The Innovation Fund and the new Swiss-Ski app

Sunrise and Swiss-Ski want to work together to advance digitisation in winter sports. The focus is on increasing the appeal of winter sports and reinforcing our image as pioneers of innovation for both companies. The collaboration will also strengthen the innovative drive of both partners and is intended to expand communities and increase customer touchpoints.  
 

More than a traditional sponsorship partner 

«From the very beginning, Sunrise wanted to be more than just a traditional sponsor,» says Maggie Dopf, Head of IT Technical Services, who has been with Sunrise for about two-and-a-half-years. «IT and technology are two of our core competencies, which is why we’re happy to support and enable Swiss-Ski with our expertise. We don’t just have talented employees, we also have a large network of technology partners,» adds Florian Wäschle, Senior Director IT Operations Infrastructure.   

Success of the Innovation Fund 

Several projects have already been realised thanks to the Innovation Fund. For the Sunrise Snow Days, for example, we managed to develop a photo platform with an app that gives teachers and parents live access to their children’s photos and videos. The Sunrise Snow Days offer school classes (3rd–6th grade) from regions far removed from winter sports an inexpensive and unforgettable experience on the slopes. Ticketing on the Swiss-Ski website was also optimised, and slope visualisations were tested for athletes using VR glasses. The Swiss-Ski online store was launched on 18 October 2022 and entered in the commercial register in June 2024 as a joint venture between Sunrise and Swiss-Ski. «In the Swiss-Ski store, fans and winter sports enthusiasts can stock up on everything a sports fan could wish for – from jackets, sunglasses and socks to ski racing suits. There's even a teaching tool for kids who want to improve their skills,» explains Florian. Here you can access the Swiss-Ski online store. 

The new Swiss-Ski app 

The Swiss-Ski app is a key project. Maggie says: "With the Swiss-Ski app, you're always well informed about what’s happening in the world of winter sports in Switzerland. Whether it's upcoming competitions, the latest breaking news or exciting insights into the world of Swiss-Ski athletes, you’ll find it all in one place. Ticket management is made much simpler with the app because customers can access all tickets purchased via the Swiss-Ski ticket shop directly in the app.» 

«What's more, the app allows fans to get even closer to their favourite sport – whether it’s with exclusive behind-the-scenes content, interactive features or the opportunity to engage with athletes directly,» says Florian. 

Other highlights of the app include a live ticker and event updates, maps of the event areas, overviews of the catering on offer (including the option to order any snacks you want directly via the app and collect them from the food stand) as well as a Click & Collect function, which allows fans to buy merchandise via the app and collect it from the Swiss-Ski store stand. The app also offers benefits for Sunrise as users can find out more about our current offers and Sunrise Moments on the «Sunrise» tab, and they can access our latest offers with just one click on a tab. You can download the app here.   

Looking to the future 

The app was first used at the Ski World Cup in Crans-Montana, before becoming a loyal companion for fans at other Swiss winter sports events and World Cup races. The current focus is on continuously upgrading, optimising and expanding the Swiss-Ski app by adding more functions and features. The Fund should also continue to drive innovation, digitisation and new ideas for the future. «It's definitely going to be exciting!» concludes Maggie.