Handbook for Operational Excellence

Services

Services

Modern IT landscapes are based on a combination of managed services and cloud platforms. The art lies in finding the right balance between abstraction (managed) and control (self-hosted) to minimise operational overhead without sacrificing digital sovereignty.

The most important global hyperscalers (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), specialised platforms (Cloudflare, GitLab), and enterprise services (Microsoft 365, Salesforce) are assessed in this section.

Table of Contents

  • Adobe Creative Cloud: The industry standard for design and creativity. How Adobe Creative Cloud is integrated and licensed within organisations.
  • AWS: The world's largest cloud provider. Why AWS remains the reference for cloud infrastructure through its vast range of services and global presence.
  • Azure: The cloud for the Microsoft ecosystem. How Azure excels in enterprise environments through its integration of Windows, M365, and Active Directory.
  • Backstage: The framework for internal developer portals. How Backstage improves developer experience (DevEx) by centralising services and documentation.
  • Bexio: The cloud software for Swiss SMEs. Why Bexio is the standard for accounting, invoicing, and payroll in small businesses.
  • Classic Frontend: Web development without framework overhead. Why Vanilla JS, CSS, and SSR are often the more stable and performant choice for long-lived websites.
  • Claude: The AI model for precise writing and coding. Why Claude from Anthropic is often the preferred choice for complex textual tasks.
  • Cloudflare: Security and performance at the network edge. How Cloudflare accelerates the internet through CDN, DDoS protection, and serverless computing.
  • ERPNext: The open-source ERP for all industries. How ERPNext digitalises organisations through modularity and a modern Python architecture.
  • Gemini: Google's answer to the AI revolution. How Gemini enables new productive workflows through deep integration with Workspace and Android.
  • GitLab: The complete DevOps platform. Why GitLab is the heart of modern software teams through its integrated CI/CD and security features.
  • Google Cloud: Cloud infrastructure with a focus on data and AI. Why Google Cloud is the best choice for high-performance data pipelines and machine learning.
  • Grafana and Prometheus: Prometheus and Grafana as an observability engine. Digital immune systems, metrics-based polling, and automated remediation.
  • Java and Spring Boot: The powerhouse for enterprise backends. Why Java with Spring Boot remains the first choice for business-critical, highly scalable systems.
  • Keycloak: Sovereign identity management for modern IT. How Keycloak enables single sign-on (SSO) and security without US dependency.
  • Kubernetes: The operating system of the cloud. Why Kubernetes (K8s) is the foundation for scalable, resilient, and automated infrastructure.
  • Magento: The heavyweight for demanding e-commerce. Why Magento (Adobe Commerce) remains the first choice for complex online shops.
  • Microsoft 365: The standard for digital collaboration. How Microsoft 365 structures productivity and governance in organisations.
  • Odoo: The modern all-in-one business tool. How Odoo digitalises the complete process from CRM to accounting through modular apps.
  • OpenAI: The pioneer of modern AI. How OpenAI democratised the integration of artificial intelligence in software through GPT models and APIs.
  • Pickware: E-commerce and ERP hand in hand. Why Pickware is the ideal solution for Swiss online retailers with physical warehouses.
  • Power BI: Data visualisation for decision-makers. How Power BI transforms complex datasets into interactive dashboards and valuable insights.
  • Sage: Software for Swiss accounting. Why Sage is a proven choice for financial accounting and HR administration in SMEs.
  • Salesforce: The world's leading CRM platform. How Salesforce consolidates sales, service, and marketing in a powerful cloud architecture.
  • SAP S/4HANA Cloud: The ERP cloud for large enterprises. How SAP S/4HANA Cloud drives the global transformation and standardisation of business processes.
  • SAP Commerce Cloud (Hybris): The enterprise e-commerce solution from SAP. Why SAP Commerce Cloud (Hybris) is the standard for complex B2B and omnichannel scenarios.
  • Shopify: E-commerce without maintenance overhead. Why Shopify is the preferred choice for rapid growth and D2C brands.
  • Shopware: The leading e-commerce platform from Germany. API-first architecture, Community Edition (MIT), and AI-powered Copilot features.
  • Squarespace: Beautiful websites for beginners. Why Squarespace is the reference for design-focused portfolios and small service providers.
  • Terraform and OpenTofu: Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for the cloud. Why Terraform and OpenTofu are the indispensable tools for reproducible environments.
  • TypeScript: Safe JavaScript for large applications. Why TypeScript reduces error rates and improves maintainability through static typing.
  • Vibe Kanban: Orchestrating AI coding agents. How Vibe Kanban unifies planning, execution, and code review in a single interface.
  • Webflow: Professional web design without code. How Webflow bridges the gap between graphic design and frontend engineering.
  • Wix: The website builder for quick results. Why Wix is a pragmatic choice for straightforward web presences.