Good - But good enough?

Agility is also needed in financial management: here too, cash flow can falter, especially across borders. The federal government’s loan scheme could certainly provide support in this area. Lastly, there is the issue of agility in the digital world. Many companies were not really prepared, either internally or with respect to their customers, and had had to catch up in a hurry. One real estate company, for example, started to train its clients in online matters – online. Here, too, the crisis is leading to a push towards digitalisation and to increased turnover in the IT industry, as business leaders from this sector confirm. Shouldn’t the state become more agile, too? After all, a WEF study has repeatedly pointed out the difficulty of “doing business” in Switzerland. The loan scheme has certainly shown that it can operate more seamlessly. Simon Jäggi from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) says that the circumstances were exceptional, whilst also considering on other measures. Should customs duties and levies be reduced? Hans Hess would welcome that – the old customs duties such as industrial import duty should be cut, he thinks.

TAKEAWAYS:

Companies that are agile and fast are less exposed to price competition.

Swiss companies can become even more agile, and need to rethink their business models.

The state is only agile in a crisis.

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Faster and more agile