A balanced system diligently tracks its path to success

CEDES AG is all about creating smart and secure sensor solutions, blending innovation with top-notch Swiss quality to help their customers stay ahead of the game worldwide, with Patrick M. Bass as its CEO. The founder, Beat de Coi, led CEDES for a quarter of a century. He was a visionary, blending the roles of scientist and entrepreneur, who profoundly influenced every facet of the business. His mantra, "Build the technology and they will come," encapsulates his bold approach, where risks are significant and success may appear unlikely, but the rewards are immense when achieved!

CEDES successfully introduced innovative products to the elevator industry, including commercial light curtains in the 1990s and advanced 3D camera sensors using time-of-flight technology. They have started out on a digital transformation journey. As these technologies mature and face the threat of becoming commonplace, the company is embracing a bold and pioneering approach to reinventing their business model with the spirit "Predict. Protect. Perform." By venturing into uncharted territory once more, they are confident that this daring move will ultimately lead them to triumph.

As a manufacturer of electronic hardware, they are transitioning to manufacturing-as-a-service to drive IoT solution services, shifting their focus from purely physical products to digital ones. This implies that they are now producing sensors due to the data they can provide for predictive analytics, in addition to the inherent safety function they offer to customers.

Patrick has never had aspirations for the C-suite. Instead, upon completing his university studies, he chose to pursue a career as a field elevator mechanic, specializing in troubleshooting and emergency repairs. Through his hands-on experience and direct interaction with customers during critical situations, he has gained valuable insights into the impact of product failures on businesses and personal mobility, as well as the key factors for business success. His background as a systems engineer has influenced his perspective, viewing everything as a system. He believes that building a strong, effective team capable of achieving goals is both a challenging and rewarding aspect of being a CEO. There are certain important guidelines that Patrick adheres to. Firstly, it is crucial to understand the value drivers in one’s business model and eliminate any barriers that may hinder them. Secondly, it is advisable to have the courage to challenge conventional practices. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, he recommends identifying and empowering the hidden champions within the organization. He asks everyone to keep the following in mind while reading this piece: “Make sure what you’re doing every day excites you enough to get out of bed.”

Patrick explains that everything is a system: goals and objectives drive individual behavior, so you need to understand what behavior you are looking for at each level and set each level of goals and objectives accordingly to get the organization moving cohesively toward achieving the common goal. Don't ever lose sight of one crucial saying attributed to Peter Drucker: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

Patrick's role entails understanding the organization's dynamics through active engagement with teams at all levels. He believes that his colleagues would agree that he is a straightforward, genuine, and compassionate leader. During his free time, he enjoys restoring and building classic cars and frequently works on home improvement projects. He has a passion for designing, building, remodeling, and optimizing. In a professional setting, he is always looking for ways to enhance their processes by transitioning manual tasks to digital solutions, which can streamline productivity and empower users. The main idea is to embody a person who is relatable to others while also being confident and courageous enough to express himself.

Additionally, CEDES places a high value on collaboration. The team consists of individuals who are enthusiastic about working together to solve problems and share ideas. This ethos extends to fostering strong, trusting relationships with partners and customers. This inclusive team spirit enables them to accomplish remarkable feats, such as establishing a new production plant in under a year. It is critical for them to consistently involve and empower team members, celebrate successes, and learn from failures together.

Moreover, they are consistently observant of potential disruptors and the reasons behind their actions, while also maintaining a consistent focus on the markets, consumers, and competitors when it comes to competing. They actively engage in industry advisory work and understand the significance of speed to market for their business. This is why they prioritize strategic partnerships in order to stay ahead.

Their innovative cegard/Smart system, in conjunction with the IoT platform CEDES Elevate, leverages elevator sensor data to facilitate predictive maintenance and analysis of people flow. Its latest ECom variant serves as a comprehensive data and communication hub for IoT and multimedia emergency calls. Anyone interested can attend the upcoming UNITED Convention in Atlantic City in September to experience this solution firsthand. They are also effectively applying the knowledge they've gained from developing this IoT portfolio to the various industries and segments they serve. The recent R+T Innovation Award received for GridScan/Smart Traffic, their IoT-enabled light curtain for industrial doors, demonstrates their commitment to innovation and progress.