Digital transformation trends in German trade and Swiss finance

In Germany, the carpentry business TS Holzbau is utilizing social media and artificial intelligence to address challenges in succession planning and skilled labor recruitment. Owner Bernhard Terla uses digital channels and targeted AI-supported campaigns to attract employees and promote modern working models, such as the four-day week, while maintaining that personal contact remains essential for customer relations.

In Switzerland, a new study conducted by ETH spin-off Eurospider Information Technology and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU IFZ), supported by Innosuisse, reveals significant gaps in the digital onboarding of corporate clients within the financial sector. The study found that out of 282 surveyed financial service providers, only 26 possess digital onboarding for corporate clients, and only two of the thirteen tested institutes had a demonstrably functional digital process. The findings highlight a discrepancy between Switzerland’s digital self-image and the actual technological capabilities of its financial intermediaries.