For 30 years, bürgi.com AG has stood for quality, reliability and responsible security solutions. What began as a one-man business has developed into an established company with a clear attitude and strong values.
In this anniversary interview, founder and CEO Sacha Bürgi talks about the beginnings, formative milestones, the transformation of the security industry – and what makes bürgi.com AG what it is today.
When you think back to the beginnings of bürgi.com AG, what was the biggest challenge back then?
When I think back to the beginnings of bürgi.com AG, the biggest challenge was clearly building trust. As a young company, we had to assert ourselves in a market that was strongly characterized by established providers.
I also started out completely on my own. I planned, installed and commissioned the systems myself and at the same time set up and managed the entire office independently. That meant long working days and a very heavy workload – both technically and organizationally.
It was about convincing customers that, despite our size at the time, we could deliver high-quality, reliable and future-proof security solutions while keeping pace with technological developments – often with limited resources.
These challenging early years had a strong impact on the company. The focus on quality, reliability and long-term customer relationships is still a central component of our corporate culture today.
Was there a moment in the last 30 years that was particularly formative for you?
There have been several defining moments in the last 30 years. The approvals from Swissi, VKF and SES were particularly decisive. These recognitions were real milestones because they officially confirmed that our work meets the high technical and safety requirements.
Equally moving was the moment when we won our first bank as a customer. That was a strong signal of trust and clear proof that we are taken seriously as a company. Trust is particularly important in a sensitive environment such as the banking sector.
These successes have shown me that consistent quality work, perseverance and professionalism pay off in the long term – and they have significantly shaped the further growth path of bürgi.com AG.
Looking back, what are you most proud of?
Looking back, I am most proud of the fact that we have been successful on the market as a small SME for over 30 years. With a team of around 15 to 20 employees, we have managed to hold our own in a challenging and highly regulated environment.
The fact that we have remained economically stable over all these years, have been able to secure jobs and at the same time have continuously developed our quality and expertise is not a matter of course. This sustained success confirms our path and the strong cohesion within the bürgi.com AG team.
How has the security industry changed over the last 30 years – and how has bürgi.com AG adapted to this??
The security industry has changed dramatically over the last 30 years. Technologically, it has become much more complex, while regulations, standards and certifications have increased massively. At the same time, there has been a strong consolidation of the market.
When I started out, there were still around 20 to 25 small and medium-sized specialist companies in this sector across Switzerland. Today, there are perhaps five of a comparable size left. Many companies have gone out of business or been taken over by large corporations.
bürgi.com AG has deliberately positioned itself differently. We have continuously invested in specialist knowledge, training and certifications and focused early on quality, reliability and long-term customer relationships. At the same time, we have grown technologically without giving up our entrepreneurial independence.
This combination of adaptability, consistency and a clear stance has enabled us to remain successful even in a rapidly changing market.
What do you think distinguishes bürgi.com AG from other providers today?
From my point of view, what sets bürgi.com AG apart today is that we are one of the few companies in Switzerland to offer security solutions from a single source – from planning and implementation to operation and maintenance.
The decisive factor here is that we provide all services with our own permanent employees. This creates quality, reliability and clear responsibilities. We do not work with changing subcontractors, but with a well-coordinated team that knows our systems and our customers inside out.
We are also very flexible, have strong regional roots and are well networked locally. Short decision-making channels and proximity to our customers enable us to act quickly and in a solution-oriented manner. It is precisely this combination that makes the difference for many customers.
What role do employees play in the success of bürgi.com AG?
Our employees play a central role in the success of bürgi.com AG. Without motivated, committed and responsible employees, what we achieve as a company would not be possible.
Our work requires specialist knowledge, reliability and commitment – often above and beyond the norm. This attitude cannot be imposed, it has to be lived. That is why we attach great importance to a strong team and a clear corporate culture.
Employees who think for themselves, take responsibility and identify with the company are the key to our long-term success. Those who don’t have this willingness generally don’t stay in our industry – or with us – for long.
What exactly does bürgi.com AG stand for today?
Today, bürgi.com AG stands for sustainable and reliable security solutions as well as for a long-term partnership with our customers.
We see ourselves as a customer-oriented, deliberately lean and flexible company that can react quickly and respond to individual requirements. Short decision-making processes, personal contacts and a high level of commitment characterize our daily work.
Our customers know that they can rely on us – technically, organizationally and personally. This is exactly what bürgi.com AG stands for today.
What do you think customers particularly appreciate about you?
What clients particularly appreciate about us is that we really understand their situation and the challenges they face. Many of our customers are on an equal footing with us, face similar technical, organizational and regulatory requirements and share comparable values.
They know that with bürgi.com AG they have a partner who not only supplies products, but also thinks along with them, takes responsibility and implements sustainable solutions. The collaboration is characterized by openness, clarity and mutual trust.
It is precisely this shared attitude and understanding on an equal footing that many customers choose to work with us on a long-term basis.
When you look ahead: What do you wish for bürgi.com AG in the coming years?
Looking ahead, my main wish for bürgi.com AG is a strong and reliable management structure that will continue to lead the company in the same spirit in the coming years. It is important to me that our values, our quality and our attitude are maintained in the long term.
At the same time, I want us to continue to create secure and good jobs and offer an environment in which employees can develop both professionally and personally.
And last but not least, it would be desirable if the administrative and regulatory burden were to decrease somewhat in the future. Less bureaucracy would allow us to focus even more on what we do best: implementing reliable, customer-oriented security solutions.
Which topics do you think will be particularly important in safety technology in the future?
In security technology, topics relating to internal security in particular will become much more important in the future. The area of IT and cybersecurity in particular poses a major challenge due to the increasing networking of systems.
Today, security systems are no longer isolated systems, but part of complex IT infrastructures. Access control, video surveillance, fire alarm and management systems are increasingly networked with each other and often connected to higher-level platforms. This massively increases the requirements for data protection, system hardening, access concepts and operational security.
For us, this means thinking about security holistically – technically, organizationally and digitally. The ability to combine traditional security technology with IT expertise will be a decisive success factor in the coming years.
What would you like to give customers, partners and employees on the occasion of your 30th anniversary?
On the occasion of our 30th anniversary, I would like to thank our customers, partners and employees for their trust, cooperation and shared commitment over the years.
At the same time, I would like to say: Stay healthy, don’t take everything too seriously – especially not yourself – and don’t forget to enjoy life despite all your responsibility and professionalism.
Success, quality and reliability are important. But they only work in the long term if there is also room for humanity, humor and joie de vivre.
