viscom

What viscom does

viscom operates as the consumer-facing brand of dpsuisse, the Swiss trade association for the print and media industry (legal name: dpsuisse | der Verband der Printindustrie und Medienindustrie). Headquartered in Aarau, Switzerland, the organization functions as a membership-based industry body rather than a technology company, representing printing companies, print production facilities, graphic designers, and interactive media professionals across Switzerland.

The association's core technology is its member services infrastructure, including the media-campus continuing education platform, the viscomedia monthly industry magazine, the Branchensache podcast, and certification programs (ClimateCalc for carbon footprinting, FSC for sustainable paper sourcing, and the 'Printed in Switzerland' quality mark). viscom also manages Switzerland's formal vocational training pipeline for graphic arts professions, offering EFZ certifications for Polygraf, Interactive Media Designer, Medientechnologe, Druckausrüster, and Bindetechnologe roles, and operates industry awards including the Swiss Print Award, IMD-Award, and Education Award.

The business model is subscription-based membership dues, supplemented by training course fees, certification revenues, and ancillary member benefit partnerships (Planzer logistics, BestDrive fleet services, AVIA fuel discounts, Cornèrcard benefits). Distribution is exclusively through direct membership engagement in Switzerland, with no international operations disclosed. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the organization employs 1-10 staff, operating as a lean association. The organization is governed by a member-elected board, with Beat Kneubühler serving as Director and recent board renewal completed under a new board president.

Name

viscom

Legal name

dpsuisse | der Verband der Printindustrie und Medienindustrie

Website

https://viscom.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1869

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

viscom is the brand of dpsuisse, the Swiss trade association serving printing companies, graphic designers, and media professionals with membership dues, vocational training (media-campus), industry certifications (ClimateCalc, FSC), publications, and advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: viscom operates as a membership-based trade association for the Swiss print and media industry. Members pay dues to access legal and professional consulting, exclusive industry networks, training discounts, and political representation.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

viscom is the brand name under which dpsuisse operates as the Swiss trade association for the print and media industry. The organization provides membership-based services including industry advocacy, regulatory guidance, vocational training through the media-campus platform, sustainability certification (ClimateCalc, FSC, Printed in Switzerland), legal and professional consulting, networking programs, and industry recognition through awards such as the Swiss Print Award.

Product overview

viscom/dpsuisse operates as an industry association for the Swiss print and media industry, offering a portfolio of services including professional education through the media-campus platform, industry publications (viscomedia magazine), digital content (Branchensache podcast), sustainability certifications (ClimateCalc, Printed in Switzerland), industry research (dpsuisse-Index), and networking programs. The organization also facilitates industry awards (Swiss Print Award, IMD-Award, Education Award) and advocates for the printing industry through campaigns like 'This is Print'. Members receive access to job portals, legal advisory services, and preferential pricing on training programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VISCOMedia: Media-related services and resources under the dpsuisse/viscom umbrella
• media-campus

Products and services

• media-campus Online learning platform for continuing education and professional development in the printing and media industry, offering courses on topics including generative AI, video production, and content creation.
• viscomedia (Magazin) Monthly industry magazine covering innovations and trends in the print and media sector, delivered to members and subscribers.
• Branchensache Podcast Monthly podcast hosted by Beat Kneubühler addressing key topics and current developments in the print and communications industry, available on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music.
• Digitaler Produktepass (Digital Product Passport) Service providing digital product passport solutions for members of the printing and media industry.
• Printed in Switzerland Certification program and brand initiative promoting Swiss printing companies and their commitment to quality and environmental sustainability.
• ClimateCalc Certification Certification service for sustainable printing practices, enabling printers to demonstrate environmental responsibility.
• Jobportal Job board connecting employers and job seekers within the printing and media industry.
• dpsuisse-Index (Industry Index) Quarterly industry index measuring production trends and business performance in the Swiss printing and communications sector.
• Young Leaders Program Program supporting young professionals in the graphic and media industry through networking opportunities and professional development.
• Vocational Training Programs (EFZ/EBA Apprenticeships) Vocational education and training programs for graphic industry professions including Polygraf, Interactive Media Designer, Medientechnologe, Druckausrüster, Bindetechnologe, and Printmedienpraktiker (basic and continuing vocational education).
• Continuing Education Courses Continuing education courses covering video production, layout design, PDF tools, portrait/self-portrait, and other professional development topics delivered in Aarau, Bern, and online.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• COPYPRINTSUISSEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2027COPYPRINTSUISSE (CPS) plans to merge with dpsuisse effective 2027, consolidating the Swiss print industry representation.
• VSD (Verband Schweizerischer Druckereien)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnerdpsuisse and VSD announced they will work together, combining their efforts for the Swiss print industry.
• ClimateCalccoreTechnology or IntegrationClimateCalc certification for sustainable printing - dpsuisse promotes this certification for environmental sustainability in print production.
• PlanzerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for package shipping logistics, offering members preferential conditions for shipping printed materials.
• BestDrive by ContinentalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWinter special conditions for fleet management, offering dpsuisse members preferential pricing on vehicle services.
• AVIAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFuel discount partnership offering preferential rates at AVIA gas stations for dpsuisse members.
• CornèrcardminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCredit card benefits partnership offering Golden Times promotions free of charge to members.
• IntergrafcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean federation of print industries. dpsuisse participates in Intergraf events, Economic Reports, and the Intergraf Young Talent Award.
• FSC Group (Forest Stewardship Council)coreTechnology or IntegrationFSC group certification available through dpsuisse for sustainable paper sourcing, now accessible from 25 employees (previously 50).

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Intergraf: The European printing industry federation of which dpsuisse is a member. Operates overlapping advocacy, economic reporting, sustainability initiatives, and the Young Talent Award alongside viscom, giving a directly comparable industry-association mandate at the pan-European level.
• FESPA: European federation for screen, digital, and specialty printing. Overlaps with viscom in print-industry advocacy, sustainability, education/training, and member benefits across European national associations, including Switzerland.
• BPIF (British Printing Industries Federation): UK trade federation for the printing industry, providing comparable skills certification, sustainability and policy advocacy, awards, and member benefit programs to viscom's offering.
• BVDM (Bundesverband Druck und Medien): Germany's leading print and media industry trade association. Operates similar services (training, certification, policy advocacy, industry research, awards) to viscom's portfolio and serves as the closest cross-border analog in scope and scale.
• CPIA (Canadian Printing Industries Association): Canadian national trade association for the printing industry. Offers a similar mix of training, certification, awards, and policy advocacy as viscom, serving as a national-level peer outside Europe.
• Printing United Alliance: Major North American printing industry association providing training, certifications, advocacy, and member services directly comparable to viscom's trade-association portfolio.

Others

• drupa (Messe Düsseldorf): The leading global trade fair for the print industry. While not a trade association, drupa shapes the industry landscape viscom serves and is a strategic ecosystem peer in print-industry convening, knowledge, and innovation.
• Two Sides: Global initiative promoting the responsible use of print and paper. Sits adjacent to viscom's 'This is Print' campaign and sustainability work, making it a thematically aligned peer rather than a direct trade-association competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/viscom_schweiz
• Facebookfacebook.com/Viscom-der-Verband-der-Print-und-Medienindustrie-112760560144575
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/verband-viscom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about viscom