The search for IT service providers and solutions is often confusing and time-consuming. Search results are shaped by marketing budgets. With thousands of Swiss IT providers, there is a lack of orientation and decision-making certainty when choosing the right partner.
Interview with Philippe Strübin, founder of www.skillbrowser.com
How did the idea for Skillbrowser come about?
There were always situations where I had difficulty finding a service provider with the relevant know-how. For years, I have wondered why there is no search platform that allows you to look specifically for such skills and receive a list of suitable providers, including confirmations from customers. Since I couldn’t find anything like that, I decided to found Skillbrowser.
What is the benefit for users of the platform?
In my previous roles as CIO, I spent a lot of time searching for suitable IT partners. When I searched on Google, I found companies with the largest marketing budgets, not necessarily those that best matched my requirements. I also lacked reliable references to assess the quality of the offerings. With Skillbrowser, I can see all relevant providers in just a few clicks and, based on confirmations from other customers, evaluate which ones are worth contacting for an initial discussion.
What do existing users say about Skillbrowser?
We often hear from IT managers that they can get a realistic and structured overview of the IT provider market with just a few clicks—something that used to require significant time and effort. The combined search is particularly appreciated: IT decision-makers can, for the first time, search for providers, skills, services, and solutions together in a single interface. This makes it possible to map even complex requirements quickly and transparently.
Skillbrowser has been live in a new version since the beginning of the year. How has the platform developed since the relaunch?
The development has been very positive. Skillbrowser was not simply modernized, but completely reprogrammed from the ground up, which is clearly reflected in its speed and clarity. The effort has paid off: today, more than 300 IT providers with over 2,000 confirmed skills are represented on Skillbrowser. It is encouraging that not only are new providers joining, but the number of confirmations is also steadily growing. Since the beginning of the year, the platform has recorded over 4,000 visits per month, which shows that the new concept is being very well received in the market.
You worked as Head of IT for 12 years and are now becoming self-employed with Skillbrowser. What motivated this step?
The timing was simply right. Skillbrowser has reached a level of maturity where the project requires full attention. I find the entrepreneurial challenge very appealing, and the positive development of incoming business confirms this decision. The feedback from the market is also motivating and shows that we are addressing a real need.
Confirmations play a central role in Skillbrowser. Why are they so important from a customer perspective?
From my own experience as a CIO, I know how valuable time is. Customer confirmations help save that time. They create trust and make it easier to assess, even before the first conversation, which providers might truly be a good fit. In addition, I have the option to connect with the people who provided the confirmations.
How do you see the value of Skillbrowser in the context of the increasing shift of search platforms toward AI?
Artificial intelligence relies on existing information on the internet. Here, it primarily encounters advertising content. Skillbrowser, on the other hand, can rely on verified customer references. These confirmations are far more meaningful for evaluating future IT partners than advertising texts, which companies can ultimately write about themselves as they wish. AI tends to select companies and offerings that are highly networked and GEO-optimized (GEO: Generative Engine Optimization). As with a Google search, this means that AI does not necessarily highlight the companies that deliver services with high customer satisfaction, but rather those that present themselves most effectively.
What is your goal for Skillbrowser over the next three to five years?
The development so far makes us confident. The more IT managers confirm their providers on Skillbrowser, the higher the value for the community. Users gain access to an ever broader selection of companies with verified competencies, allowing them to make well-informed decisions. Our goal is clear: Skillbrowser should become the go-to platform when companies are searching for new IT providers.
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