The Baselland Chamber of Commerce and the Baselland location promotion agency conducted a joint survey of Basel-Landschaft companies in the fall of 2025. The aim was to record companies’ perceptions and needs when dealing with the canton’s digital services – and thus create a basis for the further development of administrative services.
The feedback is clear: the digital transformation of the administration is welcomed by companies and considered to be urgently necessary, while at the same time there is a need for action in many areas. Digital offerings should become simpler, more integrated and consistently user-oriented. SMEs in particular suffer from time-consuming processes that are not geared towards users and media disruptions, which also affects their competitiveness.
Some companies are demanding fully digital, seamless processes and a standardized user interface/platform. Key concerns are the introduction of a simple single sign-on, the implementation of the once-only principle (no redundant data entry), centralized data storage and improved retrievability of information. At the same time, transparency regarding the use of data and reliable data protection are called for.
The responses show that analog processes lead to costs, time losses and competitive disadvantages for companies – in particular due to repeated data entry, postal/printing costs and limited availability of the authorities (keyword: office hours).
72 percent of companies trust the canton’s digital services in principle, but data protection, data security and transparency are crucial for further acceptance.
In summary, the survey shows that a consistently user-oriented, consistent and strategically supported digitalization or digital transformation is not only desirable, but also indispensable for the economic competitiveness of SMEs and Baselland as a business location, as well as for trust in the administration.
The administration should also understand and position the digital transformation as a strategic location and economic issue. This will ensure that the corresponding business services are continuously reviewed with a focus on the needs of SMEs and their competitiveness and adapted to the needs of companies.
Background: The digital transformation is gaining momentum
Countless examples of projects that have already been implemented show that the digital transformation in the canton of Basel-Landschaft has picked up speed. The BL-Konto provides a personal electronic account for customers of the administration. The digitalization of administrative procedures enables uncomplicated and time-independent access to almost 50 administrative services. Businesses can already benefit from digital services, for example by searching for building applications in the state archives or ordering extracts from the land register or commercial register. In spring 2025, a new digital service was launched in the building inspectorate, the BIT customer portal. This service completely replaced the previous paper-based dispatch of building permits, invoices and documents.
The digital transformation is a central strategic project of the canton and an ongoing process that permanently accompanies and shapes the cantonal administration. In 2025, a new digital transformation strategy was therefore developed for the canton of Basel-Landschaft, which was approved by the cantonal government in January 2026. The digital transformation stands for a consistent focus on the benefits for the population, companies and employees – and for a cultural change towards more openness, cooperation and willingness to learn. The canton of Basel-Landschaft is actively using this change to make its administration fit for the future: simpler, more networked, more service-oriented.
What happens now?
The Standortförderung Baselland and the Baselland Chamber of Commerce will jointly set up a user group with companies. The KMU-Forum Baselland is also actively involved in the development and subsequent work. One of the main objectives will be to collect ideas for adjustments and improvements to digital services in direct discussions with companies. The aim is to develop concrete improvements together with the process owners. These ideas will then be reviewed and prioritized as part of the digital transformation process.
Important note on the survey
48 companies took part in the survey. It is therefore not representative, but has provided valuable feedback for the further shaping of the digital transformation of the cantonal administration. They form a solid basis for the next steps in the digital transformation.
Contact:
Michael Köhn, Deputy Director of the Baselland Chamber of Commerce (+41 61 927 65 40, [email protected])
Thomas Stocker, Standortförderung Baselland (+41 61 552 91 49, [email protected])
