Transformed

How to be competitive in an era of rapidly changing technologies.

• Marty Cagan
• Publisher: Wiley-VCH
• Publication year: 2024
• Pages: 315
• ISBN: 9783527511914

How do successful companies manage to continuously deliver added value to their customers, work efficiently and keep up with the times? Many of them use the product operating model. In his book, Marty Cagan introduces all the important aspects of the topic and uses many case studies to show how it can be implemented in practice. He also explains in detail how you can transform your own company. An instructive and helpful book for product teams and managers who are wondering whether the product model is right for their company.

Men's alliance and women's bonus

Why stereotypes are harmful.

• Veronika Hucke
• Publisher: Brand eins
• Publication year: 2024
• Pages: 128
• ISBN: 9783989280274

Gender stereotypes are restrictive - for everyone: men, women and society as a whole. They influence how we think, work and live. But these stereotypes are neither natural nor irrevocable. This is proven by current studies as well as insights into our history. Veronika Hucke's book shows how deep these stereotypes go and what we can do to overcome them. What she writes is not new. But apparently it has still not reached everyone. That is why the book is another important voice for more personal freedom and genuine social progress.

Brand power

Orientation, meaning, trust. How creative people shape the future.

• Lucas von Gwinner, Dirk von Gehlen
• Publisher: Verlag Hermann Schmidt Mainz
• Publication year: 2024
• Pages: 208
• ISBN: 9783874399692

There are plenty of books about brands. This one is a little different. It is not a conventional marketing guide, but an almost philosophical brand reader. Less of a handbook and more of a plea for the power of the brand - as a source of meaning for the company's purpose, as a point of orientation for customers and as a change and transformation aid for CEOs and employees. Power Brand is both an invitation and a prophecy. The book is beautifully designed and - apart from a few redundancies - a pleasure to read.

The resilience revolution

A transformative approach to the resilience of leaders, teams and organizations.

• Chris Tamdjidi, Liane Stephan, Silke Rupprecht
• Publisher: Vahlen
• Publication year: 2024
• Pages: 255
• ISBN: 9783800673605

There is a lot of talk and even more writing about resilience. This book stands out from the flood of guidebooks due to its analytical approach. The trio of authors share their in-depth knowledge of the development of individual and collective resilience. The three explain what resilience is, what it is not and how individuals, teams and companies can become resilient in a way that is easy to understand. A big plus: it becomes clear again and again that resilience is teamwork. And that it requires lifelong training.

Anina Ritscher challenged the federal law on public access to correspondence between the administration and the shipping company. The journalist met with resistance from the Department of Finance - only after an arbitration hearing were the documents, heavily redacted, made accessible. The documents confirmed the original suspicion: MSC was able to exert direct influence on legislation together with the industry association.

After the research was published, the draft law, which the shipping industry had lobbied for without restraint, was discussed in parliament, where the planned tonnage tax was ultimately scuppered. "When an international corporation invites itself to the Federal Council and pre-formulates legal texts, it takes tenacious journalists to keep an eye on the powerful," says jury member Mattias Greuter.

Publicity law.ch is awarding the Prix Transparence for the seventh time. The prize is awarded to media professionals who apply a public access law in a targeted and effective manner. "With the federal and cantonal public access laws, media professionals uncover weaknesses, provide fact-based research and thus strengthen democratic discourse - this is more important than ever," says Martin Stoll, Managing Director of the association Öffentlichkeitsgesetz.ch.

Regional prize goes to Geneva

For the third time, the prize was also awarded for the best journalistic achievement implemented with cantonal publicity laws. This year, the Prix Transparence Regio goes to the former Le-Temps-journalist David Haeberli in Geneva.

His research uncovered how the board of the Geneva pension fund secretly increased the restructuring costs of the pension fund from CHF 4.4 billion to CHF 6 billion - behind the backs of the population and politicians. This is documented by the minutes of a board meeting, which David Haeberli obtained after a long legal battle that went all the way to the Federal Supreme Court.

Research on secret service and environmental policy honored

2nd place in the national Prix Transparence went to Leo Eiholzer from the NZZ on Sunday with his research on the interference with the work of the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS). Cornelia Eisenach and Priscilla Imboden of Republic for their research into the influence of the Federal Office for the Environment on a critical report.

Regio research on expenses and legacy assets

2nd place in the Prix Transparence Regio goes to Sven Altermatt and Lucien Fluri from the Solothurn newspaper about grievances in the Thal-Gäu social region. 3rd place in the Prix Transparence Regio goes to Camille Lanci from RTS and Marc Guéniat from Le Temps for their research on areas contaminated with persistent persistent organic compounds (PFAS).

New record for searches with the Freedom of Information Act

Overall has Publicity law.ch 179 contributions from 52 editorial offices from the press, radio and TV that were realized in 2024 with the help of a publicity law were evaluated - a new record. Ten of these were nominated for the Prix Transparence 2024 and five for the Prix Transparence Regio 2024. An expert jury selected the winners.

The association Öffentlichkeitsgesetz.ch is supported by media professionals in German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland. It is committed to good implementation of the principle of publicity and offers support for media professionals in the form of training, coaching, legal advice and helpful online resources.

Despite rising overnight stays, the Swiss tourism sector is facing major challenges. "The Swiss tourism sector is facing a comprehensive structural change," said STV President Nicolò Paganini in his speech at the latest "Rendez-vous Touristique". The industry is reliant on investment in order to adapt to climate change, drive forward digitalization and modernize infrastructure. The shortage of skilled workers, rising energy costs and the lack of affordable housing are also exacerbating the situation.

STV Director Philipp Niederberger emphasized the importance of key promotional instruments such as Switzerland Tourism, Innotour and the New Regional Policy (NRP). "These instruments make a significant contribution to improving the tourism offering in Switzerland, creating jobs and promoting innovation," he explained. Support for public transport, sports promotion and the reduced VAT rate for accommodation services are also crucial for the industry.

Regional development at risk

The cuts to the NRP in particular have met with resistance. Reto Bleisch, Head of the Office for Economy and Tourism of the Canton of Graubünden, emphasized the importance of these subsidies for tourism in peripheral regions: "Without the support of the NRP, many projects in Graubünden, such as the construction of tourism infrastructure or the creation of new offers, would not have been possible." The funding measures are an important lever for ensuring competitiveness and providing economic impetus - not only in the mountain regions, but also in cities and agglomerations.

Despite the proven effectiveness of the aforementioned subsidies, the planned cuts threaten to significantly impair the sustainable development of Swiss tourism. The STV therefore considers it crucial that Parliament recognizes the importance of these measures for the industry and secures funding in the long term.

Swiss retail banks are lagging behind when it comes to digitalization. The gap has continued to widen in recent years, as the latest Digital Banking Maturity Study by Deloitte shows. While Switzerland still made it into the top 5 in a global comparison in the first study in 2018, it was only in 27th place in 2024. Four years ago, Switzerland was only in 18th place, and last year it was in 21st place. This shows that Swiss retail banks are losing ground in the global digital ranking over the years, writes the consulting firm.

According to the study, Swiss banks have a digital maturity level of 39 points. This puts them below the global average of 41 points, as well as far behind the digital pioneers (60+ points), among which no Swiss bank ranks.

You can wait for a quick account opening in this country

Deloitte noted an improvement in digital account opening: all but one of the 12 Swiss banks surveyed now offer this service. Nevertheless, people in this country still often have to expect waiting times of hours or even days, whereas international digital banks offer account openings with AI-supported real-time checks within seconds. "Swiss banks have made small advances in digital account openings, but compared to foreign banks, the process is still comparatively complicated and slow," says Cyrill Kiefer, Banking Consulting Lead at Deloitte Switzerland.

Global standards that Swiss banks neglect

Abroad, the smartphone is also establishing itself as the primary access channel for banking transactions. In Switzerland, however, only a third of banks support this, according to Deloitte. The differences are even more drastic when it comes to intelligent voice functions: Only a few Swiss banks use AI-supported algorithms based on usage behavior, according to the statement. In addition, Swiss mobile banking apps often lack basic functions that promote interaction and customer loyalty - for example, customers of Swiss banks often have to manage their spending manually or switch to external apps.

Furthermore, digital pioneers in the ranking are two and a half times more likely to provide value-added services such as public transport tickets, streaming subscriptions and financial management tools, while Swiss banks rarely offer such services. Retail banks in Switzerland are also unable to keep pace with the automation of administrative tasks, according to the press release. This has long been standard in many global markets.

Regulations and a conservative strategy are slowing down the digitalization of Swiss banks. However, a clear mobile-first strategy is also often lacking: Swiss banking apps often remain merely e-banking extensions, while leading digital banks use apps as a central interface. The digitalization gap could have consequences, Deloitte states in the study. On the one hand, customer loyalty is at risk, while on the other, an important source of revenue for banks remains untapped. According to the study, Swiss banks are missing out on some growth potential compared to other countries. (Dylan Windhaber/rja)

In the Study has Deloitte analyzed 349 banks in 44 countries worldwide with regard to their digital maturity. The study included 12 Swiss retail banks, which together cover over 80 percent of the market. 

This article first appeared in Netzwoche.

The 100-page whitepaper describes the business models and value chains created by AI and addresses the often-discussed promise of efficiency. The authors make it clear that AI will neither lead to the abolition of service providers nor to creative uniformity. Topics such as the "twin transformation" - the parallel digital and sustainable transformation of companies - as well as legal and ethical issues are also covered.

"Our main target groups are managers and decision-makers in agencies and marketing departments who are facing the challenge of strategically integrating AI into their processes," says Nina Haller, GWA Executive Board member and co-author of the white paper. "Our aim is to provide all players in the communications industry with a compass for navigating through this transformative phase."

Discrepancy between claim and reality

The GWA member survey shows a clear discrepancy in the self-image of agencies: 79% consider themselves to be advanced in dealing with AI, but only 17% actually use complex applications. Haller sees this as a "dangerous overconfidence" and calls for more courage to change.

The transformation is being driven by four key forces: revolutionary efficiency gains, radically changing market needs, disruptive reorganization of value chains and democratizing decentralization, Haller continued. Those who actively shape the AI transformation now and position themselves as orchestrators of complex communication solutions can "develop a completely new value proposition".

The GWA AI White Paper 2025 has been available since Thursday download free of charge ready

Energy-efficient renovations are relevant for many homeowners, but are often put off - whether because of the costs or the complexity of implementation. BEKB's Myky mortgages offer support here: a digital planning tool and a renovation calculator help with the calculation, and customers also benefit from preferential interest rates.

To provide the decisive impetus for modernization, Republica is staging the campaign with a humorous approach. "In the last 20 to 40 years, the way we live and live has changed fundamentally. A contemporary and modern lifestyle is becoming increasingly important. Why doesn't this also apply to the old oil heating system in the basement that has been burning for decades and producing far too much CO2?" explains Republica CD Florian Birkner.

Campaign with a retro aesthetic

The subjects combine old stock photographs and vintage videos with modern environments staged in the Bern-based design furniture store Teo Jakob. This creates a contrast between past living styles and today's demands for sustainability. "The lively staging fits the BEKB brand and gets to the heart of the benefits of our product," says Regula Jauner, communications specialist at BEKB.

The campaign has been running since Monday on posters, DOOH screens, social media, at the POS and via mailings.

Responsible at BEKB: Regula Jauner (Lead Theme and Campaign Management); Nicola Peverelli (Theme Management). Responsible at Republica: Bala Trachsel (overall responsibility); Florian Birkner (Creative Direction); Pascal Herzog (Art Direction); Noah Bill (Graphic Design); Simon Leray (Text); Tamara Lüthi (Production Art); Nina Hofmann (Motion Design); Désirée Sattler (Content Creation); Jonas Grossenbacher (Senior Account Management); Stephanie Frei (Account Management); Ruben Ung (Photography Environments); Teo Jakob (Location Environments).

After the "Bernese Bear" was on the move in the capital in 2024, the Salt Home service is also being advertised on and in streetcars in the city of Basel this year. This time, a basilisk, the unmistakable Basel landmark, serves as a visual hook.

In the interior, the advantages of Salt Home are presented to passengers in greater depth by means of window stickers and streetcar hangers and supplemented with a special "Basler offer".

The branded streetcar will be in service in Basel until November.

Responsible at Salt: Fabrice Allegro (Chief Marketing Officer), Christoph Schwarz (Director Brand Management & Marketing Communication), Nadina Vollenweider (Marketing & Communication Specialist). Responsible at Zimmermann Communications: Dominik Mätzener (GF Consulting), Julia Hofmann (Art Direction), Sophie Güntensperger (Text), Christoff Strukamp (Creative Direction). Image composing and pre-press: Detail. Production: Remund. Media: APG.

After 23 years in the lead for the magazine Cooking the Editorship handed over to Meta Hiltebrand. An unexpected farewell for Annemarie Wildeisen and Florina Manz, as well as the View writes.

The two took these circumstances as an opportunity to create something new. "With our online magazine Enjoy We have created a medium that will revitalize contact with our long-standing readers," Annemarie Wildeisen is convinced. "We are delighted to present a modern magazine that is appealing in all aspects, with great recipes and lots of background knowledge." The independent magazine is also a wish come true for her, she says.

In future, Annemarie Wildeisen will focus on working on the new online magazine, developing recipes, leading cooking courses and looking forward to writing a new cookbook. Florina Manz is a food stylist, head of the cooking school, author of recipes and is responsible for the operational management of the company.

For the new online magazine, she and her mother are working with a tried-and-tested editorial team. "We already produced the old magazine in-house from A to Z - from content planning to editing and design. In the new online magazine, we will remain true to our style and level of content, even if we will be a little fresher and more agile - and we are really looking forward to that."

The online magazine Enjoy is now available on the Arte-cucina.ch website. The first issue is free of charge. Individual issues cost CHF 4.80 per issue, the annual subscription with twelve issues costs CHF 44.

The AdManager from RTL AdAlliance is aimed at advertisers who want to book TV and video advertising via a central platform. The solution offers access to inventories from broadcasters such as RTL and Warner Bros. Discovery in Germany, Viaplay in Finland and other European TV and streaming providers. Agencies and companies can address specific target groups and optimize campaigns based on data.

"Now more than ever, advertisers and agencies across Europe have a fundamental need for simplicity in media buying," says Oliver Vesper, CDO and Deputy CEO of RTL AdAlliance. "With the launch of AdManager, we are taking a big step towards making it as easy as possible to navigate our entire video universe across all European markets."

Automation and targeted targeting

The platform simplifies the buying process through seamless integration with the Smartx ad server from Smartclip, RTL Group's adtech division. Advertisers can book predefined media packages or customize campaigns - for seasonal occasions such as sporting events or holidays.

The integrated targeting product Smart Audiences uses viewing habits and demographic characteristics to identify target groups with a high affinity. With over 77 million active smart TVs, 40 million monthly BVOD users and more than 5,000 web offerings, AdManager is positioned as the central platform for European video advertising.

The AdManager was developed in collaboration with DanAds, a provider of self-service adtech solutions.

Zero-party data differs from first- or third-party data because it comes directly from customers. They actively provide information about their interests and purchasing intentions via surveys, quizzes or preference queries. The advantage: the data is voluntary, accurate and legally compliant. "Zero-party data enables companies to communicate directly, transparently and confidentially with their customers - without complex tracking or legal uncertainties," explains Sophie Schönenberger, Managing Consultant at Elaboratum and co-author of the white paper.

Advantages for both sides

Through the targeted use of zero-party data, companies can better tailor their offers to individual needs. This not only improves the customer experience, but also strengthens customer loyalty. "Zero-party data is the key to true personalization - provided directly by customers, used in compliance with data protection regulations and indispensable for a tailored customer experience," says co-author André Schulz, Senior Managing Consultant at Elaboratum.

In a white paper, Elaboratum demonstrates in a practical way how companies can systematically integrate zero-party data into their marketing strategy in order to:

- create personalized customer experiences through direct preference statements,
- Strengthen trust and loyalty through transparent data usage,
- act in compliance with data protection regulations - without cookies or third-party tracking, and
- marketing more efficiently by reducing wastage.

Practical strategies for data collection

In order to use zero-party data profitably, companies must provide targeted incentives for data sharing. The white paper provides insights into various methods such as interactive content, personalized product recommendations and incentivized surveys that motivate users to voluntarily share information.

Further information and a free download of the white paper can be found on the Website of Elaboratum.

On Monday, the Best of Swiss Web jury met and carefully reviewed a total of 328 category submissions. The 103-member jury nominated 85 web projects for the shortlist of the 25th edition. (List at the end of the article). These projects are among the best digital web projects of the year and are in the running for further awards at the Award Night.

Master of Swiss Web 2025

The projects competing for the title of «Master of Swiss Web 2025» will be announced next Monday. The reader vote for Master of Swiss Web begins on March 18. Anyone who registers by March 17 is eligible to participate. registered for the live ticker . Who ultimately takes home the trophy will be revealed at the awards night on April 3 at The Hall in Dübendorf.

On Thursday, all participants will receive an email with the login information for their ticket account for the awards ceremony. The organizers will provide two free tickets for each submitted project. Additional tickets for staff and guests can be purchased for 290 francs plus VAT. It is also possible to reserve entire tables for ten people each. Tickets are available at Bestofswissweb.swiss. (Tanja Mettauer)

The nominees at a glance

Jungfrau Railways transports several million passengers every year, including international guests, winter sports enthusiasts, commuters and locals. The BOB connects Interlaken Ost with Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen and is the main feeder line to the Jungfraujoch. The WAB runs from Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg, passing the route of the Lauberhorn race. The BLM takes passengers from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp by aerial cableway and on to Mürren by narrow-gauge railroad.

Livesystems will play the 220 screens with content tailored to the region. Marketing of the new advertising spaces will begin in the first quarter of 2025, giving advertisers access to a mobile and diverse target group in an internationally renowned area. Further routes are being planned.