Digital transformation in Switzerland - facts, figures and data

The digital transformation in Switzerland is gaining momentum - but where do companies really stand today? The Swiss AI Report 2025 provides a comprehensive overview of the data for the first time: Almost half of all companies classify their level of digital maturity as medium. Nevertheless, data silos, a lack of AI strategies and an undeveloped digital mindset are often holding back AI integration. This article looks at the latest facts, figures and data and shows how a holistic AI maturity model such as Hexagon uses six key areas to make digital progress measurable.

Current status: Digital transformation in Switzerland in 2025

Switzerland is in the midst of a digital transformation. According to the empirical Swiss AI Report 2025 study - one of the most comprehensive surveys on the level of AI maturity in Swiss companies - 46.6% of the companies surveyed ranked themselves in the midfield in terms of digital maturity. Around a quarter (27.5%) still see themselves in the lower maturity segment, while 25.9% have already implemented advanced approaches. This broad distribution illustrates how heterogeneous the degree of digitalization in Swiss companies is: while some pioneers are already successfully using AI productively, others are still at the beginning of their digitalization in the company.

Challenges: Despite growing awareness of digital transformation in Switzerland, many companies are struggling with fundamental hurdles. Unstructured data and fragmented data silos are frequently cited: Only around 8% of companies have a fully consistent and uniformly structured data foundation across all divisions. The majority, on the other hand, struggle with heterogeneous data structures - in around 35% of companies, many systems work in isolation without a consistent data infrastructure, which slows down the flow of information.

In addition, more than half of companies (51%) do not currently measure the success of AI initiatives with key figures. Only 28% define clear KPIs (key performance indicators) to track the added value of AI projects, while a further 21% at least record individual key figures. This lack of success monitoring makes it difficult to evaluate the actual benefits of AI and digitalization projects and to learn from them.

There is also a need to catch up strategically: many companies still lack a clear AI strategy or long-term digital roadmap. It is not uncommon for initial AI projects to be implemented in isolation without being embedded in a comprehensive digitalization strategy. The report also highlights cultural barriers - a rigid mindset or reluctance to change can mean that even available technologies are not fully utilized. In short: unstructured data, a lack of strategy and limited internal skills are among the biggest stumbling blocks on the path to AI excellence.

The hexagon model: measuring digital maturity holistically

To make the digital maturity level of a company tangible and comparable, the St. Gallen-based company CorpIn - a leading provider of AI readiness strategies - has developed the Hexagon model. This scientifically sound AI maturity model is based on the findings of over 1,300 decision-makers surveyed and forms the core of the Hexagon platform. Instead of looking at digitalization selectively, the model enables a holistic assessment of AI readiness: it identifies strengths and gaps in all relevant fields of action so that companies can make the right adjustments in a targeted manner.

Why Hexagon? The name is derived from the six dimensions that together provide a complete picture of digital maturity. Each of these six pillars highlights an essential aspect of digitalization in the company:

1. data foundation

A robust database is the foundation of every digital initiative. This is about data quality, consistency and accessibility within the company. Is data from different sources integrated or are there data silos? Does the company have a uniform data infrastructure that AI solutions can build on? Companies with a strong data foundation can make well-founded decisions and train AI models more effectively.

2. strategy (strategic anchoring)

This dimension looks at how strongly digital transformation and AI strategy are anchored in the corporate strategy. Is there a clear vision and measurable goals for the use of AI and automation? A high level of maturity in this pillar means that top management actively promotes the digital agenda, allocates resources in a targeted manner and tracks progress based on defined KPIs. Without strategic anchoring, AI initiatives often remain isolated experiments with no lasting effect.

3. culture (organizational culture)

Technological change can only succeed with the right digital mindset. The cultural dimension sheds light on the extent to which openness to innovation, willingness to learn and cross-divisional collaboration are practiced in the company. Is a culture of error and agile working encouraged? Do managers support data-driven decision-making? A mature digital company is characterized by a culture that sees change as an opportunity and empowers employees to embrace new technologies.

4. technology (technical requirements)

This aspect examines the existing IT and technology infrastructure for AI integration. Does the company have modern systems, cloud services, computing power and tools to implement AI solutions? Is data stored appropriately and are interfaces provided? A high level of maturity implies that technological foundations such as data platforms, IT architecture and integrations have been developed in such a way that new digital solutions can be piloted and scaled quickly.

5. security & privacy

The digital transformation also entails responsibility. This dimension assesses how well companies are positioned in the areas of data security, data protection and the ethical use of AI. Are there clear guidelines and measures in place to protect sensitive data? Are compliance requirements and AI ethics taken into account? Employees and customers will only accept and actively support new AI solutions if security and trust are guaranteed.

6. competence (awareness & competence)

Ultimately, it comes down to the people: Does the team have the necessary skills and knowledge to make good use of AI? This pillar examines the status of further training, skills development and general awareness of digital trends. Are employees trained in AI? Are there enough specialists or partners with AI expertise? Companies with a high level of maturity invest in their talent and promote company-wide awareness of the opportunities offered by AI.

Key findings of the Hexagon study: Where does Switzerland stand?

The Swiss AI Report 2025 reveals that most Swiss companies have already made progress in individual dimensions, but rarely in all of them at the same time. For example, many companies perform well in the area of security - data protection and compliance are traditionally strongly anchored in Switzerland. Larger companies have also often already invested in technology (such as IT infrastructure) and data foundations, for example in data warehouses or cloud platforms.

Deficits, on the other hand, are often found in strategy and culture: without a consistent AI strategy, projects remain piecemeal, and without cultural anchoring, employees lack the framework to drive digital innovations forward. The gap in measuring success is also notable. As mentioned, over 50% do not have clear KPIs to monitor the success of their digitalization projects. This blind trust makes it difficult to learn from experience and continuously improve. There is great potential here to create more transparency with clearly defined metrics.

Another key finding: AI integration is increasingly taking place in Switzerland, but often gradually. Many companies are initially focusing on pilot projects or isolated use cases (e.g. chatbots in customer service or initial machine learning analyses) instead of carrying out a comprehensive transformation. The reasons for this often lie in the issues mentioned above - lack of data quality, unclear strategy, limited expertise - but also in a certain degree of caution. Swiss companies want to minimize risks and create internal awareness before investing heavily in AI.

On a positive note, a growing number of decision-makers are aware of the importance of a digital mindset. More and more managers are promoting cross-functional teams and innovation initiatives to keep pace. The Swiss AI Report 2025 also shows that companies that successfully integrate AI are already benefiting from measurable efficiency gains and new value creation opportunities. These opportunities are motivating latecomers to abandon their reluctance and actively embrace digital transformation.

Challenges and opportunities in AI integration

The introduction of AI and advanced digital solutions is not a sure-fire success. The biggest challenges for companies include breaking down silo structures and creating a shared data pool that is accessible to all relevant stakeholders. In addition, a clear strategy must be developed that is in line with business objectives - including defined KPIs to make successes and failures visible. On a cultural level, the task is to reduce the fears of the workforce and promote a digital mindset. Employees at all levels should understand that AI does not primarily replace jobs, but makes routine tasks easier and creates space for higher-value activities.

At the same time, there are enormous opportunities: companies that overcome these hurdles can use AI to achieve considerable increases in productivity, address customers in a personalized way and develop new business models. In areas such as predictive maintenance, automated data analysis and intelligent assistance systems, Swiss companies can get ahead of their competitors if they build up expertise at an early stage. Digitalization also opens up the opportunity to serve global markets more efficiently - an important factor for the export-oriented Swiss economy.

A key success factor is to combine a willingness to change with concrete measures. This is where a tool like the Hexagon platform comes into play: it allows companies to analyze their status quo in the six dimensions based on data and compare it with similar companies. This gives managers an objective reflection of their digital maturity level and specific recommendations on which steps should be prioritized next. Such approaches help to manage the digital transformation strategically instead of just focusing on individual projects.

Conclusion: Roadmap to digital excellence

The facts and figures from the Swiss AI Report 2025 make it clear that although the digital transformation in Swiss companies is progressing, there is still a lot of untapped potential. A holistic view of AI readiness - as offered by the Hexagon model - is crucial in order to set the right priorities. From the data foundation to strategy and employee skills: all dimensions must work together to turn initial digitalization projects into sustainable success.

Companies that do their digital homework can hope to gain a clear competitive advantage. They are able to react more quickly to market changes, use innovations from the world of AI profitably and continuously increase their efficiency. The challenge is to set the course for tomorrow today - and to do so in an informed and fact-based manner. Tools such as Hexagon provide a valuable basis for decision-making.

Ultimately, experience shows that digitalization is not an end in itself, but the key to remaining successful in the future. Switzerland's digital transformation will succeed if vision meets the power of implementation - and if companies are brave enough to tackle change holistically.

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