Big Data and Integrated Reporting become more relevant

MK Mr. Schneider, at the Annual Reports Symposium 2017, you addressed the question "What's coming, what's staying, what's going? - What could reporting look like in the future?". Have you found the answer?RETO SCHNEIDER Logically, we did not find a universally valid answer either, as the trends are not clear-cut and in some cases even run counter to each other. Nevertheless, with top-class speakers and best practice sessions, we succeeded in providing participants with plenty of inspiration and an overview of the relevant trends for the future of reporting.MK What topics can we expect to see in the near future?SCHNEIDER Digitalization, and big data in particular, will play an important role in future developments. The correct interpretation of the new volumes of data and the handling of networks and communities will make the difference here. This opens up the opportunity to expand and automate reporting processes in a meaningful way, for example, and the topic of integrated reporting is becoming increasingly popular. After the Center for Corporate Reporting (CCR) has already accompanied Clariant as a sparring partner on the path to integrated reporting, the topic has now arrived on a broad front in Switzerland. Linking the business model and non-financial information to meaningful KPIs will continue to be a challenge that companies will have to face individually in the future.MK What will reporting look like in the near future?SCHNEIDER More digital, more integrated and more transparent? In summary, we are observing three trends: integrated reporting, the digital reporting approach and the deliberate reduction to a regulatory minimum. Three different ways of addressing stakeholders and conveying the desired information. In the future, the exchange with stakeholders will become even more important. This inevitably raises the question: "Which channels can I use to reach my stakeholders and what do they expect?"MK The GBS had some changes this year compared to previous years. Is this the result of your stakeholder dialog?SCHNEIDER Since the first GBS, we have constantly evaluated how we can sustainably improve the symposium and further increase the added value for participants and partners. This year we have implemented some changes based on input from our participants. For example, we have slightly reduced the length of the program and enabled more networking through longer breaks, and with the best practice session "Reporting around the world - welcome to our global marketplace" we have developed a new format that has more of a workshop character and thus enables more interactive involvement of the participants. Thanks to the continuous development of the GBS, we have succeeded in further strengthening the direct transfer of knowledge this year.MK The Center for Corporate Reporting was founded at the Annual Report Symposium platform. Is the CCR a logical development of the GBS?SCHNEIDER With the Center for Corporate Reporting, we have created a competence center that can indeed also be seen as a logical development of the GBS. The symposium deals with the larger issues and trends. The aim of the CCR is to classify these trends and make them usable for our company members in practice. With the CCR, we create practical added value for our members and their day-to-day work through targeted knowledge transfer.MK How do you organize this knowledge transfer?SCHNEIDER Our first point of contact is our office with our reporting specialists in Zurich. Our company members can call here at any time if they have any questions. Depending on the scope, we can help directly or coordinate further action with our network of experts, ranging from workshops, studies and checklists to links with peers and experts. Through our events, the newsletter, the "Reporting Times" and the knowledge updates, we generate a constant transfer of knowledge on the topic of reporting throughout the year.MK Is there already a title for the next symposium in 2018?SCHNEIDER Yes, we already have a working title. We will base the organization and theme of the upcoming GBS on this. However, I can't reveal it yet. What I can say, however, is that the next Annual Report Symposium will take place in Zurich on June 14, 2018.