Switzerland is set to win in the digital economy as one of the international investment, talent and innovation hubs of the future, according to Patrick Warnking.
The Google Switzerland CEO explained in an interview with moneycab.ch that digitalization is an unbelievable opportunity for Switzerland.
It has a focus on highly qualified work and research and development – all fields in which fewer jobs are likely to be affected by automization – while also boasting well positioned SMEs.
Although SMEs are likely to face different challenges due to digitalization – chief among them the difficulty in keeping pace with the speed of development, according to Warnking – “innovation, quality and talent will be decisive for success in the future” and Swiss companies have always performed well in these areas.
SMEs will also benefit from their proximity to customers. According to Warnking, companies should aim to make better use of their customers by going to greater lengths to get feedback. “Feedback is an important input for innovation,” he explained, adding that SMEs must also invest in their websites.
Warnking also revealed in the interview that Google is considering expanding its data centres in Switzerland to better meet regulatory requirements. “Some customers have come to us with this request,” he said.
Google currently employs more than 2,000 staff in Zurich, making it the IT giant’s largest research and development location outside the USA.
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