immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Dienstleistungen

  • Between AI dynamics and stable services

    Between AI dynamics and stable services

    In Switzerland, the increase in employment in the second quarter of 2025 was only 0.6 %. The long-term average is 1.3 %. Germany is stagnating, France is even recording a decline, only Italy and the United Kingdom are still showing growth, albeit below the norm. In Switzerland, the service sectors are affected differently. While the healthcare and education sectors are experiencing robust growth, the ICT sector is down 1.4% and has lost almost 3,000 jobs

    ICT weakens
    The ICT sector has been a growth driver for years. Currently, a combination of productivity gains through artificial intelligence, automation and economic restraint is causing a noticeable slowdown. Routine tasks are being automated and the demand for traditional software developers is falling. Junior positions in particular are coming under pressure as a result of the use of AI. Tasks are being completed faster and with fewer staff, and entry-level opportunities are becoming rarer. In contrast, specialized roles for cloud architecture, machine learning and cybersecurity remain scarce and in demand

    After some above-average growth in ICT in recent years, a correction phase can be observed, which is also accompanied by a shift in job profiles.

    Government-related services remain stable
    The picture is different for healthcare, education and public administration. These government-related sectors continue to grow steadily, in some cases even above average. They are driven by three factors.

    • Demographics: Ageing societies, retirements and a shortage of skilled workers are increasing the need for care, support and education.
    • Political initiatives: Programs and wage incentives specifically promote new hires, for example in care or early childhood education, and ensure employment growth.
    • Productivity limit: Many activities in the education and social sector can hardly be automated, the need for personnel remains constantly high (“Baumol effect”)

    Specialization is in demand
    The labour market remains dual. Growth continues in government-related sectors, driven by social and political trends. In the ICT sector, demand remains fundamentally present, but is shifting more towards specialized and higher-skilled roles. Investments in the cloud, AI and cyber security will be key job drivers in the long term. However, there will be no broad-based increase in employment. Those who focus specifically on the skills of the future will remain successful in the changing job market.

    After strong years, 2025 marks a turning point in Switzerland and Europe. Declines in the ICT sector, robust growth in government services. The dualization of labour market trends will continue to intensify. Specialized skills and all services related to healthcare, education and administration have a bright future.

  • Flash GDP shows only minimal growth

    Flash GDP shows only minimal growth

    After a solid start to the year with growth of 0.8%, the momentum of the Swiss economy slowed significantly in spring 2025. According to the flash estimate published by Seco on Friday, GDP rose by just 0.1% in the second quarter. This confirms the impression of a cooling economy, which is in line with expectations but well below the start of the year.

    Industry weakens
    The main reason for the meagre growth was a negative development in industry, which was characterized by falling demand and global uncertainty. By contrast, the service sector proved to be a stabilizing factor. It was able to partially compensate for the declines in industry and thus prevented zero growth. Consumer-related services and the finance and insurance sector in particular performed robustly.

    Pharmaceutical exports fueled the first quarter
    The clear contrast to the start of the year illustrates the volatility of the Swiss economy. An extraordinary special effect boosted the economy in the first quarter. The uncertainties surrounding possible US tariffs led to exports, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, being brought forward to the USA before new regulations came into force. This pull-forward effect contributed significantly to the 0.8% increase at the time, but has now disappeared.

    Disagreement among economists
    The current trend is in line with forecasts, but experts’ assessments differed widely in advance. The economists surveyed by the news agency AWP ranged from a slight decline of 0.3% to growth of 0.3%. The increase of 0.1% now reported is therefore exactly in the middle of expectations.

    Methodology and outlook
    The published figures are based on a quick estimate (“flash GDP”), which is published around 45 days after the end of the quarter. Seco combines early production data with forecasts in order to provide an initial indication of the economic trend. As incomplete basic data is still used, the values may change in the regular publication. The official estimate, including detailed analyses on the production, use and income side, will be published on August 28, 2025.

    A comprehensive revision of the national accounts is also due later in the year. The revised GDP data from 1980 to the second quarter of 2025 will be published on September 29, 2025.

    The Swiss economy is virtually treading water in spring 2025. While industry continues to struggle with difficult conditions, the robust service sector is preventing a slide into stagnation. The coming months will show whether the economy will stabilize or whether further braking effects will dampen development. International trade relations, the development of interest rates and global demand will remain decisive factors.

  • Lighthouse Papieri Cham

    Lighthouse Papieri Cham

    People today are looking for the “as well as” – in the case of Papieri, it is the interplay of an urban lifestyle in close proximity to nature. On the one hand, the new district offers all the extras of a lively neighbourhood with practical services for everyday life, such as a wide range of shopping and dining options, childcare and cultural and sporting activities
    And catering facilities, childcare and cultural and sporting activities. On the other hand, you can find peace and quiet by the River Lorze or in one of the neighbouring recreational areas.

    Next Level Spaces
    In the third construction phase, a total of 10,000 m² of office, commercial and retail space will be created with the “Next Level Spaces”. Where and how people work has changed dramatically in recent years. Attractive and adaptable work concepts are needed to inspire employees. This leads to new requirements for buildings, such as a high degree of flexibility in order to fulfil a wide range of needs, from office layout to building services.

    The spaces in the “Next Level Spaces” can be flexibly designed and are over 6 metres high with a payload of up to one tonne per m², and intermediate floors can be installed as required. The user decides where intermediate floors are needed and can also create additional space at a later date. The “Next Level Spaces” offer future-orientated companies a wow location for offices, trade and Industry 4.0.

    Landmark boiler house
    The landmark at the heart of the site – the listed boiler house – will also be converted in the third construction phase. Where steam boilers used to be fired up, guests can expect a culinary treat in future. In spring 2026, the Segmüller Collection will expand its portfolio of unique gastronomy concepts such as Carlton, Loft Five, Roof Garden and Sablier in Zurich to Papieri-Platz in Cham and open a new grill restaurant with bar and lounge on the ground floor of the Kesselhaus. Industrial charm meets modern lifestyle, archaic fire cuisine meets refined elegance – a place that promises enjoyment for every taste. In the western section above, unique office space awaits new users in the former monument, while a fitness centre in the eastern section offers space for physical exercise.

    Sustainability
    Awarded the “Watt d’Or” by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, the energy system of the Papieri site enables completely CO2-free operation and ultimately generates around 75% of the energy on site. In addition, the “Next Level Spaces” commercial building is certified with the internationally renowned “Leed Platinum” sustainability label. Resource-conserving construction is also already common practice at Papieri. For example, with the conversion of listed buildings such as the boiler house or an innovative timber-hybrid residential tower block. However, the most important contribution to sustainability is a long service life. Great attention is paid to this factor during development. Buildings must be flexible in order to meet the as yet unknown needs of a changing society in the future. An office building that can be converted into flats, for example, prevents premature demolition and thus contributes to sustainability. This is why Papieri constructs high-quality, adaptable buildings that will still be in favour for various uses decades from now.

  • IKEA Switzerland offers 3D room planner for your own home

    IKEA Switzerland offers 3D room planner for your own home

    The furniture store IKEA Switzerland presents a new 3D room planner. According to a press release, IKEA Kreativ allows you to design your own home virtually. The new free function is now available in the IKEA app and online. IKEA Kreativ utilises the latest 3D technology and artificial intelligence, the press release continues.

    Users can choose between two options. Option 1 allows you to scan and design your own living space. Option 2 allows you to set up interactive 3D showrooms.

    With the first option, a wide-angle image of a room is taken with the smartphone and saved in the user’s IKEA profile. There is no need to tidy up, as the furniture eraser function can be used to empty the entire room or digitally remove individual items, such as an old couch or clutter, according to the press release. You can then browse through the IKEA range and place your favourite products in the virtual living room. With option 2, it is not your own room that is set up, but an interactive 3D showroom provided by IKEA.

    If you want to put the room design into practice, you can add individual products or the entire room furnishings to your shopping basket and order them online. Alternatively, the products can also be added to the shopping list in the app for the next visit to the IKEA store.

    “We see great potential in using innovative technologies to improve the shopping experience and make the transition between our online offering and a visit to the store seamless,” says Ann Ström, Country Digital Manager at IKEA Switzerland.

  • CSL Immobilien appoints Piffaretti and Walter as co-CEOs

    CSL Immobilien appoints Piffaretti and Walter as co-CEOs

    Renato Piffaretti will take office on 1 October as one of two future CEOs at Zurich-based CSL Immobilien. According to a media release, his focus will be on product development and product marketing. He was most recently Head of Real Estate Switzerland at Swiss Life Asset Management AG.

    The company, led by Chairman of the Board Markus Schawalder, has decided on a co-CEO structure to succeed Yonas Mulugeta, who will leave at the end of September. Piffaretti’s competencies will complement those of Thomas Walter. The latter will take up his post as Co-CEO on 1 March 2024 at the latest and will then be responsible for the areas of business and digitalisation.

    “The appointment of Renato Piffaretti and Thomas Walter is the right step to strengthen and expand CSL’s services,” Schawalder is quoted as saying in the statement. “They will successfully shape the future of CSL Immobilien based on the cornerstones of innovation, quality and responsibility.”

  • Real estate: maximize sales proceeds with the right broker

    Real estate: maximize sales proceeds with the right broker

    The home ownership platform Liiva supports homeowners in a simple and transparent way in recognizing risks and making the right decisions – from the acquisition to the maintenance to the sale of the apartment or house. When maintaining a property, you can use the modernization assistant (MoA), for example, to find out what measures you need to take to maintain the value of your property – and what needs to be done to increase it.

    The innovative MoA determines the current market value of a property and creates an object analysis as well as a concrete renovation plan. In addition, Liiva indicates the energy consumption of the property, provides general information on energy-related renovation and determines the specific potential of the property for energy improvement.

    Selling price is more important than brokerage fee
    The sale of a property also has far-reaching financial consequences and must therefore be well prepared. For the sale of residential property, Liiva complements its digital services with physical presence and the know-how of experienced brokers. Agents normally charge 2 to 3 percent of the sales price achieved, which is around 30,000 to 45,000 francs for a property with a market value of 1.5 million francs. Agents not only help to find a buyer through their network, optimize the sale price, draft contracts and complete the sale, but also offer other valuable local know-how.

    But what criteria do I use to select a suitable broker? The brokerage fee should only have a secondary influence on the decision. When selling a property, the aim is usually to maximize the sales proceeds – and because the sales price can vary by 100,000 to 200,000 francs and more, optimizing the proceeds is more important than the brokerage fee, which is 10,000 to 20,000 francs lower or can be higher. The involvement of an experienced broker is therefore of the utmost importance.

    Choose the best broker
    A professional broker selection is independent and based on transparent criteria. That means, for example, are there currently numerous similar properties in the brokerage firm's sales portfolio, were such properties recently sold, how quickly were they sold, and at what price? In addition, the selection should be made from a sufficiently broad pool of brokers.

    Thanks to Liiva's partnership with the independent real estate platform Bestag, which specializes in finding the most suitable brokers, several competent local brokers can be suggested to customers throughout Switzerland; the final choice is made by the sellers. There is no exclusivity and no special placements for selected brokers – and the quality of the broker's sales work is constantly checked. Liiva personally accompanies the seller through all steps of the sales process.

    Transparent incentive system
    Specifically, three local brokers are suggested to the customers, from whom they each receive a market value estimate of their property. In addition, Liiva provides two neutral hedonic estimates that give customers a good idea of where the current fair price is. The remuneration of the selected brokers is based on a bonus-malus system that ensures that the broker makes the best possible effort with the sale: If the broker exceeds the target price, he or she earns a higher percentage.

    For the sellers there are no additional costs for this brokerage, since the expenses incurred by Liiva are covered by a small part of the brokerage commission. These commissions vary depending on the location, but are always shown transparently. The customer can thus decide for himself in advance whether he agrees with the broker's suggestions and the corresponding conditions, and there are no unpleasant surprises.

    The mix of digital and physical services when selling real estate enables the best result to be achieved.

  • Sale of Helion to the AMAG Group

    Sale of Helion to the AMAG Group

    in Switzerland, Bouygues Energies & Services is the market leader in the areas of building technology, facility management and energy supply technology to promote the energy transition. The sale takes place against the background of Bouygues Energies & Services' increased focus on its core activity, the integrated planning, development and management of commercial real estate, sites, industrial plants and portfolios.

    During the negotiations, Bouygues Energies & Services attached particular importance to ensuring that no employees would be made redundant in connection with the sale of the Helion division. The AMAG Group meets this requirement and will take on all of Helion's employees.

    Comprehensive energy solutions for the B2B market
    With the sale, Bouygues Energies & Services is increasingly focusing on comprehensive energy solutions in the B2B market, in which the Swiss company is traditionally firmly anchored. In view of the challenges that the energy transition entails for private individuals and companies, the sale of Helion offers all parties involved excellent opportunities to offer customers in their respective market segments more solutions for saving energy and reducing CO2 emissions.

    The sale will have no impact on Bouygues Energies & Services and Helion customers. All ongoing projects will be continued and implemented according to the agreed conditions.

    Bouygues Energies & Services
    Bouygues is a global family business. With around 100 locations in Switzerland, Bouygues Energies & Services is locally anchored, nationally active and globally networked. We employ around 5,000 people across Switzerland, 350 of whom are apprentices. Thanks to our worldwide experience and our regional know-how, we are your ideal partner for innovative services in the areas of building technology, facility & property management, energy supply, traffic engineering, telecommunications, process automation, photovoltaics and e-mobility.

  • Lonza is expanding in Basel

    Lonza is expanding in Basel

    Lonza AG is expanding its operational headquarters in Basel, which has been located on the Lindenhof site since 1962, the cantonal administration of Basel-Stadt informs in a press release . Two more high-rise buildings are to be built in the vicinity of the existing Lonza high-rise building, which is under a preservation order. In addition to commercial and service areas that are required by Lonza, apartments "for different needs" are also planned, according to the statement.

    The extension buildings are intended to “develop the area into a green, mixed-use and publicly accessible district component of the St. Alban district,” writes the canton administration. The edge of the park is to be preserved and planted with more trees. Grounds previously sealed by parking lots and tennis courts will be "upgraded and greened in terms of biodiversity and climate compatibility".

    The plan requirement for the necessary change to a development plan from 1991 that was never implemented can be viewed at the cantonal building and transport department until September 30th. On September 6, Lonza also wants to provide information about the project itself from 6 p.m. in the Hotel Victoria.

  • The Swiss proptech company Immowise offers its solution in German-speaking Switzerland

    The Swiss proptech company Immowise offers its solution in German-speaking Switzerland

    Condominiums in Switzerland: An industry that only gains from digitization
    Swiss real estate is feeling the direct effects of the turn to digitization, as the most important players in the industry have accelerated the pace of increasing efficiency every year. Switzerland, with its 1.4 million owners* (including more than 445,000** condominiums), ultimately represents an important market for Immowise.

    Immowise's digital solution is easy to implement and adapts to any type of condominium. By connecting to the most important ERPs used in the industry, the platform is fully integrated into the digitization strategy initiated by the agencies. The lean cost management is also suitable for small structures and self-governing condominium associations.

    An office in Zurich serving condominium owners' associations in German-speaking Switzerland
    With the office opening in Zurich, Immowise wants to offer administrations, self-managed condominium associations or independent local administrators a solution to simplify and reduce the workload with a platform that has already proven itself in western Switzerland. By 2022, around 20 general meetings for over 500 condominium owners had already been held. Immowise wants to cover all Swiss regions by 2023. In addition, the platform will be expanded with additional modules such as the internal news service for condominium owners, the comparison of cost estimates and budget management.

    Immowise's development in German-speaking Switzerland is rounded off with the appointment of Teresa Astorina as Director, based in the Zurich region. As a recognized expert in the real estate sector, in which she has been active for over 25 years, she takes over the proptech leadership with the declared goal of converting the management of condominium associations throughout Switzerland using digital technology.

    Sebastian Chiappero, Managing Director of Wise.swiss, Immowise's parent company, adds: "20 months after the founding of Immowise, the appointment of a director marks a further step towards ensuring the nationwide rollout of Immowise. I am very pleased that Teresa will be part of this Position has joined us. Her many years of experience in the real estate industry and her skills in the area of strategy development are all plus points for Immowise". Among other things, she was also active in the management or in leading positions in companies such as Credit Suisse, m3 Real Estate, Privera or EPM.

    Teresa Astorina emphasizes: "The future of the real estate industry lies in digitization. I am very proud to be able to accompany the development of a "Swiss made" solution that offers a real service in the management of condominiums in Switzerland."

    Portrait of Teresa Astorina here for download

    About Immowise
    Immowise was founded in 2021 and is the first Swiss solution for the digitization of condominium meetings. Developed and hosted in Switzerland, this application helps administrators and condominium owners prepare, manage and follow up on meetings. It complements the wise.swiss software from EPwise AG, which was launched in 2020 and offers public administrations and companies a range of digital communication and event organization tools (eventwise, partnerwise and fundwise). https://wise.swiss/de/immowise/
    Immowise headquarters: Neuchâtel
    Offices: Geneva, Zurich

  • Home ownership: the mix of digitization and physical presence is crucial

    Home ownership: the mix of digitization and physical presence is crucial

    Do you remember the time when there was no internet? In Switzerland, the Internet boom began in 1995 – on September 16, 1996, the Internet became affordable for the general public, since access was possible throughout Switzerland at local telephone rates. The USA, especially American Internet startups, paved the way to the Internet age worldwide – Amazon was founded in 1994, Ebay in 1995 and Google in 1998.

    Activities in areas such as e-commerce, e-banking and various market and information platforms quickly followed in Switzerland. The marketplace for rental apartments and home ownership was digitized early on: the market leaders Immoscout24 and Homegate were founded in 1997 and 2001 respectively. In recent years, countless other platforms and services related to the real estate market have joined the online marketplaces for renting and selling real estate: sharing platforms such as Airbnb, housing portals where landlords look for tenants, real estate platforms for institutional investors, platforms for crowdsourcing and peer-to-peer financing, and many more.

    The search for real estate takes place virtually

    Digital platforms are an essential part of the housing market – and there is hardly anyone who does not first visit the websites or apps of the various providers when looking for a rental apartment or a home. Efficient search engines provide valuable information on offers and prices; increasingly better 360-degree videos offer virtual tours, and chatbots answer the most pressing questions. User trust in many of these digital platforms is high, not least because false information is immediately exposed by the community.

    These digital services provide a quick and easy market overview from the sofa; if a new property that meets certain criteria comes onto the market, the interested party will be notified immediately. But while the search for real estate has been almost completely and successfully relocated to the virtual space, most tenants still want to see the potential new apartment in person – and when buying, selling and maintaining residential property, hardly anything works without a physical presence. Digitization is reaching its limits.

    With the help of digital assistants, a property profile can be created quickly and easily with the year of construction, net living space, property type, location, etc. and the current condition of the building can be determined. Based on such a profile, individual modernization assistants even provide concrete recommendations as to exactly what should be replaced or modernized and when, including a range of the corresponding renovation costs. Platforms can also provide a lot of suggestions and information in the area of energy-efficient renovation, for example on savings in electricity consumption or possible subsidies for heating systems based on renewable energy.

    Physical presence is required for investment decisions

    However, when it comes to assessing the "look and feel" of a property, physical presence on site is essential. The definitive assessment of the condition of a building and the decision as to which renovation materials are really necessary can only be made on site – and together with experienced experts. The choice of the right craftsmen also takes place physically, at least in a second step, since they also have to inspect the property personally in order to be able to create concrete offers.

    In addition, many financial institutions require a "physical" appraisal prepared by a special appraiser for the financing of a home. Since real estate is not fungible, every transaction is different – and specialists should also be consulted for the negotiation and conclusion of a real estate transaction.

    Digital home ownership platforms can provide a lot of benefits and cover many needs related to the purchase, maintenance or sale of a property. But it doesn't work without people. Only the mix of digitization and physical presence – as well as the support of appropriate experts – leads to the best result.

  • Swiss Prime Site: Acquisition of the Akara Group in Zug

    Swiss Prime Site: Acquisition of the Akara Group in Zug

    Acquisition of the founder-managed and successful Akara Group, Swiss Prime Site, strengthens the business model in the services segment with the intended takeover of the founder-managed Akara Group from Zug. Akara Funds AG was founded in 2016 by Karl Theiler and Jonathan van Gelder and developed into a fund provider regulated by FINMA with a focus on residential and commercial real estate.

    The group also includes Akara Real Estate Management AG, which provides real estate services in the areas of development, realization, management and marketing, and Akara Property Development AG, which manages a limited partnership for collective capital investments (KmGK). The group employs a total of around 50 specialized real estate specialists, all of whom will be taken over. The real estate assets under management total around CHF 2.3 billion and consist of the “Akara Diversity PK”, a real estate fund for tax-exempt pension schemes, the private equity product “Akara Property Development 1 KmGK” for qualified investors and a development pipeline (including Akara Tower, Baden) of over CHF 240 million. René Zahnd, CEO of Swiss Prime Site: “We are very pleased to be able to acquire an innovative, dynamic and at the same time established company in the Akara Group. The business model
    of the fund provider and the corporate culture are a perfect match for Swiss Prime Site Solutions. “

    Karl Theiler, CEO Akara adds: “The future membership of the Swiss Prime Site Group enables us to bundle our strengths in the area of funds and to significantly expand our market position.” The two contracting parties have agreed not to disclose the sales price. The acquisition will be financed 35% from Swiss Prime Site shares and the authorized capital provided for this purpose. The remainder of the transaction amount is paid from freely available funds.

    Significant expansion and strengthening of the group-wide investment platform
    The closing of the transaction is expected to take place in mid-January 2022 retrospectively to January 1, 2022. It is planned to integrate the Akara Group or the respective companies into Swiss Prime Site Solutions in the course of the 2022 financial year and to merge the two fund management companies. The intended merger will make Swiss Prime Site Solutions one of the leading Swiss real estate asset managers with real estate assets and under management (including development pipeline) of over CHF 6.5 billion and an expected EBIT contribution of CHF 27 to 28 million in 2022. With the acquisition, Swiss Prime Site Solutions can significantly expand its customer base and expand the existing investment platform with additional product and fund categories such as real estate private equity investments. To ensure an orderly transition, the two company founders will continue to work for the company until July 2022. There is also the option of further collaboration on a mandate basis. Anastasius Tschopp, CEO of Swiss Prime Site Solutions, sums up: “I am delighted to welcome the Akara team to our place and, together with Swiss Prime Site Solutions, to shape them into an even more quick-witted real estate asset manager. The two companies complement each other perfectly in terms of customers, employees and know-how. “

  • Hälg buys Malpur

    Hälg buys Malpur

    The building technology company Hälg , based in the St.GallenBodenseeArea, announces the purchase of the Zürcher Malpur Gebäudetechnik AG in a press release. Malpur moves the company headquarters and the workforce to the headquarters of Hälg in Winterthur and cedes the proper name. Both companies will operate on the market as Hälg & Co. AG in the future.

    With the merger, two industry giants in the building technology division are pooling their competencies: Boris Bischoff, branch manager of Hälg & Co. AG Winterthur, in the communication quoted. Malpur has many years of industry experience in the professional maintenance and repair of building technology systems.

    Hälg announces that the takeover took place retrospectively as of January 1, 2021 and that it aims to be the "leading Swiss service company for building technology in the fields of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and sanitation over the entire life cycle of a system".