Due to the spread of the coronavirus, the Federal Council has decided to ban large events with more than 1000 people until at least March 15, 2020. As an event with around 450 guests, the Trend Conference of the Swiss Marketing Association (GFM) does not fall under this provision. Nevertheless, in view of the tightening situation, GFM has decided to move its event from March 31 to August 31. The health of the participants and an unencumbered conference experience have the highest priority, according to a statement on Friday.

"The health of all participants, but also the pleasure of excellent communication and exchange among members and the many guests are the top priority for ADC Switzerland," ADC President Frank Bodin announced today. "Therefore, it was decided to postpone all events in view of the Corona situation."

The ADC Gala and Awards Ceremony on March 28 has been canceled and is rescheduled for May 16. The judging and Creative Week will also be postponed: the judging is expected to take place on May 12 and 13 and the Creative Week will be moved to this week.
Unfortunately, the winners of the ADC Young Creatives Award also have to be patient with the announcement of the results: The planned award ceremony on March 11 at Club Zukunft will be postponed to an as yet unknown date in the future.

The following 10 projects are up for election this year:

1. catch a flight to buenos aires

A digital marketing campaign that creates a new and permanent interaction and sales touchpoint for Edelweiss through an augmented reality game on the target group's device.

Client: Edelweiss Air
Contractor: Thjnk Zurich | Ateo| Rocket Film

2. interdiscount.ch | Omnichannel 2019

interdiscount.ch is the digital marketing platform of the Interdiscount brand, a division of the Coop Cooperative. Over the past three years, the entire platform has been professionalized and individualized. This makes Interdiscount the leading omnichannel provider in Switzerland.

Client: Interdiscount | Division and Business Unit of Coop
Contractor: Schrämli Consulting

3. migros apprenticeship hub

Migros Group, Switzerland's largest training provider, has launched an apprenticeship hub. The previously independent website for apprenticeship searches was integrated into the Migros Group career platform at the beginning of August. The apprenticeships are presented by the apprentices themselves.

Client: Federation of Migros Cooperatives
Contractor: The House Agency | Liip

4. Migros Supply Chain

As the largest retailer in Switzerland, Migros depends on smooth processes in the supply chain. Orders placed with external suppliers should be processed as efficiently as possible and entered into the company's own merchandise management system. This is where the Supply Chain App comes in.

Client: Federation of Migros Cooperatives (MGB)
Contractor: Smartive

5. MySwitzerland.com

Switzerland Tourism launched the national tourism website MySwitzerland.com in 14 languages in April 2019. The completely new website features numerous innovations such as the inspiration calendar and the 360-degree map.

Client: Switzerland Tourism
Contractor: Hinderling Volkart part of Dept | Unic

6. myZurich Risk Room

With the Risk Room, Zurich's corporate customers can manage their global risks themselves via an interactive cockpit. For this purpose, they have access to a novel visualization of risks in a 3D space that combines both country risks and individual risks.

Client: Zurich Insurance Company Ltd
Contractor: Cando Image

7. post.ch - optimization postal portal

Swiss Post's digital services are different, but the requirement remains the same: it must work, and it must work simply. That was the brief for the renewal. The result: the answer to the question of how much a large A Mail letter costs is now just a click away.

Client: Swiss Post CH
Contractor: Unic

8. sanitas - Simple billing

With the new digital benefit process, Sanitas simplifies processes, makes benefit costs more transparent, and reduces healthcare costs. In collaboration with Stimmt AG, the entire benefit process was realigned in the app and the portal.

Client: Sanitas
Contractor: True

9. transa - the digital flagship store

In Transa's new online store, the focus is not on pure sales, but on delivering on the brand promise: characteristic design, explorative architecture and authentic storytelling make the Transa experience tangible online as well.

Client: Transa Backpacking
Contractor: Station

10. insurance as simple as Netflix

When it comes to convenience, the customer no longer makes any compromises. That's why Smile has mastered the complete repositioning as a service champion as part of the Customer Service Revolution. A complete overhaul of the customer journey, always with the customer at the center of all decisions.

Client: Smile.direct Insurances
Contractor: MP Technology | Kontour Design Studio

The complete listing of all master candidates and links to the projects as well as details of clients and contractors can be found at here.

Master's chances increase thanks to readers' choice

The decision on who becomes Master of Swiss Web does not lie solely with the jury. The Best of Swiss Web community also has a vote. The final score will be determined in equal parts by the votes of the jury, the readers of Netzticker and the visitors of the award night on June 10, 2020.

How massive and lasting the consequences of the coronavirus will be for tourism is difficult to assess at the moment. Nevertheless, the regions are reporting a drop in demand, which in some cases is considerable. Therefore, the situation of the businesses is increasingly to be classified as serious. The largest Swiss tourism associations are calling on the Federal Council to provide rapid and unbureaucratic support for severely affected SMEs. The focus is on a pragmatic approach to short-time work and bridging liquidity bottlenecks.

Economic consequences not yet assessable

In a statement, the tourism associations welcome the fact that tourism, as an industry that is currently particularly hard hit, was able to inform the Federal Council directly about the situation on Thursday. Together with other business associations and the social partners, HotellerieSuisse and GastroSuisse took part in a round table convened by Minister of Economic Affairs Guy Parmelin to deal with the economic consequences of the coronavirus. At the moment, the total economic consequences cannot yet be estimated. They depend heavily on how the spread will continue and what measures will be needed to contain it. For tourism, the decisive factor will be whether global containment of the virus is achieved by the summer season.

Massive drop in short stays

According to a survey conducted by HotellerieSuisse in mid-February, more than 50 percent of participating establishments recorded or expected cancellations due to the consequences of the coronavirus. The pandemic is having a particular impact in urban areas. 62 percent of respondents from these regions say they have been affected. These figures have probably already been overtaken by reality. Current assessments from the regions confirm that all tourism regions are suffering from cancellations of events as well as travel stops by companies. Due to the increasing precautionary measures and restrictions within Switzerland and important countries of origin in Europe, the wave of cancellations is likely to affect further groups of guests. For example, short stays by Swiss nationals have plummeted, in some cases massively, which is exacerbating the situation for accommodation providers throughout Switzerland.

Uncomplicated help for affected SMEs called for

Swiss tourism knows how to deal with economic difficulties in a self-responsible manner, according to a statement issued on Thursday. Nevertheless, in this extraordinary situation, the Federal Council and the authorities must introduce support measures for affected SMEs quickly and without complications. The associations have therefore submitted their proposals to Federal Councillor Parmelin. The focus is on a pragmatic approach to short-time work. The administrative burden must be reduced and compensation should be paid out quickly, they demand. Furthermore, the public sector should grant appropriate respite to SMEs with liquidity bottlenecks due to the slump in sales. A uniform line in the definitions and criteria for handling events must also be ensured throughout Switzerland, the associations demand. In this situation, "cantonal thinking" is not appropriate.

The aforementioned steps are intended to help the industry tackle the current challenging situation - whether further measures will be necessary will depend on the further course of the spread of the virus. It is important for the tourism industry, which is dominated by SMEs, that all measures are quickly effective, targeted and temporary, the statement continues. One such possibility would be special programs in the area of demand promotion, so that the industry can win back guests from the distant markets, Europe and Switzerland.

Tourism associations stand united

According to the 2018 satellite account, tourism generates direct gross value added of more than CHF 19 billion with a demand of CHF 47 billion - which corresponds to a share of 2.9 percent of Switzerland's overall direct gross value added. As representatives of the industry, HotellerieSuisse and GastroSuisse are in close contact with the other tourism associations. Accordingly, they represent the following other institutions in discussions with the Federal Council: Parahotellerie Schweiz, Seilbahnen Schweiz, Schweizer Tourismus-Verband, Konferenz der regionalen Tourismusdirektoren, Verband öffentlicher Verkehr, Swiss Snowsports.

What has long been lived at Haus der Kommunikation and has been anchored in the DNA of the international and Swiss group since its founding has been given an official character with the new branding. The umbrella brand "Haus der Kommunikation" keeps all communication disciplines with the various agency brands together in one common location - namely the Haus der Kommunikation.

The Serviceplan Group Switzerland therefore appears in a further developed corporate design, which underpins the multi-brand strategy with the consistent integration of the umbrella brand "House of Communication" and with a uniform color scheme for all agency brands. The stringent multi-brand strategy ensures that the individual agencies can position themselves clearly on the market with customers.

With the use of the different agency brands, changes in the market can be better addressed, new solutions can be established faster and in a more differentiated manner, and area-specific competencies can be further developed in a more concentrated manner, according to the statement.

"We are convinced that the multi-brand strategy under the common umbrella "House of Communication" offers numerous advantages. These include a consistent focus of individual agencies on specific business areas and a clear positioning in the market among customers as well as potential employees," says Christian Baertschi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Serviceplan Group Switzerland, explaining the group's brand strategy and adding that "the various agencies work together under the motto 'Building Best Brands' to develop holistic communications solutions, if this is required by the specific customer brief."

The House of Communication combines the competencies of the individual agencies such as Creation & Content (Serviceplan), Impact & Channel Management (Mediaplus), Technology & Experience (Plan.Net), and Publishing & Adaption under a single roof. With this multi-brand strategy, all customer needs are met, regardless of whether a customer requires a 360-degree solution or concrete support in a specific communication discipline. About Serviceplan Group Switzerland (House of Communication)

At the House of Communication, more than 130 specialists from all relevant communications and marketing disciplines work together under one roof. In agile, interdisciplinary teams from the areas of creation, technology, media, strategy, consulting, public relations, content, publishing and production, they develop and implement customized communications solutions from a single source. Under the motto Building Best Brands, the House of Communication unites the brands Serviceplan, Plan.Net, Solutions and Mediaplus to form the Serviceplan Group Switzerland. The owner-managed agency group for communication and marketing, headquartered in Zurich, is a member of the wide-ranging international Serviceplan network, with local houses of communication in all relevant economic areas.

The new federal concession in force since January 2019 allows SRG to sell special-interest stations. SRG had already announced in 2018 that it would seek even greater cooperation with Swiss media companies and be open to selling the radio stations Swiss Pop, Swiss Jazz and Swiss Classic, provided a buyer would continue to run them in the current sense. Swiss Pop's radio program consists of more than 50 percent music with a Swiss connection, is unmoderated and has been free of advertising to date.

The SRG Board of Directors has now approved the sale of Radio Swiss Pop. With the company BNJ Suisse from Rossemaison JU, owned by the entrepreneur Pierre Steulet, a buyer with many years of experience in the radio industry is taking over Radio Swiss Pop. The BNJ Group operates the four regional radio stations Radio RJB, Radio RTN, Radio RFJ and Radio GRRIF in the Jura.

The BNJ Group will continue to operate Radio Swiss Pop with the conditions defined by SRG. The station will remain unmoderated, will continue to include at least 50 percent Swiss music and will broadcast a maximum of four advertising minutes per hour. The corresponding contract with a minimum term of four years was signed these days. The station will be transferred to the BNJ Group at the end of summer 2020 and the parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

Radio Swiss Pop's market share is 3.6 percent. Radio Swiss Pop will continue to be receivable via DAB+ throughout Switzerland.

As a center of excellence, the Swiss Federal Accident Prevention Bureau (BFU) conducts research and provides advice to reduce the number of serious accidents in Switzerland - on the road, at home, during leisure time and in sports. For the new national campaign against accidents in various sports, the BFU chose Ruf Lanz after an evaluation. According to the BFU, one of the factors that tipped the scales was "the creative agency's many years of experience in staging prevention messages with public appeal." The first results of the new collaboration will be on display in the fall.

GfK experts estimate that around 1.37 billion smartphones will be sold worldwide in 2020. However, this demand could be slowed by effects of the corona virus on global supply chains and production capacities. These are GfK's findings on the global market for smartphones.

"In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult to impress consumers with innovations - especially in the smartphone market. Beyond its original function, the smartphone has long since become the most important item for many consumers. As a result, the expectations placed on hardware and performance are also rising - and premium as well as performance are now standard" explains Luca Giuriato, GfK expert for telecommunications. "Nevertheless, consumers continue to eagerly await the launch of new models. GfK research shows that four out of five smartphones purchased last year were also launched in the fourth quarter of 2019. So for 2020, one strategy for retailers and manufacturers may be to wow consumers with the right value for money."

Features provide added value and added value improves user experiences

Innovations have dominated the smartphone market over the past few years. Freely following the motto "the more, the better," new features offer consumers better user experiences. Around 70 percent of smartphones sold in 2019 had a display size of at least six inches. In 2018, the share was still 24 percent. According to recent GfK research, the majority of consumers worldwide say that internal storage capacity is the most important criterion when choosing a smartphone. The sales figures also show this: in 2019, 37 percent of all smartphones sold had a storage capacity of at least 128 GB.

Battery life is also important - half of all consumers pay attention to it when buying a new smartphone. Around 38 percent of all smartphones sold in 2019 had a battery capacity of at least 4,000 mAh. Speed and battery life are especially important to consumers who use the smartphone for gaming (44 percent of consumers). All of these features provide consumers with a better user experience, which is appreciated and now expected.

Status Quo 5G

5G is one of the biggest technological advances that comes with the issues of performance and user experience. In 2019, more than ten brands already offered 5G-enabled smartphones in their product range. However, 5G penetration is highly dependent on local telecom infrastructure. In South Korea, for example, one-third of all smartphones sold in the fourth quarter of 2019 were 5G-enabled. In the UK and Australia, by contrast, the proportion was two percent each. China, the largest smartphone market, is catching up rapidly in terms of 5G. Already eight percent of all smartphones sold in December 2019 were 5G-enabled models.

Convenience and simplification as further growth drivers

Consumers are on the lookout every day for ways to simplify their lives and improve their well-being. This trend is also reflected in the popularity of wearables: 28 percent more wearables were purchased in 2019 than in the previous year. At the same time, sales of wearables grew by more than 40 percent, driven primarily by smartwatches and sports watches. As consumers become increasingly concerned about their health, functions such as measuring blood pressure and blood oxygen are gaining in importance.

Consumers also increasingly want to watch and listen to videos and music on the go. They can no longer imagine their smartphone without these functions. True wireless (in-ear) headphones are therefore particularly popular. In 2019, they recorded triple-digit growth. Almost every second headset purchased last year was a true wireless (in-ear) device. This share doubled compared to 2018. Last year, about 30 brands accounted for 80 percent of all devices sold worldwide.

The first broadcasts will focus on the topics of moving house, cell phone tariffs and dog tax. The content will also be presented in greater depth on the TeleZüri website and in the app. The TV station is working closely with experts from the independent online comparison service Comparis for the consumer magazine.

Oliver Steffen, Co-Chief Editor TV at CH Media, is looking forward to the new format: "We encounter increasingly complex products, subscriptions and services in our everyday lives. This is exactly where TeleZüri wants to help with Comparis' expert knowledge, so that viewers of "Money" can make the right decision." This is the second new format TeleZüri has launched this year. The regional channels TeleZüri, Tele M1, TeleBärn, tvo and Tele 1 already launched "+ 41 - Das Schweizer Reportagemagazin" at the beginning of February.

Comparis Newsroom Manager Elisabeth Rizzi is also convinced that the "Money" program will have an important function: "We see that there is a great need for independent information to enable consumers to make the best purchasing decisions. We are therefore delighted that TeleZüri has decided to launch such a format and work together with the Comparis experts."

The program will be presented and hosted by Cornelia Suter. The 36-year-old TV journalist has many years of experience in the news-to-use sector and currently works for the TeleZüri health magazine "CheckUp". The new consumer magazine "Money - compare and save in everyday life" will be broadcast on TeleZüri every Friday at 18:20 from Friday, March 6.

Lüthi has been part of the Now team as assistant to the management since October 2017. Previously active in various areas of the agency, he had already established the Public Relations service when he joined the agency.

Now moved to its new home at St. Alban-Vorstadt 19 in Basel in January 2020 and has taken the first important step towards the successful further development of the agency, which was founded in 1989.

2020 SMEs are, think and act online, entrepreneurial and fast. Challenges will be tackled in exactly the same way. Accordingly, The House's new campaign features explosive subjects and eliminates SME problems with a visual bang that creates new opportunities.

In the campaign, several CGI-generated catchphrase objects stand for financial challenges in an eye-catching way. In different materialities, as known in the SME world from handicraft businesses to tech companies. With the visually strong subjects in a total of 18 CGI videos and 18 static CGI images, the most reduced and compact form was found to bring the USP of Cembra's new loan to the point and also to deliver on the performance promise with the campaign - "Online. Simple. Fast." across all formats up to the mobile rectangle.

Special attention was paid to the expandability of the communication. With the different possibilities of the materialities and new keyword objects, further topics can be specifically addressed in the future, also tailored to SMEs in certain sectors.

The new online loan from Cembra Business performs just as quickly and directly as the campaign subjects. Thanks to a simplified digital process, the loan can be submitted around the clock within 15 minutes and the customer receives the disbursement of 5,000 to 250,000 Swiss francs from approval within 48 hours. In contrast, financial service providers usually operate according to the old pattern when it comes to SME loans.

"The development and implementation of this unique process was associated with high technical challenges. Today we can guarantee that our customers receive an acceptance or rejection within 24 hours after one click and have their money in their account within 48 hours after a decision. This is the most important unique selling point of Cembra Business. The House has developed a strategy and campaign for this" comments Régis Lehmann, Head of Cembra Business.
The campaign launched on Feb. 17, 2020, with a focus on various online formats and is accompanied by branded content, eBoards and ePanels at gas stations, billboards around industrial and commercial zones and radio spots on regional radio stations.

After the federal government issued a ban on Friday, 28.02.2020 for large events with more than 1000 visitors, and also for smaller events partly strict conditions apply, many events had to be canceled. The regulation hits small event organizers particularly hard. This is because non-profit associations and artists usually have few resources for their cultural activities and also no reserves for unplanned cancellations. Since it is not clear how long the conditions will apply, there is currently also a lack of planning certainty.

With the fundraiser "Every ticket counts" Eventfrog wants to help these organizers quickly and easily. On Eventfrog.ch, affected event organizers can create their own virtual donation events. They can share these via social media or their website in the same way as a real ticket pre-sale and thus easily use them for their fundraising appeals. Instead of tickets for a real event, they can offer virtual donation tickets, so to speak. Eventfrog takes care of the collection and spreads the word about the campaign via their own channels. With this fundraising campaign, event organizers have the chance to tell a broad public about their individual situation. And vice versa, fans, culture enthusiasts and consumers can make a targeted, valuable contribution to the event that is particularly close to their hearts. The "Every Ticket Counts" campaign begins on March 6 and runs until May 31, 2020.

The Olten-based start-up Eventfrog was founded with the idea of offering small and medium-sized event organizers a free ticketing solution. This has developed into an event platform that goes far beyond that and accompanies event organizers throughout the entire process of staging events and marketing them.