The digital consultancy Elaboratum, founded in 2010, will in future be managed under the umbrella of the Eidra Group, a consultancy network with Swedish roots and over 1,100 employees in Europe and the USA. Elaboratum is taking this step in response to strategic considerations regarding the further development of customer centricity, digital excellence and technological innovation, as detailed in a press release. The merger is the result of a two-year strategy process in which, according to Elaboratum, Eidra's experience with AI-driven business models and a complementary strategic focus were the decisive factors.

The operational structure will be retained and Elaboratum will take on a central role within the group in expanding the DACH market. The consultancy will continue to focus on digital value creation - from strategy and technology to cultural anchoring. The aim is to pool the resources and expertise of both organizations and accelerate the implementation of digital transformation.

Prof. Dr. Klaus Gutknecht, founder and partner at Elaboratum, emphasizes: "With Eidra, we have found the ideal platform to scale our consulting and services internationally." The integration into the Eidra Group should open up new perspectives for customer relationships and project development in Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

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.

Elaboratum Suisse is expanding its management team with Valentin Wullschleger, who is now working as a Director at the Zurich office. Together with Marco Schulz and Karim Weber, he forms a strong management unit that will secure the company's growth strategy and innovative strength in the long term.

Valentin Wullschleger brings extensive experience from his work as Head of Consulting at iundf Marketing Technology AG and from leading roles at Persistent Systems and the Coop Cooperative. His expertise includes the introduction of customer data platforms, marketing automation and personalization technologies. He has designed efficient business processes and developed value-adding customer journeys in the telecommunications, banking, insurance, retail and FMCG sectors. The technologies he has used include Salesforce, BSI, Emarsys and Hubspot.

Marco Schulz, Managing Partner at elaboratum, explains: "With Valentin Wullschleger, we are gaining an experienced expert who will have a lasting impact on our consulting services with his deep understanding of technology and data-driven marketing. His ability to design innovative marketing processes and achieve measurable results for our clients fits perfectly with our approach to customer-centric digital strategies."

With the appointment of Wullschleger, elaboratum suisse is sending a clear signal for the further development of its consulting services. The focus is on technological excellence and measurable results to ensure the success of clients in an increasingly demanding market environment.

In his career to date, Karim Weber has worked in various industries such as telecommunications, insurance, e-commerce, fashion and luxury. Most recently, he was Partner and Experience Director at Addvanto, where he helped shape the strategic direction as a member of the Board of Directors. Prior to that, he headed the "Future Marketing Lab" at Swisscom.

With the appointment of Weber, Elaboratum Suisse is focusing on expanding its consulting services. Meanwhile, as the new Managing Partner of the Elaboratum Group, Marco Schulz will drive forward the strategic development of the entire group while continuing to be responsible for the management of Elaboratum Suisse.

To provide companies with guidance on barrier-free user experience, the management consultancy Elaboratum has now published a new white paper on the topic of digital inclusion. In Germany, almost eight million people are affected by long-term or temporary impairments that make it difficult to access digital interfaces smoothly. In Switzerland, the figure is around 1.8 million, i.e. around 20 percent of all inhabitants. These people have limited or no access to services and products on the web.

An accessible website reduces discrimination and enables companies to promote digital participation. They also benefit from this themselves, as search engines prefer websites that are easily accessible, have a high level of usability and use plain language. In addition to presenting the dimensions of accessibility and the legal requirements, the Elaboratum team of experts provides specific tips for website optimization in the white paper.

Six criteria for the self-check

Some aspects of accessibility can be checked by companies themselves, for example:

Keyboard operability: A website should be able to offer identical content when requested via a keyboard.

Visual clarity: Weak contrasts between text and background are barriers for people with visual impairments, who may miss out on important information.

Enlargement function: Page zoom should be possible without any problems so that users can access all content without restrictions.

Text Spacing: To improve the readability of website content, the spacing between letters and words in texts should be checked.

Font: Frequently used fonts, with which users are presumably familiar, are perceived as easy to read.

Alt attributes and multimedia accessibility: These elements enable so-called assistive technologies to make the website more accessible for people with visual or hearing impairments. They should be taken into account in the website design.

In the white paper, Elaboratum gives advice on what companies can do themselves to identify and optimize these six important aspects of accessibility. Here you can download the white paper free of charge.