DEV Community: Thomas Delfing

New Swiss Patent Law from 2027: Mandatory Prior Art Search, Optional Full Examination, and a New Fee Structure

Thomas Delfing — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:02:33 +0000

Major changes for national Swiss patent applications: More transparency, greater strategic flexibility, and new decision-making options for applicants

The revised Swiss Patent Act will enter into force on 1 January 2027. For applicants filing national Swiss patent applications, the reform introduces significant changes to the patent grant procedure.

In the future, every national Swiss patent application will be subject to a mandatory prior art search. In addition, applicants will have the option to request a full substantive examination, including an assessment of novelty and inventive step.

The existing partially examined Swiss patent system will remain available but will be supplemented by a mandatory search requirement. At the same time, the introduction of optional full examination creates a new strategic choice for companies, patent departments, and law firms.

As a result, national Swiss patent applications will need to be integrated more carefully into overall patent portfolio and protection strategies.

The reform primarily affects national Swiss patent applications. European patents validated in Switzerland will remain fundamentally unchanged. However, companies that use national Swiss filings alongside European patent applications, or that currently have pending Swiss applications in their portfolios, should review the upcoming changes at an early stage.

What Was the Previous Legal Situation?

Under the current Swiss patent system, novelty and inventive step have always been substantive requirements for patent validity. However, the key difference was the examination procedure.

Before grant, the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) did not automatically examine national Swiss patent applications to determine whether the claimed invention was new and involved an inventive step.

As a result, a Swiss patent could be granted even if it later became apparent that the claimed invention was not patentable in view of existing prior art.

The issue of patentability could then become relevant during invalidity proceedings or patent infringement disputes.

Although applicants could request a prior art search under the previous system, such a search was not a mandatory part of the grant procedure. This meant that applicants and their advisers carried greater responsibility when assessing the strength and potential risks of an application.

What Will Change from 1 January 2027?

The partially examined Swiss patent will continue to exist. The major change is that every national Swiss patent application will now include a mandatory, fee-based prior art search.

The main findings of the search will be summarized in an official opinion, and the search report will be published together with the patent application.

This change significantly improves transparency within the Swiss patent process. Applicants will receive an earlier and more reliable assessment of potentially relevant prior art that could affect the patentability of their invention.

Third parties will also benefit by being able to better evaluate the strength and potential scope of published Swiss patent applications.

In addition, applicants will be able to request a full substantive examination. In this case, the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property will examine not only formal requirements but also novelty and inventive step.

This brings the Swiss national patent procedure closer to examination systems used in many other major patent jurisdictions.

Further changes include adjustments to claim fees and procedural language requirements.

In the future, up to 15 patent claims will be included without additional claim fees instead of the previous limit of 10 claims.

Furthermore, technical documents may be submitted and published in English without requiring a mandatory translation into one of Switzerland’s official languages.

This represents a significant practical advantage, particularly for internationally active companies and patent departments.

New Swiss Patent Fee Structure

The reform also introduces changes to the fee structure for national Swiss patent applications.

According to published information from the Swiss Federal Council, the filing fee will remain CHF 200.

However, the new mandatory prior art search will introduce an additional fee of CHF 500.

The partial substantive examination will cost CHF 400. If applicants request a full substantive examination, an additional fee of CHF 300 will apply.

The full examination therefore becomes a strategic option that can be selected specifically for economically important or strategically critical patent applications.

Annual fees will also change. Over the maximum protection period, total annual fees will increase by approximately 8%.

Additionally, annual fees will become payable from the third year onwards.

In practice, this means that Swiss national patent applications will become more transparent through the mandatory search but may also become more costly in certain situations.

At the same time, applicants gain greater flexibility by choosing between:

A partially examined Swiss patent with mandatory prior art search
A fully examined Swiss patent with additional examination of novelty and inventive step

Partial Examination vs. Full Examination

The difference between the two options is therefore not the type of intellectual property right but the scope of examination.

A fully examined Swiss patent may provide greater legal certainty because novelty and inventive step have already been assessed during the grant procedure.

However, the partially examined Swiss patent remains a fully valid patent with the same basic protection term and legal effect.

Not a Utility Model — Still a Patent

The partially examined Swiss patent should not be confused with the German utility model.

Although there are some functional similarities because novelty and inventive step are not fully examined before grant, the comparison only applies to the examination process.

The Swiss partially examined patent remains a patent.

The difference between partially examined and fully examined Swiss patents does not primarily concern protection duration or the quality of the intellectual property right. Instead, it concerns the level of substantive examination before grant.

This may increase the risk of later challenges against the patent.

For practical purposes, the partially examined patent remains a valuable option, especially where cost efficiency, speed, or supplementary Swiss protection are priorities.

For core technologies, expected enforcement actions, licensing strategies, or commercially significant inventions, full examination may provide strategic advantages.

Transitional Rules: What Happens to Pending Applications?

The reform is particularly relevant for pending Swiss patent applications.

A key factor will be whether the examination fee has already been paid when the new law enters into force.

If the examination fee has not been paid by 1 January 2027, pending applications will generally continue under the new legal framework.

If the examination fee has already been paid before 1 January 2027 and the proceedings are not suspended or inactive, the application will generally continue under the previous legal system.

Applicants wishing to secure processing under the old law should therefore review their procedural status and fee situation well in advance.

For every pending Swiss patent application, companies should evaluate:

Has the examination fee already been paid?
Is the application suspended or inactive?
Has a voluntary prior art search already been completed?
Is treatment under the old law preferred?
Or does the new system provide strategic advantages?

Each application should be reviewed individually to determine whether maintaining the old procedure or adopting the new system is the better strategic choice.

Strategic Importance for Patent Applicants

The reform does not create a universally better or worse option. Instead, it expands strategic flexibility within the Swiss national patent system.

The decision between partial examination with mandatory search and full examination should depend on the commercial and strategic importance of each application.

Full examination may be particularly valuable for:

Core inventions
Expected competitor enforcement situations
Licensing models
Financing or transaction processes
Important patent families

In these cases, additional examination of novelty and inventive step can strengthen the value of the patent and reduce future risks.

A partially examined patent with mandatory search may remain appropriate where:

Cost efficiency is important
A fast national protection route is preferred
The Swiss filing complements a European patent strategy
The invention is defensive or less strategically central

Companies with existing Swiss applications should therefore conduct a systematic portfolio review.

Importance for IP Management

For patent departments, law firms, and IP professionals, the reform means that national Swiss patent applications will become more strategically manageable.

The mandatory prior art search creates greater transparency regarding existing technology and potential obstacles.

The optional full examination allows important patent applications to achieve a higher level of substantive validation before grant.

At the same time, the importance of structured portfolio management will increase.

Not every patent application requires full examination. However, every application should have a clear strategic purpose.

Companies should evaluate whether a Swiss application is:

A supplementary protection measure
A defensive filing
A cost-efficient national strategy
A key element of licensing or enforcement plans

For international patent portfolios, companies should also reassess the relationship between national Swiss applications and European patent applications.

The reform may make national Swiss filings more attractive in situations where companies value greater transparency and the option of full examination.

Conclusion

The revision of Swiss patent law represents a significant change to the national patent grant procedure from 1 January 2027.

Novelty and inventive step have always been substantive requirements for patent validity. The key change is that every national Swiss patent application will now include a prior art search, while applicants will have the additional option of requesting full substantive examination.

The new fee structure makes the prior art search a mandatory part of the procedure, while full examination remains an optional strategic decision.

This creates a more flexible patent system that supports both efficient national protection strategies and stronger examination procedures for commercially important inventions.

For pending applications, companies should act promptly and review examination fee status, procedural position, and strategic objectives.

For new applications from 2027 onwards, businesses should carefully decide whether a partially examined patent with mandatory search is sufficient or whether full examination provides greater strategic value.

The reform makes the Swiss national patent system more transparent, more flexible, and more relevant for modern IP portfolio management.

About Genese

Genese.de GmbH develops professional software solutions for intellectual property management. The company supports organizations and IP departments in managing patents, trademarks, designs, deadlines, documents, and digital workflows.

With modern solutions such as Gweb Workspace, Genese helps companies create efficient, transparent, and future-oriented IP management processes.

Digital Sovereignty in IP Management: Why European IP Cloud Solutions Are Becoming Essential

Thomas Delfing — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 08:10:22 +0000

Genese highlights the growing importance of secure, European cloud-based IP management solutions

The discussion around digital sovereignty in Europe has moved from a strategic concept to a practical business priority. Companies are increasingly asking critical questions: Where is their data stored? Who controls the systems processing their information? Which legal frameworks apply? And how dependent are they on non-European technology providers?

For Genese.de GmbH, this debate directly affects businesses managing sensitive intellectual property assets such as patents, trademarks, designs, contracts, deadlines, confidential documents, and innovation-related information.

Why digital sovereignty matters in IP management

Intellectual property data represents some of the most valuable and sensitive information within an organization. Patent and trademark records contain technical innovations, product strategies, market plans, licensing considerations, legal information, correspondence with authorities, and internal decision-making processes.

Managing this information requires more than a simple software platform. Companies need a secure digital environment that combines:

Data protection and security
Transparency and traceability
Legal compliance
Long-term availability
Independent control over critical business processes

Digital sovereignty in IP management means ensuring that companies remain in control of their data, systems, and workflows while still benefiting from modern cloud technologies.

Gweb Workspace: Modern IP management with European digital sovereignty

With Gweb Workspace, Genese provides a modern web-based platform designed to support professional IP management. The solution enables companies to manage their intellectual property processes efficiently through:

Digital IP files
Document management
Deadline monitoring
Automated workflows
Reporting and analytics
Collaboration tools
Modern system integrations

The platform helps IP departments organize information more effectively while creating a transparent and future-ready working environment.

Cloud technology with control and responsibility

Digital sovereignty does not mean avoiding cloud technology. Instead, it means using cloud solutions responsibly and strategically.

Modern IP departments benefit from cloud-based systems through improved collaboration, faster processes, and easier access to information. However, businesses must consider more than functionality and cost. Important factors include:

Data location and ownership
Contract structures
Integration capabilities
Exit strategies
Provider responsibility
Regulatory requirements
Long-term product development

For intellectual property management, these decisions are especially important because patents, trademarks, and designs are managed over many years or even decades.

IP management as a strategic business function

Today, IP departments are no longer limited to administrative tasks. They support innovation strategies, product development, compliance activities, management decisions, and international growth.

A modern IP platform must therefore do more than store records. It must transform intellectual property information into valuable business insights.

“IP management is increasingly connected with strategic business decisions. When companies develop new products, enter new markets, or invest in new technologies, intellectual property plays a central role,”
says Oliver Otto, Managing Director of Genese.de GmbH.

The role of European software providers

The discussion around digital sovereignty also highlights the importance of European technology companies. Specialized European providers offer deep industry knowledge, customer proximity, and solutions designed around European business requirements.

In areas such as IP management, where legal, organizational, and technical requirements overlap, specialized expertise creates significant advantages.

European software providers can help companies reduce digital dependency while continuing to benefit from innovation, automation, and cloud technologies.

Preparing IP management for the future

The future of IP management will be shaped by:

Digital workflows
Secure collaboration
Role-based access controls
Data-driven analysis
Artificial intelligence support
Better integration with internal and external systems

However, innovation must always be combined with transparency and control. Companies need to understand how technologies such as AI process information and how responsibility is shared between organizations and technology providers.

“Sovereignty does not mean avoiding technology. Sovereignty means using technology consciously and with control,”
explains Oliver Otto.

Gweb Workspace: Supporting the next generation of IP management

Genese sees Gweb Workspace as a contribution toward a more secure and independent digital future for IP departments. The platform combines years of experience in intellectual property management with modern web technology.

By connecting structured data management, digital collaboration, and strategic visibility, Gweb Workspace helps organizations make IP processes:

More efficient
More transparent
More secure
More adaptable for future requirements

Digital sovereignty begins when companies take strategic responsibility for their most valuable information and processes.

For IP management, this means protecting, understanding, and controlling intellectual property data — exactly where Gweb Workspace from Genese creates value.

About Genese

Genese.de GmbH develops software solutions for professional IP management. The company supports organizations and IP departments in managing patents, trademarks, designs, deadlines, documents, and digital workflows.

With Gweb Workspace, Genese provides a modern web-based IP management environment that combines specialist expertise, digital collaboration, and future-oriented process management.

Arbeitszeiterfassung in Deutschland: Neue gesetzliche Anforderungen und smarte Lösungen

Thomas Delfing — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:13:22 +0000

Die Arbeitszeiterfassung in Deutschland steht vor einem grundlegenden Wandel. Arbeitgeber sind bereits verpflichtet, die Arbeitszeiten ihrer Beschäftigten zu dokumentieren, um die Einhaltung der gesetzlichen Regelungen sicherzustellen. Doch mit dem neuen Referentenentwurf zur Änderung des Arbeitszeitgesetzes (ArbZG) wird diese Pflicht noch präziser:

Beginn, Ende und Dauer der täglichen Arbeitszeit müssen elektronisch erfasst werden
Die Erfassung muss taggleich erfolgen
Für kleine Betriebe mit bis zu zehn Beschäftigten bleibt die Möglichkeit einer händischen Erfassung bestehen

Pausenregelungen bleiben bestehen

Unverändert gelten weiterhin die gesetzlichen Vorgaben:

Bis 6 Stunden Arbeitszeit: keine Pause vorgeschrieben
Mehr als 6 bis 9 Stunden Arbeitszeit: mindestens 30 Minuten Pause
Mehr als 9 Stunden Arbeitszeit: mindestens 45 Minuten Pause

👉 Wichtig: Die Pausen können in Abschnitten von mindestens 15 Minuten genommen werden. Längere Arbeitsblöcke von mehr als 6 Stunden ohne Unterbrechung sind nicht erlaubt.

Handlungsempfehlungen für Arbeitgeber

Damit Unternehmen rechtzeitig vorbereitet sind, sollten sie jetzt aktiv werden:

Digitale Zeiterfassungssysteme einführen – die Pflicht zur elektronischen Erfassung macht moderne Tools unverzichtbar
Mitarbeiter schulen – Beschäftigte sollten die neuen Anforderungen verstehen und korrekt mit den Systemen umgehen
Dokumentation sichern – erfasste Daten müssen zuverlässig gespeichert und bei Prüfungen nachweisbar sein

Vergleich: Aktuelle und geplante Regelungen

Aspekt	Aktuell	Geplante Änderung
Pflicht zur Zeiterfassung	Arbeitgeber müssen Arbeitszeiten erfassen	Pflicht wird im ArbZG konkretisiert
Form der Zeiterfassung	Keine Vorgabe	Elektronisch, taggleich
Pausenregelungen	30 Min. ab >6 Std., 45 Min. ab >9 Std., in Abschnitten ≥15 Min.	Keine Änderungen
Ausnahmen	Keine	Betriebe ≤10 Mitarbeiter: händisch erlaubt
Übergangsfristen	Keine	Geplant, um Umstellung zu erleichtern

TimeSpin: Rechtssicher UND produktiv

Viele Unternehmen sehen in der Pflicht zur elektronischen Zeiterfassung zunächst nur zusätzliche Bürokratie. Doch moderne Legal- und WorkTech-Lösungen wie TimeSpin verwandeln diese Pflicht in einen Wettbewerbsvorteil:

Rechtskonform: Zeiterfassung gemäß den neuen gesetzlichen Anforderungen
Produktivitätssteigernd: Neben Arbeitszeiten lassen sich auch Tätigkeiten, Projekte und Pausen transparent erfassen
Mitarbeiterorientiert: Klare Strukturen entlasten Teams, schaffen Fairness und reduzieren Stress
Smart integriert: TimeSpin arbeitet nahtlos mit bestehenden Systemen und sorgt für effiziente Workflows

Fazit: Von Pflicht zur Chance

Die elektronische Zeiterfassung ist keine reine Formalität – sie bietet die Möglichkeit, Arbeitsabläufe transparenter, effizienter und fairer zu gestalten.

👉 Tools wie TimeSpin unterstützen Unternehmen nicht nur bei der Einhaltung der neuen gesetzlichen Vorgaben, sondern liefern gleichzeitig wertvolle Daten zur Steigerung von Produktivität und Mitarbeiterzufriedenheit.

➡️ Sind Sie bereit, Ihre Arbeitszeiterfassung gesetzeskonform und smart zu gestalten?

Jetzt Termin buchen und TimeSpin live erleben!

The Big Problem with Modern Work

Thomas Delfing — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 02:04:22 +0000

Modern companies have access to enormous amounts of data:

Working hours
Project time
Capacity utilization
KPIs

But one crucial factor is missing.

👉 The context behind the time

Because these two statements are not the same:

“I worked for 2 hours.”
“I spent 2 hours focused, creative, or completely distracted.”

👉 This is exactly where the difference between being busy and being truly productive begins.

⏱️ TimeSpin: Making Time Visible

With TimeSpin, time tracking finally becomes:

intuitive
tactile
frictionless

The dodecahedron turns a simple decision

“What am I working on right now?”

into a physical action.

👉 No switching tools

👉 No manual back-tracking

👉 No stress

🗺️ MapsTell: Making Behavior Visible

MapsTell takes another important step.

👉 Behavior becomes visual and understandable.

Teams start recognizing:

why communication succeeds or fails
why some people make decisions faster
why others need more structure

🚀 The Combination: A Completely New Perspective

Now things get interesting.

👉 When you combine time + behavior, something new emerges:

A “Map of Work”

Instead of just collecting raw data, you gain insight into:

focus zones
distraction zones
communication hotspots
productivity patterns

👉 You don’t just see how long people work

👉 You see how they work

🎮 Gamification as the Key

Why does this approach work so well?

Because people rarely learn through numbers.

👉 They learn through experience.

Gamification enables exactly that:

behavior becomes visible
time becomes tangible
change becomes measurable

🧩 Early Game Concepts (Preview)

1. Behavior vs. Time Challenge

Who actually works efficiently — and who only thinks they do?

👉 Teams compare self-perception vs. real data

👉 The result is often surprising

2. Focus Battle

How long can you truly stay focused?

👉 Interruptions become visible

👉 Focus turns into a challenge

3. Communication Cost Game

What is the real cost of poor communication?

👉 Every coordination step gains a time dimension

👉 Inefficiency becomes measurable

4. Task Switching Simulator

Multitasking vs. focus.

👉 Teams experience in real time how inefficient constant switching can be

👉 Behavior suddenly explains performance

5. The Productivity Map

Where does real performance emerge within a team?

👉 Behavior + time = a visual performance map

💡 What Companies Can Learn from This

The combination of MapsTell and TimeSpin reveals something fundamental:

👉 Productivity is not a time problem

👉 It is a behavior problem

And that is exactly why many tools fail.

🔥 The Real Innovation

The future does not belong to:

more software
more dashboards

Instead, it belongs to tools that:

involve people
make behavior visible
simplify decisions

👉 Measurement + understanding = real change

🧭 Conclusion

If you only measure time, you stay on the surface.

If you understand behavior, you gain control.

👉 Only the combination creates real productivity.

👉 Call to Action

If you want to experience how time can become tangible and intuitive:

➡️ Discover TimeSpin

➡️ Developed by Genese

Or if you're curious how this can evolve into:

workshops
trainings
new ways of working

feel free to reach out.

End Reporting Frustration – Turn Your Monthly Closing into Pure Professionalism

Thomas Delfing — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 02:01:49 +0000

From Chaos to Confidence at the Push of a Button

It’s that day of the month again.

You originally planned to focus on your new strategy or kick off the next big project. Instead, you’re staring at a messy collection of Excel spreadsheets, sticky notes, and scattered digital fragments.

Five different projects need to be billed, and frustration with complicated reporting tools grows with every minute spent navigating rigid software interfaces.

“These software interfaces just aren’t built for my processes.”

It’s a sentence I hear again and again in my work as a New Work expert.

Manually copying CSV data into Word templates isn’t just a massive time sink. It’s also a dangerous source of errors.

The result?

A client rejects an invoice because transparency is missing. A moment that costs money and also scratches at professional pride.

The Solution Is Literally in Your Hands

This is where the TimeSpin cube comes in.

It breaks away from the tradition of complicated input forms.

Imagine sitting at your desk. You simply rotate the elegant dodecahedron to the side labeled “Project A” and time tracking starts.

No searching.

No clicking.

No forgetting.

The Real Magic Happens at the End of the Month

Because the cube’s tactile time tracking synchronizes directly with the cloud software, reporting transforms from a final boss into a helpful assistant.

Real-World Example: Transparency Builds Trust

An IT consultant recently told me:

“I used to spend hours preparing invoice attachments and often had to justify rough estimates. With TimeSpin, I now export professional reports at the push of a button that document every minute. My clients love the transparency and I finally got my Friday evenings back.”

Why TimeSpin Makes the Difference

Tactile Meets High-Tech

The intuitive rotation of the cube ensures seamless time tracking without discipline stress.

Synchronization Instead of Chaos

All recorded time flows directly into the reporting system.

Professional Reports in One Click

Export ready-to-use reports for invoice attachments that leave no questions unanswered.

Error-Resistant Workflow

No more manual transfer between data sources. What you record is accurate.

More Than Just Numbers

At the end of the day, this is about more than numbers.

It’s about having complete control over your work and presenting absolute transparency to your clients.

TimeSpin transforms time tracking from an annoying obligation into a statement of professionalism.

Conclusion

Are you ready to revolutionize your monthly closing?

Work smart, not hard — and win back your time.

Get Started

➡️ Discover TimeSpin

➡️ Developed by Genese

Try TimeSpin and start working more professionally today.

The Dream Job That Isn’t?

Thomas Delfing — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:37:06 +0000

What Life in Big Law Firms and Consulting Really Looks Like — And What Companies Can Learn From It

For many graduates, landing a job at a major law firm or one of the famous “Big Four” consulting firms is considered the ultimate career launch.

High salaries, prestigious clients, steep learning curves, and a recognizable name on the résumé promise a career path filled with opportunities.

But behind this polished façade often lies a reality that is discussed far less frequently.

A recent report, in which three young professionals anonymously describe their daily work experiences, paints a more nuanced picture — one that invites reflection and carries lessons far beyond the legal and consulting industries.

👉 Source:
https://www.faz.net/aktuell/karriere-hochschule/buero-co/wie-der-alltag-in-grosskanzleien-und-unternehmungsberatung-wirklich-aussieht-accg-200670995.html

Between Expectations and Reality

Many young professionals enter these firms expecting an environment where they can learn, grow, and take on responsibility.

What they often encounter instead is a system designed for maximum performance from day one, leaving little room for gradual adjustment.

Working hours are only the most visible aspect.

Weeks of 60, 70, or even 80 hours are not unusual. In many areas, they are simply the norm.

Projects, deadlines, and client demands set the rhythm — not the individual.

Over time, this leads to a fundamental shift:

Work stops being part of life and becomes its dominant force.

Performance as a System Principle

This reality is not accidental. It is structural.

Large law firms and consulting companies operate in highly competitive environments where efficiency, speed, and measurable results determine success.

This creates a clear organizational logic:

High entry requirements
Rapid performance evaluation
Continuous selection

The well-known “up-or-out” principle is rarely hidden.

Those who meet expectations move forward.
Those who do not eventually leave the system.

For many young professionals, this means starting their careers in an environment with little tolerance for mistakes and very high expectations for self-management.

Learning Under Pressure

Ironically, the very thing many graduates expect to be the greatest advantage — intensive training — is often perceived differently in practice.

Instead of structured onboarding, many experience:

Learning by doing under constant time pressure
Limited availability of mentors
Very little space for reflection

The result is a paradox.

The learning curve is indeed steep.

But it is not always sustainable.

Knowledge is built quickly, yet not always anchored systematically. Development happens, but often without structured guidance.

The Silent Burden

Alongside professional demands, another layer frequently appears: mental strain.

Constant availability, continuous time pressure, and the need to meet extremely high quality standards can create a state of permanent tension.

There is also a strong social component:

Comparisons with colleagues
Indirect competitive pressure
Limited transparency about expectations

Even high performers sometimes experience persistent uncertainty about whether they are doing enough.

The Question of “Why”

Another theme frequently appearing in personal accounts is the question of meaning.

Many graduates enter these firms hoping to work on interesting problems and meaningful projects.

In reality, they often encounter a system dominated by billable hours and efficiency metrics.

This creates a noticeable disconnect:

High effort meets low identification
Intense work without a strong sense of purpose

For a generation that increasingly values purpose-driven work, this becomes a decisive factor.

Why Many Leave — And What It Really Means

The resignations described in the report are not a sign of weak resilience.

Rather, they are responses to structural conditions.

The most common reasons are clear:

Chronic overload
Lack of leadership and guidance
Limited predictability
Weak connection to the actual purpose of the work

Importantly, it is rarely a single factor.

It is the combination of these elements that ultimately pushes people to leave.

What Companies Can Learn From This

The insights from these experiences are not limited to law firms or consulting companies.

They apply to any organization employing highly qualified professionals.

The central question is simple but powerful:

How can work be structured in a way that enables performance without losing people?

Several approaches stand out.

1. Transparency Instead of Implicit Expectations

Organizations should communicate clearly:

What is expected
What success looks like
What realistic workloads are

Unspoken expectations create unnecessary pressure.

2. Leadership as an Active Responsibility

Professional excellence alone is not enough.

People also need:

Guidance
Mentorship
Long-term development support

Leadership is not simply about expertise.
It is about helping others succeed.

3. Sustainable Performance Models

The goal should not be maximum utilization at all times.

Instead, organizations benefit from building systems that support long-term capability and resilience.

4. Communicating Purpose

One question matters more than many organizations realize:

Why do we do what we do?

When employees understand the broader impact of their work, motivation becomes far more sustainable.

A Brief Look at Time as a Resource

One often overlooked aspect in this discussion is how organizations think about time.

In many companies, time is primarily treated as a billable metric.

But in high-pressure environments, time has another dimension.

It forms the foundation for:

Focus
Quality
Long-term satisfaction

Interestingly, many professionals working 60–80 hours per week report that they gradually lose track of how their time is actually spent.

Not every hour has the same value.
Not every task has the same relevance.

This is where new approaches are emerging that aim to make time more visible and tangible again.

Solutions such as Timespin explore exactly this question:

What happens when we stop merely measuring time and start consciously experiencing it?

Without overstating the concept, one insight becomes clear.

A more reflective relationship with time can help people better understand their working reality, especially in demanding environments.

Some companies exploring these ideas include organizations such as Genese, which focus on new perspectives on work, structure, and digital transformation.

The Myth of the Perfect Career Start

One important realization remains:

The perfect career start does not exist.

Large law firms and consulting companies offer enormous opportunities:

Rapid professional development
High-profile projects
Powerful professional networks

But they also come with clear demands and limitations.

For some people, this environment is exactly right.

For others, it is not.

The real question is therefore not whether these systems are good or bad, but rather:

Do they align with your expectations, values, and long-term goals?

Conclusion

The experiences described in these reports highlight an important truth.

Prestige and salary alone are not enough to create long-term satisfaction.

Work is more than performance.

It is also:

Structure
Culture
Meaning

Organizations that understand this gain a powerful advantage — not only in recruiting talent, but also in retaining it over the long term.

And for young professionals entering the workforce:

Your first job does not define your entire career.

But it does shape your understanding of work.

That is precisely why it is worth looking closely.

Online Filing with DPMAdirektPro and Genese: How Integrated Digital Workflows Transform IP Management

Thomas Delfing — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:28:00 +0000

Eliminating media breaks, automating patent office communication, and creating efficient end-to-end IP processes.

Digitalization in intellectual property management is no longer a futuristic concept. It has become part of the everyday reality for modern patent departments, trademark teams, and IP law firms.

Yet practical experience shows something important.

Digitalization alone does not automatically create efficiency.

Real advantages appear only when processes are fully integrated. If critical steps still depend on manual data transfers, repeated data entry, or disconnected systems, digital workflows can quickly turn into fragmented processes.

This difference becomes particularly visible in online filing with patent offices.

Many organizations maintain filing data in an internal system, manually transfer the same information into a separate filing tool, and later retrieve responses from the patent office through another interface. Even though everything happens electronically, the workflow still contains multiple media breaks and redundant steps.

True digital efficiency begins when these steps are connected into one continuous workflow.

That is precisely the goal of the integration between Genese and DPMAdirektPro.

Why Online Filing Is More Than Just Electronic Submission

Many organizations initially see online filing simply as a way to submit applications electronically to the patent office.

While that is correct, it only represents a small portion of the potential value.

Real efficiency gains occur when filing becomes integrated with:

IP case management
Document management
Deadline monitoring
Workflow automation

In traditional workflows, important information such as:

Applicant data
Inventor information
Priority claims
Representative details
Procedural references

is typically maintained inside an IP management system.

However, when filing takes place in a separate tool, the same data often needs to be entered again manually.

This duplication introduces several risks:

Typing errors
Inconsistent data between internal records and official submissions
Incorrect priority dates or references
Outdated contact information

Manual re-entry also consumes valuable time that could otherwise be spent on strategic IP work.

Another challenge appears after submission.

Many organizations still process incoming communications from the patent office manually. Even when documents arrive electronically, they often need to be:

Downloaded
Assigned to the correct case
Stored in the system
Converted into tasks and deadlines

Each of these steps introduces new media breaks into what should ideally be a seamless digital workflow.

DPMAdirektPro: The Official Filing System of the German Patent and Trademark Office

DPMAdirektPro is the official software provided by the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) for legally valid electronic filing.

It supports a wide range of procedures, including:

Patent applications
Utility model applications
Trademark applications
Design applications
Follow-up submissions in existing procedures

The system captures filing data in a structured format and converts it into the official data format required by the DPMA.

Before transmission, DPMAdirektPro performs several validation checks, helping users verify:

Completeness of information
Technical plausibility of the submission

These checks reduce the likelihood of errors that could otherwise require corrections.

The software also supports secure electronic communication through encryption and digital signature technologies.

Immediately after submission, users receive an electronic receipt confirmation, followed shortly by the official filing confirmation including the DPMA file number.

Organizations can also enable electronic document delivery, allowing official communications from the DPMA to be received digitally instead of by postal mail.

These features provide a strong technical foundation for modern online filing.

However, when used as a standalone tool, organizations still face the operational effort of manually transferring data into the system and later importing responses back into their internal IP environment.

The Genese Interface to DPMAdirektPro

This is where the integration developed by Genese becomes especially valuable.

The philosophy behind Genese IP management software is to treat IP processes not as isolated tools but as connected digital workflows.

The integration with DPMAdirektPro follows one central principle:

Data that already exists in the IP case file should never need to be entered again.

Within Genese, all relevant filing information already exists in the case file, including:

Applicant details
Inventor data
Representatives
Priority information
Internal references
Procedural details

Through the interface, these data points can be transferred directly from the Genese case file into DPMAdirektPro.

The result is simple but powerful.

Instead of entering the same information twice, users continue working within their familiar case management environment.

Genese remains the central system of record, while DPMAdirektPro handles the official electronic submission.

Fewer Media Breaks, Higher Data Quality

Media breaks may appear harmless at first glance. In reality, they often generate hidden operational costs.

Every additional manual step increases the risk of:

Inconsistent data
Missing information
Incorrect references
Administrative overhead

Even when mistakes are detected early, teams must invest time correcting them.

By transferring filing data directly from the case file into the submission system, the Genese integration significantly reduces these friction points.

Key benefits include:

Fewer manual data transfers
Improved consistency between internal records and official submissions
Reduced administrative workload
Greater transparency across teams

For organizations managing large IP portfolios, these improvements quickly translate into measurable productivity gains.

The Return Channel: A Critical Part of Digital IP Processes

Submitting an application is only one part of the filing process.

Equally important is the digital handling of responses from the patent office.

In many environments, incoming communications such as:

Filing confirmations
Official file numbers
Examination reports
Office actions

are still processed manually.

Even when documents arrive electronically, they often need to be downloaded, sorted, and assigned to internal files.

The integration between Genese and DPMAdirektPro allows these responses to be retrieved electronically and processed directly inside the Genese system.

Incoming documents therefore become part of the digital case workflow, rather than isolated files sitting in an inbox.

From Document to Action: Managing Deadlines Directly from Office Communications

In intellectual property law, deadlines are not just administrative details. They often determine legal rights and procedural outcomes.

For that reason, the connection between incoming communications and deadline management is critical.

When documents received through DPMAdirektPro are processed directly in Genese, deadlines can be recorded immediately within the case context.

This approach provides several advantages:

Reduced risk of missed deadlines
Fewer manual transfers into external calendars
Transparent workflow tracking
Clearer task assignments

In collaborative environments involving attorneys, assistants, and IP managers, this integrated workflow significantly improves reliability.

A Practical Example of an Integrated Filing Workflow

A typical workflow highlights the advantages.

An IP case is created or prepared in Genese, where all relevant application data is already stored.

Using the integration, these data are transferred to DPMAdirektPro, where the application is technically validated and electronically submitted to the DPMA.

Shortly afterward, the system receives:

The electronic receipt confirmation
The official filing number

These responses can be retrieved through DPMAdirektPro and automatically linked to the corresponding case inside Genese.

When the patent office later sends official communications, they appear directly within the case context, allowing deadlines and tasks to be generated immediately.

Without integration, these steps would require multiple systems and manual coordination.

Digitalization Means Control, Not Just Speed

Discussions about digital filing often focus primarily on speed.

While faster submissions are valuable, the real benefits lie elsewhere.

True digital transformation improves:

Process control
Data consistency
Operational transparency
Scalability of IP operations

Integrated systems ensure that workflows remain reliable even as the number of cases, team members, and responsibilities grows.

Benefits for Law Firms, Corporate IP Teams, and Patent Departments

Different organizations benefit from integrated workflows in different ways.

IP law firms benefit from reduced administrative workload and more efficient handling of large numbers of parallel procedures.

Corporate IP departments gain improved coordination between internal teams and external representatives.

Distributed teams benefit from greater transparency and consistent access to information.

Overall, integrated filing workflows provide:

Reduced manual effort
Improved data quality
Stronger process reliability
Better operational efficiency

Connecting Filing Infrastructure with Practical IP Workflows

The German Patent and Trademark Office emphasizes the advantages of electronic filing, including:

Secure transmission
Structured data formats
Faster confirmations
Reduced media breaks

These capabilities form the technical backbone of modern online filing.

Solutions such as Genese extend these capabilities into the operational world of IP management by connecting official filing infrastructure with internal workflows.

Additional information about the software ecosystem is available here:

Conclusion: Online Filing Reaches Its Full Potential Only Through Integration

Online filing with DPMAdirektPro is an essential component of modern intellectual property management at the German Patent and Trademark Office.

However, the full benefits appear only when filing becomes part of a broader digital IP workflow.

The integration between Genese and DPMAdirektPro enables:

Direct data transfer from case files
Reduced duplicate data entry
Structured processing of incoming communications
Seamless deadline management

The result is not simply faster submissions, but a more reliable, transparent, and efficient IP process.

For IP law firms, corporate patent departments, and trademark teams, this means fewer routine tasks, better oversight, and significantly more professional digital workflows.

Ultimately, this is what effective digitalization looks like in practice.

The “Approximation Effect”: Why We Quietly Lose Money When We Estimate Our Working Time

Thomas Delfing — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:21:00 +0000

A New Work Commentary by Our Expert

A client call interrupts your deep focus.

You are fully immersed in Project A—analyzing data, building strategy, thinking several steps ahead—when your phone vibrates.

Project B. An important client.

The call lasts twelve minutes. It is intense, detailed, and meaningful.

But while you are speaking, something subtle happens in the background of your mind:

👉 The “Approximation Effect” begins.

You think:

“Stop timer…”
“I’ll do it later…”
“Was that 10 minutes or more like 20?”

By the end of the day, many of us sit in front of spreadsheets or tools and estimate.

And that is where the real problem begins.

The Trap of Estimation: When Minutes Quietly Disappear

Every “roughly” is a leak in your value chain.

It does not only mean:

Lost billable time

It also affects something even more fragile:

👉 Trust

When clients question invoices, it is often not because of poor work quality—but because of imprecise documentation.

The Paradox of Digital Tools

Ironically, the tools designed to help us often introduce a new problem.

When time tracking requires:

switching tabs
searching for the right timer
clicking start and stop repeatedly

👉 focus is disrupted every single time

Time tracking becomes administrative friction instead of support.

The Solution Is Haptic: The TimeSpin Cube

So the question is no longer:

“Which complex tool should I use?”

But instead:

“How can time tracking become so simple that I no longer have to think about it?”

The answer lies in a physical, intuitive motion.

With the TimeSpin cube, a new routine emerges:

Reach for the device on your desk
Turn it to the correct task
Tracking starts instantly

No tabs. No searching. No estimating.

Focus on What Actually Matters

Because of its physical nature, the TimeSpin cube keeps your mind where it should be:

👉 On the client

👉 On solving the problem

Time tracking happens literally in the moment.

The result is:

Continuous, precise documentation
Seamless transfer into billing via cloud software
No missing minutes at the end of the month

A Calmer Workday Emerges

Companies using this kind of haptic approach report more than improved billing accuracy.

They also report:

Less mental overhead
Fewer “did I forget something?” moments
More creative freedom

When uncertainty disappears, space for real thinking appears.

Final Question

How do you handle this problem today?

Do you still estimate…

or have you already started turning?

Book a Demo

👉 Click here to book a demo

The Haptic Revolution: Why a Small Cube Is Redefining Time Management in New Work

Thomas Delfing — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:18:49 +0000

Modern Work Realities

We all know the situation:

It’s Friday, 4:00 PM. The laptop is about to close, but one final obstacle remains—time tracking for billing in the ERP system.

You stare at an empty Tuesday morning in your calendar and wonder:

👉 “What exactly did I do for three hours there?”

That moment of uncertainty costs more than nerves—it can cost real money. Guessing means losing revenue or credibility with clients.

In a world where software is becoming increasingly complex, even opening an application can feel like an additional task.

And then, the solution comes from an unexpected direction:

👉 Haptics

The TimeSpin® Cube: Simplicity as a Strategy

The TimeSpin device is not a traditional time tracking tool.

It is a physical twelve-sided cube (a dodecahedron) that sits directly on your desk as a smart object.

Its brilliance lies in immediacy.

While traditional tools create a cognitive gap between work and tracking, TimeSpin reduces everything to one intuitive action:

👉 Turning

How it works

Switch from client work to research? → turn the cube
The system detects the new position instantly
Time is tracked in the cloud in real time

No menus. No delays. No friction.

👉 Full billing transparency without mental overhead.

Practical Example: From Administrative Chaos to Focused Work

Imagine a typical marketing agency scenario.

A project manager is juggling five different clients daily.

Before:

Reconstructing Outlook calendars
Estimating hours in Excel sheets
Guessing where time went

This “creative guessing” is now obsolete.

With TimeSpin:

The cube sits visibly on the desk.

Every task switch triggers an immediate tracking impulse.

What emerges is a new form of discipline:

👉 Not control-driven

👉 But freedom-oriented

Because the system also works offline:

Time is stored locally
Even on trains or unstable internet
Later synced via Bluetooth

Conclusion: Trust Through Transparency

Companies using TimeSpin are investing in more than just a tool.

They are investing in a culture of trust.

For employees:

No more guilt about missing admin work
Less after-hours reconstruction

For managers:

Precise, reliable data
No need for micromanagement

In the modern work landscape of 2025 and beyond, time is the most valuable resource.

With TimeSpin, it becomes visible again:

👉 Simple

👉 Haptic

👉 And fully compliant

Book a Demo

👉 Click here to book a demo

The Renaissance of the Tangible: Why a Small Cube Signals the End of Time Tracking Chaos

Thomas Delfing — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:16:35 +0000

Commentary by Dennis Urban

We live in an age of digital overload.

While conversations revolve around AI automation and the paperless office, many companies are struggling with one of the most basic yet critical tasks: accurate time tracking.

At the end of the month, the scene is familiar:

Reconstructing forgotten phone calls
Digging through sent emails
Desperately retyping scattered notes

The result?

Headaches, frustration, and—more costly for businesses than it seems—lost revenue from forgotten micro-tasks.

The “Click Barrier”: Why Software Alone Often Fails

The paradox of modern time tracking tools is their very digital nature.

The gap between doing the work and logging the work is often too wide.

In moments of stress:

Discipline drops
The tool becomes “out of sight, out of mind”

This is where a different kind of innovation steps in:

👉 The TimeSpin time tracking cube

Haptics Meets High Tech: Time Tracking as a Reflex

Imagine not having to open menus, dashboards, or start-stop timers.

Instead, time tracking becomes as natural as a physical gesture.

The TimeSpin device is a 12-sided cube (dodecahedron) placed on your desk.

Each side represents:

A project
A client
Or a category such as:
- Concept work
- Meetings
- Invoicing

The key idea:

A simple physical turn starts tracking automatically.

This creates a haptic task switch aligned with cognitive focus shift.

In psychology, this is called an anchor:

👉 A physical action that reinforces attention and intent.

A Practical Example: The “5-Minute Billing Victory”

Take a marketing agency or a law firm.

Previously:

Friday mornings were lost to reconstructing billable time

With TimeSpin:

During the workday:

Quick client call → turn the cube
Fast research task → turn the cube

At the end of the month:

All data is already synced in real time via cloud software

The result:

Time tracking for invoicing takes under 5 minutes instead of hours
No lost revenue from forgotten tasks
A noticeably calmer end of the week

Trust Instead of Control

TimeSpin is not a surveillance tool.

It is an empowerment tool.

It creates transparency:

For management
But especially for employees

It makes personal work visible and helps:

Detect overload early
Prevent burnout

In a world of remote and hybrid work, the cube becomes a symbol of modern trust culture.

Conclusion

Efficiency does not have to be complicated.

Sometimes the solution is not more software layers—but a physical object that brings us back into focus.

With TimeSpin, you are no longer just managing time.

👉 You are mastering it.

Ready to End the Excel Chaos?

Try it yourself and experience how beautifully simple time tracking can be.

👉 Book a demo

The 4-Day Workweek in Germany: What the Study Shows—and Why Data Transparency Determines Success or Failure

Thomas Delfing — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:13:48 +0000

A Debate That Has Become Reality

The discussion around the 4-day workweek is no longer theoretical.

With the study

“The 4-Day-Week in Germany: First Results of Germany’s Trial on Work Time Reduction”

by the University of Münster (in cooperation with Intraprenör GmbH), we now have the first structured field experiment with German companies.

The central question:

👉 Can reduced working hours—with the same salary—work without a drop in productivity?

The answer is nuanced—but more positive than many expected.

Part 1: Key Findings of the Study

1. Study Design – More Than Just Opinions

45 organizations tested different models of reduced working hours over several months.

Data collected included:

📊 Subjective surveys (well-being, stress, satisfaction, perceived performance)
⌚ Smartwatch data (sleep, activity, stress levels)
🧪 Biomarkers (cortisol measurements)
🏢 Business metrics (revenue, absenteeism, performance indicators)
🎙 Qualitative interviews

👉 The key strength: combining subjective and objective data.

2. Core Results

✔ Improved Health & Well-Being

Participants showed:

More sleep
Increased physical activity
Reduced stress indicators

✔ Stable Business Performance

Many companies maintained:

Revenue
Productivity

👉 Despite a 20% reduction in working time

✔ Higher Employer Attractiveness

Increased satisfaction
Stronger employee retention

⚖ No Universal Guarantee of Success

Results varied significantly between organizations.

👉 The difference was not the idea—but the implementation.

Part 2: The Real Problem – The Risk of Flying Blind

Many companies introduce new work models and then measure only:

“Does it feel better?”
“Is everything still running?”
“Are customers complaining?”

That’s not enough.

The study clearly shows:

👉 Successful companies actively adjusted processes:

Reduced meetings
Protected focus time
Streamlined workflows

However:

👉 The study mainly measures outcomes and health indicators

👉 It does not granularly track how time allocation actually changed

This is where the risk begins.

Part 3: Why Data Transparency Is Critical

A 4-day workweek only works if at least one of the following happens:

Productivity per hour increases
Inefficient time is eliminated
Processes are systematically optimized

Without valid time and activity data, it remains unclear:

Was work truly more efficient?
Or just compressed into fewer days?
Is hidden stress increasing over time?
Are overtime hours shifting invisibly?

👉 Short-term well-being may improve—while long-term overload grows unnoticed.

Part 4: Practical Recommendations for Companies

To avoid turning the 4-day workweek into a “gut-feeling experiment,” companies need structured data.

1. Establish a Before-and-After Baseline

Before implementation, measure:

Time spent in meetings
Focus work
Administrative tasks
Context switching
Interruptions

👉 No baseline = no meaningful comparison.

2. Measure Focus Time Systematically

Knowledge work suffers primarily from fragmentation.

Track:

Number of deep work blocks per week
Frequency of interruptions
Actual task durations

3. Differentiate Task Types

Not every hour is equally productive.

Create transparency across:

Core value-creating work
Coordination
Administration
Rework / corrections
Waiting times

👉 Only then can real efficiency gains be identified.

4. Focus on Long-Term Trends

A 6-month pilot is not enough.

You need:

Quarterly comparisons
Seasonal analysis
Project cycle evaluations

👉 This reveals whether productivity is stable—or if overload is creeping in.

5. Link Time Data with Outcome Data

The future lies in correlation:

Time usage ↔ Revenue
Focus time ↔ Error rates
Meeting duration ↔ Project timelines
Interruptions ↔ Stress levels

👉 Only this connection enables real management and optimization.

Part 5: The Strategic Perspective

The 4-day workweek is not just a scheduling model.

👉 It is an organizational transformation project.

Successful companies:

Rethink processes
Prioritize work
Make time visible

Data transparency is not a control mechanism—it is a navigation system.

Conclusion: Less Time Requires More Precision

The Münster study shows:

👉 The 4-day workweek can work.

But it does not work automatically.

The less time available, the more precisely it must be used
The more radical the model, the more important measurement becomes

Without data, you get:

Optimism
Culture-driven assumptions
Individual opinions

With data, you get:

Comparability
Control
Sustainability

The Real Question

It’s not:

👉 “Does the 4-day workweek work?”

It’s:

👉 “Do we have the data to truly evaluate it?”

Resources

👉 Study: Click here

👉 Demo: TimeSpin

Without Valid Data, AI Transformation Is Flying Blind – Why We Need to “Grasp” Work Again

Thomas Delfing — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:11:19 +0000

The AI Boom—and a Hidden Problem

Headlines are everywhere:

Artificial intelligence is set to revolutionize the economy. Billions are being invested in copilots and automated workflows.

But while companies upgrade their software stacks, one fundamental issue is often overlooked:

👉 We are still measuring modern, cognitive work with outdated tools from the industrial age.

Counting clicks and presence does not explain how value is created in 2026.

The Paradox of Digital Work

Digital work—especially when AI is involved—is not linear.

It is an iterative process of:

Thinking
Deciding
Discarding
Refining

As Dennis Urban, co-founder of TimeSpin, puts it:

“The economy is trying to measure highly complex cognitive work with tools from the industrial age.”

👉 The result: flying blind

Companies invest heavily in AI—but often don’t know whether:

Efficiency is truly improving
Or work is simply being shifted elsewhere

TimeSpin: Where Haptics Meet High-Tech

This is where the TimeSpin cube enters the scene.

It introduces a new category:

👉 Haptic data capture

Instead of invasive monitoring through algorithms or screenshots, the cube brings people back into the process.

How it works

A simple physical action:

Turn the cube to the relevant side
Track a task or project down to the second

No friction. No disruption.

Why This Is a Gamechanger for Companies

1. Real Data Instead of Assumptions

For the first time, companies can clearly see:

Which activities actually create value
Where AI-supported processes still fall short

2. Trust Instead of Control

Because employees control the cube themselves:

They remain in charge of their data
A culture of trust is strengthened

👉 This also helps prevent burnout.

3. Focus Without Interruption

No menus. No app switching.

👉 Attention stays exactly where it belongs: on the task.

Use Case: The Law Firm of the Future

Imagine a law firm using AI for document analysis.

With the TimeSpin cube, it becomes possible to distinguish between:

Time spent on AI-assisted research
Time spent on strategic thinking and case development

👉 The result:

Minute-accurate, compliant billing
A clear view of the true ROI of AI tools

Conclusion: To Lead, You Must Understand

Digital transformation needs a tangible foundation.

The TimeSpin cube makes the invisible visible:

👉 Our cognitive work becomes measurable and understandable.

It’s time to stop flying blind—and start taking control of work again.