Laying the foundation for the future

Renato "Renny" Petrillo has been CEO of Baggenstos for one year. In this conversation, he shares his initial experiences and his vision for the future of Baggenstos.

Interview: Bruno Habegger

How would you describe your first year in one sentence?

Renny Petrillo: The first year was an intensive phase of listening, learning, and strategic alignment, during which we were able to lay the foundation for the future.

The new website marks this new chapter with the tagline "Cloud & AI – empowering your business." What empowers you?

The trust of our team, the courage of our customers to embrace change, and the tangible success that follows when technology creates real value in everyday life.

Is the era of IT as a cost center over?

Definitely. Today, business and infrastructure can only be understood as a single entity. When optimally aligned, success follows. I can clearly feel our customers' drive to move into the next phase of digitalization with cloud and AI.

How has Baggenstos changed during your first year?

We have become more agile, more focused on modern cloud and AI solutions, and have sharpened our role as a leading Microsoft technology provider in the areas of Azure, M365, security, and AI. Our portfolio keeps us at the cutting edge of technological development.  

How have customers perceived and received you?

Very positively and openly: Customers appreciate the combination of a reliable Swiss IT partner with over 100 years of history and a clear vision and strategy for the future.

Well put: Typewriters are information technology, too, after all.

(smiles) Yes. The evolution of Baggenstos simply shows how we have always viewed ourselves as a business enabler—whether analog, digital, or now with cloud and AI. It is always about people and their success.

Speaking of which: Is Baggenstos struggling with the skills shortage?

Attracting talent remains challenging, but thanks to our clear focus on cutting-edge technologies like Azure, M365, security, and AI, as well as a modern culture, we attract people who truly want to make a difference.

The era of the box-shifter is also over...

Yes, absolutely. It is simply more than just IT. More than hardware and software. Our colleagues see the impact of their work on our customers. It is about bringing business and technology into harmony.

Where does Baggenstos stand today?

The foundation is solid; our processes and portfolio are aligned. We are on a very good path, but the goal requires continuous momentum, innovation, and a focus on our customers. And, of course, our team and having fun along the way must not be neglected.

Will we see digital colleagues soon?

We already have several in use internally and are currently training their capabilities. Our customers will benefit from this later on. Now is the right time. Agents take over repetitive, data-intensive tasks and free up employees for value-adding activities. Baggenstos provides support from use-case identification and governance to implementation.

Can you imagine an SME without any people at all?

An interesting thought experiment, but hardly conceivable in reality. Successful companies thrive on empathy, creativity, and leadership—AI and agents augment teams and people, but they do not replace them.

What was your biggest "aha" moment when using Copilot?

See how drastically Copilot cuts down preparation time for complex meetings by precisely consolidating scattered information in seconds.

Are there any significant changes coming up at Baggenstos?

The evolution is underway. We will continue to expand our Managed Services with a strong focus on AI and our Professional Services with top-tier expertise. We are also aligning ourselves even more precisely and deeply with the needs of our customers and the market.

Heading into your second year as CEO: What are your wishes?

That as a team, we succeed in operating consistently and sustainably on a solid foundation, maintaining high customer satisfaction, and remaining the most attractive employer for IT talent in German-speaking Switzerland.‍

About the interviewee

Renato Petrillo has been CEO of A. Baggenstos AG since 2025.

‍Renny's IT Trends

The IT service market is constantly evolving. These are the trends setting the pace for Baggenstos, according to Renny Petrillo.

• AI & Automation: AI-powered efficiency in the digital workplace using agents
• AI Cyber Security: AI-driven real-time threat detection
• Zero Trust: Global Secure Access for secure connectivity without a traditional VPN
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