Development of real-time compliance metrics to measure the business success of Swiss companies

Effective compliance management provides Swiss companies with significant opportunities to build trust, reduce risk, and create measurable business value. However, it also presents a growing challenge. Compliance expenditures are increasing, while the tools to demonstrate their strategic impact are largely absent. Most organizations lack the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of their compliance investments, causing compliance to be viewed as a cost center rather than a function that generates value. The legal and regulatory environment continues to intensify, and available solutions offer little actionable, real-time insight. 

This project develops an AI-assisted, real-time monitoring dashboard and a set of validated Compliance Key Performance Indicators (CKPIs) that link compliance activities directly to business outcomes. Along with a certifiable reporting methodology and a practical training framework, this solution will empower Swiss SMEs to develop effective, efficient, and strategically impactful compliance programs.

Discussions with implementation partners and compliance experts have revealed that Swiss companies in various industries are having difficulty demonstrating the return on investment of their compliance activities. Current approaches lack the necessary data-driven tools and frameworks to link compliance efforts with quantifiable business performance. This project aims to develop a research-based, AI-assisted solution that repositions compliance as a strategic enabler of transparent and sustainable business practices. Specifically, the following deliverables are being developed:

(A) Compliance Key Performance Indicators (CKPIs)
A validated set of success-oriented CKPIs linked to business outcomes, enabling evidence-based compliance management with a clear and demonstrable return on investment.

(B) AI-Assisted Real-Time Monitoring Dashboard (Prototype)
An interactive prototype that enables real-time monitoring of CKPIs, providing companies with actionable insights and positioning them as leaders in AI-assisted compliance management in Switzerland.

(C) Certifiable Reporting Methodology
A structured reporting framework that links compliance performance to strategic and financial outcomes, enabling companies to demonstrate the value of compliance to senior management and boards.

(D) Training Framework and Practical Guide 
A certifiable training concept and SME-tailored practical guide based on empirically tested best practices, providing a structured approach to building and enhancing compliance programs.

Involved parties

The project is being implemented by the Swiss Institute for Entrepreneurship (SIFE) in collaboration with the PRME Business Integrity Action Center and the Hochschule Luzern (HSLU), Deloitte AG, Axpo Holding AG, Julius Bär Gruppe, Hitachi Energy AG, Ethics and Compliance Switzerland (ECS).