Women's issues such as gender equality, pay gaps and quotas are booming in politics, the private sector and the media. Everywhere there seems to be a lack of female exponents. There is a desperate search for female speakers for conferences or suitable female candidates for boards of directors. Statistics showing that Switzerland is far behind in terms of the number of women in management positions are often cited. Rarely, however, are the nearly 60,000 Swiss self-employed women entrepreneurs of sole proprietorships and small businesses included in these statistics. The board of the Association of Women's Businesses, newly elected on April 10, is strongly committed to giving these women a voice in management positions.

Small, but with growing importance

Of the over 594,000 self-employed in their main occupation, over 10.3% are in women (bfs, 2017). They run innovative start-ups, sole proprietorships and small businesses. These firms may be small compared to large international corporations. But their importance is undisputed when it comes to innovative, agile business models, work-life balance, and attractive opportunities for part-time employees. And the fourth industrial revolution will further increase the economic importance of self-employed workers in the service, technology and healthcare sectors.

This is also confirmed by the statistics published by the bfs in 2018 on the topic of founders in Switzerland. With an upward trend, 35.3 % of all new companies were founded by women alone in 2017. And this trend can also be seen in the long-term view: In the second quarter of 2018, female entrepreneurs accounted for 37.3% of all entrepreneurs - compared to only 28.2% in 1991.

Own pension solution for female entrepreneurs

However, the fact that 60,000 self-employed women and their businesses receive little attention from politicians and the media is only one of the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs: As long as they have no employees, they often fall between the chair and the bench when it comes to 2nd pillar pensions, they find it hard to gain access to large business associations and trade networks, and they have a hard time securing public funding.

That is why the Association of Women's Businesses has been working for 21 years to give women with their own businesses a face and a voice. In 2017, for example, the first cross-industry pension solution for sole proprietors in Switzerland was implemented. With the new board elected in April, the aim in the coming years is not only to continue the successful projects, but also to launch new initiatives that give more visibility and weight to women entrepreneurs in Switzerland. "Yes, in many areas there is a lack of female role models and candidates. But where we have them in Switzerland, we need to give them the visibility and create framework conditions with which they can grow. This is an essential contribution to the innovative strength and attractiveness of Switzerland as a business location," says Chantal Schmelz, newly elected president of the Association of Women's Businesses.

More information: Association women's business 

Many companies have neglected their data quality in the past, for various reasons. The fact that their ERP systems performed only suboptimally as a result was something they were unaware of or accepted. With the digitization of processes and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI), this is becoming an even greater risk. Because there is ample scientific evidence: Poor data quality affects efficiency and results, even with AI systems such as self-learning machines. Anyone who has not yet taken action should therefore do something.

Seven tips for better data quality

ERP manufacturer proALPHA advises subjecting data to a seven-stage performance test - and that includes the company's own inventories as well as information from other sources, such as credit reporting agencies and other third-party providers. The decisive performance parameters are:

1. CompletelyMissing information is more than just annoying. The more digitalized processes become, the more important it is that all the necessary data is available. If, for example, information on the components for a product is incomplete, the production process may come to a standstill or the end product may not meet the specifications. To ensure the performance of business processes, it is advisable to define mandatory fields and perform automated checks at selected process points. Nevertheless, companies should not fall into a "data collection frenzy". Since the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force, the principle of economy has applied to personal data: only as much information may be stored as is actually necessary. Data that is no longer required must be permanently deleted. (Incidentally, this also applies to Swiss companies that have data from the EU area, editor's note).
2. CurrentNon-synchronized address and contact data is a prime example of outdated information. Precisely because sales employees only sporadically visit headquarters, the customer database was never up to date in the past. Mobile CRM solutions provide a remedy here. They also keep production-critical information such as warehouse data up to date. Nevertheless, not every status needs to be available in real time. Instead, companies should check their processes to see where faster data provision can increase productivity, and start there.
3. Consistent: Data records in different systems must not contradict each other. In practice, double data storage in several data silos and manual transfer "only" lead to additional work for data entry in the best case. In the worst case, errors occur, for example when transferring order data to quality assurance software. Inconsistencies resulting from this are relatively easy to get to grips with today, thanks to modern integration techniques.
4. Conform: Data must meet the requirements of the systems and the processes, for example, it must be in the appropriate, preferably standardized format. Date and currency formats are classics here. In the case of time stamps, it is also important to ensure that the respective time zone is recorded in addition to the hours and minutes. After all, there is a twelve-hour time difference between 8 a.m. in Shanghai and 8 a.m. in São Paulo.
5. Exactly: Data must be accurate. More precisely, they must be sufficiently accurate. After all, not every business process requires high-precision data down to the xth decimal place. Here, too, companies should first ask themselves: How precise do measured values and other data need to be? The required accuracy should then also be monitored on the system side by means of appropriate rules and data checks.
6. UniqueDuplicates not only unnecessarily inflate the database. They also lead to unnecessary queries. If they remain undetected, misinterpretations quickly occur. For example, if a supplier has several supplier numbers and thus key figures such as the contract volume for discount negotiations are not aggregated. Filtering out redundant data from an inventory is already possible with the on-board tools of a spreadsheet program. However, duplicates keep creeping in and the work starts all over again. An automated data quality manager offers a more sustainable way to clean data.
7. CorrectThis criterion refers not only to topicality but also to another essential aspect, namely the accuracy and reliability of the data. The current discussion about fake news underscores this once again: "cutting-edge" information about a supplier's economic difficulties does not necessarily have to be correct. The sources from which companies obtain business-relevant information must therefore be traceable and credible.

Sustainable quality management required

The relationship of companies to their data is often ambivalent: In some places, for example in sales or finance, its quality is sometimes openly mistrusted, while in other places, for example in production, the quality is often overestimated. Sustainable quality management for data helps in three ways: It prevents costly errors, increases confidence in the company's own data, and enables better decisions. Above all, however, properly managed data helps to digitize processes. To achieve this plus in data-driven efficiency, companies can learn a thing or two from top teams in sports: It takes profound and honest analysis, a clear strategy, and individual commitment to continuous improvement, at all levels of the team.

Source: proALPHA

The shortage of skilled workers on the labor market has led to an applicant market in many industries. As a result, the choices available to many employees have increased significantly. However, this also leads to a high willingness to change among Swiss employees: More than one-third of companies (34 %) report that voluntary employee turnover has increased over the past three years. This is shown by the current labor market study of the personnel service provider Robert Half.

Remaining attractive for employees

Accordingly, more than a third of respondents (34 %) see the biggest challenge for talent management as keeping the existing team motivated and engaged. "Attracting new employees, shortening the recruiting process and improving communication - these remain at the top of the agenda. However, measures to retain employees are also becoming increasingly important for the success of the company," comments Zerrin Azeri, Associate Director at Robert Half in Zurich. "Companies therefore need to respond quickly to remain attractive to existing employees."

Align changes with most common reasons for change

Employee turnover is a cross-industry problem. The reasons for employee resignations, on the other hand, differ depending on the size of the company. While in large companies too low a salary (44 %) is the most frequently cited reason, in small companies it is a lack of freedom (38 %) that causes employees to look for a new employer. In medium-sized companies, there are no less than three top reasons why employees leave the company: poor work-life balance, lack of career development and lack of recognition for performance (32 % each).

"For measures to be effective, companies should analyze exactly why employees leave. For large companies, a critical look at salary packages is recommended. If budgets don't allow for bigger pay jumps, perhaps alternative offers will incentivize employees," Azeri explains. "Small and midsize companies, on the other hand, should think about how to give their employees greater freedom or develop career paths."

Source: www.roberthalf.ch

The development company for individual software Intersys was able to increase its sales by 28 percent from 5.4 to 6.9 million francs in the past fiscal year. In the same period, profit grew by more than 0.5 million francs. "This financial success also allowed the company to pay bonuses and dividends and expand its workforce in its twentieth year," says Adrian Hutzli, CEO of Intersys. The number of employees increased from 32 to 37 in 2018.

Complex data projects at large companies

The year 2018 was characterized by several adjustments within the organization and the expansion of new services, which had a positive financial impact. For example, the sale of Cassandra services and licenses not only attracted new customers, but also generated additional profits on the EBIT side. These include, for example, new complex data projects at major Swiss companies. Overall, thanks to the project acquisitions at three major customers, the number of employees was increased and investments were made in the new strategy. Hutzli had begun adjusting the company's strategic direction for the next three to five years in the fourth quarter of 2018. The concrete implementation is to be launched in the second half of 2019. Hutzli: "In the process, it is important for us to retain what is tried and tested and to incorporate new things. The goal, for example, is to develop successful products from existing services with which the company can scale." Product approaches for the management of medical devices (MaMeDe, Management of Medical Devices) or for the localization of emergency calls (Location Server) are being developed and are already meeting with great interest on the market.

First nearshoring experiences

In order to compensate for a lack of skills and to be able to react flexibly in the event of resource bottlenecks, the company has implemented initial projects using the nearshoring method. In the current fiscal year, Hutzli intends to expand this cooperation, although all contacts with customers will continue to be maintained by Intersys from Switzerland. "Nearshore development has proven to be an effective alternative for us to provide developer capacity. However, we want to further promote and expand the capabilities in the area of product management, product owner, requirement engineering, GUI specifications for direct collaboration with our customers within Intersys in Switzerland," Hutzli emphasizes.

"Requirements such as quality, efficiency and productivity are ideal foundations for the use of innovative, digital systems. ABRA BI Portal Solution is the answer to the desire of SMEs to remain competitive in the future - and this with a financially justifiable effort" says Marzio Tomasetto.

Diverse partner network of ABRA Software AG

With Marzio Tomasetto, an experienced expert of the European IT scene is active in the DACH region. As managing director, he is also responsible for the development and support of the partner network in these regions. In addition to cooperation with consulting companies, the focus is on collaboration with a wide range of providers. "Our network is to be expanded significantly in the next few years," he explains. In addition to the ABRA BI Portal Solution, potential partners can expect an interesting partner program with interesting conditions.

ABRA BI portal technology developed for SMEs

The architecture of the BI landscape shapes usability. "Data is there, but it is not integrated or can only be compared manually with MS Excel," complain many business owners. With the ABRA BI Portal Solution, this can be used as a central entry point for the entire information procurement, where reports on finances, process and supply chains or on products, on customers and on suppliers are worked with uniformly throughout terminology, evaluations and data.

The web-based ABRA Business Intelligence Portal processes and displays tables and graphs as the customer requires. On any device connected to the Internet, data from a wide variety of data sources are organized and displayed in a structured manner. A wide variety of evaluations in the form of graphs, charts, KPI analyses and can be built up from all business or technically relevant data sources of the company and made available to the management for decision-making.

More information: www.abrasoftware.ch

The certificate of recognition awarded recognizes progressive conditions that promote compatibility. This includes best practices such as diversity, flexible working time models for men and women, and a compatibility culture that sends clear signals for a future-oriented working environment and a sustainable investment in employees. With a compatibility index of 79%, AWK performs 7% better overall than the average of the companies participating in the Prix BalanceZH and exceeds the average of its competitors' results in 15 out of 17 points in the study.

For AWK, the recognition as an employer associated with the certification is an important confirmation of the path taken and at the same time a great motivation to continue to responsibly exploit existing optimization potential. The focus is always on offering AWK employees an appreciative corporate culture, actively living equal opportunities, and specifically promoting the balance between private interests and professional requirements.

"We are thrilled. This award reflects the appreciation of our employees and clearly shows that our ongoing commitment to optimal working conditions is positively received. At the same time, our certification strengthens AWK's external perception as an attractive employer," comments Sandra Crouse, Human Resources Manager at AWK Group.

The Prix BalanceZH is a certification for employers with outstanding conditions for work-life balance. Since 2011, the Office for Equality has been awarding employers in the Canton of Zurich with the Prix BalanceZH. This time, Great Place to Work was involved as an independent partner and responsible for the methodology, implementation and evaluation of the award. This year, a total of seven companies received the Prix Balance d'encouragement for their courageous commitment.

Source: www.awk.ch

Global business travel volumes depend on various factors - internal on the one hand, external on the other. The general economic situation plays a role, as do the effects and uncertainties caused by terrorist attacks or the government shutdown in the USA at the turn of 2018/19.

In Switzerland, however, the government shutdown had no direct impact on business travel to the USA, as the figures for flights handled via AirPlus show. America - first and foremost New York - remains the most frequently traveled overseas destination for the Swiss on business. "In contrast, the shutdown is likely to have had a much greater impact on business travel ex U.S. or within the U.S., as government employees have largely had to forgo travel," explains Andy Stehrenberger, Managing Director of AirPlus in Switzerland.

The climate debate reaches business travel

In the current discussion about climate and environmental protection, aviation occupies an important place. This is not without consequences in the area of business travel. "Awareness of the issue of the environment has also increased significantly in the area of business travel. For example, we are registering increasing requests for climate reporting as well as conversions to e-billing and paperless processes. However, we are far from a flight boycott in business travel," Stehrenberger comments on an evaluation of the flight data of AirPlus customers. Average spending on rail travel has increased slightly, but this is only in line with the usual growth and not a result of the climate debate.

Low-cost carriers continue to lose importance

The share of low-cost airlines used for business continues to decline. While just under 10 percent of business travelers switched to a low-cost carrier in 2016 (9.9 percent), the figure was only 8.0 percent in 2018. However, this does not mean that flight costs have risen excessively: In 2018, companies paid an average of CHF 435 per European flight (2017: CHF 433) and CHF 2978 for intercontinental flights (2017: CHF 2932). While service classes remained virtually unchanged for European business (96.3 percent economy class, 3.4 percent business class), Swiss business travelers on intercontinental flights apparently paid slightly more attention to budget: 50.3 percent of travelers flew economy class (+1.6 percentage points year-over-year) and 48.6 percent traveled in business class (-1.4 percentage points year-over-year). First Class accounted for an unchanged share of 0.4 percent in 2018.

London and New York are top destinations for Swiss business travelers

74.6 percent of flights by business travelers from Switzerland are to a destination within Europe, 24.2 percent are intercontinental and 1.2 percent of flights handled via AirPlus are within Switzerland. The most frequently visited cities for business are London, ahead of Düsseldorf, Vienna and Berlin, and on long-haul routes New York, ahead of Shanghai, Singapore and Moscow. The most popular travel months are September to November - a total of 30.3 percent of business flights are completed in these three months. The least travel is in August (5.4 percent) and December (5.7 percent). Although the topic of bleisure - combining a business trip with a leisure stay - is attracting increasing attention, especially among the younger generation, Mondays remain the most popular travel day - 27 percent of airline tickets billed via AirPlus fall at the beginning of the week.

Share of women increases continuously

The proportion of women taking business trips is slowly but steadily increasing. Today, their share is 20.8 percent - in 2015, this figure was still below the 20 percent mark. There is hardly any discernible gender difference in terms of flight destination (domestic, Europe, intercontinental) - but there is when it comes to the choice of service classes. Women fly 83.9 percent in economy class (men 82 percent) and 15.8 percent in business class (men 17.5 percent). In general, it is noticeable that flights were booked earlier in 2018 than in the previous year (25.3 days before departure in 2018 vs. 24.5 days in 2017). Women book their flights an average of 27.6 days before departure, men only 24.5 days - but the values are converging. It is also encouraging that the proportion of canceled airline tickets is falling steadily and this year stands at 2.7 percent. Here, too, women are doing better than their male colleagues (2.8 percent) with a cancellation rate of 2.3 percent.

Source: AirPlus

The latest export sentiment survey by Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) and the Credit Suisse Export Barometer confirm the downward trend in export sentiment seen in previous months. The reason for the slightly weakened expectations of SMEs is likely to be primarily the signs of a continued decline in industrial growth in Europe and particularly in Germany. Nevertheless, S-GE and Credit Suisse see the survey results and as a return to normality.

People are happy to pay for Swiss quality

Swiss SMEs cite "Swissness" as a key success factor in internationalization. A large proportion of the SMEs surveyed state that foreign customers value their quality and many are prepared to pay more for it. From the SMEs' point of view, the economic and political stability speak in favor of Switzerland as a business location. Sascha Jucker, economist at Credit Suisse, says: "Even if export expectations for Switzerland are weakening slightly, foreign demand for Swiss products remains intact. The worsening industrial sentiment in Europe is also offset by the somewhat more stable sentiment in the US. The outlook for Swiss exports therefore remains good."

"No need to worry"

Alberto Silini, Head of Consulting at Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE), states: "The weakening of export sentiment is no cause for concern. Rather, exporters now need to position themselves in the various markets for the long term. Swiss quality is a trump card they can play here."

By far the most important export market is and remains Germany in every respect, according to the current export barometer. This is where 81% of the SMEs surveyed want to export goods or services in the next six months. With 63% of the mentions, France is once again in second place, followed by the USA with 60% of the mentions. Austria comes in fourth with 55%, followed by Italy and China with 50% each. Seventh place goes to Spain with 47%, followed by Poland with 44%. As far as new export markets are concerned, 16% of the SMEs surveyed said they intended to become active in China for the first time in the next six months. India follows with 14%, 11% are targeting Japan and the United Arab Emirates, and 10% named Russia and Indonesia as new destinations. 9% of the SMEs want to export to South America or the Gulf States.

Source: Switzerland Global Enterprise

The Digital Economy Award was presented for the first time in 2018 awarded. It is organized by the ICT industry association swissICT and the specialist publisher Netzmedien AG and was created by a merger of the Swiss ICT Awards and the Swiss Digital Transformation Awards. The next award ceremony will take place on November 28, 2019 at the Hallenstadion in Zurich. As in the previous year, awards will be presented at this Digital Economy Award Night in the categories "Digital Innovation Of The Year", "The Next Global Hot Thing", "Digital Transformation Award" and "Highest Digital Quality". Within the "Highest Digital Quality" category, companies will be certified in the categories "Lean, Agile & Scrum", "Sourcing & Cloud", "Industrie 4.0", "User Experience", "Security" and "Open Source" in 2019.

The awards are presented by prominent expert juries. The following five presidents head the juries: Marcus Dauck (Ringier, CIO), Lukas Bär (Implement Consulting Group, Partner), Pascal Kaufmann (Starmind, Founder), Samy Liechti (Blacksocks, CEO & Founder) and Bramwell Kaltenrieder (Exploit Management Advisory, Professor of Digital Business and Innovation).

New heads in the jury

Peter Kummer, CIO of SBB, Robert Fritze from ti&m, Daniel Arber from eOperations and Lucas Nicolussi from the city of Uster are new members of the committee. Stefano Mallè from Microsoft will replace Marianne Janik on the jury.

There is also growth among the scouting partners. This year, Zurich-based blockchain hub Trust Square will report the most promising startups to the jury in the category "The Next Global Hot Thing". A new special award also promises a lot of excitement: SIX, in collaboration with the F10 FinTech Incubator & Accelerator, will select a winner in the "Fintech" category.

Who will be the successor to Auterion & Co.

Auterion was the big winner of the first event in the new format as award winner of "The Next Global Hot Thing" in front of more than 500 guests at the Hallenstadion in Zurich on November 21, 2018. The drone tech start-up builds complete operating systems and is working very successfully to establish them as the global standard for enterprise drones. Other winners included Amnesty International Switzerland, Modum.io, Ex Libris, SBB and Sonova.

With over 100 entries, top-class projects and companies were represented in all categories. In the newly established, professional jury process with new jurors, the applicants were extensively analyzed and evaluated.

How to submit?

You can register for a submission at the following link: www.digitaleconomyaward.ch. After a check, applicants receive another link by mail; directly to the entry form. With this, documentation, links and media files can be deposited. At the end of the entry process, enrollees will receive a confirmation by mail. It is not possible to submit for the award "The Next Global Hot Thing". Only candidates nominated by our scouting partners are eligible.

Robots work longer and more precisely on the assembly line than any human being - we have become accustomed to this. Meanwhile, adaptive algorithms are increasingly taking over more complex human tasks: Bots advise investors, intelligent assistants translate texts, Big Data is used for medical diagnosis, artificial intelligence (AI) supports decision-making and there are the first completely digitally created buildings, to name just a few developments. In high-level inputs on the topic of "World without work?", DEF2019 makes it clear that the focus is still on people. In order to make the best use of technological possibilities, people's working as well as thinking power and creativity are needed. Nevertheless, participants at DEF2019 will have to deal with topics such as cyberattack, AI, virtual reality, drones, Big Data and much more. However, social and political challenges for successful digitization will also be highlighted.

Rehabilitation robotics, masterminds and bots as customer advisors

On May 9, 2019, DEF2019 will once again bring proven and experienced experts from various fields onto the stage. New at Palais X-Tra on Zurich's Limmatplatz, one of the best-known cyborg researchers and ETH professor Robert Riener will use impressive examples to demonstrate the possibilities of the interface between humans and robotics and state-of-the-art cyborg technology. Memory trainer Markus Hofmann finds a super brain in every head, and according to Empa Director Prof. Dr. Gian-Luca Bona, modern materials research and Big Data can cross-fertilize each other. Switzerland's youngest member of the Council of States, Damian Müller (FDP, LU), looks at the political dimensions of digitization.

The world's leading drone experts and winners of the Digital Economy Award Dr. Lorenz Meier and Kevin Sartori share exciting episodes from their ten years of experience with their flying robots. The renowned banker Marianne Wildi wants to know whether robots are suitable as customer advisors. Gianna, an artificial intelligence-based customer interface presented by Tino Hellmund (Head Client Service Management SIX), fits the bill. His colleague Valerio Roncone doubts that traditional institutions will survive digital disruption, and Abacus thought leader Claudio Hintermann already knows the impact of the post-print era. Last but not least, hospital director Dr. Nicolas Krämer reports on a digital attack from the darkness on his hospital. Experts from the ETH start-up SnowHaze show how people sometimes negligently undermine data security in their everyday actions. As always, the well-known journalist and television presenter Stephan Klapproth will lead the day with humor.

Unique world of experience

As a novelty at DEF19, a unique world of experience conveys tangible examples and enables hands-on experience with new technologies. Developments and products from digitization are ready to be discovered: robots, sensory gloves, communicating with bots, experiencing the power of an exomuscle and much more. During the breaks and after the presentations, there will be enough space for networking with visitors and speakers as well as visiting the world of experience.

More information: www.digitaleconomicforum.ch

www.annanow.com is a novel and in Switzerland probably unique online mediation platform for express courier services, insurance and payment systems. Wholesalers and local businesses receive the fastest and cheapest delivery service in Switzerland on just one app. "In the future, anyone who can't deliver within 60 minutes will lose out," says Daniel Gradenegger, founder of Annanow.

Transport logistics according to the sharing principle

Here's how it works: Annanow determines the geographical availability of products for each order and enables local delivery via the crowd-based supply chain by activating transport users already available on site, such as cabs, bicycle couriers and private individuals. Distances become so short that deliveries can even be made on foot or by streetcar. "Thanks to Annanow's sharing principle, trades and wholesalers are given equal footing with Amazon and Alibaba in the battle for customers. In this way, we are securing the future of local businesses and their jobs," emphasizes Gradenegger.

Shorten routes, relieve roads

Annanow redefines the interaction between wholesalers and local businesses. The startup enables both retailers and couriers, consisting of regional road users, to deliver their orders as quickly as possible via the app. Anyone who orders a pack of dog food from Qualipet online or by phone will have it delivered locally via one of the 90 stores. In 10 to 60 minutes, the product is delivered by regional cab, bike couriers or private individuals. With the current system, each delivery goes via the retailer's central warehouse to the nearest post office, then to one of three Swiss parcel distribution centers and later to the post office at the delivery location. Deliveries are made the day after the order is placed. "This system is inefficient, causes empty runs, pollutes the Swiss road network and the environment," Gradenegger said.

The system of digitally linking retailers, courier services and end consumers massively shortens delivery routes, strengthens local businesses and secures jobs. "Today, customers expect immediate delivery, no matter where," says Gradenegger. "In the same breath, we relieve the Swiss road network and the environment by better bundling the transport of goods in InterCity logistics. Optimized utilization of the loading areas leads to fewer delivery trips. For shorter distances, the student on the way to university, for example, can take the bouquet of flowers from the station to the university hospital at the same time."

Socially insured and fair

Transport logistics is provided by two types of couriers. On the one hand, Annanow's couriers are delivery and cab companies. These partners receive delivery requests immediately and can greatly increase their capacity utilization through Annanow. On the other hand: Anyone who is older than 18 and has a work permit can register with Annanow as a "crowd courier." This allows any private individual to deliver a package on their way to work or home. The cooperation is regulated by a simple work contract. "In this way, we ensure that every courier is covered by social security and accident insurance," says Gradenegger. "We don't want a two-class society in which only part of the population is picked up by a social safety net."

Annanow - the next big thing?

Annanow's business model is based on the same principles as Uber, Airbnb, Facebook or Snap. The aforementioned startup companies use their technology for interactive networking via Internet platforms for the purpose of exchanging data, goods and services. Unlike traditional marketplaces such as shopping malls, platform business models have no tangible assets. Annanow, Uber, and Airbnb do not have vehicles, buildings, or warehouses and salesrooms. The assets are data, information and transactions. Founded in 2017, fintech company Annanow is an online intermediation platform for commerce in the digital marketplace, spearheading digital transformation in the delivery, insurance and payments business.

Read here the big interview with founder Daniel Gradenegger, published in ORGANISATOR 3/2019.

Under the motto "We present company stories and discuss realities", the Succession Bus initiative is directing its focus even more strongly on succession practice in 2019. How does succession work? What do I need to prepare? What is the value of my company? How do I find a successor for my company? Am I suited to be a successor? A team of experts answered these and other "burning" questions for SME owners in Zurich on April 4, 2019. Around 20 discussions were held. In the process, participants received information that is often not even thought of in the succession process, as one visitor confirmed. "You have to know and clearly define the goals in a succession plan," said succession expert Franziska Müller Tiberini. "Because letting go is a challenge". In addition to the individual discussions, insights into the succession stories of a wide range of Swiss companies were also provided by means of interviews and practical dialogs with entrepreneurs and experts.

In a video message, Zurich's Director of Economic Affairs Carmen Walker Späh welcomed the information initiative around business succession with these words: "SMEs are central to the economic success of our location. They provide jobs for many people and thus contribute to employment and prosperity. In order for them to be able to operate sustainably and in the long term on the market, founders and bosses must deal with their succession planning in good time. The succession bus offers appropriate advice."

The other stops on the 2019 follow-up bus tour are:

• May 9: Lucerne
• June 6: Weinfelden
• October 3: Winterthur
• November 7: Bern

www.nachfolgebus.ch