Founded in 2011 by two ETH students and based in the Zurich, Basel and Bern area, Software-Schmiede creates individual web, software, e-commerce and app solutions for customers from all over Switzerland. The agency combines state-of-the-art technologies and innovative design. Since its founding, jkweb has grown steadily and today employs nearly 70 people with diverse backgrounds. The newly created position and the appointment of Gerry Giacomini as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) are part of the digital agency's growth plans.

Pascal Josephy, Managing Partner and founder of jkweb, comments: "Our agency has grown to a considerable size since 2011. We are therefore all the more pleased that, after a long recruitment phase, we have found the ideal candidate for our software company in Gerry. His experience and knowledge as well as his value compass are an ideal fit for our agency. Like us, he always focuses on people - internally as well as externally." Gerry Giacomini adds: "jkweb has raised its ambitions for the Swiss market even higher, not least through the acquisition of the Bern-based software company novu. I am very happy to contribute my know-how to the further development of the agency and thereby support our clients in the realization of their projects."

Gerry Giacomini discovered his true passion - the world of information technology - after completing his bachelor's degree in economics and a job in asset management at UBS. To deepen his knowledge in this field, he decided to pursue a master's degree with a focus on business informatics at the University of Bern. During and after his graduation, he worked in Key Account Management at Adnovum Informatik. As CRO, Gerry Giacomini will play a central role in the strategic direction and expansion of jkweb's customer relationships. One of his first tasks will be the rebranding of the software company. The jkweb brand is to be updated and refreshed in order to position the company optimally in the market. The name and expertise of novu, the digital agency acquired in 2022, are of great importance here.

Source and further information

The Swiss Economic Award (SEF) is, by its own account, the most important prize for young companies in Switzerland and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The coveted award honors outstanding entrepreneurial achievements in the categories of services, deeptech/life science and production/commerce. A team consisting of knowledgeable experts nominated nine companies for the final from over 120 submitted applications.

The finalists will present their business idea to a prestigious jury and influential players from the Swiss economy during the Swiss Economic Forum on June 8 and 9, 2023. The finalists of the Swiss Economic Award 2023 are:

• Service category: MapTiler AG (Mapping platform for the creation of zoomable maps), Proptech Partners SA / Neho (commission-free real estate agency), Unit8 SA (Data services company whose mission is to help non-digital companies turn data into value with a blend of data science, analytics and AI).
• Deeptech/Life Science Category: Daphne Technology SA (technology for the reduction of the greenhouse gas methane), Flybotix SA (drone-based indoor inspection system), Sevensense Robotics AG (Systems for autonomous mobile robots)
• Production/Commercial category: Boostbar AG (sustainable catering solution with Smart Fridge), Impact Acoustic AG (Room acoustics solutions made from recycled plastic from plastic bottles), Koa Switzerland AG (Cocoa fruit from sustainable production)

The finalists benefit from in-depth expert knowledge, enormous media exposure, as well as access to the SEF.Founder network. The winners each receive prize money of CHF 25,000.

Source and further information: Swiss Economic Forum SEF

Kickstart is one of the largest zero-equity open innovation platforms in Europe. Its mission is to build purposeful innovation ecosystems by accelerating innovation. The platform brings together public and private organizations, startups, investors and experts with the common goal of developing next-generation products and services and achieving significant impact at scale.

Already more than 400 startups supported

"We have been a global partner of Kickstart since its founding in 2016. Together with our in-house experts*, Kickstart defines relevant topics and looks for promising startups. This allows us to promote open innovation, connect with startups and enable new trends in the market, and contribute to the deep tech nation and sustainability-oriented solutions," explains Roger Wüthrich-Hasenböhler, Chief Strategy, and Growth Officer at Swisscom. Also participating in the Kickstart program, now in its 8th year, with the aim of developing sustainable and innovative solutions for society, are well-known companies such as  AXA, the Kanton Vaud, the city of Zurich, Coop, Swisscom, the furniture, PostFinance, Sanitas,  CSEM and MSD. In recent years, Kickstart has been able to attract some of the world's best startups, including such well-known ones as Planted, Neustark, Unsupervised and AAAcell. Since 2016, Kickstart has supported more than 400 startups and realized over 270 deals in the form of collaborations from over 80 countries. In the process, investments of more than CHF 2 billion have been raised.

Innovation program gains in importance

"The program continues to grow in importance, not only in terms of innovation, but also in terms of sustainability and circular economy," explains Katka Letzing, Co-Founder and CEO of Kickstart Innovation, one of the largest open innovation platforms in Europe. "The challenges for companies and organizations are becoming more complex and competitive pressures are increasing. By working from developed proof-of-concepts rather than isolated solutions, both sides have the opportunity to make much faster progress in their respective fields." The goal of the Kickstart program is to enable pilot projects or commercial collaborations between startups and established institutions. This is to bring new products and services to market on a larger scale, develop new revenue streams and invest in breakthrough models and processes. Last year, more than 50 collaborations were announced to work together on innovative solutions for Switzerland and beyond. Ideas were diverse, ranging from a software platform for decarbonizing supply chains, to sustainable insulation packaging made from recycled waste paper, to solar thermal and photovoltaic collectors that achieve some of the highest energy densities in the world.

Five areas

The search for the topics of the future is taking place in five areas: New Work & Learning, Health & Wellbeing, Finance & Insurance, Food & Retail and Smart Cities. Each area focuses on specific innovation trends and the needs of individual partners with increasing importance in the topics of technology, sustainability and investment.

Source and further information: Kickstart

In the fight against climate change, the voluntary commitment of companies continues to play a central role. At the same time, the framework conditions are changing and previous climate protection labels are being questioned. ClimatePartner has therefore developed a new solution, "ClimatePartner-certified," which takes into account the increased requirements for holistic climate protection and, in particular, the reduction of greenhouse gases.

"ClimatePartner certified": Calculate CO2 footprint initially

Companies that want to use the new label must initially calculate their carbon footprint and update it regularly. On this basis, even if they only want to use the label for a single product, they must set company-based reduction targets and demonstrably have already implemented reduction measures. In addition, they must contribute to the financing of climate protection projects worldwide. As confirmation and symbol for this Climate Action Journey of enterprises stands the new label "ClimatePartner certified". It refers via a link or QR code to an individual Climate-ID website, via which consumers can fully understand the climate protection commitment of the respective company. At the click of a mouse, it is possible to see, among other things, which reductions have already been implemented and what other goals the company is pursuing in order to achieve long-term climate protection.

Moritz Lehmkuhl, founder and CEO of ClimatePartner, explains: "Our new label 'ClimatePartner-certified' not only places higher demands on climate protection commitment, but also confirms that this is pursued over the long term and becomes part of the corporate strategy. This is a crucial advancement because it is no longer about a status quo as an outcome, but about continuous reduction combined with transparency in the entire Climate Action Journey of companies."

Climate protection contribution for individual services, events, etc. still possible

As effective climate protection projects continue to be an indispensable contribution to global climate protection, ClimatePartner will in future offer companies that are not yet so far advanced in their sustainability strategy or are unable to meet the higher requirements the opportunity to support them. These are usually those companies that are still at the beginning of their Climate Action Journey, or individual projects and one-off services such as events, for which no long-term reduction targets can be defined. In these cases, certified climate protection projects can be supported in order to help generate urgently needed investments for achieving the 1.5 degree target. This voluntary commitment can also be marked afterwards, with the label "Financial Climate Contribution".

In this case, too, maximum transparency is key: "In the past, we have seen how important it is for climate protection to be given visibility and for companies and consumers to address it," says Lehmkuhl. "We are continuing our strategy of helping companies to credibly communicate climate protection commitment here with our previous and already established ID tracking. Consumers can also find out here on a website which climate protection projects have been supported.
The previous ClimatePartner label "Climate Neutral" will be phased out after a transition period and will no longer be available.

A great deal of time and commitment went into the development of the new solution concept: A team of climate protection experts at ClimatePartner worked intensively for around two years, obtaining external input as part of a stakeholder process, further developing the methodology and software, and expanding the range of consulting services. ClimatePartner has therefore registered a guarantee mark for this new label, which confirms the quality of the content.

Source and further information

At 2.1 percent, the unemployment rate in Switzerland remained at a low level in February and the situation on the labor market remains tense. To attract new employees, companies are therefore increasingly turning to new types of work models and benefits. The online recruiting specialist "onlyfy by XING" wanted to know which of these measures are actually well received by professionals in Switzerland and what the "no-go's" are that keep them away from a new job despite higher pay. In collaboration with the Forsa research institute, onlyfy conducted a representative survey of over 1,000 employees in German-speaking Switzerland.

"No deal": poor leadership scares off candidates 

What keeps employees from applying to a company despite higher pay? A bad management style, says more than half of the respondents (58 percent). An unsuitable location (57 percent) and bad experiences of friends or acquaintances with the employer (55 percent), closely followed by a poor corporate culture (54 percent), also keep candidates away from a potential employer.

When it comes to the location factor, there are differences between the age groups. Among 18- to 29-year-olds, for example, 47 percent would be deterred from applying for a job by an unsuitable location, even if the new job paid better. Among 30 to 49-year-olds, more than half (55 percent) and among the over-50s almost two-thirds (64 percent) consider the employer's location to be a decisive criterion.

A poor corporate culture is also a greater deterrent, especially for older professionals. 61 percent of those over 50 would not apply for a job with better pay if the corporate culture did not fit. In the youngest age group of 18- to 29-year-olds, the figure is only 43 percent in comparison. In addition, a poor corporate culture is a no-go significantly more often for people with a higher level of education (62 percent) than for people with a formally lower level of education (47 percent).

A lack of opportunities for home office or remote work is keeping around a quarter (27 percent) of respondents from applying to a new employer, even if more pay beckons in return. There are considerable differences between the various career levels with regard to the importance of flexible working time models. Whereas only 22 percent of skilled workers would be put off working from home, 39 percent of middle managers would be deterred from choosing a new employer.

"A poor leadership style is the killer criterion par excellence for Swiss professionals. The good news is that companies can actively promote a positive leadership culture. An honest look at one's own company is therefore worthwhile in order to become aware of possible weaknesses. When it comes to the criterion of location, things get more difficult, because it is often not so easy to change. However, location disadvantages can be compensated for with the option of working independently of location," says Frank Hassler, CEO of New Work SE, which also includes the onlyfy by XING brand.

Increasing attractiveness as a company: Flexible working time is the trump card

The shortage of skilled workers and a persistently low unemployment rate have prompted companies to consider new working models in recent years. For 61 percent of employees, an employer becomes more attractive if it offers flexible working hours. This is particularly popular with employees aged 30 and over. A four-day week with the same pay would make the company more interesting for a total of 59 percent of respondents. The option of a home office is perceived by just under half of those surveyed (47 percent) as increasing the company's attractiveness, and in the 30 to 49 age group, home office is particularly appreciated by 52 percent. Around a quarter of respondents each find that more salary transparency (27 percent) and the option for longer time off, e.g. in the form of a sabbatical (26 percent), make an employer more attractive.

The option of "workation," where employees can work temporarily from abroad, is particularly well received by younger people. While 28 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds and 26 percent of 30- to 39-year-olds believe that this makes an employer more attractive, only 15 percent of the over-50s find it more attractive. Fitness and yoga offers at the company also attract younger employees in particular. 32 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds see this as a benefit. As the age of the respondents increases, however, the attractiveness weakens noticeably. Only 13 percent of those over 50 say that sports activities make an employer more attractive to them.

"Employers can increase their attractiveness with new work models and benefits. However, companies should be aware that not all measures have the same effect on all candidates. The option of workation can make sense in order to attract young candidates in particular, whereas other measures are more effective in the search for specialists and managers with many years of experience," continues Frank Hassler.

Source: onlyfy by XING / New Work SE

Since 2006, local.ch has been an established player in the Swiss online market as the official digital telephone directory. Already in recent years, the portal has increasingly developed beyond the function of a directory into a marketplace through which services can be booked directly by SMEs. With a relaunch and a new brand promise, the transformation of local.ch from a digital telephone directory to the largest Swiss booking platform has now been officially completed.

Booking platform with additional benefits for SMEs

With around 1.7 million visitors and over 30 million page impressions per month, local.ch is one of the top ten Swiss online portals in terms of reach and is on a par with renowned media brands in terms of usage (Mediapulse Online Audience Data). More than 500,000 SMEs from all kinds of industries, including contact details, can be found on the booking platform. The categories range from "Food, Indulgence & Gastronomy" to "Medicine, Aesthetics & Wellness" and "Craft, Construction & Industry". But countless services in the categories "Leisure, Education & Sports", "Life, Housing & Environment" and "Security, Business & IT" are also part of local.ch's offering. The respective services of over 155,000 SMEs can even be booked directly online at the touch of a button.

The architect of the booking platform local.ch is localsearch (Swisscom Directories AG). "With the relaunch of local.ch, we are underlining our repositioning as the largest Swiss booking platform and consistently implementing the new brand promise: 'Simply book online,'" says Stefano Santinelli, CEO of localsearch. "The functionality as a phone book will of course remain, but this designation no longer does justice to local.ch's extensive offering today." Last year, the button for direct booking was already pressed around 1.5 million times for a wide variety of SME services.

Relaunch with "localbuddy", "Free Table Search" and search via interactive map

After two years of development, local.ch has been relaunched. Central components of the all-round renewal are expanded and new search and booking options, which lead to even better user-friendliness. This makes it even easier for users to find the service they want and to book it straight away. For this purpose, "localbuddy" is even available as a chatbot, which users can ask their questions not only in writing, but also verbally.

First find a restaurant and then in a second step clarify whether a table is free: For many the usual way to a table reservation, which often ends in disappointment when there is no room. The new local.ch offers a shortcut: With the "Free Table Search", you can directly find the restaurants in your area that still have a table free. And the reservation is then just another click away.

The new interactive map offers a different approach to the search. For example, anyone looking for a car garage near their location can get an overview directly via the map view and also make an appointment right away by clicking on the selected store.

Stefano Santinelli, CEO of localsearch: "All surveys and studies on online commerce in Switzerland show that consumers are booking and buying more and more online. I am convinced that with the new local.ch, we are making it even easier for users to find and book their desired service. And on the other hand, we are supporting SMEs even better in bringing customers from the digital world into their business. A win-win situation - or a match as we would say today."

Source: localsearch

In contrast to setting climate targets using the conventional method (potential-based targets), SBTs (science-based targets) identify the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions a company needs to achieve in order to keep global warming below 1.5°C as agreed in the Paris Agreement. For the Electrolux Group, a target has been set to reduce all direct and indirect operational CO₂-emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 80% and emissions from product use (Scope 3) by 25% compared to 2015. In 2022, the Electrolux Group succeeded in achieving the set targets three years in advance. Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions were reduced by 82% and Scope 3 emissions by more than 25% compared to 2015.

Leading in sustainability thanks to science-based targets

"We had set ourselves ambitious climate targets and are now among the first companies worldwide to achieve them. This proves that we are a leader in sustainability. But our work doesn't stop there. We are continuously working to make our business operations climate-neutral by 2030," says Peter Barandun, CEO of Electrolux Switzerland.

In order to reduce its environmental footprint, the company relies on renewable energies and continuously optimizes operational processes in all business areas. Thus, 98% of the electricity consumed worldwide comes from renewable sources. In addition, the Group has its own photovoltaic plants in seven countries. And the circular economy is also steadily gaining in importance: for example, the interior linings of the new 70% built-in refrigerators are made of recycled plastic. In addition, 55% of all Electrolux Group plants, including the Swiss logistics center in Mägenwil, are "Zero Waste to Landfill" certified. This means that nearly 98% of total production waste is either recycled or recovered.

Local commitment to a more sustainable diet

Electrolux not only develops solutions that enable a more sustainable life, but also initiates a social dialogue. As an Official Partner of the non-profit association "Madame Frigo", the company sets an example against food waste in Switzerland. In the jointly conducted awareness campaign, attention was drawn to the problem and consumers were given useful tips on how to avoid foodwaste.

Source and further information: Electrolux Group

The most important business event in southeastern Switzerland is celebrating a special anniversary this year. The 25th edition of the Südostschweiz Economic Forum will take place on Tuesday, August 29, at the Stadthalle Chur and will be held under the motto "Aufbruch Südostschweiz" ("A new departure for southeastern Switzerland"). Renowned representatives from politics, business and science will show how the business location of southeastern Switzerland can take advantage of the opportunities in the current difficult environment.

Captain of industry and well-known economist

The anniversary program features a number of familiar faces. One of the keynote speakers is Peter Spuhler, an entrepreneur from eastern Switzerland. The co-owner and Chairman of the Board of Directors of rail manufacturer Stadler Rail will show how he believes Switzerland can overcome the current challenges of high inflation and uncertain export markets. Stadler Rail trains are also in operation on the lines of the Rhaetian Railway.

Another speaker is Reiner Eichenberger. He is one of the most pointed voices and has been one of the most important Swiss economists for years. The Fribourg economics professor will talk about the starting position for the economic region of southeastern Switzerland. Eichenberger knows the region very well: He owns a second home in Prättigau and is convinced that new forms of home office and mobile working offer special opportunities for southeastern Switzerland.

Self-made millionaire and Grisons innovation pioneer

Another successful entrepreneur is Giada Ilardo. The Swiss entrepreneur with Italian roots will describe to the audience how she opened her first tattoo studio at the age of 16 and today runs Europe's largest tattoo and piercing label with more than 50 employees in five studios. Markus Wolf is known far beyond southeastern Switzerland. The CEO of the Weisse Arena Group manages the Flims-Laax mountain railroads with various hotel and restaurant operations, sports stores and schools, as well as his own construction company. Weisse Arena employs more than 1,000 people during the winter season. Bergbahnen manager Wolf will address how innovation can help alleviate the shortage of skilled workers.
Learning to deal with uncertainties

The renowned scientist Markus Hengstschläger will take the audience on a journey through current issues. The geneticist will show how people react to uncertain situations and deal with unpredictable events. Hengstschläger is head of the Institute of Medical Genetics at the Medical University of Vienna and has written successful non-fiction books such as "The Average Trap" and "The Solution Talent".

On the panel, regional decision-makers and entrepreneurs will discuss the current opportunities and challenges for Southeastern Switzerland as a business location. Enrico Uffer is a fourth-generation timber construction entrepreneur and is setting milestones in modular construction for different areas of application. The first digital and fully automated sawmill will start operations in 2023. More guests at the panel discussion will follow shortly. SRF journalist and "Einstein" presenter Tobias Müller will lead through the Südostschweiz Economic Forum.

Event under new management

After a quarter of a century, the Wirtschaftsforum Südostschweiz is passing into new hands. The event agency Skunk has taken over the event from the Domenig Group, which had launched the Wirtschaftsforum Südostschweiz together with the then Graubünden Autumn Fair Gehla, as part of a succession plan. "We would like to thank the Domenig Group for their trust and are very pleased to be able to work with the previous main partners Graubündner Kantonalbank, ÖKK, Somedia and Domenig Group," says Skunk managing director Markus Goop. The event agency organizes, among others, the Entrepreneur Day in Vaduz, the Business Day for Women and the Finance Forum in Liechtenstein, St. Gallen and Zurich.

The new organizers want to position the Südostschweiz Economic Forum even more strongly as a central meeting place for decision-makers from business, politics and science. To this end, the program, which will be more interactive, will focus on regional and national economic topics such as the shortage of skilled workers, education policy, digitalization and the export economy. The event will be framed by an attractive supporting program and a high-quality networking aperitif. The organizers expect 300 to 400 participants. The main partners are GKB, ÖKK, Domenig and Weisse Arena, while Somedia is the media partner. Numerous other partner companies and organizations are supporting the 25th Südostschweiz Business Forum.

Further information and registration at www.wifo-suedostschweiz.ch

With over 12,000 graduates per year, the commercial apprenticeship is the most popular basic education in Switzerland. In order to monitor the situation during and after the apprenticeship as well as the future plans of young professionals, the Swiss Commercial Association has conducted an annual survey of commercial apprentices in Switzerland since 2006. In the first survey wave of this year's apprenticeship leavers survey in July 2022, around 4,000 people took part, i.e. just under a third of all commercial apprentices in Switzerland; in the second survey wave in November 2022, around 1,600 people took part. In view of the KV reform, which will start in the summer of 2023, the Swiss Commercial Association, in cooperation with the Institute of Political Science at the University of Zurich, has placed the focus on digitalization.

Stable job situation and many further training plans

The majority of graduates (65.9%) are employed at the time of the second survey wave in November 2022 (see chart 1). Although the proportion of employed persons is slightly lower than in the previous year, it remains in line with the average of the last five years. Around 25.5% are in a non-employment situation after apprenticeship, such as further education, language study or military service. Only 5.5% are looking for a job in November 2022.

Overtime and compensation during apprenticeship

One focus of the 2022 survey is on overtime during apprenticeship: Almost two thirds of all participants (63%) stated that they had to work overtime during their basic training. Of these, 40% of the cases are voluntary overtime as part of flexitime and flexible working hours. Also 40% worked involuntary overtime to complete work assignments. "The proportion of people who had to work involuntary overtime on a weekly basis is worrying," emphasizes Kathrin Ziltener, specialist in charge of vocational training at the Swiss Commercial Association. That is around 7% of all participants. Another 12% had to work involuntary overtime several times a month. "Especially during apprenticeships, where work and school already represent a double burden, frequent and long overtime hours can have a negative impact on the mental health of learners."

Majority positive perception of digitization

Digitization is changing the world of work in many industries and is also having a significant impact on everyday working life in the commercial sector. Routine activities are increasingly being eliminated, while analytical, coordinative and interpersonal activities are becoming more central. This is why the Swiss Commercial Association, in collaboration with the Institute of Political Science at the University of Zurich, investigated how apprentices perceive digitalization. The majority of participants see digitization as an opportunity (72%) rather than a risk (21%) - 7% did not comment on this question. The most common reason given by apprentices for their positive view is that digitization makes work easier. Prof. Dr. Thomas Kurer, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Political Science at the University of Zurich, adds: "The participants confirmed that they feel well prepared for the working world as a result of their training. Nevertheless, Kurer points out, "However, digitization is not seen by everyone only as a positive force. Around one-fifth are worried about their professional future." The main reason for this, he says, is the fear that computers or software will replace human labor.

At the same time, the apprenticeship graduates realistically note that automation and digitization will fundamentally change many areas of daily work. The participants estimate that, theoretically, an average of 48% of their work could be digitized (see Figure 2). This roughly corresponds to an empirical study by the OECD, which estimates the proportion of automatable activities in the commercial sector at 57%.

Commercial apprentices feel well prepared

In summary, most participants see changes brought about by digitization as an opportunity and have a positive view of the digital transformation. "Basic commercial training is seen as a valuable foundation and good preparation for the modern job market," adds Ziltener. "At the same time, there is a high awareness of the importance and necessity of ongoing training."

Source: KV Switzerland

A recently published study shows how credibly Swiss companies can position themselves. The "Purpose Readiness Index" (PRI), specially developed for the representative study by the management consultancy Globeone, is made up of 15 purpose-relevant image attributes in five image dimensions. The PRI, which is based on the survey results, indicates on a scale of one to one hundred and in four levels how credibly companies and institutions can represent a socially relevant corporate purpose in the public perception. Companies with a PRI score of less than 50 often lack the appropriate basis for credibly communicating their purpose, while companies with a score above 70 have a high purpose credibility that is hardly overshadowed by negative associations. The current PRI ranks 60 leading Swiss companies.

Almost two-thirds of brands are "purpose ready

The study revealed: After all, 64 percent of Swiss brands are perceived by the public as at least partially "purpose ready" - they do not exhibit any major deficits in purpose-relevant image dimensions. Five brands (eight percent) are considered fully credible and thus have a very good basis for successful purpose activation. With a score of 72.3, Victorinox ranks first in the Purpose Readiness Index (PRI). Migros, Geberit, Lindt & Sprüngli and Coop are also among the leaders with PRI scores of more than 70. Around 36 percent of the brands surveyed are struggling with credibility problems, which also make them more susceptible to greenwashing accusations.

"Retailers, technology brands, cooperatively organized retail companies and traditional consumer brands in particular are proving to be particularly credible in terms of purpose-centric positioning in the public perception," says Carina Hauswald, Managing Partner at Globeone. "Many PRI winners certainly also benefit greatly from their everyday proximity to customers."

Consumers take a critical view of companies

Compared with the first Purpose Readiness Study for Switzerland in 2020, however, it is noticeable that the top performers in the Purpose Readiness Index (PRI) no longer score quite as highly: Second-placed Migros, for example, lost 6.5 index points, PRI winner Victorinox 5.1 index points. Mobiliar lost 6.2 index points and slipped from fifth to 15th place. "The decline in ratings is probably also a sign that Swiss consumers are generally becoming more critical of companies in terms of their purpose promises - a trend that is also increasingly evident in other industrialized countries," says Hauswald. "There is also an increased demand on particularly credible brands to constantly improve their socially relevant contribution, to provide concrete evidence of it and to communicate it transparently." Even brands that score fully on future viability, sustainability, authenticity and social relevance would have to live their purpose around the clock and make it clear in order to maintain or enhance their reputation.

Pharmaceutical and financial sectors suffer from negative image

As the backbone of the Swiss economy, financial and pharmaceutical companies are not very convincing in the public perception, especially in the image dimensions of sustainability, honesty and profit orientation. Companies from these sectors, such as Novartis (58.1), Vontobel (56.7), Roche (56.7), Julius Baer (56.2) and UBS (53.0), suffer from the risks posed by the tarnished image of their industries in a purpose-centric positioning. In the case of Credit Suisse (48.6), the data shows that a significant credibility crisis was already evident before the recent turmoil that culminated in a takeover by UBS.

Construction and raw materials bring up the rear in the sector rankings

The transformation of the construction and raw materials industry to greater sustainability is only slowly reaching the public. Implenia (PRI 59.2), Holcim (58.1) and Glencore (41.0) all have critical Purpose gaps in public perception. With an average PRI of 52.8 points, the industry is thus at the lower end of the ranking. Consumer brands such as Nestlé (49.8) or Philip Morris (48.3) have frequently been criticized in recent years and also rank far behind in the 2023 PRI.

Source and further information: Globeone

Traditional Swiss retail banks primarily serve private customers and SMEs and primarily offer standardized services - from paying, saving, and investing to financing. Besides the two big banks, the cantonal and Raiffeisen banks are the dominant players in the market. Compared with their European competitors, the Swiss retail banks operate in a very attractive market environment. A characteristic feature is the robust and stable domestic market, which only accepts far-reaching changes with long lead times.

Peculiarities of the Swiss market will increasingly disappear

As far as the different historical development of Swiss and European retail banks is concerned, three core factors stand out: First, the high business volume of around 150,000 Swiss francs per customer, which leads to an annual operating profit of a whopping 550 Swiss francs on average - also per customer. In a European comparison, the total business volume per customer ranges between 30,000 and 60,000 euros, and the operating profit is between 150 and 350 euros. The second factor is the boom in the Swiss mortgage market, which has provided Swiss banks with consistent revenue growth over the past two decades. The third differentiating factor of the Swiss retail banking market is the high level of brand loyalty among customers. Customers have built up a close relationship with their respective house bank and are hardly willing to change it.

However, as the study by the audit and consulting firm Deloitte shows, these factors are changing and will lead to major challenges in the Swiss retail banking market in the medium term. In view of the current uncertainties and changes in the Swiss banking center, the willingness of bank customers to switch is tending to increase - an opportunity for retail banks that are now acting quickly.

Structural changes jeopardize retail bank earnings

"It is becoming more difficult for Swiss retail banks to maintain high levels of profitability and growth," Cyrill Kiefer, Head of Banking at Deloitte Consulting Switzerland, is convinced. He sees reasons for this in the conversion of society and the economy to "net zero" emissions, the higher maturity of the market, the increasing saturation of the residential real estate market, the aging of the customer base, and the growing demand of customers for functional "end-to-end" solutions of the banking services offered.

Neo-banks, challenger banks and non-banks get on board

Another challenge is posed by the emerging neo- and challenger banks. With their sophisticated digital banking models, they offer a better customer experience - and at lower cost, too. Well-funded non-banks (NBFIs) are also increasingly becoming serious competitors for some core banking services. These include, in particular, insurance companies and pension funds. Various NBFIs have entered the attractive mortgage business for retail customers in recent years and are working with independent brokers and providers of lending platforms for this purpose. NBFIs will also seek to increase their market share in other financial services such as financial advice and asset management.

New "open banking" ecosystems compete with the traditional banking model

The traditional business of Swiss banks is facing fundamental change. The magic word is "open banking. This will make it possible to combine separate services from banks and other service providers on digital platforms and offer them to customers as a complete package. The development of these new ecosystems is being driven primarily by agile FinTech companies that collect, process and make available content and offers.

"In light of changing customer needs and expectations, new interaction models, the increasing decomposition of value chains, and technological advances, retail banks need to develop new strategies for dealing with and positioning themselves in emerging ecosystems," Kiefer elaborates, adding, "Banks should move away from traditional strategic planning and think much more in terms of scenarios. This is the only way they can survive in the long term."

Measures help retail banks cope with the future

Depending on the scenario and their position in it, Swiss retail banks have to make important strategic decisions quickly. In doing so, they basically have two options: They can either develop and offer innovative and attractive products or focus on managing customer channels and relationships. They also need to think about how to merge the elements of traditional banking with services from a broader ecosystem.

"To increase business agility and drive innovation and growth, retail banks need to look from the inside out. They would be better off focusing on external partnerships and collaborations rather than internal practices and policies," advises Kiefer. Digitalization will also be an indispensable success factor in the current decade, he adds. And he adds, "But this requires more than keeping up with current technological trends. After all, customers today expect the best of both worlds: a personalized interaction coupled with the benefits of a digital offering."

Source and further information: Deloitte

In the Campus Hall at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland FHNW in Brugg-Windisch on March 22, 2023, more than 110 companies presented themselves as attractive employers for starting a career after graduation. A wide range of industries are on the lookout for the sought-after skilled workers: represented were numerous different economic sectors from technology and IT companies to service and consulting firms to financial institutions and industrial companies. 600 students from the three FHNW universities took the opportunity to get an impression of possible career paths, make contacts and compare job offers.

A premiere: the career profile lounge

This year, for the first time, there was a career lounge. Specialists such as IT system engineers, portfolio managers, and project managers talked to students in person about their day-to-day work. Those who wanted to deepen the conversations beyond the day of the fair could register for virtual one-to-one talks with the participating companies via the Talentspace app. These took place from March 27 to 29 and offered the chance for a personal exchange with the employer of choice.

Prof. Stephan Burkhart, head of the FHNW career organization next Career Services is very satisfied with the event: "Career Day 2023 was a great success. The more than 110 companies were able to hold exciting discussions with 600 students. The students appreciated the diversity of the companies and the relaxed atmosphere. We are already looking forward to Career Day 2024."

Source and further information: FHNW