false

{}
CSS Success Story:

Legacy Meets Innovation in Healthcare
Element 6

70+
NEW IDEAS VALIDATED

by engaging employees at every level
Element 14-1

11+
IDEAS FUNDED

for innovators to incubate their idea
Element 13-1

3+
IDEAS IMPLEMENTED

following the successful completion of the innovation program

About CSS

 

CSS is one of Switzerland’s leading health insurance companies, servicing over 1,7 million people across the country. With a workforce of over 2700 employees, as well as 98 agencies across Switzerland, CSS prides itself on being close to the people and has become a key player in terms of driving innovation in the insurance industry.

Daniel Alzer, member of the investment team at CSS says “Innovation is always important. If you don’t strive to become better and get further, it could happen that you become obsolete as a company. Through innovation, you can adjust your company’s position and look for new and lean processes to optimize both the internal procedures and the services for the insured.”

CSS Main Building

The Challenge

 

The Swiss health-insurance industry is among the most expensive and heavily regulated globally. Health-related costs are comparatively high and continue to rise yearly, leading to higher premiums. In 2024, health insurance premiums were expected to increase by over six percent on average.

To address this, the industry is undergoing rapid digital transformation—similar to other sectors—to offer effective solutions. The goal is to make health insurance more convenient and accessible for consumers while ensuring the system’s sustainability by curbing rising costs.

This is no easy feat. Companies like CSS must navigate strict regulations, which often make it difficult to implement new offerings and optimize processes. “It’s not like updating Office on your PC,” Daniel explains. Developing new digital services is a long-term effort, often sidelined by projects with more immediate value.

The Solution

 

CSS launched an innovation program that empowers the workforce to develop ideas through a simple, gamified process based on the proven Kickbox methodology. The program is open to all employees, regardless of role or location, and requires no prior innovation experience, making it highly inclusive. The integrated software offers management a clear overview of innovation accounting to ensure efficient resource use.

New employees are introduced to the program during their induction, and it’s regularly promoted via intranet articles, project updates, and virtual events.

CSS, Innovators
 

In the idea validation phase, employees receive CHF 1,000, 20% of their work hours, expert support, and the KICKBOOK - a step-by-step guide for idea validation. This structured support helps de-risk ideas through data and feedback.

After two months, employees present their progress to a cross-functional committee. If successful, ideas move to the pilot phase, and eventually to the market implementation phase, allowing full-time work on the project. Innovators can choose to continue internally or spin off a start-up, with up to CHF 100,000 in additional funding available.

Though advancing ideas and securing budget can be challenging, the program encourages early customer interaction to validate real-world interest. This strengthens the case for stakeholder buy-in.

 
 

The Results

 

CSS has seen over 70 ideas complete the idea validation phase. Of these, around 11 moved on to the pilot phase and 3 ideas have since reached the final implementation phase.

According to Daniel, “This innovation program offers a great opportunity to create new approaches and business models.

This, again, can help us develop a more sustainable healthcare system.”

The employees have also received the program well and are positive about its impact. An internal survey showed that those who have taken part in the innovation program would do it again and would recommend it to others.

 
Element 12-1

81+
PEOPLE UPSKILLED

in innovation skills and methods
Element 11-1

100+
COMMUNITY OF INNOVATORS

sharing their experience, knowledge and learnings
Element 14-1

11+
IDEAS FUNDED

for innovators to incubate their idea
Element 13-1

3+
IDEAS IMPLEMENTED

following the successful completion of the innovation program

High-impact Projects

Discover these ideas and concepts that emerged from employees through the inhouse innovation program at Swisscom.

Voice Assistant, CSS

Voice Assistant

A voice assistant that helps users navigate digital insurance topics like premiums and coverage using voice commands.
Read more
Long Covid Database, KICKBOX Project

Long-Covid Database

A database enabling Long-covid sufferers to access knowledge and help from experts via individualised solutions
Read more

Download the Case Study
© 2025 All rights reserved.
rready AG, Hohlstrasse 186, 8004 Zurich, UID CHE-346.264.137