How do you say goodbye to someone who has built up and significantly shaped the company for 33 years? With trumpets and drums, of course, and almost symbolically, in a work or test tunnel. Sounds unpleasant? It wasn't, because the Hargerbach test gallery near Flums has one or two surprises in store, from a shooting range and various test branches to an underground and heated restaurant.
In many ways, this complexity is also reminiscent of Marcel himself. In 1988, he joined Infosystem AG as the majority shareholder. As mentioned, the following years were characterized by this complexity. Together with Rudolf Sulzer and the constantly growing team, he was always on the lookout for new technologies and business areas. First in individual development, then in the area of standardized ERP solutions, through to explicit industry solutions such as the ResSys group reservation system.
His pursuit of the optimal solution, always with the customer in mind, was what set him apart. Internally, some people would have been happy if he had been a little less customer-focused. He was also characterized by his honest and informal manner. Something that was particularly noticeable at the retirement party and was also clearly visible when he said goodbye to customers. Colleagues became friends and customers became long-term partners.
And although Infosystem is a rather small provider in the shark tank of ERP manufacturers, it is precisely these values such as customer focus, familiarity and honesty that are decisive for the impressive customer portfolio, which includes Swiss, Rhaetian Railway, Toggenburger Unternehmungen and Angst+Pfister, among others.He is less proud of his legacy as such than that it is being continued today by his two sons Samuel and Tobias Schnelli and his long-standing partner Michael Baumeler.
"Until a few years ago, I had no idea when I would retire and what it would be like. Today, I enjoy being able to get up at 12 o'clock every day and knowing that the information system is in good hands."
The fact that he has officially retired does not, of course, mean that Marcel will disappear completely from the scene. He will continue to support Infosystem with advice and pop in for a coffee from time to time, but no longer at 7 a.m.
And anyone who has shaped a company for over 30 years with Marcel's charisma, perseverance and innovative spirit is hard to replace. Some employees have worked with Marcel for the full 33 years, many have been with him for over 10 years, others only got to know him briefly but everyone will miss him. We, as the (remaining) team, would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you and wish Marcel all the best for his retirement.