Swiss SMEs are increasingly expected to make informed decisions about AI, yet many decision-makers have limited direct experience with real-world AI solutions. Organising a structured company visit—where leaders observe AI in action, ask practical questions, and explore adoption roadmaps—can be a pivotal step toward pragmatic, risk-aware AI adoption.
Why Organise an AI Company Visit?
A company visit offers decision-makers hands-on exposure to AI use cases, reducing uncertainty and demystifying technical jargon. It enables leadership to see operational benefits, clarify compliance and regulatory requirements, and build a realistic business case for AI investment.
Step 1: Define Your Objectives
Before initiating the visit, clarify the primary goals:
- Understand how AI is applied in a business context similar to yours
- Observe compliance with Swiss/EU regulations
- Identify potential partners or suppliers
- Facilitate open discussion among decision-makers and technical teams
Write down 2–3 clear objectives and ensure all participants are aligned.
Step 2: Select the Right AI Company or Demo Site
Choose a company, research centre, or vendor that aligns with your sector and maturity level. Options include:
- Swiss SMEs with live AI deployments (e.g., logistics automation, finance, retail)
- Local AI solution providers or consultants
- Swiss university research labs or AI accelerators (such as ETH Zurich’s AI Foundry)
- Industry associations facilitating technology showcases
Tip: Prioritise Swiss-based providers to address data sovereignty, compliance, and local regulation concerns.
Step 3: Plan the Agenda and Logistics
Coordinate with the host to develop a focused agenda:
- Welcome, introductions, and context-setting
- Presentation on AI use cases relevant to SMEs
- Live demonstration of AI tools or workflows
- Q&A covering regulatory, data, and ethics issues
- Debriefing session for your team
Arrange for transport, accessibility, translation (if needed), and confidentiality agreements, particularly if proprietary business processes are being demonstrated.
Step 4: Prepare Your Team
Share background materials about the host company and key AI concepts. Encourage participants to prepare specific questions, such as:
- How was the AI project initiated and funded?
- What hurdles were encountered in compliance, integration, or staff training?
- How are results tracked and what ROI has been realised?
- What are the lessons learned—what would they do differently?
Assign roles: one person to take structured notes, another to document action points or follow-up topics.
Step 5: Conduct the Visit
On the day, ensure:
- All participants are on time and briefed
- The agenda is followed, but allow flexibility for deep-dive questions
- Decision-makers get hands-on exposure (e.g., trying out interfaces or observing dashboards)
- Questions about Swiss/EU regulations and data privacy are addressed directly
Foster open discussion rather than passive listening to maximise insight and engagement.
Step 6: Debrief and Define Next Steps
Immediately after the visit, hold a structured debrief:
- What surprised or impressed you?
- What challenges or costs were highlighted?
- Which learnings are directly relevant to your business?
- What are the clear next steps—pilot project, further study, or vendor evaluation?
Assign responsibility for follow-up actions and summarise findings in a short report for all stakeholders.
Practical Example: Swiss SME Leadership Visit to an AI Logistics Company
A Swiss SME in retail logistics arranged a visit to a peer company using AI-driven route optimisation. The leadership team observed how AI had reduced delivery costs and carbon footprint, while the host’s CTO explained how compliance with Swiss data privacy law was handled. The visitors left with a concrete checklist for assessing their own needs and realistic expectations about implementation timeframes.
Key Benefits for Swiss SMEs
- Sharper understanding of AI’s business value and risks
- First-hand insight into regulatory and compliance issues
- Confidence to move beyond the hype and focus on practical adoption
- Network expansion: connecting with peers, vendors, and AI experts
Planning and conducting an AI company visit is a manageable, high-impact step for any Swiss SME leadership team looking for actionable, grounded insights before investing in AI.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main benefit of an AI company visit for Swiss SMEs?
An AI company visit gives SME leaders direct exposure to real-world AI applications, helping them make informed decisions by seeing practical benefits, compliance measures, and business value firsthand.
How do I choose the right company for an AI visit?
Select a company or provider in your sector that has successfully implemented AI, preferably Swiss-based to address data privacy and regulatory considerations. University labs and AI accelerators are also good options.
Who should participate in the AI company visit?
Key decision-makers, IT leads, compliance officers, and process owners from your SME should attend to maximise learning and address both technical and strategic questions.
How should we prepare for an AI company visit?
Brief your team with background information, prepare targeted questions, assign note-takers, and clarify your learning objectives to ensure the visit delivers maximum value.
What follow-up actions are recommended after the visit?
Hold a team debrief, summarise key learnings, define next steps such as piloting an AI project or further vendor evaluation, and assign responsibilities for follow-up.
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