Digital future readiness

This new study explores the challenges and opportunities presented by digitalisation. Focusing on the extent to which Swiss companies in the consumer business and industrial sectors are prepared for the digital age, the study identifies the key skills that digitalisation requires and the transformations that will be essential for companies wishing to position themselves as future-ready.

To retain their competitive edge and be well positioned for the future, Swiss companies need to embrace new opportunities for growth and exploit the scope for digitalisation. At the same time, they must address existing economic, technological, political, regulatory and social challenges. Successfully navigating these opportunities and challenges requires transformation in four dimensions: organisation, culture, people and the digital environment. The “Digital future readiness” study draws on the findings of a survey of 50 Swiss consumer business and industrial companies and 18 face-to-face interviews with C-suite executives.

About the study

Between September and November 2016, 50 Swiss consumer business and industrial companies participated in a survey about their transformation for a digital future and which digital approaches and strategies they were successfully adopting. By February 2017, eighteen face-to-face interviews were also conducted with CEOs, CFOs and presidents of boards of directors. These individuals were asked about key attributes of organisational structure, changes and adaptations in corporate culture, as well as company management and employee training measures that they had identified as crucial to maintaining their future competitiveness in the new digital environment.