As the leading trade fair for quality assurance the Control held annually in the industrial region of Stuttgart. It brings together industry experts and innovators to examine the latest developments in industrial metrology, materials testing and analysis equipment.

Electron microscopy as an analysis tool

At the Thermo Fisher stand, experts from the company will be presenting live demonstrations of the Axia ChemiSEMwhich show how the use of electron microscopy as an analytical tool can transform the quality assurance process. The Axia ChemiSEM integrates EDS directly into the imaging process, enabling real-time acquisition of chemical data without additional analysis steps. This integration is particularly useful for routine quality control, failure analysis and process monitoring where fast and reliable data is essential.

Owning your own Axia ChemiSEM offers further advantages. The user-oriented design of the microscope makes it easy to use, so no extensive training is required. In this way, advanced imaging and elemental analysis can be made available to a larger number of users, making workflows more efficient and reducing operating costs. In addition, site-based SEM improves data security by ensuring complete control over sensitive information. This is particularly important for industries working with proprietary materials or on confidential research projects.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn about the newly introduced Apreo ChemiSEM to speak. The Apreo ChemiSEM, which combines EDS and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) to enable the identification of crystal orientations, is a state-of-the-art microscope whose powerful imaging greatly simplifies materials science research and analysis. With advanced software features such as smart frame integration, improved autofocus and an autostigmation function, the Apreo can simplify and speed up workflows. It also provides unprecedented insights for both first-time users and experts. 

Imaging and image interpretation

For high-resolution imaging and the characterization of 3D materials, the Scios 2 DualBeam exceptional sub-surface analytical performance and precise sample preparation, Thermo Fisher announced. This instrument is an ultra-high resolution focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM). Its versatility enables characterization across the entire spectrum of materials, including metals, composites, non-conductive samples and others. This makes it an important instrument in various industries where quality assurance is a top priority.

Finally, visitors can also enjoy the well-known Avizo™ software from Thermo Scientific™, which offers an AI-based image interpretation solution. From images to reports, Avizo software provides a comprehensive, multi-modality digital laboratory for advanced characterization and quality control of 2D/3D materials. The product is suitable for a wide range of applications in areas such as ceramics, metals, composites, additive manufacturing and many more. The Avizo software has been developed with data acquisition from Thermo Scientific systems and workflows in mind and therefore integrates seamlessly with Thermo Scientific SEM, DualBeam, TEM and correlative workflows.

Source and further information: Thermo Fisher Scientific

Quality managers, especially in production and assembly, are familiar with these situations in which spontaneous, flexible AR object inspection via tablet would be desirable. With Twyn 2.4, Visometry provides them with the solution. The latest feature added to the tool is assisted deviation detection: This automatically provides real-time visual feedback; it now shows the discrepancies between a real object and its CAD model even if no elaborate data configuration preceded it. Twyn 2.4 celebrates its premiere at the World's leading trade fair Controlat the Visometry stand 3419 in hall 3.

There, trade visitors can also marvel at the exclusive, road-legal Sigma WR lightweight racing car from the young company Sigma Motor. The core of this racing car is an ultra-stable tubular frame. To visually inspect its numerous welds, struts and mounting points quickly and reliably, Sigma Motor employees rely on the special AR technology from Visometry. It is another example of the many successful applications in the automotive world. Numerous other industries and sectors also benefit from Visometry's head start in AR quality inspection: these range from the railroad industry to agricultural machinery, heavy machinery and shipbuilding to aviation and welding technology.

The Darmstadt-based company Visometry was founded in December 2017 as a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research (IGD). As a young start-up, the 41-strong team combines an innovative spirit with many years of R&D experience and in-depth expertise in AR and image processing as well as their application in industry.

www.visometry.com

According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), almost 3 million people worldwide die at work every year - an increase of over 12 percent compared to 2000. Most of these deaths are due to occupational diseases.

Deaths in Switzerland significantly lower compared to the rest of the world

According to statistics, deaths from occupational diseases are also higher than deaths from accidents at work in Switzerland. Between 2019 and 2023, around 218 employees died each year as a result of their work, 153 of these deaths were due to occupational diseases. The proportion of these deaths due to occupational diseases (70%) is well below the global average. It is also worth noting that 90 percent of deaths from occupational diseases in Switzerland are attributable to asbestos.

The culture of prevention: a cornerstone of health and safety in the workplace

On the occasion of World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28, 2025, Suva reminds us that the vital rules and checklists are still part of the basics of accident prevention. At the same time, however, the integration of a strong, evolving prevention culture that is practiced by all stakeholders must be further promoted.
For Suva, this requires six dimensions: Communication, values & rules, leadership, learning, responsibility and operational organization.

In order to master the current challenges in the area of occupational safety, health protection and leisure safety, it is important to integrate this prevention approach into everyday working life. "A strong prevention culture can be recognized by the fact that safe and healthy working is a matter of course for the company and its employees," reminds Heinz Waldmann, occupational safety/health protection expert at Suva.

After all, a strong prevention culture not only helps to significantly reduce accidents and absences, but also helps to improve performance, efficiency, the quality of work and the image and reputation of the company. According to Suva, a culture of prevention is therefore an important investment in the company and its employees.

Further information: Suva

With a new, interactive design of the trade fair platform, which participants can now navigate even more intuitively, the virtual trade fair ConSense EXPO invites you to live presentations, workshops and active networking with other professionals. Industry experts, customer and partner companies share their knowledge in inspiring keynotes and best practices. The digital event is aimed at participants at every level. The event focuses on topics that are of great concern to companies across all industries: artificial intelligence, cyber security and compliance are not only technological but also strategic challenges.

Highlights from the conference program

This is precisely where the EXPO conference program comes in, with presentations by internal and external experts:

• "How to blow an entire IT security budget without attackers noticing," reveals psychologist and hacker Linus Neumann, responsible for red teaming, strategic consulting and incident response at Berlin-based Security Research Labs. Using real cases of damage, he explains how companies can effectively protect themselves against real attacks instead of investing a lot of time and money in security solutions with unclear benefits.
• In his keynote speech "ConSense Features, Versions and Visions", Alexander Künzer from the management of ConSense GmbH will provide exclusive insights into the new software version ConSense 2025.1, showing how AI-based functions provide targeted support where processes are complex and requirements are high.

Other program items revolve around acceptance strategies for IMS, competitive advantages through sustainable management and much more.

New dimension of networking

With the relaunch of the trade fair platform, the 10th ConSense EXPO opens up new ways of digital encounters: chat rooms, 1:1 conversations, spontaneous discussions and virtual meeting rooms promote targeted exchanges and new partnerships. The trade fair experience is complemented by an extensive media library that offers participants access to valuable knowledge for a week after the event.

Interested parties can register for the virtual trade fair register here free of charge.

Check Point Research (CPR), the threat intelligence division of Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd.a leading provider of cyber security solutions, has published its cyber attack statistics for the period Q1 2025.

Highest increase in Switzerland

In Germany, general cyber attacks increased significantly compared to the first quarter of 2024 (+55%). The increase was even greater in Austria (+69%) and Switzerland (+113%). Ransomware attacks are also on the rise, with a global increase of 126% compared to Q1 2024 and a total of 2,289 reported incidents. However, most ransomware attacks once again took place in North America, where 62% of all reported cases occurred, followed by Europe with 21%.

Figure 1: Table with selected figures (Kafka Kommunikation GmbH & Co. KG).

Heavily affected education sector

In terms of industries, the education sector was the most affected in the first quarter of 2025 with an average of 4,484 attacks per organization per week - an increase of 73% compared to the previous year. The government sector followed closely behind with 2,678 attacks per organization per week, an increase of 51%, while the telecommunications sector recorded the highest percentage increase with a rise of 94% to 2,664 attacks per organization per week.

Figure 2: Attacks by sector (Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.).

In the first quarter of 2025, the global average number of cyber attacks per company per week was 1,925, an increase of 47% compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Figure 3: Global average of weekly cyber attacks (Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.).

The data in the report comes from the ThreatCloud AIthe Big Data Intelligence Engine from Check Point. This is where big data telemetry and Indicators of Compromise (IoC) converge millions of times a day. The network is fed by 150,000 connected networks and millions of end devices. Check Point's security researchers also add data from their own research and from external expert sources. The ThreatCloud AI also updates the threat data of all connected Check Point products in real time on this basis. Over 50 AI engines generate weekly reports from the attacks intercepted by Check Point products and from corporate networks that Check Point protects, broken down by sector and country.

Best practice recommendations against cyber attacks

The increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber attacks underscores the need for comprehensive security strategies that must go beyond traditional defenses. The following recommendations are based on Check Point best practices:

• Advanced threat detection: Use technologies such as sandboxing and anti-ransomware tools to detect and block tricky attacks.
• Implementation of a zero-trust architecture: Enforce strict identity verification for every person and device that wants to access network resources.
• Regular data backups and incident response planning: Regularly back up critical data and create comprehensive incident response plans to manage attacks and minimize their impact immediately.
• Strengthening of safety precautions: Update your systems regularly to eliminate vulnerabilities. It's important to have multiple layers of security, including firewalls and endpoint protection.
• Training and sensitization of employees: Regular training can inform employees about the risks and phishing techniques and thus promote a culture of vigilance.
• Network segmentation: Isolate critical systems to contain the spread of attacks and protect sensitive data.
• Vulnerability management: Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration tests and prioritize remediation of potential impacts.

Following the successful completion of the this year's Swiss Cyber Security Days the organizers are already planning the next edition. In 2026, leading national and international speakers will once again shed light on the opportunities and challenges of cyberspace and new technologies such as artificial intelligence over two days on the Main and Tech Stages of the congress area. The speakers will come from the fields of science, research, administration, business and the media. In addition, a large number of exhibitors will once again be offering concrete solutions and products in the field of cyber security in the Bernexpo exhibition halls.

The motto of the SCSD 2026: Digital Sovereignty - The New Frontier

At a time when geopolitical developments are focusing on the importance of digital autonomy and sovereignty, the SCSD 2026 is sending out a strong signal with its motto "Digital Sovereignty - The New Frontier". The event will focus on jointly developing new solutions to shape our digital future in a self-determined way. The program will highlight current findings from technology, research, society and geopolitics in the digital context and create a platform for national and international exchange.

"In February 2026, Bern will once again become Switzerland's cyber metropolis under the motto 'Digital Sovereignty - The New Frontier'. National and international experts will not only discuss the opportunities and risks in cyberspace and present possible solutions, but also how digital sovereignty is a key concept for the future. The focus will be on pioneering technologies and their impact on society in order to develop ways in which states, organizations and individuals can gain control and independence in the digital space," explains Nik Gugger, President of the SCSD and National Councillor.

Largest Swiss expo in the field of cyber security

Alongside the top-class congress program, the event has developed into the largest Swiss trade fair in the field of cyber security in recent years. Next year, the organizers are expecting over 120 well-known exhibitors to present the latest solutions and services for authorities, large corporations, SMEs and people with an interest in IT and security in two exhibition halls. The Expo offering will be complemented by spacious networking areas, the podcasting lounge, two best-practice stages and the special "StartUp" and "Career" zones.

Further information: www.scsd.ch

BloqSens AG is a young company based in Biel, Switzerland, which specializes in Digital Product Passports (DPP, see background article from MQ 3-4/2025 - with costs - here) based on distributed ledger technology (DLT). The company is now moving into new premises at the Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne (SIPBB). The SIPBB is a private, non-profit organization based in the canton of Bern that conducts and supports industry-related, predominantly applied research and development. "We are delighted to welcome Peter Krummenacher and his team to our park. With its offering, BloqSens AG is making an important contribution to fully exploiting the potential of digital transformation in companies," says Anita Jörg, COO & CMO of Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne.

As a "Swiss Made Digital Service", BloqSens AG is developing a platform for digital product passports, including the digital battery passport, which will be mandatory for e-cars, e-bikes and e-scooters as well as industrial batteries from 2027 in accordance with EU regulations. Using distributed ledger technology (DLT), BloqSens offers tamper-proof and scalable solutions that enable transparency and traceability along the entire value chain and support the principles of the circular economy. In addition to developing industry-specific applications, the company also offers consulting services, including SAP consulting. It also has an excellent network as a GS1 Solution Partner and as a member of CES (Circular Economy Switzerland) and iBAT (Swiss Battery Association).

Peter Krummenacher, CEO of BloqSens AG, comments: "We are delighted to become part of the SIPBB network. The proximity to leading technology partners and the use of the park's infrastructure will help us to further develop our solutions and drive digital transformation in the industry." The Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne is a leading competence center for applied research and development in the fields of Industry 4.0 and sustainable technologies. With its Swiss Smart Factory, the park offers a platform for test and demonstration projects as well as a strong network of industry and research partners.

Source and further information: www.bloqsens.com

From 11 to 14 March 2025, experts from all over the world gathered in Lyon for the 22nd edition of the International Metrology Congress (CIM2025), organized by the Collège Français de Métrologie (CFM). The event was held as part of the Global Industrie trade fair and once again demonstrated its central importance for science and industry in the field of metrology.

150 years of the Meter Convention - an anniversary edition

The year 2025 marked a special highlight: the 150th anniversary of the Metre Convention, a milestone in international cooperation in metrology. In his speech, Martin Milton, Director of the BIPM and President of CIM2025, paid tribute to this occasion with the words: "We are celebrating 150 years of the Metre Convention - it is the basis for measurements for all nations." This emphasized the fundamental role of metrology for science, industry and society.

Growing international resonance

With around 500 participants from 40 countries, the scope of the congress was clearly demonstrated. Current topics such as the digitalization of measurement technology, artificial intelligence and sustainability were discussed intensively in a total of 180 lectures and poster presentations. New formats such as the QI Digital Atelier and a short seminar on ISO/IEC 17025 also enriched the program.

Bridge between science and industry

A central element of the congress was the "Metrology Village" - a 1,000 square meter exhibition area where 60 companies presented their innovations. The close connection to industry was also reflected in the opening, where Thomas Courbe (DGE), Laurent Labatut (Trescal) and Cosimi Corleto (CFM), among others, took to the stage. The latter emphasized: "Cooperation between metrology and industry is essential for technological progress."

Voices from the experts

The scientific exchange and the international atmosphere were particularly appreciated by the participants. Andrea Giura (INRiM), awarded for the best poster presentation, emphasized: "It was fascinating to see how different fields of metrology interact and enable technological advances." Pauline Lemaire (MERSEN) praised the organization and the diversity of the audience: "The international community was strongly represented, the environment was open and collegial."

For young scientists such as Térence Bordet (COLAS), winner of the prize for the best presentation, the congress was a valuable platform: "This award motivates us to push our research further."

A successful milestone

With over 45,000 visitors to the Global Industry trade fair, an increase of 20 % compared to 2023, the relevance of CIM was once again underlined. The congress offered a unique space for knowledge transfer, networking and the promotion of joint innovation dynamics. The next edition of the International Metrology Congress CIM will take place in 2027.

Source and further information: https://www.cim-metrology.org/en/. This report was prepared with the support of KI. 

Contracts are the legal basis of every company and comprise a large number of agreements, such as purchase, rental or license agreements. Despite their importance, many medium-sized companies in Switzerland still do not have a digital contract management system. According to Dr. Pascal Habegger, Managing Director of Fabasoft 4teamwork AG, the management of contracts is often spread across different departments, which leads to confusing responsibilities and risks such as missed deadlines or contractual penalties. An intelligent software solution for contract management offers a remedy here.

Use of artificial intelligence

Digitization makes it possible to store all contracts in a central location and make them accessible to authorized persons at any time. This saves time, reduces duplicates and ensures complete traceability thanks to functions such as contract versioning. Companies can also use artificial intelligence (AI) to quickly implement regulatory changes and minimize risks without having to manually review every contract. AI-based systems analyze contracts automatically and initiate necessary changes or approval processes.

Digital signature for mobile working

Another highlight of modern contract management software is the option of digital signatures. These are forgery-proof and legally binding, which makes it easier for employees to be mobile and ensures that contracts can also be signed when working from home or on the move. In addition, integrated deadline management offers automatic reminders of important dates and deadlines, which in turn helps to reduce business risks and make the most of opportunities.

Overall, it is clear that digital contract management not only enables efficiency gains, but also strengthens a company's legal and operational security. Companies that do without these solutions run the risk of overlooking important obligations and suffering considerable financial or legal disadvantages as a result.

Source and further information: Fabasoft 4teamwork AG

In large organizations ranging from financial service providers to manufacturing companies, data centre specialists are responsible for maintaining critical infrastructures. They can lead to significant losses in the event of a failure, as two examples show. If a stock exchange experiences latency problems during peak trading hours, this can have an impact on potential transactions worth billions. And a failed logistics system can interrupt the supply chain and trading for several days.

Avoiding such scenarios - whether by preventing outages or quickly rectifying faults - is one of the central tasks of those responsible for network infrastructures. They are also confronted with an evolving IT landscape in which traditional network expertise must merge seamlessly with the latest AI and cloud technologies.

Everyday life of data center teams

A typical day for a data center specialist begins with proactive system health checks, which used to take hours to perform manually but are now more efficient thanks to the use of AI-powered diagnostic tools. Over the course of the day, these specialists then take on various tasks within a framework that covers the data center lifecycle, so to speak. These include

• Day 0 planning: The network experts design network topologies, define test procedures and create designs for a scalable infrastructure. An important tool here is the use of digital twins - virtual replicas of the production network that enable comprehensive simulation and optimization. By using digital twins, architects can explore what-if scenarios and test changes, capacity expansions or the integration of AI workloads without jeopardizing the stability of the live environment. This approach ensures that the architecture is not only robust, but also adaptable to support the innovations of tomorrow.
• Day 1 implementation: During the deployment phase, for example, switches are connected, configurations are implemented and tests are carried out. Every connection is checked, every configuration is validated and every system is tested and balanced under load to ensure flawless operation.
• Day-2+-Operations: In data centre management, the teams ensure high performance through continuous monitoring, rapid response to anomalies and proactive optimization. They use automation for routine tasks and focus their expertise on strategic improvements and innovative solutions for new challenges and business requirements.

Where AI is used for support

However, as the boundaries of what is technologically feasible are increasingly being expanded, the role of data center experts is also changing. AI-supported tools in particular are providing significant relief. Among other things, they offer:

• Diagnosis and troubleshooting in real time: AI systems can continuously analyze network traffic patterns, application performance metrics and infrastructure health indicators. They can detect potential problems within milliseconds, even before they affect the user experience.
• Predictive analytics: Advanced algorithms process historical data and current trends to predict potential system and capacity bottlenecks or hardware failures. This enables teams to carry out preventive maintenance and capacity planning with a high degree of accuracy.
• Proactive problem solving: When potential problems are detected, AI systems can automatically initiate remedial actions or provide the team with detailed recommendations on how to fix them. This can include rerouting traffic, adjusting resource allocation or initiating failover procedures.

"AI tools will not replace expertise in data center teams, but they will empower them to perform at an even higher level. The experts will ensure that AI is implemented effectively, interpret their findings and step in when human intuition is required to solve complex challenges," explains Manfred Felsenberg, Senior Director Data Center Global at Juniper Networks.

Source: Juniper Networks

If solid materials are subjected to mechanical stress or electrical excitation, they deform and begin to vibrate to a greater or lesser extent. These vibrations depend on the shape, the material, the excitation and many other factors. Laser vibrometers are used to measure and analyze the vibrations without contact. These are used to evaluate different design variants during development and to optimize products. However, deviations in vibration behavior can also indicate faults in the product during production.

Range of application of laser vibrometry

In vibroacoustic quality testing, a laser Doppler vibrometer scans objects for vibrations precisely and without contact on practically all surfaces (image above). Measurement data such as frequency response and resonance frequency, impulse response and data on damping properties are obtained. The optical measurement with laser light produces a map of the amplitude distribution of the vibrations without influencing the measurement object, e.g. through contact or mass loading (as with accelerometers). The method is suitable for almost any vibration-related problem in research, development, production and condition monitoring or quality assurance and for objects of different sizes: from entire car bodies, large aerospace parts, motors and actuators to micro components such as MEMS or biomedical samples and components in the micrometer range. Depending on the task and sensor design, vibrations up to the GHz range can be detected or, as with the new VibroScan for surface scanning, frequencies up to 32 MHz can be recorded fully digitally.

Optimize desired oscillations

Vibrations are not undesirable everywhere. We all appreciate the vibrating alarm in cell phones or use electric toothbrushes. In many applications, it is important to find the best product design so that vibrations fulfill their purpose optimally. This is where scanning vibrometers are used, which create an areal vibration analysis. Applications in industry include vibrating conveyors or control and operating panels. High-quality packaging systems and industrial joining processes that use ultrasonic welding can also be developed more quickly or checked and optimized during operation with the help of a vibration analysis. Another application is the "vibration transport" of liquid droplets, for example in medical analysis. However, vibration analysis is also a reliable method for developing high-quality products for consumer goods: The vibration of a loudspeaker membrane, which provides the sound of a loudspeaker box, can be analyzed and improved. There are also a large number of less obvious applications such as fans, computer housings, medical products and structure-borne noise and therefore vibrations also play a major role in production systems.

Minimize unwanted vibrations

Deviations in the vibrations of an object from the target specifications allow conclusions to be drawn about the smooth running of drives, manufacturing deviations in production, incipient bearing wear and many other faults. This is where vibrometry can be used inline for quality assurance. The prerequisite is that the sensor can detect and evaluate vibrations quickly and precisely and that the measuring system can be integrated into a production system as easily as possible. Polytec's vibrometers support various interfaces such as COM/DCOM, offer an internal macro language and provide an API for programming. The measurement data is usually transmitted via TCP/IP Ethernet. Polytec also offers extensive tools and examples to ensure smooth integration.

Measuring deviations, but where?

If vibration measurements are used for quality control, the following questions arise: Where can precise measuring points be found for reliable quality assurance in order to identify deviations and minimize rejects? Which conclusions can be drawn from which surface based on deviations? Laser Doppler vibrometers provide good indications here, even during the development of the intended test method: The best measuring points and surfaces can be found as early as the development stage to indicate the specific properties or possible defects through their vibration behavior. This allows measurements to be taken at a meaningful maximum amplitude point, which saves time during commissioning and ensures meaningful quality data on the products.

Improve signal-to-noise ratio

In practice, measuring surfaces are usually optically rough. This means that the light is not only reflected, but also scattered. It contains dark and light areas, so-called speckles. This effect leads to fluctuations in light intensity at the photodetector and, in optical measurements, to broadband noise and unwanted signal dropouts. Therefore, several measurements or a high number of averages are often necessary for a good result. Polytec solves this problem with QTec technology, which uses multiple photodetectors to drastically improve the signal-to-noise ratio. For this purpose, QTec vibrometers use an innovative multi-channel interferometer with receiver diversity. It bundles the best measured values from different perspectives and recombines them for a consistent measurement result. Each detector is an observer of the measuring point with its own perspective and sees its own random speckle pattern (image below). The combination of the signals from the spatially distributed detectors then automatically results in a statistically stable signal level for each individual measurement, regardless of the measuring surface. With this new method, measurements can be taken up to ten times faster, as one measurement is sufficient and no further averaging is required.

New measurement options

To measure both large and very small parts in the shortest possible time, RoboVib^® combines a fully automated experimental modal analysis with VibroScan QTec Xtra 3D. The scanning vibrometer is mounted on a robot arm and moved over the object, e.g. a vehicle body. This reduces the testing time, even for complex 3D components, from days or even weeks to just a few hours thanks to comprehensive 360° measurements. For smaller parts, RotoVib automates^® experimental whole-body modal analysis since 2024. Here, the test object rotates around its own axis on a turntable. Automatic repositioning allows the test object to be measured automatically from all sides. Thanks to the effortless set-up, users also save valuable measuring time here.

If measurements are to be taken through a layer of water for certain applications, the wavelength of the laser must be adapted to the water medium. Polytec's latest product, VibroScan QTec Neo, offers a HeNe laser in the measuring head whose wavelength is not absorbed by water. This means that sound field analyses of hydrophones (underwater microphones) or components of medical ultrasound applications can now be carried out under water for calibration purposes just as easily as in air. Here too, QTec technology drastically shortens the measurement time by minimizing dropouts.

On-site measurements, for example by a service provider, also require compact measuring devices that are easy to transport and install. The modern VibroScan systems for area measurement are on average around 50% smaller than the 1D predecessor models. This means that the measuring device can also travel as luggage, especially when traveling by air. AI functionality is also incorporated into the vibration measurement thanks to the associated PSV software (Polytec Scanning Vibrometer). This increases user-friendliness and reduces the set-up time for the measurement, for example through automatic object recognition and 3D adjustment. This also significantly reduces the amount of training required by the user.

Source and further information: Polytec

Artificial intelligence now supports the processes of DACH companies in a variety of ways. In collaboration with the Handelsblatt Research Institute (HRI), the digital consulting, solutions and software company valantic examined which use cases are particularly important for companies and what role industry affiliation plays in this. The results show that AI applications are already very popular with companies, particularly in quality control and automated data and document management. Supply chain optimization with AI is also an important field of application for many.

valantic and the HRI surveyed around 700 decision-makers from companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to find out what added value they are already achieving with the use of AI applications within their business processes (Applied AI). According to the survey, two out of three companies already report measurable benefits based on AI applications - for example in the form of efficiency gains, material and cost reductions or increases in sales and profitability. The study also looked at the question of how relevant these different use cases are.

Which use cases are particularly important?

As part of the survey, the client of the study differentiated between 14 use case clusters and asked the participants which of these application areas were most important for their own company. The following five clusters were given the highest relevance by the respondents:

1. Quality control: Identify defects and ensure product quality by means of visual or other sensory inspections.
2. Document and data management: Extract, process and manage information from documents and data records in large quantities, automatically and in high quality.
3. Optimization of the supply chain: e.g. precise demand forecasting, optimization of delivery routes, reduction of inventory, optimized production and logistics planning.
4. Robotics & Smart Products: Automation of product functions; interaction of sensor technology, control and logic for autonomous functioning and optimization of hardware products.
5. Automation in customer service: chatbots and virtual assistants for processing customer inquiries and providing support.

AI-supported creation of media content still less relevant

While the top 5 AI use cases were each named as the most important for their own company by around a third of those surveyed, C-level decision-makers still attach comparatively little importance to the classic use cases of generative AI. For example, the generation of creative content (images, text, sound or video) was only one of the most important areas of application for AI applications in their own company for just under one in five (19%).

Another finding of the study is that the areas of application that are assigned the highest relevance for AI applications vary depending on the sector to which the companies belong. For example, companies from industrial sectors such as automotive, food and beverage production or manufacturing generally attach great importance to quality control using AI, while most decision-makers in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors cite document and data management as an important use case. The most frequently cited use case in the retail and consumer goods sector is supply chain optimization. In contrast, purchasing and sales are extremely important for utilities companies, with many respondents naming price optimization as an important application.

Laurenz Kirchner, Managing Director and Data & AI Practice Lead at valantic, says: "Our study shows that AI is no longer a vision of the future, but is actively used in many companies. For many companies, the focus is shifting to the question of which areas of application offer the greatest benefits in their own company. Decision-makers need to prioritize use cases with real added value and strategically anchor AI initiatives. Without clear goals, prioritization and integration into the corporate strategy, there will be no added value."

Source: valantic