immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Category: propTech

  • The new real estate buzzword is called “API”

    The new real estate buzzword is called “API”

    A(pplication) P(rogramming) I(nterface) is a programming interface between two software solutions – a kind of "intermediary" between two different systems, so to speak, without one system having to learn or understand the (programming) language of the other system and the two systems can still communicate with each other quickly and easily. The interface translates the request from one software to the other, so to speak. In order for the two systems to "understand" each other, a clear interface definition is required.

    To describe it simply with a metaphor – it's like ordering in a restaurant: the guest orders the desired dish from the waiter, who reports the order to the kitchen. The dish comes ready from the kitchen and the waiter serves it to the guest. The guest does not have to understand how the processes and preparations for this dish work in the kitchen – they are satisfied when the waiter serves the dish they have ordered as they wished. In a figurative sense, the menu card would be the clearly defined interface, so to speak. Anything that is not on the menu cannot be ordered.

    Why is the topic of API so exciting for the real estate industry? PropTech companies and those responsible for digitization at real estate companies are increasingly concerned with the cross-platform integration of new software solutions. Due to the digital transformation and the ecosystem idea, the interface problem is increasingly coming into focus. Manual object imports and data comparisons are time-consuming and comparatively inefficient.

    If a real estate company wants to integrate a new PropTech solution, the new software needs an interface to the respective ERP system. In the Swiss real estate industry, it is essentially the three ERP providers Abacus, GARAIO and W&W that can offer an interface here. If a company works with different PropTech solutions, it makes sense to think about an interface between these third-party providers. The increasing establishment of such software solutions or new services, such as the digital signature, will continue to focus on the topic of API – and not only among those responsible for digitization themselves. In the future, every employee will need a certain basic knowledge in order to to find one's way in the jungle of software solutions and flows of data sets.

    You can get more impulses on the subject here: https://proptechmarket.net/impulse

  • An algorithm controls thermostats

    An algorithm controls thermostats

    Two researchers from the Urban Energy Systems Lab at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research ( Empa ) have created a self-learning algorithm for heating thermostats. According to an Empa report , it can be integrated into conventional intelligent or smart thermostats via a cloud connection and regulate the room temperature in a predictive manner.

    "The potential is enormous," says Felix Bünning, co-founder of the Empa spin-off viboo, which markets this algorithm. "Our experiments at NEST have shown that energy savings of between 26 and 49 percent can be achieved with this approach."

    To create a model of the building, building data such as valve positions and room temperature measurements from just two weeks are sufficient. In combination with forecasts for the local outside temperature and global solar radiation, the algorithm then independently calculates the ideal amount of energy required to heat or cool the building up to twelve hours in advance.

    According to the information, a first partner is the Danish company Danfoss . The internationally active thermostat manufacturer is currently testing in a pilot project together with viboo how high the savings potential is in conventional existing buildings. In addition, the start-up is already in talks with other industrial partners. For example, it will integrate the algorithm directly into the central building automation system in a Zurich office building.

  • Five start-ups move into Büro Züri Innovationspark

    Five start-ups move into Büro Züri Innovationspark

    The Züri Innovationspark office has officially opened, according to a press release . Five start-ups have moved into a total of 170 square meters in the converted fire station of the former Dübendorf Airport. They were selected by public vote from among ten candidates last summer.

    The modern building offers 16 flexible workplaces, meeting rooms, a kitchen and a generous infrastructure. With their move into the Dübendorf office in Züri, the teams will also become part of the ecosystem in the Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich, according to the Zürcher Kantonalbank . The Zürcher Kantonalbank, co-founder of the Zurich Innovation Park, makes this space available free of charge for an innovative and collaborative working group. In a statement , the bank describes the Züri office, of which there is another edition in Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse, as its "gift" to the population.

    The five start-ups from Büro Züri Innovationspark include Medtech aiEndoscopic and the data processing platform for artificial intelligence, Lightly . Soma Rem is also on site, which helps people with body image disorders with virtual and augmented reality. TerraRad Tech brings remote space sensing technology to agriculture. And Tethys Robotics develops underwater robots.

  • Vebego drives the development of cleaning robots

    Vebego drives the development of cleaning robots

    Vebego wants to be the driving force in the development of cleaning robots. A media release from Vebego AG states that digitization is also a strong driver for innovations and further development in the cleaning industry. “As an innovative company”, Vebego wants to help determine, shape and drive digitalization. Cleaning robots and their development are therefore a big topic in the company.

    Vebego has been analyzing the market and customer needs for five years in order to be able to make cleaning even more innovative and flexible in the future and to be able to further expand it while maintaining the cleaning quality. The company works with partners such as Soobr , a technology company based in Stettlen BE.

    Vebego started with the needs-based planning and execution of cleaning tours by Soobr. By optimizing resources, the assignments of employees could be planned more efficiently. Robotics is still not a sure-fire success. Cleaning robots are currently not yet fully autonomous and continue to require regular support from people. Vebego tested the robots and used the mature models in a field test. Two models are currently in continuous use.

    Vebego is working with its partners on further developing the models in the direction of autonomous robots. It should be noted that workplace design has changed significantly in recent years. The pandemic with the resulting increased work from home brought changes not only in terms of land use. The associated cleaning planning had also been given a further boost.

  • Verit and Flatfox offer completely digital rentals

    Verit and Flatfox offer completely digital rentals

    Zurich -based Verit Immobilien AG , together with the rental portal of Bernese Flatfox AG , offers a fully digitized rental and rental process. According to a press release , this will conclude a pilot project lasting more than a year and extend the offer to all of Switzerland for the first time. From the application to the conclusion of the tenant deposit to the signing of the rental contract, the entire process is digital. That goes as far as ordering the name badges for the new tenant. It is not only the tenants who benefit from the time savings, according to the press release. For the owners, the chance of seamless follow-up letting increases

    Shortly before the end of the year, Verit Immobilien and Flatfox opened the first digital rental deposit as part of the electronic re-letting process, around a year after the first rental agreement was electronically signed by the tenant and landlord. The successful pilot project will now be offered at all Verit locations in Switzerland. After Verit started with Flatfox, ELCA Informatik , Skribble , Helvetia Versicherung , SwissCaution , FirstCaution and, for a rental deposit account, Hypothekarbank Lenzburg are now also involved in the offer.

    Verit Immobilien uses the Flatfox platform to handle the entire process. Martin Frei, Chief Digital Officer at Verit, is quoted as saying: "The entire process of re-letting takes place seamlessly digitally via the Flatfox platform – from the time a potential tenant becomes aware of an offer to the formally valid issue of the rental agreement . "Of course, this also applies to all intermediate steps such as initial contact, registration, deposit, credit check and ordering of tags."

  • Artificial intelligence analyzes CO2 emissions from traffic

    Artificial intelligence analyzes CO2 emissions from traffic

    An analysis method developed at the Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt ( Empa ) can make statements about how the consumption of a country’s vehicle fleet changes from year to year. This new method is based on math and deep learning techniques. According to a communication , it is able to show where politicians and car buyers could start to reduce CO2 emissions.

    Analyzing this has become increasingly difficult in recent years. Because vehicles can no longer be divided into classic segments such as small, medium and luxury classes due to technical innovations. In addition, new vehicles are getting bigger and heavier. In addition, the cubic capacities would decrease, while the efficiency of the engines would get better and better at the same time.

    That is why the Empa Vehicle Drive Systems department describes its analysis technology as an “important breakthrough”: It enables “CO2 emissions to be assessed separately and an accurate automatic vehicle classification to be carried out by analyzing large databases,” explains researcher Naghmeh Niroomand. “This makes it easier to analyze changes in fleets in a country or a large company.” Thanks to this new method, “subjective and expert-based factors” would be eliminated and databases from all over the world would be comparable.

    For Switzerland, the team was able to calculate the average CO2 emissions of newly registered cars. If less heavy vehicles such as SUVs were on Swiss roads, this would be the most effective way of promoting decarbonization, says Niroomand. It would also be helpful to buy vehicles with lower performance in the same vehicle class.

  • A year to forget? Not for homeowners and tenants!

    A year to forget? Not for homeowners and tenants!

    2021 is unlikely to be remembered as a bright year – the never-ending pandemic sends its regards. However, a reliable source of positive news has been the real estate market. Owners of condominiums were able to post an increase in value of 7.3 percent over the course of the year, while the increase in single-family houses was almost as high at 6.9 percent. This is shown by the evaluation of sales advertisements as part of the Swiss Real Estate Offer Index, which is collected by the Swiss Marketplace Group in cooperation with the real estate consultancy IAZI.

    The reason for the significant increases in value is probably not solely due to the changes in living requirements due to the pandemic. The economy is also developing solidly, immigration is continuing and the supply of land is becoming increasingly scarce. At the same time, consumer prices have risen sharply, which further increases the attractiveness of tangible assets such as home ownership as protection against inflation.

    No bad news for tenants either
    2021 also meant it with tenants: inside not bad. Anyone looking for a new apartment was able to benefit from a minimal decline in asking rents of 0.3 percent over the year on average. The fact that the rent trend tipped into the red is thanks to a veritable year-end spurt: In December, a nationwide drop of 0.9 percent was registered.

    What will 2022 bring for the Swiss real estate market? “Under the current conditions, the new year should also come up with rising property prices. Whether the trend turns around is largely up to the monetary authorities: The American central bank (Fed) has announced that it will raise the key interest rate faster than planned. If the European (ECB) and Swiss monetary authorities (SNB) join in, prices would also fall in this country, ”says Martin Waeber, Managing Director Real Estate, Swiss Marketplace Group.

  • BEKB, ewb and GVB launch myky platform

    BEKB, ewb and GVB launch myky platform

    The three Bern companies BEKB , ewb and GVB have launched the myky website. Its aim is to offer homeowners expert knowledge and services from a single source on the platform, according to a media release . Myky stand for my key, my key.

    First of all, the platform offers an interactive renovation planner. This should help to find and implement meaningful renovation measures. “Customers have an overview of the energetic state of their home at all times and can plan the renovation measures holistically and in a way that optimizes costs,” says the press release.

    The initiators hope that users will be actively involved in the further development of the platform. It is desirable that homeowners, investors and companies network with one another and “actively participate in the development of the home universe with their own inputs, questions and requests”.

    For companies, myky should offer the opportunity to maintain customer relationships. “The myky project helps us, for example, to support the owners on their way to sustainably refurbished homes in all financial matters and beyond,” said Armin Brun, CEO of BEKB, in the media release.

  • Two Geneva fintechs are joining forces to make it easier to buy home ownership in Switzerland

    Two Geneva fintechs are joining forces to make it easier to buy home ownership in Switzerland

    Reduce the equity required for the mortgage loan
    While interest rates are at an all-time low, prices are rising. When it comes to granting a mortgage loan, the requirement for at least 20% equity capital is the main obstacle to home ownership. Today, only 40% of households in Switzerland are homeowners. Of the 60% of tenants, 21% would like to own a property, whereas only 3% are able to do so.

    For this reason Evahomes.ch offers financially strong people an alternative income solution that meets the regulatory requirements. The latter only require 10% equity to become a home owner. As with a classic acquisition, the bank can finance the property up to 80%, while the purchaser covers at least 10% of the purchase price with his assets. The remaining equity is provided by qualified Swiss investors with an annual return of 3 to 7%, depending on the risk profile of the overall situation of the buyer.

    The solution enables home ownership with less equity and thus opens up this perspective to more people in Switzerland. The company e-Potek saw Evahomes.ch's innovative proposal as an opportunity to expand its mandate to facilitate access to mortgage credit.

    "Some of our customers borrow money from their families to supplement their equity. Evahomes.ch represents a solution with an interesting tax advantage for those people who do not want or cannot rely on their relatives", explains Yannis Eggert, Director at e -Potek.

    Accompany and facilitate the buying process for future buyers
    The chosen financing solution can be optimized through the partnership with e-Potek. e-Potek enables future buyers to determine the best financing conditions from all lenders on the market and to benefit from tailor-made professional support in the areas of mortgage financing, retirement provision and real estate taxation from the beginning to the end of the project. "Thanks to the partnership with e-Potek, we can expand our service to more households. This is in line with our mandate to lower the entry barriers for new homeowners in Switzerland as much as possible," added Tafsir Bâ, CEO of Evahomes.ch.

    The buyer then pays a monthly amount, which depends on the theoretical rental yield of the property, the duration of the contract, the personal circumstances of the buyer and the investment profile. At the end of the contract, the equity is built up and the rent is reduced to the usual mortgage interest. Potential buyers with sufficient equity can also opt for this alternative if they want to have cash at their disposal.

    Opportunity for returns for investors
    In an economic climate in which savings returns are close to 0% and real estate returns are around 3%, indirect real estate investment via Evahomes.ch is a real opportunity. E-Potek has raised an initial fundraising of CHF 7 on behalf of Evahomes.ch .5 million and the two companies are already considering one
    further fundraising. For investors lending their equity to future buyers, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to
    Investing in the Swiss real estate market at competitive returns.

    "We have been approached by many private investors who want to invest and participate in fundraising and have not been able to meet that demand. So far, fundraising has been aimed primarily at a select few qualified investors who have been looking to invest in this type of opportunity for several years However, in view of the great demand from future buyers who would like to apply for a loan at Evahomes.ch, we believe that we can make the investment opportunity available to the general public very quickly, "says Yannis Eggert, Director at e-Potek.

    Via Evahomes.ch
    Evahomes.ch was founded in 2020 to make it easier for people with sufficient income and reduced equity to buy their own home without having to pay more than the monthly amount of a traditional rent. This unique offer in Switzerland is 100% digital and enables cheap online financing via the Evahomes.ch platform.
    www.evahomes.ch

    About e-Potek
    The company e-Potek, founded in 2018, has set itself the goal of making applying for a mortgage loan easier, more transparent and faster. Through its online platform combined with the specialist knowledge of its team of experts in the field of mortgage financing, pension provision and real estate taxation, the company supports future buyers in the implementation of their real estate projects. e-Potek currently employs around 15 people and has two branches in western Switzerland (Geneva and Lausanne). The growing company is preparing to open new branches and expand in German-speaking Switzerland.
    www.e-potek.ch

    Media contacts: Voxia communication
    Hertha Baumann: +41 43 344 98 49 – hertha.baumann@voxia.ch

  • Swiss Proptech: Launch of Immowise, the very first digital solution to support co-owner meetings

    Swiss Proptech: Launch of Immowise, the very first digital solution to support co-owner meetings

    The solution was developed to meet market expectations and to facilitate the preparation, implementation and follow-up of general meetings of condominiums in Switzerland. It takes into account the specifics of each condominium and thus offers a digital tool that is suitable for both the administrators and the co-owners. All steps are optimized, regardless of whether the general assembly is being held in person or remotely, so that during the meeting you can concentrate on the exchange, advice and decision-making.

    A 100% Swiss platform, adapted to the specifics of Switzerland
    Immowise was developed by wise.swiss and is the first platform that was created for the digitization of general meetings of condominium owners on the Swiss real estate market. It is aimed at all institutions or persons entrusted with the administration and organization of owners’ meetings, regardless of whether they are real estate companies, independent administrators, self-governing owner associations or housing associations.

    The digital tool adapts to the specifics of each co-ownership. It enables the administrator to manage all phases of general meetings on the platform: management of invitations, creation and updating of the agenda, calculation and determination of the quorum, recording of notes and comments, recording of voting results and surveys. It is also possible to create digital protocols that are directly accessible on the platform.

    “Our solution aims to reduce the time required for the preparation, implementation and follow-up of general meetings by 20 to 30% while at the same time ensuring data security. The initial feedback from our customers has been very positive, both for remote use and for remote use on site
    confirms the usefulness of such a solution, “says Gilles von Burg, Director of Immowise.

    Digitization of the processes so that the managing directors can concentrate on the advice and the exchange with the floor owners at the GV
    Digitization not only saves time, it also makes it possible to provide the co-owners with all the information they need to take decisions in the owners’ meeting.

    Condominium owners can securely connect to the platform from their computer, tablet or smartphone and access all information about their building’s general meetings. This contributes to an optimal preparation of the general assembly for all participants.

    The administrator can thus fully fulfill his role as chairman of the meeting, focus on communication between those involved and optimize decision-making.

    “With the various solutions from wise.swiss, we are already supporting the digitization of companies and we have several real estate companies among our customers. The concept of a specific platform for managing general meetings was born in 2019 at your request, the pandemic drove the development forward, and so do we are pleased to be able to offer you a tailor-made, one hundred percent Swiss solution today, “adds Sebastian Chiappero, CEO of wise.swiss.

    The Immowise Terms of Use
    Immowise is available in two different offers: one-time use of the platform for the organization of a general meeting or an annual subscription for the complete digital management of the real estate portfolio.
    Photos of the Immowise solution are available: https://bit.ly/3bdIF1y

    About Immowise
    Immowise was founded in 2021 and is the first Swiss solution for the digitization of general meetings of joint owners. Developed and hosted in Switzerland, this application helps administrators and condominium owners prepare, manage and follow up on general meetings. It complements the wise.swiss software suite launched by EPwise AG in 2020, which offers public administrations and companies a range of digital communication and event organization tools (eventwise, partnerwise and fundwise).

    wise.swiss/immowise

    Media contact
    Voxia communication
    Hertha Baumann
    T. 043 344 98 49 I email: hertha.baumann@voxia.ch

  • Lucerne University of Applied Sciences offers training in digital construction

    Lucerne University of Applied Sciences offers training in digital construction

    From March 2022, the Techik & Architektur department at HSLU will be offering modular advanced training courses in digital construction. According to a media release , she wants to close the skills gap of numerous specialists in whose training digitization has not yet played a role.

    The HSLU starts with two Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS): Digital Construction – Ordering & Development and Digital Construction – Design & Planning. In the following semesters, the modules Management & Collaboration, Fabrication & Creation and Operation & Maintenance are to be added. The expansion to Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) and Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) is in preparation. Those who take part in the further training will become "a professional in digital ordering, planning, building and operation and will receive an in-depth overall view of the digital value chain and the lifecycle data management of tomorrow".

    As the HSLU notes, there is a lot of catching up to do in the construction industry when it comes to the application of digitally based processes, methods and technologies. Hundreds of corresponding advertisements can already be found on job portals. The curriculum is based on specific practical tasks and international requirements. "In this way, the participants create the best conditions for positions at home and abroad," says co-program director Markus Weber.

  • Madaster wins pom + as a partner

    Madaster wins pom + as a partner

    Madaster wants to strengthen the circular economy in the construction and real estate sector. For this purpose, it offers digital tools such as material passports and indices for recording the economic and circular value of buildings on its platform. In addition, companies are networked that are committed to circular economy in the construction and real estate sectors. With pom + Consulting AG ( pom + ), the Swiss cadastre for materials has now won another comrade, Madaster Switzerland informs in a message . The consulting company pom +, based in Technopark Zurich, specializes in construction and real estate companies.

    "In order to really achieve the goal of climate neutrality in the construction and real estate industry, an all-round view from planning to use is just as important as anchoring a sustainable real estate strategy," says Jürgen Marc Volm, partner and expert for circular economy at pom +, in the message quote. "Thanks to the data transparency over the entire project life cycle on Madaster, we can combine our expertise with the potential to answer future-oriented questions about the correct use of materials and material dismantling more easily."

    Madaster's building passports record data about the materials used in a building. In this way, future recycling of the material is made possible. The networking should make it easier for companies to disseminate knowledge in circular construction and to jointly develop approaches for a circular construction and real estate industry. With pom +, Madaster has gained a new partner "who integrates the concept of circularity in all services over the entire life cycle," says Marloes Fischer, Managing Director of Madaster Services Switzerland.

  • That was the (PropTech) year …

    That was the (PropTech) year …

    The money seems to be on the street at the moment. A number of well-known financing rounds were closed and numerous seed funding was obtained. In addition to the professional venture capital companies, there were increasingly also corporates who want to cut a piece of the (PropTech) pie here – among other things, to secure appropriate product know-how and digital competence in the company.

    More and more insurance companies and banks have used the past twelve months to build their own “living” ecosystem. What was planned and designed in the “Corona year” 2020 was implemented in 2021 – with the aim of strengthening the company’s own market position, for example in the mortgage business, in real estate marketing or in the area of insurance solutions.

    Mobiliar made the most of the talk with its ecosystem ventures. The insurance company has set up the Liiva joint venture with Raiffeisen, among other things, in order to use this platform to give its customers access to the living ecosystem and to establish a continuous value chain. But Credit Suisse, the mortgage specialist Moneypark and the data specialist PropTech Pricehubble also recently announced their partnership with the aim of creating a service and information platform for homeowners. And for the cantonal banks, who have been on the market for a long time with the newhome.ch platform, real estate is part of their core business. With a substantial participation of three cantonal banks in the PropTech company emonitor, a leader in the digitization of letting and marketing processes, a further step towards the living ecosystem has been taken.

    The past year was also marked by mergers and amalgamations of existing business models – such as the portal and solution provider Flatfox and the management solution Aroov. The announcement of the merger of several real estate portals such as homegate.ch and ImmoScout24 under the Swiss Marketplace Group (SMG) brand, a joint venture between TX Group, Ringier, Mobiliar and General Atlantic, has really hit the mark.

    So it will be exciting to see how things will continue in the new year and what concrete successes we will observe. The basis has been created in many ways, but there is certainly still a lot to be done at the level of organization, restructuring and governance. And the topic of sustainability will probably also be mentioned more often in the new year …

    You can find more impulses at PropTechMarket: https://proptechmarket.net/impulse

  • Abacus presents the latest generation of business software

    Abacus presents the latest generation of business software

    Claudio Hintermann, CEO of Abacus Research AG, presented the fifth generation of Abacus Business Software “Abacus DEEP” at yesterday’s 27th Abacus Partner Conference. The motto of the conference was “Welcome to the future”. The aim of the new software generation is a secure and digital ERP platform that enables autonomous real-time accounting without paper. This means that booking processes are only handled digitally and information is immediately available to customers.

    Deepbox as a universal, digital turntable
    Thanks to the seamless integration of various deep technologies, accounts payable and accounts receivable documents as well as their payments can now be processed autonomously. An important function for the exchange of data is performed by deepbox, a kind of electronic postbox that exchanges documents, information and payments between customers, suppliers, trustees, banks, insurance companies, administrations, but also devices or properties and the Abacus business software as well as AbaNinja . Thanks to “Abacus DEEP”, with technologies from the subsidiary DeepCloud AG, all booking processes that were previously carried out manually can be eliminated.

    Direct booking in real time
     Another important component of the new generation of business software is the complete integration of the processes with the Neo-Bank YAPEAL. Expenses or payments can be booked in real time and completely autonomously. Thanks to these pioneering innovations, Abacus is strengthening its position as the leading Swiss manufacturer of business software for SMEs and public administrations. The central functional innovations, such as financial and investment planning as well as further developments in the application areas AbaTreuhand, service management, maintenance, AbaUnit for time and performance recording, MyAbacus «for mobile», also met with great interest from the more than 700 participants in the conference. the connection to UKA Connect from HRM Systems for illness and accident reports, AbaClik with a simplified approval process and AbaClock with face recognition. In the future, third-party software can be connected to the Abacus even more easily via REST-API.

    Swiss innovation thanks to the market and competition
    Abacus has succeeded in setting new impulses again and again in recent years. The launch of the fifth generation is an example of how Swiss companies organized under private law can make an important contribution to strengthening the business location. Claudio Hintermann, CEO of Abacus: “Even 36 years after it was founded, Abacus can still offer customers business software that is functionally and technologically at the highest level. We are proud to be able to show that we succeed in investing in the future again and again without subsidies and cross-financing and to prove our leading position. The more than 60,000 customers, the more than 600 employees and Switzerland as a business location benefit from this.

  • High-tech quality in the east

    High-tech quality in the east

    Economic area of technologies
     The economic “core competencies” lie in photonics, textile and material technologies, precision technologies, ICT services and medical technology. Corresponding specialists are also available in large numbers across borders. Their training and further education is guaranteed thanks to the intensive cooperation between industry, vocational and technical colleges and the University of St. Gallen. The ongoing IT education offensive reinforces the already tech-savvy economic atmosphere.

    In the economic region there are still very attractive areas and transformation areas, even in very central locations, which are constantly being developed. They offer a lot of potential for projects and company settlements.

    Innovation park symbolizes departure
    In the city of St. Gallen, the economic center of Eastern Switzerland, the University of St. Gallen and the Cantonal Hospital have supraregional appeal. Empa St. Gallen also positions itself through its scientific excellence. On the basis of these three institutions, the application for “Park Ost” to Switzerland Innovation was successful. In addition, the DNA for ICT, health technologies and start-ups is already developed in the urban location and provides an ideal breeding ground for this.

    City as a center of business and life
    The city of St. Gallen is a center that radiates far and wide, not only economically, but also culturally and urbanly. With over 80,000 employees, it is the labor market center in Eastern Switzerland. Impulses such as the new “School of Medicine” (Joint Medical Master) and the “School of Computer Science” at the University of St. Gallen offer close proximity to specialists for companies in these growth sectors.

    The start-up innovation network “Startfeld” or the networks for ICT and health provide uncomplicated access to local partners and enable joint development.

    The short distances, the compact city and the proximity to the surrounding nature from Säntis to Lake Constance form the basis for the very high quality of life.

    Testimonials

    Josef Brusa
    President of the Board of Directors of Brusa Elektronik AG

    “Everything is right at the Buchs campus. We were able to establish ourselves here thanks to the good cooperation with the cantonal location promotion, the city and local community of Buchs, the university and Lippuner Immobilien. "

    Thomas Harring
    CEO Leica Geosystems

    "Our Heerbrugg innovation factory is the embodiment of Switzerland as a workplace: innovation leadership and high manufacturing quality, which is ensured by well-trained employees and the network of industrial companies and research institutions."

    Roger Dudler
    CEO Frontify

    «Frontify offers a workplace of the future in the heart of St. Gallen. We are continuously working to bring our more than 200 employees (around 180 of them in St. Gallen) together and to offer them the ideal basis to be able to work on something big every day. "

    Roland Ledergerber
    Chairman of the Board of Directors of Switzerland Innovation Park Ost AG

    “In St. Gallen and at the second location in Buchs, experts from research and business will network and jointly create innovative products. The innovation park should be operational from the end of 2022, and it should reach its full capacity from 2025. "

    Portraits and contact details of the heads of location promotion:

    Are you looking for an attractive, competitive and innovative location for your company and would you like to develop further or settle in the canton of St. Gallen? We would be happy to support you personally.

    Daniel Müller,
    Head of Location Promotion Canton St. Gallen | Department of Economic Affairs | Office for Economy and Labor
    Davidstrasse 35, CH-9001 St.Gallen

    T +41 58 229 14 07
    daniel.mueller@sg.ch
    www.standort.sg.ch

    The promotion of the city of St. Gallen actively contributes to the further development of the business and living location of St. Gallen and to positioning it attractively in the competition for locations.

    Samuel Zuberbühler,
    Head of Location Promotion City of St. Gallen
    Poststrasse 28,
    CH-9001 St.Gallen

    Telephone +41 71 224 57 57
    samuel.zuberbuehler@stadt.sg.ch
    www.standort.stadt.sg.ch

  • Learn faster than change

    Learn faster than change

    In contrast to earlier, more linear revolutions, digital change is advancing exponentially. That means, you don’t notice anything for a long time, and suddenly the change is there. In contrast to the film, music or car industries, which were surprised by Netflix, Spotify or Tesla, this development should not be overslept. “And that is exactly why it is particularly worthwhile to invest in innovations and stay on the ball,” said Mario Facchinetti in his presentation at this year’s Swiss ImmoTable in the building arena in Volketswil, Switzerland. The name of his company PropTechMarket stands for technology-driven, new innovations (property technology), which are becoming increasingly important for the real estate industry.

    Technologies should be used where they are superior to humans. Often enough, the change is creeping: “Ten years ago no taxi driver would have expected that a tech company from San Francisco called Uber could ever compete with him. Or to put it quite simply: Nothing remarkable happens for a long time, with many new companies putting themselves in a starting position, collecting data and experience, ”says Facchinetti. So far, no company has succeeded in turning the real estate industry upside down. However, many companies were working on this vision. Now it’s about building experiences faster than digital change advances.

    New technologies are revolutionizing the market: “One can imagine that we will need different skills in the future than we do today,” says Facchinetti. “Many courses are hopelessly out of date. And soon the question arises as to whether it would be better to hire a graduate with a master’s degree or a lateral thinker with a lot of practical know-how. ” Investing in innovation gives you the time to react to new market conditions. There are currently around 7,000 new companies at work around the world who want to win part of the real estate pie. And in contrast to five years ago, these young savages are increasingly receiving risk capital from investors in order to gain a foothold in the industry with competitive prices.

  • The Livit laundry room is going digital

    The Livit laundry room is going digital

    Tenants and landlords have personal access to an online portal. After logging in, the tenants can see whether the washing machine and / or dryer are free, select the devices and book them. Offsetting is also carried out via the system, in which the tenant purchases a credit (online or via a payment slip). There is no longer any need to collect coins or manage washing cards by the caretaker. And when the laundry or the dryer is ready, the tenant receives a message on the cell phone – a great advantage especially when he or she has to climb several floors.

    Tenants, administration and owners benefit equally
    The advantage for tenants is obvious – they benefit from the convenience that the new system offers them. Livit and the owners benefit by being able to preset washing times or block the devices for repairs and maintenance. The administrative effort is reduced and a dashboard provides an overview of usage at a glance. Livit is one of the first companies in Switzerland to completely digitalize billing in communal laundry rooms. For the implementation, Livit has chosen the company ELEKTRON AG as its partner, which has decades of experience in simple and cashless billing in communal laundry rooms. The fully automated, manufacturer-independent billing solutions offer tenants maximum flexibility and minimum administration effort. “On the one hand, it was crucial that the solution was independent of the manufacturers of the devices. On the other hand, there is also the flexibility and real Swissness that ELEKTRON embodies, ”says Adrian von Burg, Head of Business Solutions at Livit.

  • Smart new (real) world

    Smart new (real) world

    So what are the areas of competence in which we should operate safely in the future?
    A lot can be subsumed under the term tech knowledge : The increasingly software-based solutions require, among other things, to deal with interface adaptation and web integration. Mastering programming languages could become an individual competitive advantage. No more targeted marketing campaigns without data analytics know-how. And it is certainly not wrong to deal with blockchain technology and terms like DeFi and NFT …

    However, it is not just about technological knowledge itself, but also about the correct use of technology and the new digital possibilities. Cloud-based application programs and virtual team applications are springing up like mushrooms – without conscious effort and targeted handling, these helpers can quickly become time wasters and burnout accelerators. “Ordinary employees” will also have to deal more and more with the topic of cyber security.

    Last but not least, a new understanding of leadership and collaboration is also required. The often traditional hierarchical thinking in the group certainly does not have the potential of a modern leadership model. However, the pure startup peer-to-peer culture without procedural rules is not the golden way either. Above all, it requires mindfulness and participation, sensible autonomy and personal responsibility as well as a new culture of error. Plans and activities must be able to be adapted quickly and flexibly – from this point of view, agile methods are therefore a must in (project) management in the future.

    You can find more impulses here: https://proptechmarket.net/impulse

  • sfb continues training on building informatics

    sfb continues training on building informatics

    The sfb Higher Technical College for Technology and Management has responded to the increasing demand for specialists in building networking. As the first higher technical school, it has therefore introduced the course technician HF building technology with a specialization in building informatics. After a successful start in August this year, the sfb will continue to offer the course. New courses will start on August 18, 2022 at the Dietikon, Emmenbrücke LU and Zollikofen BE locations.

    The new courses also last six semesters. At all three locations, lessons are held on the entire Monday and Thursday evening. In Zollikofen there is also the possibility to attend classes on Thursday evenings and all of Saturday. Participants have the opportunity to qualify for the next step in their careers in the “largest growth market in the construction industry”, as sfb director Dorothea Tiefenauer puts it. “The technician HF building technology course at sfb focuses on building information technology and is geared towards the needs of the economy. Professionals with this training are in great demand on the job market, ”she adds.

    The sfb has a total of eight locations and, with more than 1200 students and 500 teachers, is one of the largest higher technical schools in Switzerland. It is supported by social partners in the machine, electrical and metal industries.

  • EPFL exhibits Design Brain in Seoul

    EPFL exhibits Design Brain in Seoul

    The Media x Design Laboratory of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne ( EPFL ) is currently exhibiting a larger-than-life design brain in the South Korean capital. The exhibit called Artificial Swissness can be seen until October 31 at the Seoul Biennale for Architecture and Urbanism .

    According to a communication from EPFL, Artificial Swissness aims to extend the epistemology of computer science to the cultural field. “Our design brain is an experiment on the question of whether machines can design structures,” laboratory director Professor Jeffrey Huang is quoted as saying. “That means whether they can not only recommend music or drive cars, but also create meaningful cultural artefacts, such as architecture with distinctive Swiss characteristics.”

    As the message goes on to say, the exhibit should be a constantly changing spatial interface that represents the inner thoughts of an artificial intelligence machine that has been trained on 10,000 images of Swiss chalets and alpine architecture. “We make the visual interferences in these layers of the neural network visible,” say the two EPFL students Frederick Kim and Mikhael Johanes. “This gives us an insight into the inner workings of our generative artificial network that creates architectural images.” The two of them set up the installation in Seoul after a 14-day quarantine.

    The digital screens of the installation show the machine-generated images of typical Swiss architecture. At the same time, an LED projection reveals the constantly evolving learning process that the machines go through while they sift through thousands of images of alpine architecture in order to distill the essence of “Swissness”.

  • 2. Global Real Estate Run in Switzerland – Get on the move!

    2. Global Real Estate Run in Switzerland – Get on the move!

    After the endlessly long home office and shutdown time, the 1st Global Real Estate Run (impressions: https://globalrealestaterun.com/socialmediawall) came at the start of the year, in order to exchange ideas with like-minded people, and to do more than just active team building To do something good for oneself, but also for the environment: “Around 1400 participants from 46 countries modified the Global Run to meet their individual needs,” says the initiator Mario Facchinetti. “Once again, it is important to complete six kilometers in a time window of 24 hours: every participant is free to run, run or walk. Anyone can take part, free of charge – anywhere in the world. ” The run is of course 100 percent corona compliant. The six kilometers can be completed on a route of your choice, regardless of location. Registration on the Globalrealestaterun.com website is required to participate. Each participant then has access to a geotagged app that accompanies the event interactively.


    Promote sustainability
     Not only real estate professionals take part in the Global Real Estate Run, but also tenants and owners. The “team event of a different kind” is not only health-promoting, but also provides a topic of conversation. And by the way, you are also doing something good for the environment. Thanks to the collaboration with Unispace, Key4 by UBS, Immo! Invest, PropTechMarket, Schäppi Grundstücke and “There for Trees”, a tree is now being planted for every kilometer covered. Well: If these are not enough good reasons to be active to register for the next event and to make a contribution to more sustainability and innovation in the real estate industry.


    Registration and more information: https://globalrealestaterun.com
    Impressions:https://globalrealestaterun.com/socialmediawall
    Media kit: https://globalrealestaterun.com/mediakit
    Contact person: Mario Facchinetti, initiator, mail@globalrealestaterun.com

  • Innovative Swiss platform for space and real estate development

    Innovative Swiss platform for space and real estate development

    Luucy AG, based in Lucerne, was founded in 2019 by the architect and entrepreneur Mark Imhof. He describes himself as a visionary who has been dealing with the complex issues of the internal development of villages and cities for a long time. It struck him that he was repeatedly reaching limits with the usual methods and procedures. Imhof decided to develop a solution that strengthens and simplifies communication and cooperation between all parties involved: “Luucy combines the relevant data for the spatial and real estate development of all Swiss municipalities in one central location. The planning platform also provides intelligent tools for development and supports the exchange with all stakeholders through the understandable 3D visualization, ”explains Mark Imhof, CEO of Luucy AG.

    Data and information from all stakeholders could be easily found, further developed and made available via the comprehensive platform. To make this possible, Luucy was constructed as a digital twin of built Switzerland. Imhof: “The topography of the Swiss landscape with all existing buildings is available in 3D as a basis. Thanks to the web solution, no software needs to be installed to use it. Initial building volumes and variant studies can be modeled directly in Luucy and compared with one another. Additional apps from third-party providers, for example for calculating investment costs, provide valuable additional information for decision-making. “

    The official survey data, maps and access to the building laws can also be called up directly on the platform. “Luucy enables all interested third-party providers to connect additional solutions and thus offers space for new business models and value chains,” says Imhof. The solution met with great interest in the real estate industry: “Having all the relevant data and tools for room and real estate development available online in one place increases efficiency considerably,” explains Imhof.

    Make feasibility studies much easier
    Luucy isn’t the only platform that makes data accessible in a digital twin. «The specialty of our solution is the platform concept. We don’t work out everything ourselves – we integrate and work with the best. As a result, the platform is growing steadily, ”says Imhof, explaining the advantages. The interactive platform also differs from other solutions, because it acts as an intermediary builder of bridges between the authorities, which often do not know enough about the needs of the private sector, and the private sector, which the overarching goals of spatial development in the sense of a sustainable and holistically functioning organism Too little consideration of “living space”.

    “Today, for example, many steps in different systems are necessary to create a feasibility study. The analysis of the legal basis in the building laws of the 2172 municipalities in Switzerland and their interpretation is often a challenge. A lot of time is lost here, ”says Imhof. Luucy has all of these basics ready in a single system. The platform would primarily be used by specialists from architecture or site development. In this way, they can check meaningful development scenarios in just a few hours. “Authorities and spatial planning offices can also use our solution to display local planning revisions and potential spatial developments over a large area. Investors can easily make their own initial potential assessments of properties and areas,” explains Imhof.

    The modeling of own building volumes and the quick calculation of the corresponding rough costs are currently most in demand. “Here, the entire settlement context is taken into account, and the influence on neighboring buildings in terms of shadows and views can be quickly checked. In addition, Luucy is often used for digital competitions in which the different project ideas are simply evaluated and compared with one another, ”says Imhof.

    In 10 years the most used planning and coordination platform for the space and real estate industry
    The main focus of Luucy AG is initially on Switzerland. “But it is quite conceivable that the solution will also be offered in the DACH region and Europe in the next few years,” says Imhof. The basic costs for the platform are CHF 3,000 per year. This means that three administrators can create any number of projects, and unlimited users can work in these projects.

    In the coming months, the start-up plans to continuously expand its offerings: “In five years, Luucy will be so extensive that all room-relevant data and functions can be accessed via the platform. Simulations, for example on noise, mobility and climate, can be displayed »,
    says Imhof. And he is convinced: “In ten years, our solution will be the planning and coordination platform for the space and real estate industry. And with Luucy, cooperation with the private sector will also be greatly simplified for the authorities. Planning applications can then be published in 3D format. “

    In addition to a further developed geometer system, Luucy will one day ensure that an up-to-date digital twin is available to all planners on a daily basis. The spatial strategies and the associated development of the infrastructure of the cities and municipalities should be available. The solution is disruptive and is likely to play a key role in replacing complicated and less dynamic processes in the construction industry, as Imhof explains.

    Mark Imhof, CEO Luucy.
  • PropTech Map is growing strongly again

    PropTech Map is growing strongly again

    PropTech Map is growing strongly again. Some of the new additions to the PropTech Map Switzerland come from RENT 21, the real estate event from Lausanne. The “Marketplaces” category recorded a decline. The PropTech Map Switzerland has grown by 16 entries. A total of 350 PropTechs will soon be found in 11 categories.

    Various PropTechs, akenza.io , PriceHubble , architrave and realcube , gave themselves a new look, including a new logo.

    The new report Swiss Venture Insights shows where all the money went in the 3rd quarter of 2021. PropTechs have also received crumbs.

    Here are the new additions

    • Construction: medusoil.com and raumpioniereai.com
    • Finance: The mortgage broker Moneypark was previously not to be found on the PropTech Map Switerland. With the new activities related to real estate brokerage, they are now part of it. tilbago.ch has specialized in the one solution for debt enforcement and loss certificates. Migros Bank is said to be behind the mortgage broker cactous.ch.
    • Floorplan AR / VR 3D: uzufly.com , mytourlive.com, visualreality3d.ch and backbone. As recently announced, the western Swiss startup backbone was able to successfully close a financing round.
    • Marketplaces: The Avobis Group launched a new property marketplace with propertycaptain.ch. With the integration of Neue Aaargauer Bank into Credit Suisse, the regional marketplace nabhome.ch has disappeared. According to a well-informed source, the CS is planning new activities in the area of living. The lookmove marketplace is active in western Switzerland. This PropTech says of itself that they have the largest range of properties. lookmove could be an interesting alternative for all financial service providers in Switzerland who (now) want to jump on the bandwagon of the “living” ecosystem. lookmove is currently planning a financing round to finance international expansion.
    • Services: Swiss AI, mybeppo.ch, immowise and iNCH
    • Smart Building: Another PropTech from western Switzerland is called local-energy.ch, while zevvy.ch comes from Central Switzerland.
    • Software: ziffu.io and prozessfux.com

    PropTech Map is growing strongly again. Compared to Germany, Switzerland has an extremely attractive, diverse and, above all, much larger PropTech scene.

    Source: Heinz M. Schwyter , https://proptechnews.ch/2021/10/11/proptech-map-waechst-wieder-stark/

  • ConReal wants to digitize interior design

    ConReal wants to digitize interior design

    ConReal Swiss has set itself the goal of breaking up “the old structures of the construction and real estate industry”, explains the proptech start-up from Winterthur in a press release . “We want to make the construction industry fairer, more transparent and more efficient,” said co-founder and board member Christoph Meili. “We would also like to give small and medium-sized companies access to data and digital tools.”

    In order to achieve this, ConReal relies on the networking of actors in the construction and real estate industry. The young company itself offers digital and analog services in the real estate sector. ConReal wants to build a comprehensive marketplace in interior design. In a first step, the company’s current marketplace for the bathroom will be repositioned, the company writes. Habitects is to appear under the ConReal brand.

    The transfer will create a digital marketplace for bathroom remodeling, explains ConReal. Homeowners can choose their style there and have an individual concept drawn up with a target price. As a result, a 3D model of the project is created and a craftsman is entrusted with a feasibility study and a final offer. The desired articles can also be ordered via the marketplace.

    ConReal believes that everyone involved could benefit from the combination of traditional handicrafts and physical products with new digital tools. The start-up plans to expand the platform to other categories. The communication mentions the kitchen and flooring.

  • Blockchain applications for the real estate sector

    Blockchain applications for the real estate sector

    The term blockchain should be familiar by now. Most people associate it with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and it is partly correct, although blockchain is the technology while Bitcoin is an application of it. The technology may seem complicated, the Swiss blockchain expert Michael Trübestein, but he is convinced that “blockchain technology is comparable to the debut of the Internet and it will not stop. For now it is only uncertain how it will develop ».

    First of all, you need to understand how it works: a blockchain is made up of individual blocks, on each of which sequences of data, such as transactions, are stored. A blockchain is a decentralized network. This means that anyone, anywhere in the world, can participate in a blockchain naturally with a computer. Each computer participating in a blockchain stores the same individual blocks in the exact sequence that forms the chain. Each block has its own "DNA". A new computer is only allowed when it has been checked and verified by everyone else. What has been programmed on a blockchain cannot be subsequently changed by a computer. To make a change, all the other computers on the network would have to be involved, and it is precisely for this reason that the blockchain is so secure. If a single computer tries to change the blockchain, the chain is immediately broken and the offender is kicked out.

    In Baar, «Hello World» is the first property in the world to be tokenized
    The possibilities that blockchain technology offers in the real estate sector are enormous, according to Michael Trübestein, professor of property management at the University of Lucerne who specializes in Real Estate Investment and Real Estate Asset Management. Numerous companies are currently researching possible application areas. “Currently, there are only isolated applications, such as in the land registry or in the investment / financing sector. A specific example is the world's first tokenization of a property, Baar's 'Hello World' property, ”says Trübestein. 20 percent (3 million Swiss francs) of the value of "Hello World" was tokenized by the Zug-based company "Blockimmo" and sold to four investors.

    Crowdlitoken also specializes in real estate: founded in 2018, the start-up sees itself as a digital real estate company. “Investors can acquire holdings in selected Swiss real estate for a minimum amount of 100 francs / euro. They are then allowed to build their real estate portfolio by allocating the purchased bonds (Crowdlitokens ‹CRTs›) individually to the various Crowdlitoken properties, ”explains Domenic Kurt, CEO of Crowdlitoken. By participating in the properties, investors can achieve annual returns of 7 percent and decide whether to have it deposited monthly into their bank account or digitally as a CRT token.

    Access to the financial market is liberalized
    No intermediary bank is needed for a digital bond and therefore it is more convenient for the investor. Crowdlitoken has over 630 investors with a volume of 18 million CRTs and its real estate portfolio is constantly growing. Among their prominent users are the Swiss professional footballer Diego Bena-
    son. Kurt defines the difference between Crowdlitoken and other companies based on blockchain technology thus: «there are no competitors who would accept such a low investment for a stake in different real estate properties. To manage investments, users can access the portal with their smartphone ».

    That blockchain has disruptive potential is clear to both Trübestein and Kurt. Crowdlitoken CEO adds: “Banks are becoming obsolete for investment products like ours. New distribution channels are emerging and access to the financial market is being liberalized ». On the one hand, the digitization of the capital market is completely disruptive as it leads to an opening of the financial market. "There are no barriers and the minimum amounts to access them have dropped." On the other hand, the digitization of titles is itself destabilizing: "it means that they are no longer transferred
    transferred values through third parties and – since they are based on blockchain technology – they can be sent without being duplicated first, ”explains Kurt.

    Trübestein adds: «Cryptocurrencies have already influenced the world and the way of thinking of the various operators on the market. Nobody knows how they will develop in the future, but the advantages are already clear now ». There are also prerequisites in Switzerland: “We have goal-oriented framework conditions and innovative companies,” says Trübestein. When implementing innovations it is important that companies work together. This is what happened, for example, with «Hello World»: the operation is the result of the collaboration between Block-immo, Elea Labs and Swiss Crypto Tokens.

    WHAT IS A TOKEN?
    Domenic Kurt, Crowdlitoken: is a digital asset (token) based on the blockchain. It is the digital representation of a title. It contains the ownership rights of the bond, as well as the right to returns and represents a redemption obligation.

    WHAT IS BLOCKCHAIN?
    Michael Trübestein, expert: a chain (= chain) of information (= block). They are time stamped and stored on different computers. This ensures a high degree of protection against forgery. Blockchain systems also differentiate between public networks and private networks. They can be used 24/7.

    WHAT CAN BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY DO BETTER THAN A BANK?
    Domenic Kurt, Crowdlitoken: With securities based on blockchain technology, it is possible to send value without duplicating it. It replaces the creditors' ledger and ensures that transactions take place in a more streamlined, convenient and efficient manner.

    Michael Trübestein

    Domenic Kurt
  • Real estate management goes digital

    Real estate management goes digital

    Digitization is transforming more and more sectors, just think of the banking sector which has long since introduced the concept of E-banking and the ability to manage payments independently directly from your PC or Smartphone. When it comes to digital transformation, real estate is reticent in the implementation of new technologies. Yet if you look at the Swiss PropTech scenario, you will find more than 100 innovative companies and start-ups in the field of Property Management, Construction and Smart Building. This is proof that real estate innovations are not lacking. What seems to be lacking, on the other hand, is the predisposition of entrepreneurs to welcome them, too often short-sighted and tied to routine processes. These mechanisms will therefore have to adapt in the next few years to respond more and more to the needs of a digital market. Tomorrow's tenants are today's teenagers, "born with smartphones in hand", and they are unlikely to have the same way of communicating as current tenants. For this reason, it is important to have a proactive approach to new technologies right from the start and implement them gradually, enabling, on the one hand, current tenants and collaborators to adapt and, on the other, to be ready in time for the needs of tomorrow's tenants.

    We at FlatMan accompany companies in this digital transformation process, allowing them to face change gradually. In a first phase we propose to install our digital notice boards at the entrance of the buildings, through which it is possible to publish any type of notice to tenants directly from your office. This allows you to save paper and travel times, as well as generate additional financial income through optional advertisements. In a second phase, the platform developed by FlatMan allows you to manage communications between tenants, real estate agencies and craftsmen via App (www.flatman.ch). This allows to optimize most of the processes related to real estate administration, increasing their efficiency and traceability.

    Roberto Fantoni, Cofounder FlatMan Sagl.
    Rocco Vicenzi, Cofounder FlatMan Sagl.

  • What does newhome say about the merger?

    What does newhome say about the merger?

    What does newhome say about the merger? Before the announced merger of the marketplaces of TX Group and Ringier , with the kind assistance of Mobiliar and General Atlantic, I conducted an interview with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of newhome.ch. After the bomb burst, I asked Jan Werkman more questions. homegate.ch is playing with fire with the announcement of Quality Partner. The annoyance is great, but the alternatives are small.

    How is the acquisition of new shareholders going?

    As is well known, NNH Holding AG and Next Property AG (NPAG) are the owners. NPAG unites the interests of over 500 players in the real estate industry and decides for itself how to expand its shareholder base. Accordingly, the acquisition (acquisition of shareholders) is the task of Next Property AG with managing director Mario Facchinetti. At newhome.ch, the NPAG shareholders are treated as business customers who enjoy certain preferential conditions.

    Why didn’t newhome.ch participate directly in eMonitor?

    A direct investment does not make sense as there is no intention to merge. newhome sees itself as the hub of an evolving ecosystem and not as an orchestrator or investor. The cantonal banks involved in emonitor AG intend to ensure close cooperation between newhome and emonitor and thereby gradually expand the real estate and housing ecosystem. With a view to this expansion, the three cantonal banks (SGKB, GKB, LUKB) want to attract even more cantonal banks to participate and thus support this commitment more broadly.

    The long-time CEO leaves the portal, giving the impression that he did not leave voluntarily (there is no message on the homepage with the thanks of the Board of Directors)

    Jean-Pierre Valenghi is leaving newhome at the end of 2021. The Board of Directors has granted his wish to be able to devote himself to his family on a sabbatical of several months from August. Official information or further information on his successor will be provided by newhome in due course. newhome will continue to be managed by the second Co-CEO.

    How does the new board of directors intend to position the portal?

    The strategic positioning is in development and not yet completed. newhome will provide information here in due course.

    What should the ecosystem around newhome.ch look like?

    newhome sees itself as the hub of an ecosystem in the real estate and housing sector. Future strategic alliances and collaborations will be evaluated depending on the situation in consultation with the newhome shareholders.

    What does newhome.ch say about the merger? So much for the interview from mid-August. In the meantime the situation has changed fundamentally. I wanted to know from Jan Werkmann whether he would like to make a statement on the merger of the Ringier and TX Group marketplaces. I was also interested in whether the announcement affected the strategy of newhome.ch and whether the speed at which measures were implemented changed? Jan replied: We are not making a statement about the joint venture. Our strategic alignment is being revised in order to do justice to the current market situation even better.

    In old documents I found the vision defined earlier, that with newhome.ch, Switzerland’s dominant real estate marketplace should be created within 18 to 24 months. The data sovereignty should lie with the owners, service providers. The aim is to cooperate with the French-speaking Swiss marketplace immobilier.ch.

    What has been achieved? newhome.ch is far from being the dominant marketplace. The cooperation with immobilier.ch did not materialize. According to market statements, the cantonal banks in Western Switzerland are said to have said goodbye to the shareholders of newhome.ch. This information cannot be verified because the logos of the shareholders are no longer shown on newhome.ch. The previous co-CEO has not (yet) been confirmed as sole managing director. What does newhome say about the merger?

    “Find instead of search”

    The Handelszeitung mentions that newhome.ch has adopted a new strategy. At least this statement contradicts the information given by the Chairman of the Board of Directors in my interview. Above all, according to the Handelszeitung, newhome.ch wants to score with the sentence: Find instead of search. This suggests that newhome.ch has the largest selection of properties. This is definitely not the case. The author of the article in the Handelszeitung sees the greatest advantage of the cooperation between real estate agents and cantonal banks in the fact that the banks “know” whether the money is available for a purchase (and less for a rent). In this way, the potential buyers could be “qualified”. Here, too, it is assumed that only the cantonal banks grant mortgages. But this is not the case. The competition between banks and insurance companies is raging and intermediaries such as Moneypark are playing an increasingly important role. We owners all want the same thing: the lowest possible mortgage interest.

    homegate.ch ensures red heads again

    homegate.ch has created a new award with “homegate.ch Quality Partner”. According to homegate.ch , the portal wants to evaluate the quality of a property (and thus of a provider) according to uniform criteria. The result should be conveyed transparently to homegate.ch customers. homegate.ch attaches great importance to the fact that the seal cannot be bought. Rather, criteria known in advance must be met.

    The announcement causes great excitement on LinkedIn. Coupled with the call to rally together behind newhome.ch. Well, in the general outrage about the merger of the marketplaces, homegate.ch is certainly not acting wisely. Above all, they seem to have forgotten that the “homeday” project triggered Next Property back then. So why break even more dishes if you don’t have to? Are these the first signs of the coming monopoly?

    What does newhome say about the merger? The statements are currently very vague. Let’s just wait for the long-promised deeds.

  • Digital Day 2021 by SVIT

    Digital Day 2021 by SVIT

    As with the first event in 2020, many interested members of the Swiss Association of the Real Estate Industry (SVIT) and other visitors flocked to the popular event location on “Europaallee Zurich”. Providers, users and interested parties were able to exchange ideas at this specialist conference and seek direct contact with various software developers. The latest software applications for the real estate industry were presented by around 40 exhibitors. The practice-oriented specialist presentations are an additional highlight on the “SVIT Digital Day”. At noon, Mario Facchinetti presented the Global Real Estate Run in which people inside and outside the real estate industry are made aware of the importance of the industry for achieving the climate goals. The running event is a symbol of promoting the necessary changes for our health and energy. Daniel Bruckhoff from ImmoScout24 presented the new and diverse possibilities on the new platform for marketing success. How do you make it from classic property management to networked property management? Peter Schindlmeier CEO of casavie, showed where companies have to start in order to be able to set up their system landscape on a sustainable basis. The managing director Rolf Truninger from QualiCasa AG presented the “Visits” app, which allows the most important properties such as condition, standard and materials to be systematically recorded and evaluated using an intuitive and fast interface when viewing properties.   Access to the symposium and the presentations were free of charge for everyone. We are already looking forward to the upcoming event in 2022, which will again show interesting paths in this dynamic digital transformation.
  • Ownership obliges – sustainable area development

    Ownership obliges – sustainable area development

    Creating places to live and study, maintain infrastructures, secure values: the public sector, as the largest property owner, has a special responsibility. Social and technological change presents those responsible with new challenges, plus the effects of Corona. How do you deal with it today and tomorrow?

    Under the motto “Ownership obliges”, the Swiss Public Real Estate Forum 2021 offers food for thought and tools. Get an overview: About innovative concepts in planning, useful cooperation in development, the new procurement law and digital realities in the life cycle of a property. Network and exchange ideas.

    We look forward to seeing you on October 28, 2021 in Aarau!

    Albert Schweizer
     Association of state and municipal real estate directors

    Prof. Dr. Boris Szélpal
     Bern University of Applied Sciences, Architecture, Wood and Construction

    Vanity: bfh.ch/spref

  • Real estate platform immo-invest.ch now online in four languages

    Real estate platform immo-invest.ch now online in four languages

    The Swiss platform for locations and real estate www.immo-invest.ch has been online since April 2020. Since this Monday you can also read all Immo-News and Immo-Projects in English, French and Italian. The digitization of the established real estate magazine “immo! Nvest” is now entering the next phase. Click your way through.