«All power comes from satisfied customers» - many companies have long since lost sight of this credo of market success. This is a key finding of the United Interim Business Report 2026, published by the United Interim management community. It is based on a survey of 550 interim managers who are brought in by companies as temporary managers to make companies fit for the future.

Wrong priorities instead of customer focus

The study clearly shows that internal structures often slow down what needs to be solved quickly for customers. 63% of the interim managers surveyed observed that companies set the wrong priorities instead of focusing on their customers. Ulf Camehn, one of the authors of the study, puts it in a nutshell: «Too often, internal responsibilities and hierarchies slow down what needs to be solved quickly for the customer.»

58 percent of respondents note that «departmental thinking» dominates. 54 percent regularly find that their marketing activities bypass their customers. Internal operational processes are often considered more important than the customers themselves, reported 52%. And 46 percent complain of a «tool mania without customer focus». Eckhart Hilgenstock, one of the experts, explains: «Many companies have ERP, CRM, DMS, HRM, SCM, BI, ECM, chatbots and all the other IT tools that are important, but only if they are integrated and used with a focus on the customer. When introducing artificial intelligence in particular, the question of customer benefit should be given top priority.» Two thirds of respondents also warned against an «over-automation of sales, where AI replaces people to such an extent that customers suffer».

The «customer focus killers» at a glance

Other obstacles identified by the interim managers include a fixation on quarterly figures (46 percent), excessive cost management (36 percent), a mere product focus (35 percent), excessive political correctness (33 percent), over-observance of regulatory compliance (26 percent), a corporate philosophy that is distant from customers (23 percent) and misguided development departments that produce products that do not meet market needs (20 percent).

Christian Jung from the mechanical and plant engineering industry states: «In mechanical engineering, products are often perfected that the customer does not order and does not pay for. That's not a quality feature - it's a structural business risk.» Klaus-Peter Stöppler and Roland Streibich, both experts in the construction industry, add: «The construction industry is dominated by Processes, approval procedures, deadlines and cost calculations often so much that topics such as customer focus, communication or digital processes receive too little attention.» 72% of the interim managers surveyed recommend that the construction industry become more innovative, while 66% advise strengthening competitiveness.

Top management hardly knows the customers

What causes a lack of customer focus? The study shows: The problem often starts at the top. Three quarters of those surveyed rate the «feedback culture» - i.e. the willingness to actively receive market signals - as inadequate. Two thirds found that the claim «Value for the Customer» is often completely lacking. 62 percent believe that top management regularly underestimates the impact of technological developments on their own business model.

Jan Beutnagel names another cardinal error: «Customers are taken for granted.» 59 percent of respondents share this view. Ulvi Aydin adds: «Some top managers consider a time horizon of five years to be far-sighted and are therefore unable to anticipate long-term developments over ten or fifteen years.» 54% of respondents confirm that many managers are more focused on key financial figures than on customers. Paul Stricker also observes: «Many managers are simply so preoccupied with their own careers that they neglect the company they are supposed to lead and its customers» - almost half of those surveyed (49%) agree with him.

Measures for more customer focus

The most important measure for refocusing on customers is cited by 80 percent of interim managers: understanding customers« »Jobs To Be Done« (JTBD), i.e. knowing why customers choose a particular product. As Christian Florschütz puts it: »Only those who know the reasons for buying can take these into account in product development, service, marketing and sales.« Dr Andreas Vieweg adds: »Ultimately, it's about prioritizing customer benefits over internal operating processes or company goals" - three quarters of respondents agree with him.

Ongoing customer feedback contact is essential for 72% of temporary managers. Jane Enny van Lambalgen clarifies: «One-off feedback directly after the purchase is not nearly enough.» Dr. Andreas Vieweg adds: «Intensive data analysis, including with the help of AI, can often provide important insights into the level of satisfaction without constantly asking the customer.» Regular optimization of the customer journey is rated by 59% as the key to customer satisfaction.

54 percent consider constant comparison with the competition to be essential. And Friedhelm Best advocates a broader view: «Focusing on customers can also mean looking for new customer segments, for example in foreign markets.» A whopping 87% of respondents consider greater internationalization to be worth considering when acquiring new customers, while 62% advise targeting new markets more specifically - both at home and abroad. Ulrich Schmidt summarizes: «Most companies in practically all sectors would benefit from a transformation towards customer orientation - and so would their customers, of course.»

More information: www.unitedinterim.com

Biggie Switzerland has expanded its strategic partnership with Franke Home Solutions and Franke Coffee Systems. The collaboration includes global activities and has been strengthened by special joint advertising activations.

Joint advertising activations in Milan

Several creative advertising activations were realized as part of the expanded partnership. One special measure is the Streetvox campaign at Milan's Garibaldi 62, a prominent location in the Italian metropolis. The campaign presents the collaboration between Biggie and Franke in a public space.

Focus on innovation and growth

The partnership between Biggie Switzerland and the two Franke divisions is aimed at joint growth and strengthening the market position. With the presentation of the new Mythos Masterpiece Collection from Franke, the partners are underlining their joint focus on innovation and quality.

The strategic alliance combines Biggie's expertise in marketing with the technological solutions of Franke Home Solutions and Franke Coffee Systems. The collaboration enables both partners to utilize their respective strengths and jointly tap into new markets.

More information: https://www.ch.biggie.co

The focus in the Swiss planning and construction industry is shifting away from «more resources» towards more controllability. This is shown by the Revizto Market Survey 2026, which was published in April 2026 and is based on a survey of 2006 participants from eight countries - including the USA, the UK, Switzerland, Germany, France, Australia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The respondents included CIOs, project managers and BIM and VDC directors.

The overarching message of the study is clear: control is the new growth. Increasing project complexity and a noticeable pressure to coordinate make transparency, standards and binding processes the decisive lever - especially where cost deviations and reworking put pressure on margins.

Switzerland: Lack of commitment slows down digitalization

A central pattern relates to digitalization: it is not resistance in the teams that is primarily holding back, but a lack of commitment. Swiss respondents cite the lack of clear policies or mandates as an obstacle to the introduction of new technologies with above-average frequency - 31% compared to 27% globally. At the same time, employee resistance in Switzerland is lower than the global figure: 20% compared to 24% worldwide. The picture that emerges from this is clear: the willingness to change is there - what is missing is a clear framework.

Budget variances as an industry standard

Despite slight shifts in the overrun bands, cost deviations remain widespread. In Switzerland, 48 percent of respondents report average budget overruns of between 6 and 10 percent, with a further 42 percent reporting overruns of 11 to 20 percent. Only 3 percent state that they close with a minimum cost variance of no more than 5 percent - in a global comparison, this figure is 8 percent. Switzerland therefore performs the worst in terms of budget and cost control among the countries surveyed.

At the same time, there is a clear interpretation when it comes to rework: Swiss participants cite poor communication and coordination more frequently as the cause of rework - 44% compared to 41% globally - and attribute rework less frequently to pure execution errors: 24% compared to 33% globally. This indicates that rework is increasingly understood as a controllable process and collaboration problem.

Marcel Wyss from the Hälg Group for building technology and integral facility management sums it up: «The results of the Revizto 2026 report confirm what we experience in daily practice: Planning quality is the decisive lever. Efficient construction begins with correct and complete planning. The better the planning is completed, the more smoothly construction and prefabrication can be implemented. High planning quality reduces errors, lowers costs and opens up new opportunities for innovative production and construction processes.»

CIO perspective: governance, license costs and AI realism

Control« is also becoming the key currency at CIO level. Concerns about data sovereignty are high overall, but are more moderate in Switzerland: Only 10 percent of Swiss respondents say they are »very concerned«, compared to a global average of 24 percent. When it comes to license inflation, Switzerland also remains below the global figure: 51% report increased software costs, compared to 66% worldwide.

The pragmatic approach to the topic of artificial intelligence is particularly striking: Swiss CIOs cite «no clear use case» as the biggest obstacle to the use of AI with above-average frequency - 20% compared to 11% globally. This means that AI fails in Switzerland less due to technical hurdles than due to a lack of strategic anchoring.

Arman Gukasyan, CEO of Revizto, summarizes the findings: «The figures clearly show that if you want to grow in 2026, you first need to create controllability - through clean governance, transparent collaboration and clear standards. In Switzerland, acceptance is less of a problem than commitment. When mandates and processes are in place, coordination becomes measurable - and costs become more predictable again.»

Source and further information: https://revizto.com

Cisco has awarded UMB the Managed Service Practice Maturity Expert status - formerly Gold Provider - as the first Swiss partner in the new Cisco 360 Partner Program. The award was made following a rigorous audit and positions UMB as a pioneer within the new program.

Highest partner award for Swiss IT service provider

The Expert status attests to UMB's exceptional know-how, high market maturity and first-class customer support in the Cisco network sector. Nadine Amrein, Channel Leader 2-Tier & Distribution Switzerland at Cisco, comments: «UMB is one of our most important partners in Switzerland. With this award, we are honoring UMB's above-average technical expertise and the trust we place in this innovative IT company.»

For customers, the award underlines UMB's strong market position in the Swiss market for Cisco solutions. As a Cisco Preferred Networking Partner and Cisco Services Partner specializing in Campus Access, Meraki Access and Meraki Security & SD-WAN, UMB is one of the leading providers of professional Cisco network solutions in Switzerland.

Digitization under the motto «The Art of Creating Time»

UMB is part of the BKW Group and pursues the approach of reducing complexity in order to free up valuable time for companies. Under the motto «The Art of Creating Time», the company provides its customers with space for bold ideas and innovations. With expertise in the areas of Business Advisory, AI & Data Science, Network, Platform, Security, Cloud, Modern Work, Communication and SAP, UMB supports companies in the digitalization of their business processes. The company has already received several awards for being the best employer.

Source: www.umb.ch

At the Annual General Meeting on April 17, 2026, Désirée Keller and Céline Küng, the two daughters of Andreas Keller, were elected as new members of the Pawi Group Board of Directors. The election marks an important step in the cross-generational development of the family-run packaging company based in Winterthur.

New composition of the Board of Directors

In future, the Board of Directors will consist of Andreas Keller as Chairman, Matthias Alder, Maria Iskic, Désirée Keller and Céline Küng. Together with their father, the two newly elected members stand for continuity, responsibility and the future of the Group.

Family business with an international footprint

The Pawi Group is a family-run company based in Winterthur (Switzerland) with sites in Singen (Germany) and Warsaw (Poland). With around 370 employees, the company develops and produces high-quality packaging solutions - from functional to highly refined. The focus is on quality, sustainability and innovative technologies in order to meet the requirements of demanding premium brands. With the appointment of Désirée Keller and Céline Küng, the Pawi Group is strengthening its long-term orientation as an independent family business.

More information: www.pawi.com

At the Annual General Meeting of APG|SGA on April 23, 2026 in Geneva, the shareholders present clearly approved all the proposals of the Board of Directors. The shareholders, who represented 75.8% of the registered shares with voting rights, confirmed all members of the Board of Directors standing for election or re-election for a further year.

New management structure in the Board of Directors

Felix Graf was elected as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors. He was previously a member of the Board. Corine Blesi was elected as a new member of the Board of Directors. David Bourg, Maya Bundt, Jolanda Grob and Markus Scheidegger were re-elected. Daniel Hofer and Xavier Le Clef have decided not to stand for re-election and are stepping down from the Board.

Jolanda Grob and Markus Scheidegger were re-elected to the Remuneration Committee of the Board of Directors.

Annual financial statements and remuneration approved

The annual report, the annual financial statements and the consolidated financial statements for 2025 were approved. Discharge was granted to the Board of Directors and the Executive Board for the 2025 financial year. The remuneration of the Board of Directors and the fixed and variable remuneration of the Executive Board was approved with over 98.55% of the votes.

The Annual General Meeting resolved to pay a dividend of CHF 12 for the 2025 financial year with 98.16% approval.

APG|SGA is the leading out-of-home media company in Switzerland. Listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, the company covers all areas of out-of-home advertising: on streets and squares, in railroad stations, airports, shopping centers, in the mountains and in and on means of transport - from high-reach poster campaigns and large formats to state-of-the-art digital advertising spaces, special advertising formats and mobile advertising.

Source: APG|SGA 

Culture Amp's science-based data research, based on more than 1.5 billion analyzed data points from 6,800 companies, proves this: Top performance is not the merit of individuals. Rather, it is the result of a well-orchestrated system within the company. Just as in Formula 1 racing, where victory does not depend on the driver alone, but on a well-coordinated team of tire strategists, engineers, pit crew and analysts, top performance in the corporate context is only achieved when all the parts work together.

47 percent advantage thanks to peak performance culture

Leaders and managers try to build high-performance cultures, but sometimes wonder how they will know when they have actually achieved this status. Peak performance often feels more like an aspirational goal than something that organizations can actually identify and sustain. The key question is therefore: can an organization's top performance be measured?

The answer is yes. Culture Amp's data shows that listed companies that are in the top performance area have a 47 percent advantage in terms of share price performance over companies that are not. In addition, these companies have an employee retention rate of 88 percent and attract 21 percent more top talent. And: 76 percent of companies in this state retain their peak performance status in the following year - proof that this is a sustainable, controllable variable.

Commitment and performance: psychologically linked, systematically separated

A key finding from Culture Amp's research is that engagement and performance are closely linked psychologically - but are systematically considered separately in practice. Companies with high employee engagement have been shown to have a higher proportion of high performers. In addition, the quality of leadership has a direct influence on employee performance: Managers who exceed expectations or set new standards have a significantly higher proportion of high-performing direct reports than those who fail to meet expectations.

«CPOs are tired of just improving engagement scores. What we urgently need is a message that marks a clear shift in the conversation towards true excellence and resonates immediately with the CEO and leadership team,» says Anna Binder, former CPO.

The Performance Culture Quadrant: orientation framework for the path to top performance

In its new e-book «Find your 47% advantage», Culture Amp presents the Performance Culture Quadrant (PCQ). The analysis model classifies companies into four cultural states based on engagement and performance data: Peak Performance, Engaged Skepticism, Strained and Disconnected. For the first time, the model provides a clear orientation framework for the path to peak performance.

The PCQ measures six factors that make cultural strengths and weaknesses visible: Excellence (a strategic North Star that creates long-term alignment), Vision (a motivating perspective that rallies everyone around a common goal), Ownership (personal responsibility and accountability), Learning (two-way communication and continuous learning), Voice (roles that align with what drives people) and Energy (clear allocation of roles and focused use of resources).

«The PCQ has shifted the conversation from »how do we improve engagement scores' to 'how do we achieve a peak performance culture'. This change has created greater focus and engagement among managers," says one user, describing the impact of the model.

Where do companies stand today - and how do they achieve top performance?

In the analysis of around 1,800 companies, 44 percent are in the Peak Performance state, 34 percent in the Engaged Skepticism state, 10 percent in the Strained state and 12 percent in the Disconnected state. Medium-sized companies are more frequently represented in the Peak Performance state than very large or very small ones. The distribution also varies greatly depending on the sector.

The e-book also shows what measures companies have taken to achieve top performance: Companies from the Engaged Skepticism state particularly improved cross-departmental collaboration and accountability. Companies in the Disconnected state strengthened trust in leadership, developed a motivating vision and promoted innovation. Companies in the Strained state invested in people-centered leadership and the connection to a social goal. What all successful transformations had in common was a consistent alignment of resources and the visualization of cultural changes.

Five ways in which HR managers contribute to top performance

The e-book concludes with five practical recommendations for HR managers: they should link engagement and performance measurement via a uniform intelligence layer, align the strategy away from individual performers and towards systemic solutions, aggregate performance data at team level, continuously interpret cultural signals and condense them into concrete recommendations for action, and work specifically on the cultural factors that drive or inhibit performance on the basis of the PCQ.

The e-book «Find your 47% advantage - Turning culture into strategy in the age of AI» is available for download at the following link: https://www.cultureamp.com/resources/reports/performance-culture-research

Further information on Culture Amp: www.cultureamp.com

On March 20, 2026, Go 2 Flow launched the D2C Summit at the KKL Lucerne, the first event in Switzerland to focus exclusively on direct-to-consumer brands. From specific growth models to the question of international scaling, the program showed how Swiss D2C brands are holding their own in an increasingly fast-paced and demanding consumer world.

The line-up included keynotes, panel discussions, masterclasses and networking formats. The D2C Summit has a clear objective: to promote networking, facilitate partnerships and drive the growth of Swiss D2C brands.

Practical knowledge from successful brands

The stage belonged to brands that know how it's done: Johannes Kliesch, founder of Snocks, took the audience behind the scenes of one of the best-known D2C companies in the DACH region in his keynote speech. Samy Liechti and Blacksocks showed what 25 years of consistent D2C means and what others can learn from it.

In his 45-minute masterclass, Nicholas Hänny, CEO of NIKIN, showed why automated postcards are massively underestimated as a growth channel and how profitable they really are.

Sebastian Paul, representing Victorinox, contributed the perspective of a traditional Swiss company. Together with Simon Bertschinger from Namuk and Andreas von Muralt from Jungkraut, the panel discussion revealed how differently D2C works depending on the industry and where the same rules still apply.

Marlena Hien, Founder of Bears with Benefits, and Philip Class, Founder of Teveo, were two of the strongest German D2C brands on stage. In a discussion moderated by Laura Kremer, they spoke openly about their strategies and experiences.

Platform for exchange and growth

Switzerland has all the prerequisites: Quality, innovative strength and entrepreneurial thinking. What was missing until now was a place for exchange, partnerships and joint growth. The D2C Summit closes this gap and aims to become the most relevant event for D2C brands in Switzerland. The response after the premiere spoke for itself.

The next D2C Summit will take place on January 22, 2027. Super Early Bird tickets will be available from May 1, 2026.

More information at: https://d2c-summit.ch/

Business transformation remains a highly relevant topic for Swiss companies. Technological change, changing customer needs, economic pressure, geopolitical tensions and new regulatory requirements often have a simultaneous impact on companies. However, when it comes to practical implementation, many fall short of their own requirements - as shown by the new Business Transformation Survey 2.0 from Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, for which almost 400 decision-makers from Swiss companies in various sectors and of various sizes were surveyed.

Implementation remains the biggest challenge

For the majority of respondents, the transformation is not progressing fast enough. «Companies want change, but many are not implementing it with the necessary speed and consistency,» says study author Jan Schlüchter. Although transformation initiatives are launched, there is often a lack of clear responsibilities, sufficient resources and consistent progress measurement and control. Many companies get stuck in individual initiatives or pilot projects without systematically scaling them up.

Compared to the first survey from 2022, the gap between companies has widened further. «The differences are particularly evident in leadership, communicative support, learning ability and the sustainable anchoring of changes,» says Schlüchter.

Generative AI: employees are further ahead than their organization

Generative AI is clearly gaining in importance as an additional impetus for transformation - due to delivery bottlenecks as well as efficiency and performance pressure. It has already become part of everyday working life in many companies. At the same time, the study shows that many companies are not yet able to achieve measurable economic added value from it. «Many employees are more advanced in dealing with generative AI than their organization. The ability of companies to implement generative AI in concrete applications, processes and value creation is lagging behind,» says Schlüchter.

According to respondents, companies can be categorized as «beginners» or «explorers» in terms of their AI maturity; only a few are «AI champions» so far. The more advanced a company is in terms of generative AI, the higher the perceived goal achievement of the transformation.

AI in procurement: strategically planned, operationally only implemented to a limited extent

The gap is particularly clear in purchasing. A supplementary survey of 74 procurement experts - mainly from the manufacturing and retail sectors - shows that the motivation to use AI is high: The motivation to use AI in procurement is high. AI is seen as an opportunity to further develop the role of procurement into a strategic value driver by making potential and alternatives in the procurement market visible, identifying risks earlier and creating more transparency along the supply chain. However, a lack of expertise, limited resources and unclear responsibilities make consistent integration into existing processes difficult. «The bottleneck is therefore not in the will, but in the organizational capability and scaling,» says Jan Schlüchter.

It's not the technology, but the leadership that counts

The study makes it clear that it is not the companies with the greatest awareness of the problem that transform successfully, but those that manage, implement and anchor change more consistently. «Transformation is not a collection of individual projects, but a management task that must be consistently managed and anchored in the organization,» says Schlüchter.

This leads to a clear conclusion for managers: it is not the availability of new technologies that determines success, but the ability to translate them into sustainable value creation. The study identifies ten specific recommendations for action. The strongest levers lie in visible and decisive leadership, clear shared orientation, open communication about progress, regular measurement and a culture that allows learning and failure as part of development.

The study was conducted by the Institute of Business and Regional Economics (IBR) at the Lucerne School of Business as part of an Innocheck project together with Efexcon and in collaboration with procure.ch.

Further information on the study and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts: www.hslu.ch

Switzerland is facing an unprecedented rise in corporate insolvencies. According to the latest global insolvency report from Allianz Trade, the world's leading credit insurer, around 14,000 insolvencies are expected in Switzerland in 2026. This represents the sixth consecutive increase, twice as many cases as in 2022 and almost three times as many as the pre-pandemic average.

New insolvency system as a key driver

A decisive factor in this massive increase is the new Swiss insolvency system, which came into force on January 1, 2025. With the repeal of paragraphs 1 and 1bis of Article 43 of the Federal Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy Act (SchKG), debts under public law - including VAT, taxes and social security contributions - can now lead directly to the bankruptcy of a company entered in the commercial register, instead of being pursued through the seizure procedure as was previously the case. All registered companies and legal structures are affected by this reform, including self-employed persons.

Jan Möllmann, CEO of Allianz Trade in Switzerland, assesses the situation as follows: «In addition to the new insolvency system, the below-average economic outlook and growth forecasts, which have been revised downwards due to higher energy prices and global uncertainties, are also contributing to the negative trend. We currently expect the increase in insolvencies to be +20 % in 2026 - after +38 % in 2024 and +17 % in 2023 - before normalizing from 2027 (-3 %).»

Middle East conflict exacerbates global insolvency situation

There are also signs of a significant deterioration internationally. The crisis in the Middle East has increased volatility on the energy markets, made transport costs more expensive and destabilized global supply chains. Allianz Trade expects corporate insolvencies worldwide to rise by 6 % in 2026 - for the fifth time in a row. Before the conflict, the forecast was +3 %.

Aylin Somersan Coqui, CEO of Allianz Trade, comments: «This situation is driving up costs along global value chains, from agriculture and food to manufacturing, healthcare and technology. It is also exacerbating the pressure on energy-intensive sectors such as transportation, chemicals and metals. The combination of weaker demand, rising input costs and tight financial conditions is weighing on companies with weak pricing power, low margins, high debt or structurally increased working capital requirements. Compared to our pre-crisis forecast, the direct damage of the Middle East conflict will mean 7,000 additional corporate insolvencies worldwide in 2026 and 7,900 in 2027.»

Worst case: escalation would further exacerbate the situation

If the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked in the longer term, the consequences could be significantly exacerbated by prolonged supply disruptions for oil and gas as well as other commodities such as fertilizers and helium. Maxime Lemerle, lead analyst for insolvency research at Allianz Trade, warns: «A prolonged and widespread escalation would result in global insolvencies increasing by 10 % in 2026 and 3 % in 2027. This would mean around 4100 additional insolvencies in the US and 10,500 in Western Europe in the period 2026-2027.’

Millions of jobs at risk

The predicted increase in global corporate insolvencies of 6 % in 2026 will also put jobs under pressure. Allianz Trade estimates that around 2.2 million jobs would be directly at risk - 94,000 more than in the previous year. According to Lemerle, the construction, retail and services sectors would be particularly affected. Europe leads the global statistics with 1.3 million potentially affected jobs. Western Europe and North America are both likely to record a 12-year high. Overall, the jobs threatened by bankruptcies could account for around 6 % of the total number of unemployed in the US and Europe.

Stabilization not expected until 2027

Allianz Trade expects a stabilization at a high level globally in 2027 - a slight decline had been forecast before the Middle East conflict. In Switzerland, a normalization is expected from 2027, with a decline in insolvency cases of an estimated 3 %. Until then, the situation will remain challenging for many companies - especially SMEs.

Source: Alliance Trade

Apprenticeships are highly valued in Switzerland - this is confirmed by SERI's job barometer: in summer 2025, 50 % of all school leavers opted for basic vocational training. An evaluation of the most sought-after apprenticeships in 2026, based on the search queries on yousty.ch in German-speaking Switzerland, shows a stable picture with few shifts.

Commercial apprenticeship undisputedly at the top

The occupation of commercial clerk EFZ is still by far the most sought-after apprenticeship. Out of a total of around 5 million searches, 1 million were for this occupation alone. The cantons of Neuchâtel (5.0 % below the Swiss average), Nidwalden (-4.3 %) and Geneva (-3.3 %) have the lowest proportion of searches for commercial apprenticeships.

Retail and IT professions follow directly behind commercial apprenticeships. Compared to the previous year, these two areas - together with logistics and drawing - have moved up or down slightly in the ranking. All other professions in the top 10 have retained their exact positions from the previous year. There are no new entrants in the top 10.

Apprenticeship vacancies and regional differences

The vacancy barometer shows that 13 % of apprenticeships remained open in the last recruitment year. As of April 22, 2026, 12,696 apprenticeships are still advertised on yousty.ch.

In addition to the overarching trends, there are also regional differences: The occupation of care specialist EFZ (FaBe) is the least sought after in the central Swiss cantons of Zug, Schwyz and Nidwalden, while it is the most sought after in the western Swiss cantons of Geneva, Fribourg, Valais, Neuchâtel and Vaud. As in the previous year, the canton of Neuchâtel led the searches for the occupation of pharmacy specialist EFZ (formerly pharmaceutical assistant), followed by Fribourg and Valais. Demand for this occupation is lowest in the rural cantons of Obwalden, Uri, Zug, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Lucerne and Schwyz.

Further information and current apprenticeships can be found at yousty.ch retrievable.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become firmly established in everyday office life and is having a noticeable impact. The vast majority of managers state that they gain valuable working time through the use of AI. Savings of three to four hours per week are mentioned most frequently. These are the findings of the latest edition of the monthly «Expleo AI Pulse» study, which was conducted in Germany, the UK and France in March 2026.

Productivity gains across Europe

Across Europe, 27% of the managers surveyed reported a weekly time saving of three to three and a half hours thanks to AI. A further 24 percent cite savings of one to two hours, and 13 percent report gains of five to six hours. The picture is remarkably consistent across different markets: in Germany, managers gain an average of 3.3 hours per week, in the UK 3.5 hours and in France and Ireland 3.2 hours each.

«AI is noticeably pushing the boundaries of productivity in management,» says Dr. Yusuf Erdogan, Country Lead Digital & Technology at Expleo Germany. «Managers are not only working faster, but also differently. They delegate more to systems, make more informed decisions and gain time for strategic issues. AI is therefore evolving from a simple tool to a critical work infrastructure - and this is precisely where its real leverage lies.»

Top management benefits particularly strongly

A closer look at the distribution shows: The time gains are above average, especially in top management. Owners and shareholders save an average of 4.8 hours per week, while C-level executives and directors save 3.6 hours. The main reason for this is the targeted use of AI for analyses, decision support and prioritization - in other words, in areas where efficiency gains have a direct impact.

At the same time, Erdogan points out that the picture is not completely uniform: «There is still a small group of managers who have only noticed minor effects or none at all. This shows that there is still considerable untapped potential in many organizations.»

From efficiency gains to structural change

According to Expleo, the current results mark just the beginning of a trend. More integrated applications and the increasing use of AI agents are likely to further increase the productivity effect. The efficiency gains perceived by the study participants are also reflected in the general sentiment: 71% of managers welcome the opportunities that AI opens up for their organization and 66% predominantly see benefits for companies as a whole.

«AI no longer just affects processes, but the way we work itself,» says Erdogan. «In an environment of increasing complexity, it helps to reduce routine tasks, eliminate disruptive factors and focus on value-adding decisions.»

Sentiment stable, debate shifts

The European AI Pulse Sentiment Score rose slightly to 66 points in March 2026 (previous month: 65 points). Germany remains in a good midfield position with 67 points. «The stable sentiment shows that AI has arrived in people's everyday lives,» comments Erdogan. «The debate is shifting from expectations to concrete results. Companies are increasingly measuring AI by its actual contribution to productivity - and this is precisely the decisive step towards sustainable use.»

The «Expleo AI Pulse» survey has been conducted monthly in Germany, the UK and France since August 2025. 200 managers are surveyed per country; the current edition is based on the eighth survey wave (field phase: March 2026). The study is conducted by the insights agency Opinium on behalf of Expleo.

For more information expleo.com.