Pension data: Enabling standardized access
In a joint statement to the Council of States, the Swiss Data Alliance and digitalswitzerland recommend a Yes to motion 24.4597 "Enable standardized access to personal pension data".
The motion enables the targeted use of digital tools to improve the quality of life of Swiss residents. As stated in the Federal Council's response, there are many commendable efforts in this direction. Unfortunately, a lack of standardization often results in silo solutions that go into depth but not into breadth and are therefore not conducive to unbundling and simplifying the highly complex system.
Digitalization is progressing at a rapid pace. The Federal Council's response states that it fundamentally shares the concerns of the motion. The Federal Council also recognizes that with regard to the integrated presentation of pension information, the focus is not on the question of "if" but "when". Neighboring European countries such as Germany(rentenuebersicht.de) are already familiar with such services. The hurdles cited by the Federal Council that speak against the motion are of an operational nature. On the one hand, interface implementation is not usually one of the major cost drivers in IT - a lack of interoperability is. On the other hand, these investment costs must also be set against the expected efficiency gains. In addition, the generous implementation deadlines demanded by the motion author create the necessary flexibility.
As already stated in digitalswitzerland's consultation response to the Federal Act on Information Systems in Social Insurance (BISS), there is great potential for an emerging data space in the pensions sector. It is encouraging that the political discourse is increasingly moving in this direction and that the full potential of digitalization is being exploited. The motion is also in line with the Federal Council's commitment to a Swiss data ecosystem.
In view of this, this motion is to be expressly welcomed in terms of digitalization for the benefit of the entire population.
