In this context, Zendesk Ventures announces new investments in PolyAI, a company developing advanced voice assistants, and unitQ, an AI-powered customer feedback platform. The fund helps emerging companies develop their potential by providing venture capital, CX and AI expertise, and strategic partnership options for growth and innovation.   

"Every organization is on the path to becoming AI-enabled. We're excited to partner with companies that are driving this new era," says Ben Barclay, SVP Strategy, Corporate Development & Transformation at Zendesk. "Our goal goes far beyond our own product development: we support a start-up ecosystem whose visions align with ours. Customer service and the internal helpdesk for employees are changing rapidly due to advances in AI. Investing in these companies means not only supporting their growth, but also investing in our customers' ability to provide exceptional interactions." 

Zendesk Ventures' portfolio already includes the conversational intelligence platform Observe.AI and Zuper, a provider of field service management software. The two announced new additions to the portfolio focus on AI-based CX and operational efficiency: 

• PolyAI, a voice channel-focused solution, enables Zendesk customers to make complex interactions for order tracking and delivery updates as natural as a human conversation. Customers from various industries have been able to increase their sales and reduce call volumes and the time required for human agents to process requests.
• unitQ, an AI-based customer feedback platform, enables companies to capture and analyze customer interactions and feedback from over 60 different sources in real time to efficiently identify the root causes of user issues while improving Net Promoter Score.  

"The market is demanding better, more personalized customer experiences. This investment in the combined future of Zendesk and PolyAI, along with our overlap in the call center space, creates a powerful symbiosis," said Michael Chen, VP of Alliances at PolyAI. "Zendesk Ventures strengthens our existing partnership and enables us to accelerate the development of product innovation and improve customer engagement by leveraging our AI technology for voice channels to continue to deliver authentic and high-quality voice interactions. Together, we look forward to paving the way for the next generation of CX." 

"The partnership with Zendesk means that we are joining forces with a leading company, which opens the doors to top-class talent and industry networks," says Christian Wiklund, co-founder and CEO of unitQ. "Through this merger, we have gained a wealth of knowledge that will benefit our entire portfolio. We have received more than just funding - we are now part of a community and receive individual mentoring to drive the growth of our company." 

Source: www.zendesk.de

The speakers come from the fields of science, research, defense, administration, business and media. After this year's success with over 2,300 visitors, packed lecture halls and over 90 exhibitors, the next round is already underway.

The new motto says it all: Eye of the Cyber - create tomorrow

With the motto "Eye of the Cyber - create tomorrow", SCSD 2025 is focusing intensively on the urgency of actively and courageously shaping the digital future. That's why SCSD 2025 will take an in-depth look at the challenges posed by cyberspace and the potential of new technologies. The program will highlight the latest findings from the fields of technology, research and geopolitics in cyberspace.

Scientific advisory board guarantees the highest quality

The newly established SCSD Scientific Advisory Board consists of renowned domain experts and works as an interdisciplinary think tank. All members of the advisory board have a proven international reputation and an extensive network.

The scientific advisory board consists of:

• Prof. Dr. Touradj Ebrahmimi: Director Multimedia Signal Processing Group, EPFL
• Dr. Marc Stoecklin: Head of Security Research, IBM Europe
• Elisa Torres: Founder & CEO Girls in Quantum
• Dr. Jean-Marc Rickli: Head of Global and Emerging Risks, GCSP
• Martin von Muralt: Delegate of the Swiss Security Association, SVS
• Damir Bogdan - CEO "QuantumBasel"
• David Marti - Head of Artificial Intelligence Program "Pour Demain"

"In February 2025, Bern will once again become Switzerland's cyber metropolis. National and international luminaries will shed light on the opportunities and challenges in cyberspace as well as new technologies and their impact on society," says Doris Fiala, President of the SCSD and former FDP National Councillor.

Source: www.scsd.ch

The procedure is divided into three steps:

Step 1: Analyzing the database

To ensure that the first step is not the most difficult, simus systems starts by analyzing a sample of the existing data in a preliminary project. This can be in databases, ERP and PDM systems. The data is sorted and enriched by the powerful simus classmate software according to predefined rules and stored in a results database. The initial results are used to determine the objectives and costs of master data management.

Step 2: Rule-based optimization loops

In the second step, the entire database is systematically condensed, enriched and structured using integrated, customizable sets of rules. Simus classmate compares company data with standard classes of standard and purchased parts and, if required, suggests classes for the company-specific product range. The rule-based assignment of the data records produces correct results very quickly.

These results are further refined in workshops with the specialist departments concerned. Using the classmate Finder search engine, those involved in the project can filter and view the data to identify any errors, duplicates or inaccuracies. The basic rules are then adapted to the individual customer until an optimization loop delivers all the desired results.

Thanks to automation, large quantities of material masters are quickly and easily transformed in line with ERP and imported via interfaces. With this methodology and the best-practice rules, users and service providers save up to 80 percent of the usual effort.

Step 3: Ensure sustainable data quality

In the third step, the data quality achieved is secured. Authorized employees can find all desired data quickly and reliably with the classmate Finder. This reduces the search effort and protects against duplicates. It also sets up a binding material master creation process. Flexibly definable workflows automate the rule-compliant creation of material masters across departmental boundaries. Efficiency gains result from a high reuse rate of components, the standardization of purchased parts and lower administration and warehousing costs.

Source: www.symus-systems.com

Even if digitalization, let alone the introduction of AI in modern manufacturing, is still progressing comparatively slowly, practical examples at the Future Manufacturing Event by Operations1 show how industrial companies can benefit from advanced technologies and intelligent manufacturing strategies today. In the following, I would therefore like to summarize some of the most important findings and derive how digitalization in manufacturing can be further advanced in the future.

How far along is digitalization in manufacturing?

Just a few years ago, Industry 4.0 was the big buzzword. According to a study report by BitKom in 2022, 90 % of the companies surveyed wanted to use Industry 4.0 applications in the future or were planning to do so. However, a recent survey by Staufen on digitalization in 2024 shows that the majority of willing companies are unable to implement these plans due to a lack of human resources (58 %) and unstructured data (53 %). In principle, the prerequisites are in place, as the market now offers many different solutions that provide digital support for a wide range of business areas - even without a great deal of human resources.

Driving the digitalization of store floor processes with innovative solutions 

ProMinent GmbH is a good example of why traditional workflows urgently need to be translated into digital processes, especially when internal personnel resources are limited. Previously, the manufacturer of dosing technology and dosing pumps worked with analog error cards. Christian Braun from ProMinent describes the former process as very tedious. Employees first had to look up error codes on A4 lists before they could even fill in the cards. There was also an accompanying card that had to be attached to the corresponding product. However, not every employee always carried out this task at the same time; some even collected data throughout the week, only to enter it all at once by hand - and therefore often incorrectly. The error cards were then passed on to the next employee, who had to manually enter the results into Excel. Further Excel lists were added during the ongoing process. In other words, a lot of effort that cost employees a lot of time.

ProMinent therefore plans to introduce digital checklists, work instructions and error collection cards for quality management, which will enable everything to be bundled via a networked digital interface. There will only be one associated error card per error code, and the accompanying card will be replaced by a QR code that the worker simply has to stick on. All the data then comes together in our Connected Worker platform and, thanks to the SAP connection, an evaluation can also be digitally compiled directly.

When introducing digital processes, it is particularly important to get employees on board from the very first step and to demonstrate the future process in an understandable way. Even the initial skepticism of long-established workers quickly gave way to great enthusiasm after the convenient and time-saving scanning process was demonstrated to them.

Standardized processes and cloud solutions for more flexibility

The benefits of digitalization are particularly evident in quality inspection. At Quantum-Systems GmbH, a manufacturer of reconnaissance drones and other products, the move towards a digital future was unavoidable because order processing could no longer be handled with the usual level of quality due to increasing sales volumes and a rapidly growing workforce. In addition, production is subject to special requirements, as each installed part must be clearly traceable by serial number. An act that was previously recorded on paper and laboriously scanned. Digitization has created easy-to-follow work instructions that allow new employees to enter production with a significantly shorter training phase. Overall, digitization made the processes more transparent and traceable at all times, which enabled Quantum-Systems to qualify for the EN9100 certification, which is important in the aerospace sector. Because all instructions are stored digitally in the cloud, adjustments can also be made quickly and across the board. This allows the company to react flexibly to customer requests and changes at any time.

Artificial intelligence as a competitive advantage

In addition to traditional digitalization, intelligent manufacturing, i.e. the use of artificial intelligence, is also playing an increasingly important role. More and more companies are being asked by their management to implement improvements through AI in all departments. The ability of AI to make predictions and derive recommendations for action opens up new potential for manufacturing companies in many areas - from order processing to quality control. Nevertheless, traditional companies in particular are faced with the question of how to do this.

It doesn't always have to be a large-scale AI project. One example of how AI can be easily and, above all, usefully integrated into existing process chains is our AI Shopfloor Assistant, which integrates seamlessly into our Connected Worker platform and makes processes even more efficient and automated for companies.

Strengthened for the future of manufacturing

The use of AI on the store floor will solve numerous problems in the future and, thanks to technologies such as machine learning and computer vision, will lead to improved interactions between humans and machines. This increases safety in the workplace and allows employees to focus more on value-adding activities.

The manufacturing industry is at a turning point and those who don't take the plunge now will be left behind sooner or later. That's why Lena Weirauch, CEO & Co-Founder at ai-omatic solutions, recommends simply taking the plunge, because the barriers to entry for the use of generative AI have never been lower. Business decision-makers in manufacturing need to understand how critical the integration of advanced technologies such as AI, cloud solutions and digital transformation tools is for the future of the entire industry. These technologies are no longer distant visions, but concrete tools that are already creating competitive advantages and increasing industrial efficiency. It is noticeable that the fear of new technologies is gradually fading and giving way to a pragmatic and goal-oriented acceptance. This reflects a global trend that is gaining importance across industry boundaries.

About the author: Benjamin Brockmann has been CEO and co-founder of Operations1 since 2017. He studied at the Technical University of Munich from 2014 to 2016 and conducted research together with his co-founders at the Fraunhofer Institute, where he also received the content basis for the foundation through his master's thesis on worker information systems. He gained further experience at KPMG in IT & Finance Consulting and at Arthur D. Little in Strategy, Innovation & Technology. In his spare time, he enjoys using his international private pilot's license to see the world from above and playing tennis. More at www.operations1.com.

Using key industry data and based on a recent survey of over 700 engineers worldwide, Protolabs' annual 3D Printing Trend Report reveals a recognizably positive sentiment within the market, boosted in particular by small- and large-format 3D printing applications, and a growing potential for additive manufacturing at production level as the technology's applications increasingly move beyond prototyping.

Additive manufacturing: Potential for production

The results of the Protolabs study clearly show, among other things, that the central fields of application of additive manufacturing are increasingly evolving from prototyping to a variety of manufacturing applications. The annual report also shows that a steady production volume is being served by 3D printing: The number of respondents who stated that they had printed more than 10 parts in the comparative period rose from 36% in 2020 to 49% in 2021 and reached a new high of 76% in the current 2023 survey.

The attitude of design and engineering teams towards the interaction between additive processes and production is also changing: the factor "production volume and scalability" was cited by 45% of respondents as the main reason for preferring other manufacturing methods to 3D printing - a slight decrease from 47% in the previous year.

Innovative materials on the rise

Furthermore, the report shows that a comprehensive range of available materials and associated printing technologies will play a crucial role in shaping future use cases. For example, almost a third of respondents said that multi-material printing will have the biggest impact on 3D printing, followed by hybrid manufacturing, which combines additive manufacturing with traditional manufacturing and fabrication processes.

Industry experts also emphasize the importance of the materials available for 3D printing. For example, future market launches of highly specialized materials developed for 3D printing applications will offer even more room for innovation. Adam Hecht from 3DP design studio DIVE explained: "Many companies are currently developing material blends that are explicitly and exclusively adapted to additive manufacturing. The main focus here is on adapting the materials to the different fields of application - be it conventional thermoplastics that have been newly developed for 3D printing or resins that are not only suitable for prototyping, but also for very special applications with high temperatures and high elasticity."

AI as a driving force

The excitement around artificial intelligence can be felt in almost every industry and 3D printing is no exception. The Protolabs survey shows that although the great expectation of a complete revolution within the industry through AI has not yet been fully realized, intelligent 3D printers are getting smarter, which has a significant impact on the user experience. Almost a third of respondents cited automatic print optimization as the most important influencing factor of AI, followed by non-planar FDM printing through improved slicer software (25 percent). In addition, respondents believe that design for additive manufacturing will also benefit from AI innovations, for example in terms of topology optimization, multiphysics process simulation and AI-generated CAD.

As a partner for additive manufacturing, Protolabs works with customers all over the world. The company uses plastic and metal 3D printing technologies to meet customer requirements for prototypes and production parts. In 2023, Protolabs' 3D printing service generated over 77.5 million euros in revenue through its own manufacturing subsidiaries with a focus on rapid production and through manufacturing partners from the Protolabs Network.

Source: www.protolabs.com

The Board of Directors of AXA Switzerland has appointed Monika Wieneke as the new Head of "Risk, Actuarial & Security" and member of the Executive Board as of September 1.

The 43-year-old has been Chief Risk Officer and Head of Value Risk Management at AXA Germany since 2020, where she has made a name for herself with the development of differentiated risk strategies, an integrated risk culture and the holistic assessment of climate risks. Prior to this, the German national worked for 15 years at a large consultancy firm. Wieneke specialized there in risk management for insurance companies, gaining in-depth experience with Solvency II and IFRS 17, among other things.

A graduate mathematician, she trained as an actuary and has been a full member of the German Actuarial Association (Deutsche Aktuarsvereinigung e.V.) ever since.

"After a number of talented colleagues from AXA Switzerland have moved to positions of responsibility in other AXA units in recent years, I am delighted that we will be able to benefit from the Group's talent pool for once. As an integrative personality with many years of international experience, great expertise in risk management and a strong strategic mindset, Monika is ideally suited for this key position with us. I wish her a good start with us and every success and fulfillment in her new role," explains Fabrizio Petrillo, CEO of AXA Switzerland.

The appointment of Monika Wieneke is subject to the necessary regulatory approvals.

Source: www.axa.ch

As the largest all-lines insurer in Switzerland, AXA has comprehensive data on where, when and to what extent damage has been caused by storms in recent years. The statistics for the last 25 years show that 2021 was an absolutely exceptional year in terms of both the number of claims and costs. However, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2022 and 2023 also saw very high levels of damage, while 2014 to 2020 were rather quiet years (Figure 1). The picture is similar for claims costs (Figure 2), with AXA's average claims being exceptionally high in 2005 and 2017. This is due to the Alpine floods in 2005, which caused widespread flooding, and to several major claims in 2017 as a result of heavy regional rainfall.

More intense storms, more prevention

"We have noticed an increase over the last three years. However, this is too short a period to speak of a trend. Storm damage is very volatile," says Stefan Müller, Head of Property Damage Insurance at AXA. "However, our experience shows that storms now occur at shorter notice than in the past and their intensity has increased significantly: extremely strong gusts of wind, more heavy rain, more frequent large hailstones - and all of this is sometimes localized and small-scale." This has created new dangers. For example, heavy rain in densely populated areas can turn streets into dangerous rivers and literally flood underground car parks. This is only partially reflected in the statistics, as the federal government, cantons and municipalities have also invested more in protective measures. Flood relief tunnels, retention basins, raised dams and the national flood hazard map are paying off.

Hail damage as a key driver

Not all regions in the country are exposed to the same risk. AXA's claims statistics show a clear picture of where which type of damage occurred most frequently. Hail damage to cars accounts for the largest proportion of storm damage, both in terms of the number of cases and the costs incurred. In the last twenty years, the cantons of Jura, Ticino and Neuchâtel, but also Nidwalden, Obwalden, Lucerne, Schwyz and Bern have been particularly affected. "Major hailstorms in particular, which damage a large number of cars in a short space of time, can be a major driver of the claims balance," says Patrick Villiger, Head of Motor Vehicle Claims at AXA. In contrast, there was hardly any hail damage in the cantons of Schaffhausen, Geneva, Graubünden, Glarus and Thurgau.

Frequent flooding in the canton of Schwyz

Over the last ten years, the canton of Schwyz has suffered the most flood damage per insured household, followed by the cantons of Solothurn, Thurgau and Lucerne. It should be noted, however, that individual events were very significant in each case. The cantons of Vaud, Graubünden, Basel-Land and Uri have been spared flooding for the most part in the last ten years.

Ticino has the most lightning

One canton clearly leads the statistics for damage caused by lightning: In the last ten years, the risk of damage caused by lightning was seven times greater in Ticino than in the rest of Switzerland. AXA counts several hundred household contents claims in this canton every year. Compared to Basel-Land, Vaud and Geneva, the risk was even 25 times higher. The reason is understandable: When warm, humid Mediterranean air is pressed against the Alpine chain, thunderclouds form with strong updrafts and downdrafts and high electrical voltage. This discharges in lightning.

Insurance for storms

Depending on the damaged property, different insurance policies come into play. Storm damage to furniture and furnishings is covered at replacement value by household contents insurance. Damage to vehicles is covered by partially comprehensive insurance. And building damage is covered by buildings insurance, which in most regions is provided by the canton.

Source: www.axa.ch

Managers recognize the strategic value of ESG data, but its effective use to increase business success requires further development. This is shown by a recent survey of Swiss companies conducted by the ZHAW School of Management and Law.

In April and May 2024, the fifth "Swiss Managers Survey" surveyed Swiss companies on the topic of ESG (environmental, social and governance). The representative survey was conducted by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden (FH Graubünden), the Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana (SUPSI) and the Haute École Arc (HE-Arc). With over 400 participating managers from all parts of the country, the survey provides a comprehensive picture of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) climate in Swiss companies. 

Legal implications for ESG reporting

The recent introduction of Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directives (CSRD) in the European Union and the regulation on mandatory climate reporting in Switzerland has raised the priority of ESG for many managers. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of companies do not appear to be prepared for the new ESG reporting. Only just over 40 percent of Swiss companies will publish an ESG report in 2024. "It is particularly alarming that 10 percent of the companies that are now legally obliged to report will not publish a report this year," says Siyana Gurova from the Center for Global Competitiveness at the ZHAW School of Management and Law. 

While the general willingness to publish ESG reports is high, in practice there are challenges such as technical problems and a lack of specialized employees. While almost half of multinational companies have a dedicated ESG officer in their top management, the figure is less than 30 percent for small and medium-sized companies. It is not only the size of the company that has a significant influence on the willingness to comply with ESG standards and their reporting, but also the language regions. The French-speaking regions in particular are lagging behind.

Increasing awareness among companies 

Despite only a slight increase in the number of companies planning to report on ESG issues in 2024 - around three percentage points more than in 2023 - the survey shows that the importance of ESG activities has increased significantly over the last three years, particularly in relation to environmental issues. This increase shows a growing awareness that often triggers substantial organizational change. In contrast, the social dimensions of ESG, such as (gender) income equality, occupational safety and labor practices at suppliers, have gained the least importance.

Different perceptions in the language regions 

The perception of the financial impact of ESG activities on companies varies significantly between the language regions. Managers in Italian-speaking Switzerland perceive low or even negative returns from ESG investments, while their peers in French- and German-speaking regions report more optimistic results. While top management is an important proponent of ESG initiatives, external factors such as regulatory requirements and consumer expectations play an even greater role. As a result, ESG data is predominantly used in product development and marketing, while HR departments are the least affected by ESG strategies.

Challenges and future directions

This year's survey shows that Swiss companies are making remarkable progress in their ESG efforts. However, they still face significant obstacles. "There is widespread awareness among top executives about the strategic value of ESG data. However, using this information effectively to drive business success remains an area that requires further cultivation," the study authors concluded. 

Source: www.zhaw.ch

The FMH quality organization recognizes innovative and tried-and-tested quality work that advances healthcare in Switzerland.

56 quality projects from all over Switzerland applied for the fourth edition of Innovation Qualité. This overwhelming response shows how many professionals are highly successful in their commitment to the development of the Swiss healthcare system. The quality prize is endowed with CHF 15,000 each in the categories "Digital Innovation" and "Patient Safety", and CHF 10,000 is awarded for the "Special Jury Prize". Projects that were shortlisted by the jury will also be published on the award website. The Swiss Academy for Quality in Medicine (SAQM) and the FMH would like to congratulate the winning teams.

Suicide prevention with the SERO app - First place in the "Digital Innovation" category

In Switzerland, around 1000 people commit suicide every year. Luzerner Psychiatrie AG has developed a suicide prevention app together with Health Promotion Switzerland as part of the SERO (Suizidprävention Einheitlich Regional Organisiert) project. Cooperation with suicidal patients, their relatives and specialists was central to this. The app can support those affected and their caregivers before, during and after suicidal crises: It strengthens them in their personal skills and promotes their self-management. It does this through a visual tool for self-assessment of suicidal tendencies, coping strategies, professional and personal emergency contacts and a safety plan that can be shared in real time with the personal network. This first suicide prevention app for German-speaking countries can significantly reduce the burden on the healthcare system. It is free of charge and also available in French, Italian and English.

Early detection thanks to Multiple Sclerosis Cockpit - First place in the "Patient Safety" category

The Multiple Sclerosis Cockpit (MS Cockpit) was launched at Inselspital Bern in 2018 to monitor the safety of treatment for the approximately 2,000 MS patients under its care. To this end, large volumes of data from various separate source systems are combined using a data warehouse. Relevant findings from the laboratory are processed on a daily basis in the MS cockpit in combination with epidemiological basic parameters and information on therapies, so that patients with safety-relevant events can be identified promptly and treated immediately. Effects can also be determined at cohort level.

The safety benefits of the MS cockpit were also evident in 2020, the year of COVID-19: A timely risk assessment could be carried out for the patients in the consultation and particularly vulnerable people could be contacted. This had a direct effect on the COVID progression of the cohort and led to positive feedback from those affected.

Quality through reflection - First place in the "Special Jury Prize" category

The Waid Internal Medicine Clinic at Zurich City Hospital has established two reflection forums to improve medical care. As part of the "Quality through reflection" project, senior doctors meet to reflect on their work: Patient situations are analyzed and the team culture and the relationship with the patient are discussed. In senior physician coaching, senior physicians meet regularly under the guidance of a coach and discuss their own topics in a confidential setting. Both reflection forums contribute to a constructive clinic culture and high-quality patient care.

In order to identify the potential for improvement in care, the Waid Internal Medicine Clinic relies on feedback from patients. Since the start of the "Quality through reflection" project, this feedback has increased. The senior medical staff also give the new reflection areas high marks, for example with regard to the quality of care and personal safety in challenging situations. The project is therefore having a positive impact on both doctors and patients.

Source: www.innovationqualité.ch

These findings confirm the results of the Michael Page Candidate Pulse Study. In this study, over two thirds of employees (69 %) stated that they are convinced that AI will have a positive impact on their career. At the same time, 80 percent of employees want to learn more about AI in order to increase their productivity and adapt to new tasks.

Major differences in expectations on the part of employers and employees

Almost three out of five respondents believed that AI will influence their long-term career plans - the highest figure in Europe. The younger the employees, the more important they considered AI to be in shaping their career plans. The interest in learning more about AI in order to work more effectively in the future spanned all ages.

The study also shows that it is important for the acceptance of AI at work if employers talk openly about the planned use of AI and the possible effects. It is essential to address employees' concerns about the ethical use of AI, such as dealing with data protection and copyright issues. As the use of AI varies depending on the industry and type of job, employers must be able to demonstrate individually how AI can be beneficial in certain areas of the company and what benefits can be expected for employees.

"Our studies and daily interactions with candidates show that they expect employers to talk about what AI-driven tools are available in the company. However, many employers are not proactively addressing their companies' AI integration strategies, which leads to an expectation gap," says Yannick Coulange, Managing Director of Page Group Switzerland.

Managing expectations in terms of flexibility and salary is crucial

Reduced flexibility combined with wage dissatisfaction is one of the main reasons why almost 60 percent of employees in Switzerland are actively looking for a new job. This is also one of the main reasons for the increase in temporary and fixed-term employment contracts, which account for ten percent of all advertised jobs according to the Michael Page Swiss Job Index from April 2024.

The Talent Trends Study shows that flexibility and work-life balance are the decisive factors when choosing an employer. 69 percent of Swiss employees work hybrid. That is 17 percent more than the European average. More than a third (37 %) now spend more time in the office than a year ago, mainly due to changes in company policy. This limited flexibility has led to tensions between employees and employers, who are trying to reconcile the operational with the wishes of employees.

"Amidst global challenges such as high inflation, uncertain economies and rapid technological advances, the world of work remains in a state of flux. Our Talent Trend Report 2024 highlights the need to bridge the gap between employee expectations and employer needs in order to overcome these challenges. It is important to prioritize open dialogue and collaborative problem solving. By fostering a culture of mutual understanding and adaptability, both companies and their employees can thrive in this rapidly changing landscape," says Nicholas Kirk, CEO of PageGroup.

Source: www.michaelpage.ch

ISS Switzerland's strong and forward-thinking commitment to sustainability has once again been recognized with a platinum medal from EcoVadis, a leading independent platform for sustainability ratings. ISS is proud to be among the top 1 percent of the most sustainable companies with a rating of 79/100. The assessment is based on seven management indicators and 21 criteria in the areas of environment, labor and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement.

Recognition for excellence in sustainability management

The highest award of platinum status is proof of ISS Switzerland's ongoing commitment to successfully integrating social issues, environmental management and sustainable procurement into its corporate activities. "This recognition is an excellent confirmation that we are progressive, proactive and effective in terms of sustainability management and that we are successful as a team," explains Marc Amstutz, Head Environment & Sustainability at ISS Switzerland. "With this year's overall result for our sustainability management, we have been recognized as the top 1 percent of companies assessed worldwide within a year - we are very pleased about this."

SBTi validation as an integral component

In addition to this success, the validation of the short-term emission reduction targets by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) underlines the leading role of ISS Switzerland in the area of sustainability and climate protection. The SBTi validation confirms ISS Switzerland's commitment to setting decarbonization targets in line with the latest scientific findings and the principles of the Paris Agreement.

Current sustainability measures and customer services

ISS Switzerland has set itself the climate target of net-zero CO₂ emissions by 2030 from its direct business activities (Scope 1 & 2); by 2040, this target also applies to all other indirect emissions (Scope 3) that are outside ISS's sphere of influence but have an impact on the value chain. ISS Switzerland has taken decisive steps in its efforts to achieve sustainability targets both within the company and for customers. By converting its vehicle fleet to electric drive and implementing standards for sustainable supply chains, the company is implementing further actions and programs to reduce CO2 emissions and promote circular economy, recycling and reuse. The internal Green Office program also supports ISS Switzerland's efforts in the area of sustainability.

Customers can choose from a wide range of climate-friendly and ecologically sustainable services for decarbonizing buildings, reducing resource consumption thanks to circular services and sustainable building management. ISS Switzerland also actively promotes biodiversity through the near-natural maintenance of green spaces. These initiatives illustrate ISS Switzerland's ongoing commitment to acting in accordance with principles of environmental and social responsibility.

Future outlook and continuous improvement

With the aim of consolidating its position as a leading company in sustainable facility management, ISS Switzerland is committed to continuous improvement. ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications demonstrate the company's commitment to quality, environmental protection and occupational safety. ISS Switzerland plans to use innovative technologies such as IoT, predictive analytics and new climate balancing software to further optimize its operating processes, reduce resource consumption and continuously improve its sustainability performance.

Global reach for the environment and social responsibility

With a global presence in over 30 countries, ISS Group's sustainability management has a significant impact on the world. This global reach enables ISS to promote sustainable workplaces and minimize its environmental footprint for customers and society. ISS Switzerland implements the OneISS strategy in Switzerland, making a significant contribution to sustainable development.

Source: www.issworld.com

There is a broad consensus that artificial intelligence (AI) is a key technology for the next evolutionary stage of the global economy and society. One trend is emerging: in order to develop its full potential, AI must be implemented in a practical manner and accepted by large sections of the population.

This applies in particular to the field of generative AI, which has seen impressive development momentum in recent years. The ability to generate content such as text, images, videos or code makes this form of AI a powerful tool that offers direct, concrete applications in production, customer service, software development, marketing and many other areas.

The main flow of investment in this impressive technology has been concentrated in the USA since 2019. China and the EU as a whole follow far behind with just one-thirtieth of the investment volume each, according to Stanford University's AI Index 2024. While the global AI market is expected to grow to USD 1.8 trillion by 2030 according to forecasts by Statista and Grand View Research, the USA and China are currently investing significantly more in the AI sector than Germany, for example. This gives them a clear advantage in the development of market-ready AI solutions. 

The speed at which AI innovations are advancing and the scale of investment in this sector are proving increasingly challenging for regulatory attempts. While the United States and China offer a relatively lenient regulatory framework, Europe tends to have comparatively tough regulatory guardrails, as the EU AI Act illustrates.

Europe's role in the global AI landscape

The challenge for Europe is to develop its own AI strategy and to find and consolidate its own place in the AI world. Focusing on AI solutions and language models that are specialized, practical and highly contextual seems to be the most promising approach. Such solutions can gain the trust of users, which is essential for the acceptance and integration of AI into social and economic life.

Europe already has suitable tools at its disposal. These include the Horizon Europe program, which includes plans to invest around 95.5 billion euros in research and innovation for the period 2021 to 2027. Around 290 million euros of this is to be made available in 2024 to promote research focusing on data, robotics, artificial intelligence and the development of cloud edge servers.

In addition, the basic European idea of joint cooperation also offers opportunities: synergy effects can be achieved through the development of shared resources. Through targeted and joint investments and combined expertise, Europe can join forces, set standards and realize its vision of responsible and human-centric AI models and applications.

Europe is currently at a crossroads. But with targeted investment and a strong commitment to ethical standards and practical applicability by governments, language model providers and AI service providers, "AI made in Europe" can become synonymous with quality, trust and innovation.

About the author: Benedikt Bonnmann is a member of the Executive Board of adesso SE and responsible for the Data & AI business.

Source: www.adesso.ch