By Konstantin Thurnher
Publication Date: 2026-10-01 07:21:00
In an interview with Focus, the business magazine distributed with Bilan, Catrin Hinkel, CEO of Microsoft Switzerland, discusses how companies are shaping the next stage of their transformation after building their digital foundations. What matters is no longer access to technology alone, but the ability to connect and manage fragmented data, redesign workflows, and link innovation to clear business objectives.
Hinkel emphasizes that AI delivers its greatest benefit when it is integrated into everyday work and core business processes. Companies should not simply automate existing processes, but rethink how people and AI work together. Employees could then hand off routine tasks and focus more on creative, analytical, and value-adding activities. At the same time, human judgment, critical thinking, and clear governance remain central: 84 percent of Swiss AI users regard AI outputs as a starting point rather than a final answer.
Trust, digital sovereignty, and skills are…
