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/

The global drone market is expected to grow more than tenfold by 2032, reaching a value of over 80 billion US dollars. A significant portion of this growth will come from the logistics and warehousing sectors, which, according to Fortune Business Insights, are expected to generate annual revenues of USD 31 billion by 2028 alone. Annual growth rates are estimated at over 24 %, driven by the increasing demand for faster and smarter delivery methods. Today, over 2,000 deliveries are already made by drone worldwide every day - a number that is expected to increase further once the legal framework and operational capabilities keep pace with innovation.

From food to first aid: broadening horizons

The scope of logistics goes far beyond e-commerce. In Rwanda and Ghana, the logistics company Zipline is already using drones to deliver blood supplies, vaccines and vital medicines to hard-to-reach communities. In Europe, similar projects are being tested on islands where conventional deliveries are costly and time-consuming.

And then there is the last mile - the crucial final stage from the distribution center to the customer. In densely populated cities, drones are proving to be a viable solution for reducing delivery times to just a few minutes. Amazon and several supermarket chains are testing autonomous air deliveries, while companies such as Ikea are using drones for internal logistics. In 16 of its stores, around 100 autonomous drones carry out after-hours stocktakes and transmit real-time inventory data to logistics teams - with no ladders and no downtime.

Scaling logistics with AI-supported drones

One company in this market is ZenaTech, a Nasdaq-listed small-cap company from Canada with a market capitalization of USD 125 million. The company's Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) model removes the typical barriers to entry - no hardware purchases, pilot recruitment or certifications are required. Instead, customers subscribe to a turnkey solution that delivers operational efficiency at scale.

In logistics, ZenaTech's AI-powered indoor drones automate inventory management by reading barcodes and capturing real-time data, eliminating the need for manual scanning and increasing throughput. The same platform is also used in other industries: in agriculture for precision spraying and field analysis, and in defense for border patrols, inspections and reconnaissance missions.

The company's growth is supported by both demand and investment. A second production facility is currently being built in Arizona, which is intended for the manufacture of drones for the US military. At the same time, ZenaTech is expanding internationally - most recently in Dubai, where the company is expanding its DaaS cleaning business. The market for drone cleaning alone is expected to reach a volume of 13 billion US dollars by 2030.

Source and further information: www.zenatech.com

Innovative drone technologies from Switzerland too

An innovative company ecosystem has also developed in Switzerland in the field of drone technology. Various companies, many of which are still young, are in the process of making a name for themselves internationally. For example, there are small unmanned helicopters with radar systems that can be used for surveillance or mapping tasks (Aeroscout) or transport drones for long distances (RigiTech). Swiss drone technology is also used for inspections of objects that are difficult to access (e.g. wind turbines, polluted interiors, industrial plants). Companies such as Wingtra, Voliro or Flyability have developed special systems that help to make maintenance tasks more efficient and cost-effective.

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This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/wie-drohnen-die-logistik-revolutionieren/

Production plants and their control systems are among the most sensitive areas in the manufacturing industry. To increase efficiency and profitability, these systems are increasingly networked and therefore automatically a target for cyber criminals. In many cases, a cyberattack does not start directly with the OT systems, but via gaps in the traditional IT. From there, the attackers gradually gain access to other IT and control systems in order to attack the most sensitive areas of production. Their goal: maximum disruption to operations, theft and encryption of production and operationally relevant data as well as blackmail.

Companies have recognized risks

IT security company Sophos conducted a targeted survey of industrial companies in Germany to find out the status of attack risks and defenses. The results show a positive development: many companies have recognized this danger and are setting up their organization accordingly. Responsibilities are being more clearly defined and cooperation between IT and production is developing well for the most part. SMEs in particular are increasingly relying on support from external security partners.

Almost every second company has its own security officer

The days when cyber security was a sideline are clearly over in many companies. 47.9% of the companies surveyed have now appointed a permanent person responsible for IT security. A further 33.6 percent combine this task with other areas - a model that is mainly practiced by smaller companies where resources are scarcer.

SMEs strengthen themselves with external security partners

The way smaller companies deal with cyber security is particularly interesting. One in four companies with fewer than 250 employees (25 percent) now work with specialized external IT security partners. In large companies with over 1,000 employees, however, this figure is only 11.1 percent; most of these companies have set up their own specialist departments.

This development shows that medium-sized companies are countering the lower availability of resources (compared to large companies) with pragmatic solutions to a complex problem: Instead of looking for and building up security experts themselves, they are turning to specialized service providers who already have the necessary experience and infrastructure.

IT has the leading role in production security

A clear picture emerges regarding the distribution of responsibilities in the companies: In seven out of ten companies (70.1 percent), the IT department is responsible for the IT security of production facilities. Production itself only bears the main responsibility in 19 percent of cases. This distribution clearly reflects the fact that production systems are now part of networked IT structures that need to be protected holistically.

 Exchange, coordination, joint task

Coordination between departments also appears to be common practice in many companies. In 68.7 percent of companies, IT and production regularly talk to each other about security issues. Only 4.3 percent do not coordinate between the two departments at all. This very low percentage makes it clear that most companies have apparently internalized the fact that robust cyber security can only be achieved as a joint task.

Suppliers are also increasingly part of the security strategy

A look at the supply chain reveals another dynamic relevant to cyber security: more than half of companies (57.3%) now impose contractual requirements on the cyber security of their partners. Almost two thirds also check their IT security regularly, and a further 19.4 percent at least occasionally. These are all crucial measures, as vulnerabilities at suppliers are among the riskiest points of attack in cyberattacks.

"A clear assignment of responsibilities is the foundation for effective protection in production," says Michael Veit, security expert at Sophos. "Where IT and production work hand in hand, companies can react much faster in the event of disruptions or attacks. Medium-sized companies in particular benefit from clear structures - whether with their own specialists or with the help of external partners. Anyone who also keeps an eye on their supply chain closes one of the most dangerous gaps."

A solid basis has been created

The survey clearly shows that German production companies have made significant organizational progress in terms of cyber security. Clear responsibilities, well-functioning cooperation and the involvement of suppliers create a solid basis for more protection in production. SMEs in particular show that this is possible even without large internal teams - if the network of partners is right.

Or: not everyone has to reinvent the wheel. If you get the right support, you can build effective protection even with limited resources.

Source: www.sophos.de

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/deutsche-branchen-umfrage-cybersicherheit-in-der-produktion-hat-luft-nach-oben/

We have to stop shifting the blame. Even if it is unpopular, protecting the company remains the responsibility of the IT security department. Other employees can only play a supporting role by recognizing dangerous emails in good time. This is not a matter of course and will happen less and less in future - despite training, as a recent study shows. IT security must also work if a person causes an accident, just like in a car. Because if there is an accident and humans are no longer able to intervene, automatic systems such as seat belts or airbags take on the important task of reducing the impact of the damage, just like in a car.

What does that mean in the face of AI?

AIs, especially LLMs (Large Language Models), are optimized for machine-human communication. Not only can they string words together in a meaningful way, they can also imitate writing and speaking styles. Using so-called "prompt engineering", i.e. programming by entering commands, practically any user can tell the machine how to act. This makes it increasingly difficult for victims to tell the difference between normal and fraudulent communication, while AI also reduces costs and increases productivity.

In the area of fraud, the highest efforts are made in the area of targeted attacks. A perpetrator engages with his victim and tries to create an irresistible attack from available information. With spear phishing, we are not talking about accidents, because they do not happen by chance. They are attacks in the broader sense, and their success rate, according to another studyis over 50 percent, even among purely human experts. This type of attack has rarely occurred in reality. This is because the amount of work required is considerable. But what happens when AI takes over? The evaluation of the data and the creation of an attack profile would then be automated. According to the study, this would have led to reasonable results in 88 percent of cases. The content generated can no longer be distinguished from normal communication.

The faster and more effective AI solutions become, the more frequently they will also be used in cybercrime, and the less often humans will recognize this as a security component - regardless of the level of training.

What can we do next?

Technology has always been the counterpart to human error and is designed to prevent it or at least limit the resulting damage. In IT security, the building blocks of Zero Trust, Cyber Risk Exposure Management (CREM) and Detection and Response are well known. These building blocks reduce the risk of occurrence and the impact of incidents. For these technologies and strategies, it is irrelevant where the attack comes from and why it could not be averted. Metaphorically speaking, it is the seat belts and airbags that guarantee survival in the event of damage. If a link-clicking employee is responsible for a company being fully encrypted, then it is not the employee who is the problem, but the company's own security infrastructure.

Conclusion: Is training necessary? When do they make sense?

Training is expensive. Not only the costs of introducing the processes, but also the workload of each individual employee must be taken into account. It is therefore legitimate to question the added value. This lies in reducing the probability of cyberattacks occurring. Training has always been an important part of security strategies. But like everything else in security, this too loses its effectiveness over time. However, this does not mean that this component immediately becomes pointless. As long as IT security is stretched to capacity by the sheer number of individual events that need to be checked, training is needed to reduce these.

Training against phishing is particularly important when it comes to the fraud itself and recognizing red flags such as requesting money or access to company data. Employees also need to understand why they need to follow security processes, such as multi-factor authentication when accessing data, and how attackers try to get past them. Yes, training remains important. But they are not an excuse for security incidents. The stigma of blame if an employee has not recognized it is not helpful, because it will happen more often in the future. Companies should take precautions to ensure that even if the worst does happen, the impact remains limited.

Source: Trend Micro

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/sind-schulungen-gegen-phishing-im-zeitalter-von-ki-noch-sinnvoll/

Mewa receives inquiries from over 200,000 B2B customers in Europe every year. Processing them by email or telephone is time-consuming and resource-intensive. In order to make the service processes more efficient and transparent, the digital customer portal mymewa.com is continuously being expanded with new self-service functionalities. The latest innovation, which received an award from SAP in Madrid, offers an automated ticket system for service requests such as repeat orders, changes and insights into the delivery status of workwear and cleaning cloths in the all-round service.

Digital services create time for personal advice

The customer portal and the implemented ticket system use SAP Commerce Cloud, SAP Sales Cloud, SAP Service Cloud and SAP ERP. The rule-based automation reduces the processing time per ticket by around 15 minutes on average. The time saved is available to the service teams for individual support with more complex issues and advice on qualitative questions.

In addition to the more personalized service quality, customers also benefit from the transparency of the digital functionalities: they can manage their clothing stock across all locations around the clock, view invoices and receive feedback as soon as their service request has been processed without losing any time. Last but not least, the digital solution also contributes to sustainability, as the use of the portal significantly reduces paper consumption. To ensure that the customers' perspective is incorporated into the further development of services and processes, the applications were developed in close dialog with users from the field - including the involvement of the Mewa customer advisory board. Regular customer surveys and measurements via the Customer Loyalty Index prove that customer satisfaction has increased as a result of the digital service offering.

Face-to-face contact remains essential in Mewa customer service

Rainer Monteagudo Santí, Head of Strategic Marketing & Product Management, comments on the award win as follows: "Our aim is to be close to our customers and offer them the best possible service - based on partnership, reliability and high quality. With digitalization, we can continue to ensure this, improve efficiency and transparency for both sides and thus remain fit for the future with our service for our customers as well as for our own employees."

Even with increasingly digitalized service processes, Mewa consistently relies on personal customer relationships. Direct contact with the textile service provider - by phone or email - is possible at any time. A team of sales employees, customer service staff and qualified service drivers provide technical support on site. Small and medium-sized companies are looked after regionally, while major customers with several locations, both nationally and internationally, receive centralized customer service.

Source and further information: www.mewa.ch

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/mewa-gewinnt-sap-innovation-award-2025-fuer-digitales-kundenportal/

Check Point Research (CPR) has published the Brand Phishing Ranking for the second quarter of 2025. The report describes the brands that are most frequently misused by cyber criminals to steal sensitive personal and financial data and highlights the constant evolution of phishing tactics. The Check Point Brand Phishing Ranking is published quarterly and is based on data from Check Point's ThreatCloud AI platform, the world's largest collaborative cyber threat intelligence network. The report analyzes phishing emails, fake websites and impersonation attempts across various vectors.

Microsoft remains the front runner

According to the report, Microsoft was again the most frequently attacked brand in Q2 2025, accounting for 25% of all phishing attempts. Google followed in second place with 11 percent and Apple was in third place with 9 percent. Remarkably, Spotify returned to the top 10 list for the first time since Q4 2019, taking fourth place with 6 percent of phishing activity. The technology sector thus remained the most impersonated industry, followed by social networks and retail.

Omer Dembinsky, Data Research Manager at Check Point Software Technologies, comments: "Cyber criminals continue to exploit the trust that users place in well-known brands. The re-emergence of Spotify and the increase in travel-related scams, particularly around the summer and school vacations, show how phishing attacks adapt to user behavior and seasonal trends. Awareness, education and security controls remain crucial to reduce the risk of compromise."

Below you will find the brands that were most frequently targeted by phishing attacks in Q2 2025:

1. Microsoft - 25%
2. Google - 11%
3. Apple - 9%
4. Spotify - 6%
5. Adobe - 4%
6. LinkedIn - 3%
7. Amazon - 2%
8. Booking - 2%
9. WhatsApp - 2%
10. Facebook - 2%

Phishing attack pretends to be Spotify

One of the most high-profile phishing attacks this quarter targeted Spotify users. Hackers created a malicious login page that could be accessed at premiumspotify[.]abdullatifmoustafa0[.]workers.dev was set up and the users to activegate[.]online/id1357/DUVzTTavlOw/CgJiMcgc0fMOJY29SAg5JRoH? redirected. The malicious page mimicked the official Spotify login page, including authentic branding and design. Victims were asked to enter their usernames and passwords. They were then redirected to a fake payment page where an attempt was made to steal their credit card details. This campaign marks Spotify's first appearance in the phishing top charts since the fourth quarter of 2019, highlighting that entertainment services are now being exploited just as aggressively as technology platforms.

Another important trend in the second quarter was the sharp increase in phishing domains for Booking.com. Over 700 new domains with the format confirmation-id****.com registered. This represents an increase of 1000 percent compared to the beginning of the year. To add credibility and urgency, many of these domains contained real user data such as names and contact details. Although these websites were short-lived, they illustrate the increasing personalization and targeting capabilities of phishing campaigns.

Trend: Technology and digital platforms under attack

In the second quarter of 2025, the technology sector was still the industry most frequently targeted by phishing attacks. Tech giants, such as Microsoft, Google and Apple, continue to be prime targets due to their widespread use in authentication and productivity workflows.

Social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, WhatsApp and Facebook, also continue to be high-risk targets. The retail and travel sectors - including Amazon and Booking.com - have been exploited by attackers to capitalize on the seasonal shopping and travel business.

Source: www.checkpoint.com/

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/welche-marken-besonders-haeufig-fuer-phishing-missbraucht-werden/

The AI Act, which came into force on February 2 of this year, creates a uniform legal framework for artificial intelligence within the EU. Although many regulations will not come into effect until 2026, a new phase focusing on three areas will begin on August 2, 2025:

1. Penalties for non-compliance
2. Obligations for general purpose AI models (GPAI)
3. Establishment of supervision and governance at national and European level

Penalties of up to 35 million euros

AI systems with unacceptable risks have been banned since February 2 of this year. From August 2, 2025, additional fines can now be imposed for violations of existing obligations, which can amount to up to 35 million euros or 7 percent of their total annual turnover. For example, companies must ensure that their employees have AI skills. The European Union expects its member states to define their own effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties. The special circumstances of SMEs and start-ups should be taken into account so as not to jeopardize their economic viability.

New obligations for providers of GPAI models

GPAI models that are marketed in the European Union from August 2, 2025 are subject to legal obligations. The European Office for Artificial Intelligence published the final version of the codes of conduct on July 10, 2025. Providers of such GPAI models must, among other things, create technical documentation, observe copyrights and ensure transparency regarding the training data used.

GPAI models are AI systems with a particularly wide range of applications and are designed to perform a variety of tasks. They are trained with huge amounts of data and are correspondingly versatile. The best-known example is large language models (LLM), such as the generative language model GPT-4o, which is integrated into ChatGPT. For GPAI models that were already on the market in the European Union before August 2, 2025, a transition period applies until August 2, 2027.

Supervision and governance

The AI Regulation creates a framework with implementation and enforcement powers at two levels. At national level, each EU Member State must designate at least one market surveillance authority and one notifying authority by August 2, 2025. The former is responsible for the surveillance of AI systems, the latter for the notification of independent conformity assessment bodies. Member states must publish information on the national authorities and their contact details by the deadline. At EU level, the European AI Office and the European AI Committee will coordinate supervision. In addition, an advisory forum and a scientific committee of independent experts will be set up.

What does this mean for HR departments and employees?

The AI Act has a direct impact on how AI is used in the areas of recruitment, performance management, personnel analysis and employee monitoring. HR managers must ensure that AI tools in these areas are transparent, fair and compliant.

• Fairness and anti-discrimination: AI systems used in hiring or promotion decisions must be traceable and free from bias. HR departments should regularly review their tools and providers to ensure compliance.
• Trust and transparency: Employees gain a better insight into how AI systems influence their work, for example in scheduling, performance evaluation or occupational safety. HR departments can create trust by openly communicating how AI is used and how employees' data is protected.
• Responsibility of third-party providers: If third-party AI tools are used, HR departments must ensure that these providers meet the transparency and documentation requirements. Contracts and procurement processes should be adapted accordingly.
• Training and change management: With stronger regulation of AI, the HR department will play a key role in training managers and employees. The aim is to promote the responsible use of AI and anchor ethical standards in the corporate culture.

"Providers of GPAI models that were already on the market before August 2, 2025 have until August 2, 2027 to fully implement the new regulations. Further obligations for high-risk AI systems will follow in 2026 and 2027. This milestone reflects the EU's ambition to encourage innovation while ensuring that AI is safe, transparent and in line with European values. This puts HR at the center of responsible adoption of AI in the workplace," says Tom Saeys, Chief Operations Officer at SD Worx, a European provider of HR and payroll solutions.

Source: SD Worx

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/eu-ki-gesetz-wird-scharf-gestellt/

The Swiss company QUMEA, Winner of the Swiss Medtech Award 2025finds a powerful sales partner in UMB. As an experienced ICT provider for the healthcare sector, UMB takes on all phases from consulting and sales through to operation and 1st level support. To this end, the dedicated UMB sales team with a focus on healthcare was specifically trained on QUMEA.

Strategic expansion of the portfolio in the healthcare sector

With the combination of radar sensor technology and artificial intelligence, QUMEA enables contactless, anonymous monitoring that meets the highest acceptance and data protection requirements, particularly in sensitive care environments. Sales are aimed in particular at the long-term care sector, where UMB is an established provider of digital solutions as a holistic integrator. The company is currently in advanced talks with several existing customers regarding the introduction of QUMEA in their care facilities. "With QUMEA, we are strengthening our offering for long-term care with a forward-looking component. The radar-based solution enables discreet, effective monitoring and gives nursing staff valuable time for personal care," says Reto Rüegsegger, Product Management Healthcare Solutions at UMB. QUMEA complements the UMB portfolio strategically and technologically and meets a real market need with its data protection-friendly 3D radar technology, says Rüegsegger. And Cyrill Gyger, CEO of QUMEA, says of the strategic partnership with UMB: "QUMEA and UMB share the vision of combining digitalization and humanity in care. We are delighted to be moving into the future of care together."

Advantages of the QUMEA system

QUMEA enables completely contactless and anonymous monitoring using 3D radar technology, without the need for cameras, microphones or body-worn devices. The system detects early on when people in need of care leave their bed or wheelchair and alerts care staff in real time, effectively preventing falls and increasing safety. Thanks to precise detection, care staff receive targeted support and have more time for individual care. In addition, the solution allows the prevention of pressure ulcers and enables delirium management by registering unusual movement patterns or inactivity. The intuitive, app-based operation is simple, customizable and, together with full compliance with the highest data protection standards, ensures smooth, data-secure use in sensitive care environments. 

Source: UMB

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/umb-und-qumea-arbeiten-fuer-innovative-pflegetechnologie-zusammen/

The energy transition is profoundly changing our electricity grid. The increasing use of photovoltaic and wind power plants is making it more and more decentralized and volatile. Without digitalization, this power grid would no longer be manageable. Edge intelligence plays a key role here: the analysis of measuring device, control unit and sensor data using artificial intelligence directly at the point of origin. Dell Technologies shows how this edge intelligence supports the energy transition in many ways. 

1. Decentralized control in real time. As artificial intelligence analyzes the data at the edge, it does not need to be transferred to a central data center or cloud for processing. This makes it possible to control the local power supply from photovoltaics and wind power in real time. If there are fluctuations in supply and demand, the AI can react without delay: by regulating the feed-in, storing electricity or shifting loads.
2. Support for e-mobility. The charging infrastructure for electric vehicles can also be controlled in real time. Artificial intelligence analyses data directly at charging points and in the local grid and can forecast charging requirements, react immediately to external conditions such as grid load, electricity prices or vehicle condition and dynamically optimize charging performance. These fast and context-related decisions are particularly essential in larger charging parks and for bidirectional charging.
3. Stabilization of the overall network. By controlling local grids and charging infrastructures, edge intelligence not only ensures local grid stability. It also keeps the higher-level electricity system more stable because it dampens load peaks and avoids frequency fluctuations. Its fast, autonomous reactions relieve the burden on central grid control centers and prevent local problems from escalating into large-scale instabilities. The more edge intelligence is active in local systems, the more flexible and robust the overall grid becomes. 
4. Strengthening data protection. Edge Intelligence also strengthens data protection. Sensitive personal information such as consumption data, attendance patterns or the energy consumption of individual households remains local and does not have to be transferred anywhere. This significantly reduces the risk of data leaks and unauthorized access.
5. Increasing resilience. Last but not least, edge intelligence makes the power grid more resilient. By processing data on site, it is not dependent on a functioning internet connection. This is particularly beneficial in rural areas, where technical faults or internet outages occur more frequently. The power supply in microgrids, isolated solutions or battery systems is not affected by such cases. 

"Edge intelligence is a key tool in the energy transition because it reacts to local fluctuations in real time, thereby ensuring stable and efficient grid operation," says Chris Kramar, Director & General Manager OEM DACH at Dell Technologies. "It is supported by robust and powerful IT systems on site and central platforms that allow these systems to be supplied with the necessary software and secured."

Source: Dell Technologies

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/die-energiewende-vollzieht-sich-am-edge/