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As the editor of the Swiss21.org blog, I really wanted to learn more about its background and the exciting offerings for small businesses. That\u2019s why I talked to managing directors Walter Regli, Damian Thurnheer and Sascha Tr\u00fceb. They will give you an insight into Swiss21.org\u2019s digital business tools. You\u2019ll also find out some background about how the company was formed.<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/swiss21.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Damian_WalterSascha.jpg” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Bild: Damian, Walter und Sascha” _builder_version=”3.23″ _i=”1″ _address=”0.0.0.1″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Bildunterschrift” _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_font_size_tablet=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” _i=”2″ _address=”0.0.0.2″]<\/p>\n The managing directors of Swiss21.org (l – r): Damian Thurnheer, Walter Regli and Sascha Tr\u00fceb.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ _i=”3″ _address=”0.0.0.3″]<\/p>\n Hi everyone. Swiss21.org started out as an online portal that provided small businesses with free business tools. Can you tell our readers a bit about Swiss21.org\u2019s background?<\/strong><\/p>\n Walter Regli:<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>Swiss21.org is an organisation that aims to support small Swiss businesses with digitalisation. Previously, digitalising and automating business processes was reserved for big companies with big budgets. In smaller businesses, a lot is still being done manually. There are various reasons for this. A few of these include a lack of technical knowledge, high investment costs and lack of availability of software solutions that are aligned to the needs of small businesses.<\/p>\n Damian Thurnheer: <\/em><\/strong>Swiss21.org\u2019s idea is to remove any obstacles that are in the way. The applications are solely run in the cloud, so users don\u2019t need any technical knowledge or an expensive infrastructure. They just need a computer and an internet connection to be able to work with the tools. The software is also aligned to the needs of small businesses. There are lots of software solutions on the market, with a huge range of functions. But these are often too complicated to use. One big advantage of digitalisation is that different applications can be linked together and certain processes can be automated. Even though many providers today offer interfaces to other software, the set-up process is often not that straight-forward. That\u2019s why Swiss21 apps are connected to each other by default.<\/p>\n Of course, I\u2019d also like to know what specific applications you offer. Can you give us a brief overview?<\/strong><\/p>\n Sascha Tr\u00fceb:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>Sure! There are three applications currently available on the platform: 21.AbaNinja handles everything to do with finances \u2013 from creating and sending quotations, invoices and reminders, through to bookkeeping. The other two apps 21.Shop (an online shop) and 21.POS (an online point of sale system) actually go together but can be added separately due to their different functionalities. CRM is coming soon to add enhanced contact management to the range of functions.<\/p>\n It was recently Swiss Digital Day and there were a lot of posts online focusing on how digitalisation can cut costs for companies in particular. There were millions of posts. Is that also a reason why small businesses should use your tools?<\/strong><\/p>\n Walter Regli:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0The main thing is for small businesses to also address this issue and digitalise their operations. This will save them time, which they can then use to focus on their day-to-day activities. Plus, it can often make them look more professional. But it\u2019s important to classify the word \u2018digitalisation\u2019 properly. Digitalisation doesn\u2019t just have to be about disruptive innovations. Digitalisation also means making current processes digital and thereby making them more efficient. So digitalisation isn\u2019t really a new topic \u2013 it\u2019s just that there\u2019s a lot of talk about it at the moment.<\/p>\n That being said, new technological possibilities are getting things moving across all industries: it\u2019s easier and cheaper than ever before to set up a company. And thanks to the internet, you can target a much bigger market than you previously could. This means that an electrician isn\u2019t just in competition with the electrician from the nearby village but with all electricians in Switzerland. For bigger jobs, they may also be competing with electricians from neighbouring countries.<\/p>\n What makes Swiss21.org unique in comparison to other providers?<\/strong><\/p>\n Damian Thurnheer:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0The first thing has to be our organisational form. We think of ourselves as a not-for-profit ecosystem for small businesses in Switzerland. Swiss21.org has the support of various software manufacturers and a neutral management team.<\/p>\n One of the main advantages of Swiss21.org is the depth and stability we bring to the integration of various tools. We deliberately chose the approach of offering the basics in the simplest way possible, whereas the options that we offer are integrated into the ecosystem very broadly. This is a lot more complex than providing an open interface that each manufacturer can use to connect their software to. But in return, we achieve a very high level of quality when various applications work together. Another advantage of Swiss21 is the actual applications. These come from leading manufacturers that each have many years of experience in their industries. So the user doesn\u2019t just get well-integrated applications, but first-class, functioning, tried and tested applications that have been well thought out.<\/p>\n How do I start using the tools?<\/strong><\/p>\n Sascha Tr\u00fceb:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>You can create an account on the website www.swiss21.org. You will then receive an email containing an activation link. Once you click on this link, you can log onto the portal and enter your company information there. The first application 21.AbaNinja is automatically installed and is accessible from the portal\u2019s dashboard. To start with, I\u2019d recommend opening this app and going through the settings to see if you want to change anything. You can then install the other apps, like 21.Shop or 21.POS, by clicking on the \u2018+\u2019 symbol.<\/p>\n Are the tools designed to be used by one employee in a company or do you need several employees from different areas?<\/strong><\/p>\n Sascha Tr\u00fceb:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>The tools are designed so that they can only be used by one person. But depending on the application, it\u2019s also possible to add other people as users. So, for example, each employee can record their own working hours in the system.<\/p>\n Is it true that you offer the products for free?<\/strong><\/p>\n Walter Regli:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Yes, the basic versions of all Swiss21.org apps are free \u2013 up to a maximum of 2,100 records\/year, or 2,100 products and 2,100 contacts. Based on our estimates, this is enough for most small businesses to be able to use the tools for free in the long-term. If the business grows, there is the option of increasing this limit to 5,000 for a fixed monthly fee. If the business has special requirements, additional modules can be purchased for each of the apps.<\/p>\n As a team, where do you think swiss21.org\u2019s greatest potential lies?<\/strong><\/p>\n Walter Regli:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>In Switzerland, there are around 456,000 companies with 1-4 employees. This equates to 80% of all companies in Switzerland. Administration is often still done manually with Word and Excel in these companies. And this is exactly where Swiss21.org\u2019s huge potential lies. With our tools, these companies can digitalise their processes and become more efficient without having much expertise and without making any big investments. This improves their competitiveness and promotes growth, which ultimately helps everyone involved: digitalised companies become more profitable and recognise the advantages of digitalisation. Software manufacturers develop new and better functions to make companies even more efficient based on customer feedback. Overall, this strengthens Switzerland as a business location and the national economy.<\/p>\n Are the tools \u2018just\u2019 intended for SMEs, or for start-ups too?<\/strong><\/p>\n Damian Thurnheer: <\/em><\/strong>Swiss21.org can be used by existing companies as well as newly established companies. Swiss21.org is a great starting point for start-ups, because they don\u2019t have to change old processes and capital often has to be invested in implementing the business idea.<\/p>\n To finish off, I\u2019d like to know why companies should choose Swiss21.org?<\/strong><\/p>\n Damian Thurnheer: <\/em><\/strong>There\u2019s no reason not to: with Swiss21.org, you have the opportunity to digitalise your company with the best technology on the market without any risk and free of charge!<\/p>\n