The increasing expectations on companies to take a stand on social or political issues raise questions about the opportunities and risks for reputation. In a new white paper, Hans-Jakob Boesch from Hjb and Sabrina Huber from Sabrina Huber Consulting provide decision-makers with guidance. The two are part of the "Reputation Experts" network.

Three criteria are central to a well-founded decision: Relevance of an issue for the company, acceptance by the stakeholders and a clearly recognizable benefit. "And companies should certainly not allow themselves to be put under pressure by third parties on this issue, but should decide solely on the basis of their own interests," Hans-Jakob Boesch is quoted as saying.

The guidelines are aimed at board members, management boards and communication managers. It addresses both strategic consideration and the operational implementation of political statements. "Nothing is more dangerous than loud talk or loud silence without a plan and substance," says Sabrina Huber.

The white paper includes food for thought, identifies risks and contains a checklist for implementation. It is available on Reputationexperts.ch ready for download.

Reputation Experts published a white paper back in February. In it, Susanne Müller Zantop advocated the introduction of a "reputation board" in companies.

The importance of cyber security in procurement is growing, but many corporate procurement departments are facing considerable challenges. This is shown by a recent survey conducted by IT security service provider Sophos among 201 purchasing managers from various industries and company sizes in Germany.

Cost optimization as the biggest obstacle

According to the survey, the four biggest challenges among all respondents are:

• Focus on cost reduction instead of long-term security (45 percent)
• Lack of or hardly any standardized security criteria in the supplier evaluation (41.6 percent)
• Too little awareness of cyber security in purchasing departments (40.1 percent)
• Lack of coordination with own IT/security department (39.6 percent)

At 45%, the focus on cost reduction is the most frequently cited challenge. This tension between efficiency and protective measures shows that cyber security is possibly still often treated as a secondary priority in procurement.

Company size determines challenges

Around 42% of respondents criticize the lack of or hardly any standardized security criteria in supplier evaluation. In addition, almost 40 percent complain about a lack of coordination with their own IT or security department; this factor is mentioned particularly in larger companies (over 52 percent in companies with more than 1000 employees).

The survey also reveals differences depending on the size of the company. Smaller companies (100-249 employees) struggle in particular with a lack of technical expertise (35.8%) and non-standardized security criteria (54.7%). Large companies with 1,000 employees or more mainly see coordination problems with the IT or security department (52.6%).

While smaller companies obviously lack the necessary skills, complex structures often make effective security integration difficult in larger companies.

Administrations lack know-how, utilities urge cyber security awareness

There are also clear differences between the sectors. The public administration sector reports a lack of expertise and a lack of standards particularly frequently (60.0% each). In the financial sector, the lack of training is particularly significant at 53.8%.

In retail, on the other hand, the figures are consistently low: only 13% see a lack of expertise as a problem, while only 17.4% complain about a lack of supplier transparency. Almost 100 percent of utility companies complain about a lack of awareness of cyber security in purchasing departments.

"The fact that utility companies are complaining about the lack of cyber security awareness in purchasing is very serious," comments Michael Veit, security expert at Sophos. "Especially in sensitive sectors, security aspects should not be sacrificed to cost optimization."

The appeal: Even more priority for cyber security in purchasing departments too

The results of the survey show: Cyber security is also increasingly being recognized as a critical factor in corporate procurement. However, there is still a lack of knowledge, internal coordination and structural guidelines in many places. Companies are therefore called upon to give the topic more priority - both through training and clear guidelines in supplier evaluation.

"Many purchasing departments are currently facing the challenge of integrating cyber security aspects into their processes in a structured way," says Michael Veit. "However, there is often a lack of expertise, clear criteria or close cooperation with IT. Yet the supply chain in particular is a decisive lever for a company's security situation. That's why procurement needs clear security guidelines, trained employees and close coordination with IT managers. The resilience of entire supply networks, for example, no longer depends solely on firewalls, but also on the decisions made in procurement."

Source: Sophos

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/cybersicherheit-im-einkauf-zwischen-kostendruck-und-fehlenden-standards/

The board of the Swiss Tourism Association STV is proposing National Councillor Reto Nause as the new president. The long-standing Bernese municipal councillor is to succeed Nicolò Paganini, who is leaving the association after around five and a half years at the helm.

Nause has experience in executive and federal politics and is familiar with both urban and Alpine tourism realities. As head of the Directorate for Safety, Environment and Energy of the City of Bern, he has specialist knowledge of sustainability issues - an area that plays a central role in the STV. His work on the National Council's Finance Committee underlines his familiarity with financial policy issues, which are also important for tourism policy work at federal level.

"In Reto Nause, we are proposing a strong leader with bridge-building qualities to the General Assembly," says STV Vice President Stephan Kurmann. "He brings political experience, an understanding of financial policy and a clear commitment to the development of tourism throughout Switzerland."

As President, Nause wants to bundle the various interests within the industry and represent them in a targeted manner. He sees tourism as a connecting element between the economy, society and the environment. "The tourism value chain is central to our country. It deserves the appropriate political attention and good framework conditions," says Nause. "I see my task as bringing together the interests of the various sectors, sharpening common concerns and representing them with conviction to politicians and the public."

The previous President Nicolò Paganini had been in office since 2020 (Markt-kom.com reported). His term of office included the further development of the STV association structures and the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. The announced resignation marks the start of an orderly transition phase. Nause should be able to prepare for the upcoming new funding period of the location promotion message at an early stage. The election and official handover of office will take place at the General Assembly on August 22, 2025 in Locarno.

Artificial intelligence has been transforming the healthcare sector for years. The emergence of generative AI is now giving this development an additional boost. It promises healthcare facilities further optimization of their processes and even more personalized patient care, for example through the automated analysis of patient records, the creation of medical documentation or virtual assistants.

Generative AI in healthcare: Five key aspects

Healthcare facilities have long recognized the enormous potential of generative AI and many of them have already experimented with initial applications. Now they want to use this technology on a large scale, but are often still considering how best to approach this project. Technology provider Dell Technologies explains five key aspects for developing a GenAI strategy.

1. Clear goals. Of course, the introduction of generative AI (GenAI) should not be an end in itself. It should solve problems that are closely related to strategic healthcare priorities such as improving patient care, streamlining processes or increasing operational efficiency. Healthcare organizations find these use cases by identifying weaknesses where traditional methods do not work and determining whether and how GenAI can close these gaps.
2. Robust data infrastructure. High data quality is a basic prerequisite for the successful use of generative AI. However, health data is often fragmented and scattered across many systems. A robust data processing infrastructure is therefore required to support GenAI applications. This includes data pipelines, secure storage systems and tools for integrating information from different sources such as patient records, imaging systems and clinical notes. Scalable solutions that can grow with the volume of data are best used.
3. Governance framework. Generative AI is subject to regulatory requirements such as the European Union's AI law and must meet ethical standards. To ensure that their GenAI applications meet these requirements, healthcare organizations can implement a governance framework. This should be developed jointly by IT, clinical managers and the legal department and provide employees with guidelines for the use of patient data, compliance with regulations and ethical decisions.
4. Culture of innovation. A culture of innovation and experimentation is required to make the most of the opportunities offered by generative AI. Overcoming the silos of IT and clinical teams is a crucial step in this direction. A simple but effective way to do this is to introduce a training program in which IT shows healthcare professionals how to use GenAI tools in their workflows. In addition, IT teams and clinical managers should be supported in developing practical solutions together.
5. Performance measurement. When implementing generative AI, it is best for healthcare organizations to start small, measure the impact and then expand the implementation based on demonstrable success. For example, if a GenAI solution reduces administrative errors in one department by a significant percentage, scaling this solution horizontally could have a positive impact across the organization. Important KPIs for measurement include efficiency gains, cost savings and patient satisfaction.

"Generative AI offers healthcare facilities the opportunity to sustainably optimize their processes and further improve patient care," explains Dr. Marten Neubauer, Field Director Healthcare at Dell Technologies in Germany. "They can best exploit this potential if they develop a strategy that creates a clear framework for anticipating and overcoming the challenges they will face when implementing this technology."

Source and further information: Dell Technologies

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/generative-ki-klopft-an-die-krankenzimmer/

It's that time again: Best of Swiss Apps is launching the search for the best Swiss apps of the year. The deadline for submissions is September 8, 2025. Since its launch in 2013, the Best of Swiss Apps Award (BoSA) has established itself as the most important industry prize for mobile and web-based applications in Switzerland. It is the showcase for digital excellence in app development in Switzerland - and a recognized quality award that makes innovation, craftsmanship and impact visible.

The 2025 edition of Best of Swiss Apps features the following further developments and special awards:

Web Apps category becomes "Technology"

In the "Technology" category, we evaluate the technical excellence of mobile applications and their backend systems. Among other things, we evaluate how performant, stable and secure the solution is implemented, how well the platform guidelines are adhered to, how resilient it is to network or system failures and, in particular, how appropriate the choice of technology is with regard to the project objective.

Web apps category becomes "Extended Interaction"

The "Extended Interaction" category recognizes apps that stand out through innovative and immersive user experiences by pushing the boundaries of traditional mobile interaction. The category evaluates projects that use extended realities (mixed, augmented & virtual reality) as well as smartphone apps that create new forms of interaction and extended digital experiences through the creative use of sensors, camera functions or other technological possibilities.

Swico start-up support program

Swico, the trade association for the ICT and online industry, is supporting start-ups to take part in Best of Swiss Apps. Three start-ups are given the opportunity to submit a project in up to two competition categories for the "Best of Swiss Apps" award free of charge - worth CHF 1,350.
The start-up projects regularly take part in the competition and are assessed by the expert juries in the respective categories. Start-ups that have been entered in the commercial register for less than five years as an AG or GmbH are eligible. Swico membership is not required. Interested start-ups can apply apply here until Thursday, August 21, 2025.

"hack an app" award

The "hack an app" award from ti&m is back on board. For over ten years, ti&m has been inspiring children for IT with its IT youth development program "hack an app". During the four-day courses, they develop their own app with the help of ti&m employees and immerse themselves in the fascinating world of technology in a fun way. To get even more children interested in IT, ti&m has teamed up with Best of Swiss Apps to launch the "hack an app" award was launched. It honors the best app for children between the ages of 11 and 14.

Award Night on November 6, 2025 in the Kongresshaus

This year, the award ceremony will take place on November 6, 2025 at the Kongresshaus in Zurich. The "hack an app" award and the "Best of Swiss Software" award will also be presented.

A total of 289 works were submitted by 50 different entrants. This is fewer than last year and initially suggested that this was not a very tolerable year. Not at all. The standard was above average and, on closer inspection, it is noticeable that the digital categories are consistently well filled in terms of number and content. The trend was also fueled by the newly created Social & Creators category, which also brought with it various new sub-categories, such as Real-Time Respone or Influencer Marketing. While - it must be admitted - the very traditional categories such as ads or posters are entering the fall of their careers.

The judging: the wizards assemble

On the first day, a total of 66 works were classified as bronze-worthy; they thus made it to the gold jury, which met on the second day. Every year, a special personality is also a member of this previously selected expert jury: This time, "20 Minuten" CEO Bernhard Brechbühl acted as guest juror. In the end, 22 silver cubes (more than had been awarded for a long time) and 6 gold cubes were chosen. In addition, the ADCESG Award, the Student of the Year and an Evergreen.

The gold cubes went to

• In the category "Photography - Fashion, Beauty, People, Portrait" to "Zermatt Unplugged 2025" for Zermatt Unplugged by Studio Geissbühler.
• In the category "Digital - Interactive Promotions" to "Steal Marina's Artwork" for the Kunsthaus Zürich by SiR MaRY.
• In the category "Film Long Format" to "Chocolat ohne Trallala" for Migros Supermarkt AG by thjnk Zurich (production: Pumpkin Film).
• In the category "Social and Creators - Real-Time Response" to "Nemo broke the trophy" for Mobiliar by Jung von Matt LIMMAT.
• It even won gold twice: In the Film Craft category and in the Art Direction category "La Beauté du Sport" for Ochsner Sport by thjnk Zurich (production: Czar Film).

The silver cubes went to

• In the Digital - Technological Craft category to "Accessibility Cybathlon ETH Zurich" for Cybathlon ETH Zurich by Farner | Team Farner.
• In the Digital - Creative Data category to "Geberit Toilettenpause" for Geberit International by INGO Zurich.
• In the long format film category to "La Beauté du Sport" for Ochsner Sport by thjnk Zurich (production: Czar Film).
• In the Film - Online Film category to "Psychological Violence" for Child Protection Switzerland by Neu Creative Agency (production: Rosas & Co Film).
• In the category Film - Online Film to "Galaxus Deutschland - Wer bin ich?" for Digitec Galaxus from Digitec Galaxus.
• In the long format film category to "Moneymaker" for Migros Supermarkt AG by thjnk Zurich (production: Feit Film).
• In the Film Craft category to "Chocolat ohne Trallala." for Migros Supermarkt AG by thjnk Zurich.
• In the category Design - Editorial and Book Design to "YES Magazine" for Studio Thom Pfister by Studio Thom Pfister.
• In the category Posters - Print to "Galaxus - Babel Campaign" for Digitec Galaxus by Digitec Galaxus.
• In the category Posters - Print to "Werbung aufräumen" by Neu Creative Agency for Rotho.
• In the PR category to "Nemo broke the trophy" for Die Mobiliar by Jung von Matt LIMMAT.
• In the Creative Effectiveness category to "Nuggets of Love" for McDonald's Switzerland by TBWA\ Switzerland.

Double silver was won by:

• In the Digital - Online Measure category and in the Creative Media category to "WOZ - The News in the News" for WOZ Die Wochenzeitung by Freundliche Grüsse.
• In the PR - Campaigns category and in the Good category to "Friendship Bracelets" for Pro Juventute by Farner | Team Farner.
• In the Film Long Format category and in the Film Craft category to "100 Years Anniversary" for Migros Supermarkt AG by Wirz Group (Production: Zauberberg Productions / Feit Film).
• In the Film - Online Film category and in the Audio Craft category to "Falling for Autumn" for Switzerland Tourism by Wirz Group AG (production: Mcqueen Films).
• In the category Design - Product & Package Design and in the category PR - Individual Work to "Migros Recycling Bags" for Migros Supermarkt AG by Wirz Group.

The Student of the Year

As part of Switzerland's most important creative competition, students and graduates from (technical) universities or private schools with a creative focus are invited to submit their best creations, semester or final projects in the "Students" category. The winner was "Spitfire - Raging Together" by Jessica Baumgartner for the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). A short documentary that portrays women in the metalcore and hardcore scene.

For the third time, the coveted ADCESG Award which is not just an award for better advertising, but for a contribution to a better world. This year, exelixis capital AG was found as a partner, adding even more significance to the award. Co-founder Michael Dieckell acted as an expert and used his specialist knowledge to help the jury categorize the eligible cases. On this basis, the jury decided to give the ADCESG Award to the "Accessibility Cybathlon ETH Zurich" for Cybathlon ETH Zurich by Team Farner.

The cube looks different every year; this time the elegant and cool specimen was designed by Le Bois and its founder and designer Bianca Gerber, whose designs stand for regionality, sustainability, ecological production and timeless aesthetics.

Winning an evergreen means entertaining people for years with advertising at a high level. And being honored by the ADC several times in that time. One client has achieved this in recent years, as well as this year. The evergreen therefore went to "Switzerland is our sports ground" for Ochsner Sport by Thjnk Zurich.

After awarding a Grand Prix two years in a row, the jury was unable to agree on a winner this year. According to jury chairman Thomas Wildberger, the magic of all 6 gold awards made a Grand Prix unlikely, because as they were all rated equally highly, it was simply impossible to agree on a winner. Especially as the decision had to be unanimous.

The abracadabra

All in all, the ADC members experienced a creative high-flying week. The motto "Orchestra of Wizards", which stood over the Creative Day that rounded off the judging as always, brought inspiration in various creative areas. The award ceremony on Friday evening made all the winners seem even happier thanks to Christa Rigozzi's magical presentation. The whole event was crowned by a dinner and subsequent party at the Dupont restaurant in the heart of Zurich's city center.

ADC Managing Director Hanna Jackl: "The Creative Days 2025 were a powerful symbol of creative excellence in Switzerland - bold, relevant and inspiring. My thanks go to our board and especially Thomas Wildberger, the members, the numerous guests, the great keynote speakers for their inspiring impulses - and the team that brought these days to life with so much commitment and passion."

ADC President Thomas Wildberger was also enthusiastic and the great weather also reflected the mood. "There is no magic formula for good advertising. But a real wizard knows how to do it and at least tries to turn every brief, no matter how generic, into an ADC cube. It has been shown that despite the much-cited pressure on the industry, creativity cannot be prevented. Where there is a belief that great ideas make the difference, creativity always finds its way to results that touch people."

In 2024, the new Group-wide climate targets were validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) with a net-zero roadmap until 2045. Compared to the previous year, greenhouse gas emissions in Scope 1 and 2 were reduced by 5%, which is partly due to the increased proportion of biogas and new measures to optimize fuel consumption. "The validation of our climate targets by the SBTi was the logical next step in our ambitious environmental management. In the long term, APG|SGA is committed to significantly reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. We have planned a series of further measures to support us on this reduction path," says Andres Trautmann, Head of Sustainability at APG|SGA.

Sustainability and social responsibility are firmly anchored in the corporate strategy. This is demonstrated by the fact that APG|SGA's sustainability management was awarded the "EcoEntreprise Sustainable Development - Social Responsibility" certificate in 2024. The certificate is based on the ISO 26000 standard and is awarded following an independent audit. The CSR organizational structure was specifically revised in advance in order to improve the holistic integration of the sustainability strategy into the operational business.

A key step was the establishment of the "CSR Board" in order to consistently involve all areas of the company and combine the strategy with day-to-day business. APG|SGA is also committed to diversity, equal pay and fair working conditions along the entire supply chain. In addition, the company supports numerous cultural and social initiatives through poster sponsorship.

22nd Sustainability Reporting 2024 with measures and targets

Impact levels of the CSR strategy

APG|SGA, Allgemeine Plakatgesellschaft AG, is the leading outdoor advertising company in Switzerland. Specializing in digital and analogue advertising solutions as well as special forms of advertising at highly frequented locations on the street, in railroad stations, at the point of sale, at the point of interest, in the mountains as well as in and around means of transport and airports, it covers all areas of outdoor advertising. Supplemented with mobile advertising and interaction options, APG|SGA stands for quality and tradition combined with innovation and aims to inspire people with the best communication solutions in public spaces. Over 500 employees work with customers, the authorities and the advertising industry to create a lasting impression. They work with great care, technical We manage the screens and billboards with a high degree of competence and ecological responsibility and ensure successful advertising broadcasts and posters throughout Switzerland with the utmost precision.

With this step, Codata is positioning itself even more clearly as a technical sparring partner for the design, implementation and operation of digital solutions in the areas of web/CMS, software development, e-commerce, PIM systems, MDM data management / business intelligence and system integration.

"We can't do everything. But we can do some things really well. We want to develop these further," explains Andrin Spring, CEO of Codata. "With Flin, we are gaining a
partner who perfectly complements our technical services in marketing - and with whom we speak the same language."

Flin brings many years of expertise in content and performance marketing to the collaboration. In the future collaboration, the Zurich-based agency will cover marketing via Google and social media, SEO, GEO and content marketing, tracking and analytics as well as AI-driven marketing. Part of the team lives and works in Lucerne and will also use the Codata office in future in order to strengthen operational proximity and exploit synergies.

"I'm really looking forward to working with Codata," says Flurina Klarer, co-founder of Flin and responsible for the Lucerne site. "Future-oriented digital marketing thrives on customized technological solutions. With this partnership, we can offer our customers exactly that and thus achieve greater impact."

Companies are currently struggling with three major challenges: their digital transformation, strengthening their resilience and the shortage of skilled workers. As the study Voice of our Clients of the global IT service provider CGI Group shows, they often fail because of their internal silo boundaries, which prevent the development of cross-departmental end-to-end solutions. As a logical consequence of this dilemma, companies are increasingly working with managed service providers. This is no longer just about cost-effective IT services according to an SLA agreement, but about solving complex tasks that can be solved much better, faster and more flexibly by external specialists. The prerequisite for this is intensive cooperation that also takes into account the maturity level of the respective company. The following list shows which quality criteria a managed service provider (MSP) must meet in order to help companies with their digital transformation:

• Range of servicesManaged services come from the external provision of IT infrastructure, such as servers, clients or storage. Transferred to the cloud model, this is the lowest layer (Infrastructure-as-a-Service or IaaS for short) of the stack. But that alone is no longer enough. Instead, an MSP must be able to cover all layers - such as Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) - and integrate them with the latest automation and AI solutions, from the hardware to the application.
• Depth of integration and partnershipThe solution must be tailored to the maturity level of the company's IT, which is why a maturity level analysis is carried out at the start of every collaboration. The more intensive and long-term it is, the more effective it is. The goal is a lasting strategic partnership that relieves companies of IT tasks and allows them to concentrate on achieving their business goals.
• Flexibility and provider diagnosticsGiven the pace of digital innovation, an MSP must be able not only to deliver standard services, but also to constantly adapt new solutions, for example from the provider market in the AI sector, which is changing almost daily. They must be at the forefront of technological developments and use them to meet company-specific needs. An MSP must therefore not be tied to specific providers and their offerings. Provider diagnostics (analogous to cloud agnostic: running an application on different clouds at the same time, editor's note) is also a must in order to rule out dependencies.
• Automation and AIArtificial intelligence is now indispensable for more than just data analysis, forecasting, complex planning and process automation. Corresponding expertise is therefore an essential part of an MSP's service portfolio. They must be able to correctly analyze a company's AI maturity level and, based on this, implement AI projects that create real added value.
• Consolidation and complexity managementConsolidating the IT landscape is currently one of the most difficult, but also most important tasks for companies in order to make it manageable, agile and affordable. The quality profile of an MSP therefore includes mastering complex IT infrastructures and application landscapes, restructuring and modernizing them and integrating them into business processes.
• Transformation and focus on resultsIT is not an end in itself, but a tool for achieving the company's goals. Analogously, this also applies to an MSP. The value of its services and performance is therefore no longer reflected in the fulfillment rate of SLAs. Rather, it is crucial to not only consider pure IT services, but to increasingly focus on business results.

"Companies are currently struggling with a multitude of challenges," explains Ralf Bauer, President CGI Germany. "The economic situation is difficult, the pressure to innovate is high, complexity is high, the shortage of skilled workers is a dangerous brake on growth and IT resources urgently need to be consolidated. In this situation, companies need a competent and long-term oriented partner who not only provides IT services, but also keeps an eye on the company's success."

Source and further information: www.cgi.com/de

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/wichtige-qualitaetskriterien-fuer-managed-service-provider/

The brand day was held on Wednesday in Laufen at Ricola's production site. Over 250 guests and members of the Promarca association were well looked after by Ricola, with various guided tours showing how the 13 herbs contained in every Ricola BonBon are lovingly stored. The guests were able to marvel at the production facility and sniff the dried herbs. After a flying lunch in a beautiful rural setting, the Promarca event, the day of the brand, began.

President Monique Bourquin gave a detailed overview of the political and social situation in the industry and emphasized the importance of the association as a strong backbone for its members. The moderator then conducted an interview with Barbara Castegnaro, Director of the Promarca Association since January. She gave a competent and far-sighted description of the agenda she has in mind for her office and provided support and confidence for the industry.

The Promarca Brand Award was then presented.

This year's winner: Zweifel Chips & Snacks, a traditional Swiss family business that already won the award in 2018.

"The Promarca Brand of the Year award is a huge honor for us and the result of fantastic teamwork. It's more than just a title for us - it's a vote of confidence that spurs us on to continue giving our best every day," says Christoph Zweifel, CEO of Zweifel Chips & Snacks.

 Representative consumer survey with over 6,000 participants

The award is based on an independent study conducted by Havas Switzerland among 6,251 consumers from German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland. The survey evaluated 396 brands, including those of Promarca members. The decisive factors were perceived dynamism and the public's trust in the brand. Jonas Eliassen, CEO of Havas Switzerland, adds:

"Zweifel wins the prestigious Promarca Brand of the Year Award for the second time. This exceptional development is the result of a consistently pursued brand and innovation strategy: With a constantly evolving product portfolio, sustainable packaging solutions, tangible customer proximity and a modern, appealing brand image, Zweifel proves how tradition and progress can be successfully combined."

Zweifel combines tradition, innovative strength and local roots

Zweifel is a traditional family brand with deep roots in Switzerland that focuses on customer proximity - including through its "FriendZ" community network. The brand pursues a clear innovation strategy, for example by diversifying its snack range with brands such as Zweifel VAYA and Berger. With the expansion of its product range and the new plant in Spreitenbach (ZH), the company is reaffirming its commitment to quality and sustainable jobs in Switzerland.

Ricola and Kambly on the podium

Ricola took second place. The brand is a symbol of Swissness and impresses consumers with its natural ingredients, sustainable production methods, clear brand identity and unmistakable Ricola image.

Third place went to Kambly. The traditional biscuit brand inspires with its quality craftsmanship, gentle innovation, brand experiences and the ability to create an emotional taste experience with every product.

Promarca members remain Switzerland's innovation engine

Promarca is pleased to recognize outstanding brand achievements every year. The innovative strength of the member companies remains consistently high: in 2024, Promarca members launched 8,750 new products on the Swiss market - impressive proof of their role as economic and technological trailblazers. Last year, the member companies generated a total turnover of over 14.2 billion Swiss francs, including exports.

Promarca, the Swiss Branded Goods Association, has been the committed voice of brands in Switzerland since 1929. Today, Promarca counts 102 well-known national and international companies among its members. The association is committed to representing the values of the brand and to ensuring good framework conditions for brand companies in Switzerland. Last year, the member companies generated a total turnover of over 14.2 billion Swiss francs, including exports. The units of these companies based in Switzerland create 18,811 jobs and invest millions in the location every year. The branded goods industry thus makes a significant contribution to the competitiveness and stability of the Swiss economy.

Marketagent, which specializes in online research, has an online panel of more than 3 million people, which was the first access pool in the D-A-CH region to be ISO-certified in January 2010 and recertified in January 2024 in accordance with the current ISO 20252 standard. Within this panel, Marketagent carries out consumer research projects for well-known clients. Recently, 1000 Swiss people from German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland were asked about their experiences in restaurants as part of such a study. 

Served, but not spoiled

Around 7 in 10 Swiss people treat themselves to a meal out at least once a month (69 %) - more than in Germany (54 %) or Austria (65 %). But culinary pleasure has its limits: Overall, the majority of Swiss people feel that the customer really is "king" in the restaurant trade (75 %). However, only just over one in five experience this frequently (22 %) and 52 % only occasionally. A further quarter only rarely or never feel that they are treated like royalty (25 %). Guests are most frequently annoyed by poor value for money (32 %), followed by long waiting times (28 %) and unfriendly or poor service (27 %).

Around one in four people have the impression that the quality of service has declined in recent years (27 %). The Swiss respondents gave a slightly better assessment than the Austrians. In the neighboring country, a good third perceive a decline in service quality (35 %). Despite the occasional annoyance, the tone in local restaurants is usually friendly - or not at all. On average, the Swiss only leave a critical comment around twice a year and a clear complaint only once.

Between tips and standard wages

When it comes to tipping, there is an area of conflict: almost 9 out of 10 Swiss people are prepared to give an "overtip" for good service. At the same time, 86 % are in favor of rewarding good service with fair wages - instead of voluntary tipping. 80 % are in favor of making tipping tax-free and almost 4 out of 10 would like to abolish it altogether.

Top 2 box values: "strongly agree" + "somewhat agree" || n = 1,039 people from German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland

Reservations with decency - but without a credit card

The majority of local restaurant guests stick to their agreements: Only 16 % have ever failed to show up despite making a reservation and without canceling. Just as few have already made reservations in several restaurants at the same time (16 %). On the other hand, new practices in the restaurant industry that aim to further increase the reservation ethic are not very popular with the Swiss. For example, 72 % clearly reject the idea of having to provide credit card details when making a reservation. Time slots, fixed service charges or penalties are also clear red lines for the majority of Swiss diners that would deter them from (further) restaurant visits.

Free services yes - but not for an extra charge

Ordering tap water is widespread in Switzerland - around two thirds have already done so (63 %). However, very few people want to pay for it: on average, they would accept a maximum of CHF 1.50 for a glass of tap water. If this service becomes a chargeable service, many would rather do without it.

Overall, Roland Zeindler, Managing Director of Marketagent Switzerland, sees a mixed result in terms of service quality: "The Swiss appreciate good food and are prepared to dig deeper into their pockets for it - as long as the quality and service are right. But satisfaction is crumbling: One in four people perceive a deterioration in quality. New rules such as tap water for a fee, additional charges for plates or the obligation to use a credit card for reservations are offending many. The catering industry needs to act with tact and sensitivity so as not to gamble away the pleasure of eating out."

Source: www.marketagent-schweiz.ch

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/befragung-zeigt-nachlassende-servicequalitaet-in-der-gastronomie/

There is a handover in the Certifications division at the Swiss Safety Center: Heinrich A. Bieler is retiring. His responsibilities will be taken over by Michael Grünenfelder, Dr. oec. HSG. As an experienced leader in the professional services industry, Michael Grünenfelder has headed national and international departments as a line manager and has extensive experience in managing large projects and project teams for infrastructure projects (thermal power plants and renewable energies). He also has extensive experience in working with authorities and in compliance, avoiding conflicts of interest and ensuring impartiality. His practical experience in the field of certification includes numerous use cases for process optimization and the establishment of management systems according to various standards.

Dr. Elisabetta Carrea, CEO of Swiss Safety Center AG, sees the appointment of Michael Grünenfelder as the new head of the certification body as an opportunity to consolidate the company's position as a renowned and leading certification provider in Switzerland. At the same time, the Swiss Safety Center intends to continue its successful path for further growth in this area. Swiss Safety Center AG is a company of the SVTI Group and thus part of the competence center for technical safety and risk management. The company offers solutions for all industries with specific services, products and qualifications in the areas of safety and quality. 

Source and further information: Swiss Safety Center

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/neue-leitung-fuer-den-bereich-certifications-im-swiss-safety-center/