The demands on modern collaboration continue to rise – especially in highly regulated, globally connected organizations. Geistlich Pharma AG (Geistlich) responded early and, together with Campana & Schott, created and rolled out a future‑ready Digital Workplace based on Microsoft 365 Technologies. This Digital Workplace brings together secure and efficient collaboration, continuous innovation through ongoing development, and a strong contribution to employee satisfaction – technologically, organizationally, and culturally.
Digital Workplace at Geistlich
The following section offers a more detailed insight into the project.
- Industry: Medical Technology, Biotechnology
- Number of Employees: 800+
- Headquarters: Wolhusen, Switzerland
- Website: Geistlich Pharma International – Geistlich Pharma AG
Starting Point and Tarfet State
Geistlich is an internationally active company in the medical technology and biotechnology sectors, headquartered in Switzerland with locations in more than 90 countries. Operating in the highly regulated med‑tech environment, Geistlich faces stringent requirements – not only regarding compliance and data integrity, but also when it comes to efficient cross‑site collaboration, modern workplace concepts, and the technological future‑readiness of a globally operating organization.
Against this backdrop, Geistlich made a deliberate decision to introduce a modern and future‑proof Digital Workplace. The goal was to enable contemporary collaboration, meet regulatory requirements, and strengthen employee satisfaction. The new Digital Workplace was designed to excel not only technologically, but also organizationally and culturally – while remaining scalable, secure, and forward‑looking.
Structured to Succeed: From Pilot Phase to Organization‑Wide Rollout
Digital transformation is more than just adopting new technologies – it requires a clear strategy and a structured approach. A central component of this transformation and of Geistlich’s roadmap is the introduction of the Digital Workplace. Following a pilot phase with selected departments, a phased rollout was carried out based on the insights gained from the pilot. Throughout the process, employees were supported through targeted Change Management measures.
The Digital Workplace replaces traditional on‑premise tools such as VPN, file shares, and office‑bound applications with modern solutions like Microsoft Teams, digital telephony, and cloud‑based collaboration. A self‑service portal now enables employees to independently create and manage organizational, team, and project spaces. In addition, an M365 service‑management framework was established to ensure a structured and reliable operation and continuous enhancement. The result is a scalable, secure, and user‑friendly work environment that combines technological excellence, regulatory compliance, and tangible value for employees.
Success Factors and Continuous Development
Several key factors contributed to the success of the project: A clearly structured roadmap laid the foundation for a phased and goal‑oriented approach. Change Management was strategically planned from the outset and supported by targeted measures – including audience‑specific trainings, ‘Ask Me Anything’ sessions, a self‑service portal, and an active key‑user community that continues to support the rollout today.
Another major success factor was the internal role of the Digital Transformation Manager, who guided the project through every phase. As a strategic driver and bridge between business units and IT, he continuously evaluated new technologies, developed suitable governance structures, and supported the rollout in close collaboration with change management.
Regulatory requirements were also addressed from the very beginning through a dedicated governance framework. This not only ensures security and compliance but also enables the flexible integration of new technologies such as GenAI.
Campana & Schott supported Geistlich throughout all phases with strategic consulting, technological expertise, and comprehensive change‑management guidance. The collaboration was truly partnership‑based and closely aligned with both the functional and specific organizational requirements.
A Modern Workplace, strategically anchored
Geistlich’s Digital Workplace enables location‑independent work, secure collaboration with internal and external partners, and easy access to digital services through a self‑service portal.
The new Digital Workplace serves as a platform for continuous development and has been designed so that innovations – such as GenAI capabilities like Microsoft Copilot – can be integrated securely and efficiently.
Today, the Digital Workplace is an established part of the organization and continues to evolve. This ensures that digital collaboration will remain actively shaped in the future – technologically, organizationally, and on a human level.
