«Our services ensure stability, transparency and scalability in our operations»

ISS is often perceived as a traditional cleaning company - what services does ISS now offer in Switzerland that go beyond cleaning?

While this perception is generally accurate, ISS is well known within the real estate industry as a leading full-service provider. Our roots are in cleaning, and over the past 20 years, we have evolved into the leading provider of integrated facility services in the Swiss market. 83 percent of our revenue comes from integrated IFM solutions - ranging from technical building maintenance and support services to workplace management, energy strategies, and digital process control. Our added value stems from integration, scalability, and a measurable impact on our clients’ core business.

How can ISS contribute to large construction projects or during the construction phase of real estate projects?

Thanks to our close alignment with our clients’ core businesses, we can get involved in projects at a very early stage and assist with project definition. Our focus is on construction projects within our key accounts’ portfolios - with a project volume exceeding CHF 140 million per year. These include three main categories: workplace projects, in which we create future-proof work environments with a focus on ergonomics and hybrid use; asset replacement, such as HVAC systems, facades, or insulation; Sustainability projects, such as heating replacement programs or photovoltaic rollouts. We act as client representatives, general planners, or general contractors (“open book”) - always with the goal of balancing operational safety, ESG goals, and investment protection.

What do you mean by innovative workplace technology?

Technology in facility management must deliver results - not just dazzle. We rely on smart cleaning, smart hospitality, and digital platforms that improve service quality and space efficiency. Sensors, robotics, drones, IoT technologies, and AI with real-time data make work environments dynamic, resource-efficient, and tailored to user needs.

How do you support your clients during day-to-day operations - for example, in offices, hospitals, or production facilities?

We take responsibility for the entire operation. In hospitals, we ensure hygiene, logistics, and technical operational readiness around the clock. In production environments, we minimize downtime, ensure technical compliance, and optimize processes. In office buildings, we create environments that retain talent and bring corporate culture to life - always tailored to the business impact of our clients.

And what is the resulting added value for companies?

Relief that allows them to focus on their core business, dynamic scalability of services based on space utilization, access to market-leading expertise and innovations, benchmarking, and follow-up consulting on optimizations - whether in service design or regarding potential in the areas of sustainability, energy consumption, data management, and/or workspace design. In addition, we train our service teams in areas related to the service experience. Our 97 percent retention rate and 89 percent recommendation rate impressively confirm the effectiveness of these efforts.

Are there any customer segments or industries you plan to target more heavily in the future?

We see great potential in regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and high-tech - where quality, compliance, and professional reliability are paramount. We also see opportunities with public institutions and the operation of their infrastructure. The integrated approach has not yet become established in this segment, and the qualitative and economic potential has not yet been fully realized.

How are digitalization and, in particular, AI changing building management?

Building management is becoming intelligent. Using AI, we analyze data streams in real time, identify patterns, and take proactive control. This is changing everything - from maintenance cycles and cleaning routines to energy usage. Digitalization is shifting us from a reactive to a proactive approach - with clear benefits in terms of quality and cost-effectiveness for the customer. AI will play a particularly significant role for real estate investors and operators in the field of energy management. Real-time benchmarks, as well as the automated control of energy resources, will increasingly influence significant cost savings or, at the very least, investment planning for renovations or the replacement of energy-efficient systems.

How do you help companies reduce their carbon footprint?

For us, sustainability doesn’t start with reporting, but with day-to-day operations. Our Energy Services systematically identify potential savings, implement investments such as PV systems or heating system retrofits, and support customers on their path to decarbonization. For many customers, we are thus an active part of their net-zero strategy. In our facility management operations, we focus in particular on the consumption of energy resources, recycling, and waste management - with an emphasis on the circular economy, photovoltaics, biodiversity, and water consumption.

How important are your employees to the company’s success?

Our employees are the backbone of our business. Our services are only as good as the people who deliver them every day - and at ISS Switzerland, that means around 14,200 colleagues from 130 nations. The sustained growth in revenue from CHF 240 million to over CHF 900 million was no coincidence. It was made possible by our corporate culture in action, entrepreneurial empowerment, and stable leadership structures across four levels. A key factor in this success: the targeted development of our employees. We consistently invest in professional development: with over 200 training programs, attractive career paths for specialists and managers, and an internal fill rate of 63 percent for management positions. Targeted integration programs - such as those for refugees - are also part of our understanding of sustainable development. Our culture is based on genuine appreciation. Over 400 internal awards each year demonstrate that commitment is noticed and recognized here.

Finally: what is ISS’s vision for the future?

We create environments where people and companies can thrive. Our goal is to be the preferred partner for comprehensive facility management in Switzerland - reliable, innovative, and people-centered. In doing so, we keep three strategic ambitions in mind: We want to be perceived and recognized within our industry as the market leader in workplace safety, innovation, and employer branding.

André Nauer

André Nauer is a qualified hotelier and has been part of the ISS team since 1998, initially in the role of Regional Director for the healthcare sector.

In 2001, he was appointed to the management board of ISS Switzerland. He was promoted to CEO of ISS Switzerland in 2003.

Prior to joining ISS, Nauer gained extensive experience in senior positions within the hospitality industry.