Do you know the feeling? You're standing in front of the huge, foggy mountain of digitalization. The peaks are called AI, automation and data strategy. Everyone is talking about how you have to climb this mountain to stay competitive. But getting there seems expensive, risky and complex.

You ask yourself: Where do I even start? Which route is the right one for my SME? And what if I lose my bearings halfway through? This uncertainty is the biggest brake. It means that many valuable opportunities remain untapped - not for lack of will, but for lack of a clear plan and reliable companions.

But what if the solution is not a bigger budget or a huge IT department, but simply a better map and a few experienced colleagues?

It is precisely this conviction that has driven us.

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The map: a tried-and-tested plan by SMEs for SMEs

Digital transformation is not a mystery, but a craft. And as with any good craft, you need the right tools. That's why we have joined forces - the Swiss Institute for SMEs and Entrepreneurship at the University of St. Gallen (KMU-HSG) and MMIND.ai.

Our common goal was to build a bridge between academic foundations and the lived reality in small and medium-sized enterprises. The result is the "Digitization guide".

This is our map. It is deliberately designed to be simple, visual and process-oriented. It is not intended to burden you with even more complexity, but to create clarity. I would like to briefly introduce you to two simple but powerful tools:

1. the process view: understanding the foundation of your company 

Before you digitize anything, you need to understand how your company works. We break everything down into three simple process types:

• Core processes: This is what your company essentially does to earn money (e.g. production, sales, services).

• Management processes: This is how you manage your company (e.g. strategy, finance, leadership).

• Support processes: These are the helpers in the background (e.g. IT, HR, accounting).

With this simple logic, you can create a mind map of your entire company. Suddenly you can clearly see where the biggest levers are, but also the biggest pain points. This overview is the first, decisive step towards clarity.

2. the cost-benefit matrix: Priorities instead of gut feeling 

As soon as you see the processes, the question arises: where to start? The prioritization matrix provides the answer. You evaluate every possible initiative according to two simple criteria: How much effort (time, money, resources) is involved? And what is the expected benefit (efficiency, turnover, customer satisfaction)?

This results in four categories into which all processes from the mind map can be classified:

• Quick wins (low effort, high benefit): These are your starter projects! Here you get results quickly and create motivation in the team.

• Large-scale projects (high cost, high benefit): These are your strategic lighthouses. Important, but need good planning.

• Filling tasks (low effort, low benefit): You can do this if you have time. But be careful: don't get lost in this!

• Rethink (high effort, low benefit): Hands off! These are the typical "money-grabbers".

This tool replaces hours of discussion with a clear, data-based decision. It is the compass on your map.

The team: community instead of loneliness

A good map is crucial. But no one should have to climb the mountain alone. The true power of transformation unfolds in the community.

We discovered this last week at our first AI Café in Liechtenstein in an impressive way. The energy in the room was electrifying. Why? Because we created a "safe space" in which open questions were asked, real experiences were shared and fears were dispelled.

Suddenly, the "digitalization expert" was no longer the external consultant, but the entrepreneur from the next table who had already mastered a similar challenge.

It is precisely these stories of courage and practical implementation that are at the heart of our guide. A huge thank you to the pioneers who have shared their experiences:

• Marco Weishaupt and Bernhard Zindel from b_smartwhich have created a modern IT basis for its ambitious growth in the hospitality sector.

• Wolfgang Schmid from CFP Business Consulting AGwhich has automated business and sustainability reports in order to free up the CFO for strategic tasks.

• Michael Baumgartner from the HSW AGwho has revolutionized manual time recording with a simple AI solution.

• Manuel Pfiffner from sl.one AGwhich has solved the IT worries of a production company and sharpened its focus by moving to a local cloud.

• Tino Kesseli from CSL Corporate Services AGwhich has automated the laborious booking of securities so that trustees can concentrate on providing value-adding client advice.

These stories prove it: You are not alone. The biggest hurdles - the costs, the resistance in the team, the uncertainty - disappear when you realize that others have already successfully overcome them.

Your first step

Success in digitalization is not a solo sprint. It is a team expedition. The map gives you the direction, the community gives you the courage and the shortcuts.

Are you ready to take the first step, but not alone?

Download the complete "Digitalization guide" here: