About us
Software for the knowledge that otherwise leaves with the person
Firnkern is the software a company uses to capture, test and hand over the knowledge of its most important people. We are a young Swiss company and we sell software – not consulting on your premises.
Why Firnkern exists
What a departure costs usually shows only afterwards. A staff change typically costs 21 % of an annual salary – recruiting, onboarding, lost productivity (median of 27 case studies, Boushey & Glynn 2012, Center for American Progress; excluding executive and physician positions).
Silent single roles are especially delicate: positions filled exactly once, such as customs, payroll, maintenance, purchasing or warehouse. There the knowledge sits in one head and nobody knows what is missing. The successor asks around, and gaps show up in daily work. In the audit there is no record of who handed over what.
Firnkern starts earlier: the Kern asks for the knowledge in conversation, the person signs off every sheet themselves, the successor works with the dossier alone, and management confirms the acceptance. Gaps show up beforehand.
What we offer – and what we do not
Firnkern is a software-only provider. We offer:
- the software Firnkern Server as a licence with a fixed term,
- training on the software – remote or on site,
- support and service for the software (introduction, updates, help).
We do not capture knowledge at your site and we do not consult in your company. Your own people do the capturing, in the software. Prices and licence levels are on the home page.
The category: «verified handover»
For us a handover is only done once it has been tested: the successor shows with the dossier that they can do the tasks, and management confirms the acceptance. Firnkern guides you through these steps and records date and confirmation. Auditing and certification of your company stay with your company – Firnkern is not certified.
Our principles
- The data stays with you. The default is operation in your own company network; the cloud is an option. If you choose an external AI level, that is your decision – details on the home page.
- The dossier belongs to the knowledge holder. She is named as its author, signs off every sheet, and nobody changes her content.
- We say what software does not do. A dossier does not replace relationships, trust, intuition or the feel in your hands.
- People check and decide. AI answers are drafts with evidence. The successor’s test and management’s confirmation remain.
- Only what can be backed up. We call target values target values. There is no paying customer yet, and we show no invented references. Films and screens show a fictional sample company.
More in the section “Honestly” and in the comparison with today’s methods.
Who is behind it
Marco Grieshaber, managing director (GmbH in formation). Graduate engineer (FH) in mechanical engineering, many years of experience in the service of large gas turbines and as a manager. He has seen first-hand how much knowledge hangs on single people. He is the author of the book «Irreplaceable is a risk.» (German title: «Unersetzlich ist ein Risiko.») – about the book.
Company and contact
Firnkern GmbH (in formation)
Bosenhaldenweg 26
4125 Riehen, Switzerland
Enquiry: enquiry form · e-mail: info@firnkern.ch · telephone Marco Grieshaber: +41 79 580 86 41
Firnkern GmbH is in formation. Details of commercial register and UID will follow after registration, see legal notice.