Retail & Relaxation Region Schaffhausen

Digital support for the retail trade

Initial Situation

Retailers under Pressure

The retail sector is under pressure: increasing numbers of increasingly attractive online shops are luring customers to the internet, are available 24/7 and offer free delivery. In a border region such as Schaffhausen, cross-border shopping can represent a further challenge. In consequence, shops are closing, with many specialist outlets being lost.

The range of goods available in individual shops is shrinking and the diversity of goods on offer is declining, leaving empty shop units in town centres which is difficult to address.

Project Profile

Registrations

Towns & communities

Approach

Action for retail

The municipalities of Schaffhausen, Stein am Rhein, Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Beringen and Thayngen launched a joint project in 2016 to confront the many challenges faced by the retail sector: they decided to create a regional information platform to present comprehensive and attractive information on the offers available from the retail and restaurant sectors – for local residents and for visitors.

Generis AG was commissioned to develop and implement the service. The project was developed collaboratively with the respective municipal authorities, content agreed and access e.g. using WLAN secured via local partners.

Einkaufs- und Erlebnisregion Schaffhausen

Achievements

Digitalisation for visitors & locals

The project moved from idea to reality in just 12 months. Schaffhausen was the first place in Switzerland to make information about local retail and restaurant offers available in a comprehensive and attractive format. Thanks to free access to WLAN in participating locations, the digital platform «Einkaufs- und Erlebnisregion Schaffhausen» was also accessible for visitors.

Following the initial phase, in which the participating towns played an active part in the project, management of the platform transferred to SchaffhausenTotal, which coordinates information on a range of services in and across the region, on 1st January 2018.

Peter Neukomm

Municipal President,
City of Schaffhausen

«Generis AG took the initiative and worked hard to transform the idea into reality in just 12 months, giving local businesses the chance to try something new and strengthen their presence.»