to Art Basel. She is also an investor and founder of MSB & Partners, where she has worked as a transformation expert and executive coach for 18 years. The discussion was once again moderated by journalist Christoph Soltmannowski.

Yariv Adan, now General Partner at venture capital firm Ellipsis in Zug, draws a comparison with the beginnings of humanity when it comes to artificial intelligence: "At the moment, we are like cavemen who have just discovered fire and are trying to imagine what they can do with it. The potential goes far beyond our current understanding and imagination".

He describes how voice interfaces facilitate access to technology for everyone, regardless of age, background or technical know-how. "Suddenly everyone can use it - someone who is three years old, someone who is 100 years old, someone who is rich, someone who is poor. Regardless of whether they are tech-savvy or not".

The future of human experience: art as a social laboratory

The former Google product manager will take part as an expert in the "Future of Humanity Experience", which is being co-organized by Murièle Solange Bolay. The event sees itself as a platform for interdisciplinary dialog and brings together representatives from the fields of art, business and science as well as futurists and visionaries. The common goal: to integrate creativity into everyday life and decision-making processes and to generate new perspectives for the future of humanity. "We need to liberate and rediscover ourselves. People need to become aware of their new role - and also discover the potential and perspectives that are opening up in the new world," says Bolay.