The Phoenix Award for long-term Swiss entrepreneurship has been presented annually since 2020. The award honors Swiss SMEs that have mastered their succession arrangements for at least a century. Companies that have successfully ensured their succession and thus their preservation over such a long period of time have already had to overcome several crises such as world wars and economic crises and rise anew like the "Phoenix from the ashes". The focus as potential award winners is therefore on Swiss SMEs that will be 100 years old in the respective year or have been entered in the Swiss Commercial Register for 100 years. From these companies, an expert jury and a jury advisory board with representatives from science, entrepreneurship and the media determine the winner of the Phoenix Award in a multi-stage process. The evaluation focuses on the companies' innovative and disruptive capabilities, their team performance, and their contribution to society and the national economy. This year, the award goes to Blaser Café AG in Bern.

Blaser Café AG convinces all along the line

Thanks to a pioneering spirit, constant innovative strength and a commitment to sustainability that was as early as it was continuous, Blaser Café AG was able to win the vote of the jury and jury advisory board. Skills that have contributed to establishing the company not only as a coffee institution in the greater Bern area, but also as a "permanent fixture" in the international coffee market. One of the decisive steps in this direction was the founding of Caffè Speciali Certificati (CSC) by Blaser Trading AG, Blaser Café AG's sister company specializing in international green coffee trading, together with a number of Italian roasting companies. Another milestone is the co-founding of the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE) in London in 1998.

The joy of innovation is reflected in a diverse range of activities characterized by entrepreneurial foresight. These include striking cornerstones such as the operation of the first fully automatic and electronically controlled roasting machine in Switzerland in 1955 and the entry into the airline business in 1998 thanks to a globally patented innovation for airline coffee machines. 2002 saw the opening of one of Switzerland's first coffee academies - Alpine Coffee Center - to impart the coffee expertise built up over decades. With the establishment of its own coffee bar and retail store, starting in 2014 with the "Rösterei Kaffee und Bar" at Güterstrasse 6 and further locations at Bubenbergplatz in 2018 and Gurtengasse 6 in 2020, Blaser Café AG opens up the whole world of coffee to private customers. In parallel, the online trade will be broadly positioned. The company also shows foresight in its commitment to sustainability, which was already lived at Blaser Café AG and Blaser Trading AG before it was "on everyone's lips". Whether as a partner of the first hour of Fairtrade Max Havelaar, through the seamless traceability of green coffees, the promotion of the reforestation project SEMEAR and much more.

Laying the foundation for sustainable entrepreneurship in difficult times

The proof that Blaser Café AG is able to rise like a "Phoenix from the ashes" in crisis situations is shown by a look at the year 1939. Company founder Walter Blaser dies unexpectedly. Despite a difficult economic situation and the concerns of the authorities, his widow Cécile Blaser, a trained ladies' tailor, successfully continued the business with courage and initiative together with her son, Walter Blaser Junior - and this at a time when women were still primarily expected to play the role of "faithful housewife," as laudator Corin Ballhaus emphasized. In retrospect, this may even have been a stroke of luck: It is only in difficult times that one learns to be economical with resources. Markus Blaser, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Blaser Café AG and a member of the third generation of the family, recalls an episode: Cécile Blaser once reprimanded an office employee because she wanted to throw away a pencil stub just because it was too short for the sharpening machine, although it was still possible to write with it. "We don't waste anything," was the message, which is still valid in the company today.

Importance of business succession highlighted.

All in all, qualities that are often characteristic of successful and traditional Swiss SMEs, which at the same time create the best conditions for reaching 100 years and older. An entrepreneurial achievement that deserves recognition. A satisfaction for Markus Blaser: "We are very happy about the Phoenix Award. It is an unexpected award for our entire team and the successful design of our companies, which has always been geared to the long term. It is gratifying that this award particularly highlights the importance of business succession, as it often receives too little attention in this context." Blaser Café has always been able to arrange succession within the family, without any pressure. And already the fifth generation is ready: Félice Blaser, grandson of Markus Blaser, is currently completing his vocational apprenticeship in his parents' business - and this is because he explicitly wanted it that way.

Seen in this light, the company can look to the future with optimism despite the many challenges it faces - volatile price trends in the coffee market, constantly changing consumer habits, increased energy costs. The Phoenix Award was also congratulated by Christoph Ammann, Director of the Canton of Berne's Department of Economic Affairs, Energy and the Environment, and Markus Willimann, Deputy Head of SME Policy at SECO. Christoph Ammann also paid particular tribute to the modesty with which Blaser Café AG knows how to shape its corporate culture despite its many deserved achievements.

More information: Blaser Café AG / Swiss umbrella organization for business succession - CHDU

With the increasing digitization of business life, documents are hardly ever printed out. With this in mind, anyone who expects printers to gradually become obsolete is sorely mistaken. This is because multifunction devices with their powerful scanners can take on a central role in digital workflow management. According to a survey by Morning Consult, small companies in particular rely on printers for 80 percent of their business. However, more than half of the respondents (55 percent) also said they don't have time to worry about technology.

Simple, safe, sustainable

"Managing printers is not an efficient use of time and energy," says one of the small business owners interviewed, for example. Another commented, "Everything is becoming more and more automated. Maybe that would be an issue with printers, too." HP heard the cry for help from smaller businesses and developed a solution that simplifies printer management, increases productivity, enhances security and promotes sustainability to boot. The result: the HP+ cloud-based printing system.

Print anywhere and with any device

A growing number of inkjet and laser printers are ready for the new solution. It can be set up quickly. Then the "HP Smart" app on the cell phone or the dashboard on the PC shows the ink level and several options for printing processes. The app and PC dashboard are so easy and clear to use that anyone can find their way around immediately. Just as interesting, however, is what's going on behind the scenes. HP+ automatically detects printer problems and fixes them immediately, protects against malware attacks, automatically installs the latest updates, and enables printing from anywhere and from almost any device. This means that documents can be sent from a cell phone to the printer on the way to work. With the "Private Pickup" function activated, the printout is only made when the user is standing next to the printer.

Utility material delivered free of charge

HP+ users get all this and more at no additional cost. Also included is an additional year of manufacturer's warranty and a free six-month trial of HP Instant Ink. HP Instant Ink is HP's ink delivery service that automatically sends a new cartridge when the printer runs out of ink or toner. It also charges transparently per printed page. Both HP Instant Ink and HP+ are committed to consistent sustainability. With the delivery service, fewer cartridges have to be transported. Used materials can be returned free of charge, and HP recycles them professionally. And for users of this solution, HP invests in forest protection and reforestation programs for every page printed.

In view of these benefits, the newspaper "Heute" from Austria concludes after an extensive test: "It is a real all-round carefree package. For those who simply want to take care of the printout and nothing else when it comes to printer, ink and co., HP+ is a perfect fit." Want to see for yourself?

Try free printer with HP+ now

HP is convinced that HP+, as a complete solution, is ideally suited to the everyday needs of SMEs. That is why HP, together with ORGANISATOR, is inviting tenders for two to three tests with the latest generation of laser printers. If you are an SME with a maximum of 50 employees and have at least three printers in operation, you can apply to test a maximum of three HP+-enabled printers. They can keep the HP Laser Jet Pro MFP 4102dwe printers after the test period. In return, in cooperation with the ORGANIZATOR, they will share your experience with HP+-enabled printers, which we will then process in a report of this medium. Two will be drawn from among all participants in the call for entries.

Click here to register.

Consultants in the audit, fiduciary and consulting industry support companies and entrepreneurs in all economic matters and throughout the entire corporate life cycle - from formation to liquidation. In doing so, different disciplines and special fields of consulting work closely together. In order to take this into account in the best possible way, and to meet the requirements for competence development and certification, as well as for consulting quality, the Association for Management and Corporate Consulting ASCO - as already communicated on the occasion of the annual meeting in September 2022 - integrated into EXPERTsuisse as of January 1, 2023 (in the area "Consulting & Business Services"). In this context, the new platform "Consulting Network Switzerland" has also been developed and went live at the end of 2022 (www.consulting-network.ch). This also gives the industry a face and creates identity.

Digitization and sustainability require new consulting skills

In order to make the best possible use of the major trends of digitalization and sustainability as an industry and for the economy, complementary competencies are needed. Building and certifying these competencies among young professionals and the profession is the core mission of EXPERTsuisse. "As client-oriented consulting and holistic management are gaining importance in this context, the integration of ASCO into EXPERTsuisse is an important step in the association's development," says Marius Klauser, Director and Delegate of the Association's Board of Directors. The previous cooperation with ASCO will become a full integration, providing consultants of both associations with an attractive networking, qualification and positioning platform and strengthening themselves as a profession throughout Switzerland. The Consulting Network Switzerland (EXPERTsuisse) is now also a nomination partner for the Digital Excellence Award and the Green Business Award, where the "Return on Consulting" can be experienced in concrete companies.

Important contribution to a strong Swiss economy

Important elements of the integration are the new expert commission Management Consulting, the certificate course on consulting competence, the certification commission "Certified Management Consultant" (CMC) and the code of conduct for CMCs. The goal is to register 1,000 Certified Management Consultants throughout Switzerland by 2030. In addition to the integration of ASCO, EXPERTsuisse is also entering into a cooperation with the Swiss Umbrella Organization for Business Succession (CHDU), which focuses on the formation and certification of competencies in the field of holistic succession consulting. This will further strengthen the consulting ecosystem. "Together, we are making an important contribution to a strong Swiss economy. Consulting competence is the basis for future-oriented decisions and their effective implementation," Marius Klauser continues.

Management consulting industry in upheaval

"The consulting industry is in transformation and supports transformations. The members of ASCO see the integration into the expert association, which is as rich in tradition as it is innovative, as an opportunity to better organize and support the consulting profession throughout Switzerland and to represent it vis-à-vis politics and business," says Jürg Hodel, Co-Chairman of the Consulting Advisory Board of EXPERTsuisse, President of the Management Consulting Commission and Managing Director of Staufen.Inova AG. At the New Year's event of EXPERTsuisse on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, association president Peter Ritter emphasized the importance of this step and wished the co-chairs Jürg Hodel and Marius Klauser as well as Luzia Hafen, Managing Director of Consulting Network Switzerland, every success in implementing the various measures.

Whether products or processes - AI recognizes the patterns, draws logical conclusions, makes decisions and establishes forecasts. An outlook from the IT service provider and consulting company Lufthansa Industry Solutions on the AI year 2023 in five theses.

1. AI is not a dream of the future, but the present

AI is no longer limited to a few special cases, but is used everywhere in business life: be it in production, human resources, customer service or supply chain management. Even in everyday life, more and more devices and processes are controlled via embedded AI without the user noticing. In the enterprise environment, AI and Internet of Things (IoT) are working ever more closely together. For example, data generated by a machine can be put to good use in all areas of the value chain thanks to AI.

2. both large and small companies can use AI - without having to be experts themselves.

Artificial intelligence is not just the preserve of large corporations with broad technology expertise. Today, SMEs can also access complex AI applications without having to develop them themselves. This is achieved via software-as-a-service (SaaS) and low-code solutions, which are now available in a variety of forms and can be easily integrated as modules via interfaces. Instead of individually developed special software, a standard application is used that is adapted for the company's own purpose. Smaller companies also benefit from the development of being able to generate valuable insights even from smaller data volumes or from a jumble of different data sources and types.

3. the path to sustainable management only succeeds with AI

Sustainability is one of the top issues for business. Customers, investors and employees are constantly increasing the pressure to act sustainably. And politics is forcing companies to keep a constant eye on their data, raw material and goods flows. In order not to get lost in the "information overload," companies rely on intelligent, machine support. For example, AI is used to optimize and verify supply chains, design recycling processes as early as the product design phase, or even establish efficient freight routes. In short: AI is indispensable for the path to sustainability.

4. AI goes from being a supposed competitor to a welcome colleague

New technologies are almost always met with rejection at first. In many companies, the workforce is also skeptical about the introduction of AI. The fear of losing importance or jobs is too great. But it's not about replacing human labor. Instead, AI helps improve human skills and abilities. AI relieves employees of routine tasks and makes room for creative activities. Employees will therefore benefit from AI and find more fulfillment in their work. And for companies, the technology goes some way toward alleviating their shortage of skilled workers.

5. AI is tamed, but not broken regulated

AI is a very powerful technology. It offers a wide range of possibilities, which in extreme cases can extend to mass surveillance or manipulation. Therefore, effective and transparent regulation is needed to prevent misuse and reduce fears of contact. This year, for example, the EU plans to set clear limits on questionable AI applications with the AI Act. It is less likely that this will slow down or curtail the technology too much. The benefits of ethically responsible use are too great.

Source: Lufthansa Industry Solutions

Continuum AG celebrates its 20th anniversary just this year. Originally founded in Zurich, the company expanded to St.Gallen when Rolf Brunner joined as managing partner. In the meantime, St.Gallen has become the main location and nine partners and employees belong to the company. With the change in the chairmanship of the board of directors, the company is initiating the regulation of succession, with Rolf Brunner relinquishing one of his functions. He remains - alongside Dr. Stefan Schneider and Yannick Brunner - a member of the Board of Directors and partner at the St.Gallen location.

Rolf Brunner is pleased about the reinforcement in the Board of Directors: "The election of Hanspeter Thür as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors is a first step in the targeted succession planning within the company. In addition, he ideally complements the strategic thinking at Continuum." Hanspeter Thür, for his part, emphasizes: "Securing the future is something we do not only for our customers in the context of succession planning, but also at Continuum itself. I am pleased to be able to contribute to this as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors."

Hanspeter Thür was Head of Private Clients at UBS Region Eastern Switzerland from 2015 to 2021 and since 2017 Regional Director responsible for the market presence of UBS in Eastern Switzerland (450 employees), cross-segment business and client development, risk management and human resources development. Since 2015, he has also been a member of the University Council of OST - Ostschweizer Fachhochschule (University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland), and since 2022, a member of the Board of Directors of dhp technology AG in Zizers.

Source: Continuum AG

Andres Trautmann took up his position as Head of Sustainability in November 2022 and will be intensively involved with emission reductions along the value chain and the further development of climate-neutral products as well as other CSR topics at APG|SGA. He reports directly to the company's management, with the position being held by CFO Beat Hermann's Finance & International division. The latter says: "With its commitment to the net zero target, APG|SGA is pursuing an ambitious reduction in CO2 emissions while at the same time persistently driving forward the expansion of sustainable offerings and innovations. I am delighted that in Andres Trautmann we have been able to recruit an experienced professional who brings with him the knowledge and experience needed to further develop APG|SGA's voluntarily high standards in the area of sustainability in a forward-looking manner for the benefit of the environment and society."

Andres Trautmann (40) has a master's degree in international relations and further education in sports management and corporate responsibility. He spent around ten years in various roles in the areas of sustainability and ethics at Swiss Olympic. He also held advisory roles for good governance and compliance. His expertise will provide important impetus at APG|SGA to meet the increasing challenges in the area of sustainability in line with international developments as well as to create meaningful transparency on key figures.

Source: www.apgsga.ch

European industry is bracing itself for a long-lasting multi-crisis: 90 percent of companies expect major instability beyond 2023. The industry's most important strategies for securing the future: comprehensive digitization and deeper cooperation with suppliers. This is shown by the current study "Europe's Industry in Transition". More than 440 top decision-makers from 19 European countries were surveyed on behalf of the product innovation platform Aras.

Fighting the multicrisis with digitized supply chains

"Against the backdrop of a disturbing mix of skyrocketing energy costs, geopolitical risks and increasing labor market risks, Europe's industry is currently primarily concerned with failsafe production. In response to unstable supply chains, 40 percent of companies have therefore already implemented closer cooperation with their suppliers, a further 39 percent are working on this and 17 percent are planning more intensive collaboration with suppliers," says Jens Rollenmüller, Managing Director of Aras Deutschland, the company that commissioned the study. What is striking in a European comparison is that in the United Kingdom, concerns about supply chains are particularly pronounced. In the wake of Brexit, every second company there has already implemented closer cooperation with suppliers.

Digitization of the supply chain is another important building block for building resilience. "Thirty-six percent of companies have already redesigned their supply chain with digitalization in mind, and another 42 percent are in the process of doing so," says industry expert Rollenmüller. Around one in three companies has also responded to unstable supply chains with changes in products, and just under one in four with a relocation of production sites.

The challenges have never been as complex as they are today

According to Aras CEO Rollenmüller, companies are under greater pressure than ever before. But at the same time, the survey results are encouraging: "For example, eight out of ten companies admit that the outlook for permanently unstable supply chains is a cause for concern. But thanks to the countermeasures that have already been implemented across Europe, and some of which are still planned, the industry can position itself more robustly and better face future crises."

This forward-looking focus is also necessary because the waters will remain rough for Europe's companies in the long term: Nine out of ten survey participants, for example, believe that the challenges facing their companies have never been as complex as they are today. And the look ahead indicates that no easing is expected, at least in the medium term: "88 percent of the study participants believe that the next few years will continue to be as uncertain. In the face of these challenges, companies must act, including by regularly reinventing themselves and exploiting the efficiency benefits of digitization for themselves. This is the only way they can defy the economic upheavals of the multi-crisis," says Rollenmüller.

Source: Aras

Many insurance companies are struggling with their online presence, especially on social media. According to of an evaluation by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts from 2020. no insurance company succeeded in achieving above-average performance in all the criteria examined. Health insurers still scored best. But in the meantime, the digital insurance world is on the move - with the first appearances in the metaverse.

The world of insurance in the metaverse

Insurance companies that have relied on a digital business model from the outset are, of course, in a different position in this respect. One example of this is Smile, which is now the largest digital insurance company in Switzerland. Smile now also offers its services in the metaverse, namely in the new smile.meta world. Interested parties can now dive into the new Smile Experience Lounge and experience Smile's offers and services virtually in 3D. This includes the smile.meta living room for household insurance and the smile.meta garage for Smile's car insurance offering. According to its own presentation, Smile is also initiating a novelty with the first virtual insurance consultation in the metaverse. The InsurTech company is also bringing its customer care consulting unit to Web 3.0, where interested parties can make daily consulting appointments and, if necessary, take out insurance directly. Technical support for the Smile Metaverse concept was provided by Inacta AG. The Zug-based IT consulting company is regarded in Switzerland as a pioneer and expert in topics related to blockchain and Web 3.0.

Digital meetings become more individual and personal

The move into the metaverse is by no means coming out of nowhere, but fits smoothly into Smile's strategic orientation as a digital lifestyle brand, according to the statement. The metaverse now offers the digital insurance company new possibilities in customer interaction, in which customers are in the same virtual space as Smile customer care employees. Accessing the smile.meta experience is as simple as clicking a link. VR glasses are not mandatory, but recommended for the full immersive experience. Virtual consultation appointments can also be easily booked via the Smile website. By merging the physical and virtual worlds - a key feature of the Metaverse - physical distance can be bridged in an uncomplicated way, creating increased digital proximity to customers. For example, contract-related topics can now be explained vividly by virtually showing different types of glass or parking damage to a car. The funny thing is that Smile is moving its offices to the top floor of the Prime Tower in Zurich, giving customers not only a view of parking damage during the consultation in the Metaverse, but also a wonderful 360° view over Zurich.

Taking the pulse of the new generations

With its move into the Metaverse, Smile is reinforcing its pioneering role in the Swiss insurance industry. In doing so, the InsurTech always aims to deal with new technologies at an early stage. In this way, Smile is getting ready for the challenges of the future and, as a digital lifestyle brand, is taking the pulse of the new generations. "Currently, the company is still at the very beginning when it comes to the topic of Metaverse. However, due to its immersive character, we see great potential to create a completely new customer experience and to inspire customers of today and tomorrow. We are getting ready for this with the smile.meta experience," says Roberto Monosi, Head Customer Care at Smile.

Smile sees the move into the metaverse in a broader context and as a starting point for exploiting the opportunities offered by Web 3.0. This includes topics such as NFTs and Smart Contracts - areas in which Inacta has a lot of experience and is engaged with customers on a daily basis. Inacta was engaged as the Metaverse expert in this project because, as a systems integrator, the company knows the insurance industry very well and can therefore translate Web 3.0 opportunities into tangible solutions for companies like Smile. "The convergence of the physical and virtual worlds will enable a new, unprecedented way for humanity to interact," says Daniel Rutishauser, Head of Blockchain at Inacta.

The next step is to explore what exactly this means for an organization. In any case, it will be exciting to see how the smile.meta experience is received by customers and whether this new type of customer journey will become an established offering in the Swiss insurance landscape.

Source and further information: Smile insurance / Inacta Group

Since 2018, SoftwareOne has expanded its professional and managed services portfolio both organically and through acquisitions, hired over 5,500 new employees, and tripled in size. Today, the company offers cloud and application services, SAP services, digital workplaces, security services and FinOps, as well as commercial software offerings such as IT asset management (ITAM), software sourcing and software publisher advisory. In addition, SoftwareOne has deep industry expertise in construction, finance, and government and nonprofit organizations.

"All-in-one" should be expressed in the brand

"Our new brand is an expression of the all-in-one provider we have become," Dieter Schlosser, CEO of SoftwareOne, is quoted as saying. "After all, how businesses buy and manage software has changed in recent years, driven by the transition to the cloud and the everything-as-a-service model. Based on our decades of experience in software ecosystems and licensing, we have built a holistic offering and an outstanding team of experts to deliver technology and digital solutions in the cloud."

Successive introduction of the rebranding

The rebranding also includes the introduction of a new, distinctive black and white logo, embedding the words "Software" and "One". This underscores that SoftwareOne is a one-stop shop for its customers, offering the commercial (software) and technological competencies, data insights combined with expert knowledge, and a global and local market presence they need, according to a statement. While the rebranding is already visible on the company's global website today, all other interfaces, including country websites and offices, will gradually receive the rebranding to ensure a smooth transition across all 90 markets, the company adds.

SoftwareOne celebrates clear market positioning

"We have been humbled in the past by the fact that SoftwareOne is redefining the way the world buys, builds and operates cloud solutions. Now is the time to celebrate that fact. After much deliberation, we have developed a clear market positioning, a revised portfolio of offerings and an exciting new visual identity," said Susanna Parry-Hoey, SoftwareOne's chief marketing officer. "From unbiased consulting to full implementation to managed services, our customers can pick and choose exactly what they need. Today, we're proud to unveil our new corporate identity to our customers and the public at large."

Source and further information

The job merry-go-round is spinning fast in quite a few companies - skilled workers are in demand everywhere. Anyone looking for a job is likely to quickly find in the current situation. But new employees are not always a good fit for the employer: Annoying - and expensive - wrong decisions in new hires are then the result. Hogan Assessments, a leading provider of personality assessments, has therefore examined common mistakes made by HR departments during the hiring process. From this, the following three recommendations were derived to avoid bad hires.

Tip No. 1: Turn away from the clone myth

Employers, when a position becomes vacant, want to replace the person who left, not their personality, or so the common assumption goes. But that's not always the case. When looking for a replacement for a valued team member, HR professionals often struggle with two conflicting schools of thought: Should they select someone who is as similar as possible to the person who left, or opt for a candidate who is the exact opposite? Personality is a key component in both approaches Short: While it may be tempting to seek an identical replacement, this can lead to a limitation of potential and a lack of innovation in the team. Therefore, to successfully find a replacement for a departed employee, the first step should be to analyze the qualities a candidate needs to perform the role at a high level. Then, one should narrow this list down to a selection of three indispensable characteristics and several useful additional attributes. Basing selection decisions on who has the greatest number of indispensable attributes to successfully fill the role helps companies avoid the clone trap.

Tip No. 2: The superstar problem

A "superstar" is someone who is a top performer on a team or in a company. When recruiting, employers often instinctively tend to look for the most qualified and accomplished candidate in the applicant pool and offer that person the job. But beware: this approach can have negative consequences for the team that this superstar joins. "A superstar's presence affects the performance of other employees around him, and often negatively. The mere proximity of a superstar - whether on the same team or not - can affect team performance," said Dr. Ryne Sherman, chief science officer at Hogan Assessments. The superstar effect is a counterintuitive phenomenon. One would assume that adding one particularly high-performing member to the team would encourage everyone else to rise to the challenge and try just as hard. But if the skills gap is too wide, others may feel fearful, intimidated, inferior, or even
Feel inferior. The superstar effect can bring out employees' insecurities, causing them to look for other ways to get ahead.
Superstars can be incredibly empowering to a team. To successfully integrate superstars into an existing workforce, it is essential for the company in question to define competition. Especially competitive employees want to compete with everyone, but this inclination can be directed outward. This protects team members from competing with each other. Employers should do their best to redirect the superstar's competitive nature toward something that benefits the company as a whole and its reputation, without discouraging or upsetting their other team members.

Tip No. 3: Consideration of indispensable skills in personnel selection

Although each applicant brings his or her own distinctive strengths, there are indispensable skills that he or she should possess. The three universal skills that should be key in personnel selection are interpersonal skills, the ability to learn, and work ethic. Seeking applicants with these skills strengthens any organization and helps avoid selecting employees with weak problem-solving, self-organization and interpersonal skills. When filling a vacancy within a team, it is central to find employees who get along well with other team members, have a strong thirst for knowledge and enjoy learning, are self-motivated, and have a strong work ethic. These traits are the foundation of any good personnel selection and are easily overlooked during the interview process due to impressive results or professional achievements.

Personality tests against wrong decisions

Personality is important in personnel decisions. Personality tests can help streamline the hiring process. "Scientifically based personality tests can identify applicants who fit your company, meet the job requirements and perform at a high level," summarizes Dr. Ryne Sherman.

Source: Hogan Assessments

After two years of the pandemic had acted like a fire accelerator on the transformation of the world of work, 2022 was a touchstone for whether the changes triggered by the virus would last in the long term. An analysis of Swiss job advertisements on the XING job market revealed no general downward trend for the statistical markers on flexible working hours and home office. The values were at a comparable level in both January and November 2022, having tended to rise in the previous two years. Fears that companies will reverse home office options and flexible working after the pandemic are not confirmed by the data analysis.

Companies continue to focus on flexible working

An earlier study conducted by the XING parent company NEW WORK at the beginning of 2022 revealed that employees' expectations regarding home office options significantly exceeded companies' actual plans. If the freedoms employees gained during the Corona crisis are taken away again, companies risk quickly falling behind in the highly competitive candidate market. The results of the current data analysis give reason to hope that companies are aware of this risk and will maintain flexible working arrangements.

Job ads for arts, culture and sports increase at the end of the year

XING's data analysis also drew a comparison of the number of newly advertised jobs between the beginning and end of the year. The markers for job advertisements with flexible working hours and home office remained stable overall in 2022. Compared to the start of the year, there were more job postings in November, especially in the arts, culture, and sports sector. The telecommunications industry saw the sharpest decline. The ranking of the industries in which more new jobs were created presents itself as follows:

1. Art, culture and sport
2. Automobile and vehicle construction
3. Consumer goods and trade
4. Health and social
5. Tourism and gastronomy

And in these industries, fewer new jobs were published on the platform in November 2022 than in January 2022:

1. Telecommunications
2. Media and publishers
3. Insurances
4. Internet and IT
5. Banks and financial services

For the study, the job network XING analyzed Swiss job advertisements on its own platform (https://xing.com/jobs) were statistically evaluated for the year 2022. On average, around 110,000 Swiss jobs were available on XING Jobs each month. As a marker for the development of jobs with home office options and flexible working hours, the percentage of newly published advertisements with the corresponding terms in the job title or job description was considered in each case.

"Kenny's Käfeli" has become legendary: anyone who has contact with the auto center founded by Kenny Eichenberger cannot avoid a cup of coffee. The customer experience has always been a top priority at Kenny's - now also in new surroundings. For the Mercedes-Benz Center in Dietlikon, a historic factory building was converted into a usable space of 6,200 m² converted: ultra-modern and CO₂-neutral. Thus, an over 2,000 m² large solar plant with a peak output of 500 kW supplies the plant and charges electric vehicles. Together with geothermal probes, it covers the operational demand for energy and heat. In the summer months, the system produces an energy surplus that can be fed into electric vehicles via 30 charging stations and stored in the future. The second floor of the Auto Center is dedicated to extensive work on alternative drive systems, including high-voltage batteries, and is operated by Switzerland's best specialists in this field. An exciting spectacle has been specially designed for the handover of the new cars. When picking up the vehicle, the customer presses the "Magic Button". The buyer is ceremoniously handed over the new vehicle with a spectacular light show, accompanied by self-selected music.

Cooperation with Zurich restaurateurs from La Stanza

The well-known "Kenny's Käfeli" can still be found at every consultation appointment. In planning and implementing the coffee area, Kenny's worked closely with the well-known Zurich restaurateurs La Stanza. A special area is dedicated to the enjoyment of coffee: in future, customers will be able to take a seat in Kenny's Café and enjoy the high-quality Demeter coffee from South America.

One success story, two generations

Auto entrepreneur Kenny Eichenberger fulfilled a boyhood dream in 1976 when he opened his first location for the sale of used and imported new cars in Buchs (ZH) - back then on a simple gravel parking lot. In the meantime, Kenny's Auto-Center is one of the leading dealers for Mercedes-Benz and smart in Switzerland and is represented at four locations. Since 2016, son Marc Eichenberger has been CEO of the Kenny's Group and majority shareholder since July 2022.

On the weekend of January 14 and 15, 2023, the new Auto Center will be formally opened.

More information: www.kennys.ch