SmartLiberty - There for you every day since 1998

In 1998, Eric Rusca established ER Systems SA in Cornaux, specializing in tailored development services for B2B clients. Their offerings encompassed electronic and mechanical design, firmware and software development, RFID systems, antenna design, and computer vision systems. However, as the company lacked proprietary products, it grappled with notable business fluctuations.

In 2003, the current CEO of SmartLiberty, Tobias Britz, commenced his partnership with Eric Rusca. This collaboration began during Tobias's computer science diploma thesis at the University of Applied Sciences in Yverdon, Switzerland. The objective was to craft an active RFID device, outshining anything available in the market at that time. This device would later serve as the foundation for today's SmartLiberty system.

Through Eric Rusca's local business network, an opportunity materialized at the geriatric psychiatric hospital in Le Locle. Here, they required an intelligent access control solution for dementia patients, coupled with an alarm system for patients prone to wandering. Though additional engineers were recruited, they couldn't meet the original facility opening deadline. Their contingency plan involved using ELPAS' RTLS technology as a base, augmenting it with in-house hardware and software development. This initiative bore fruit, and the project was successfully completed in 2005, marking SmartLiberty's first reference in this specialized field.SmartLiberty took a significant leap forward when they introduced the first integrated wireless nurse call, staff protection, and wanderer management solution in Switzerland at Résidence Le Castel in St-Blaise. This accomplishment transformed ER Systems into a player in the long-term care market, under the banner of "Liberty" software. After numerous successful installations, including one at Inselspital, the IDENTEC Group became an investor. Simultaneously, 25-year-old Tobias Britz assumed the role of CEO. However, as the Liberty system gained wider usage in nursing homes, it became evident that customers were dissatisfied with the alerting component, especially regarding how alerts were presented on DECT phones and pagers. DECT technology was ill-suited to accommodate the increasing array of alarm types and evolving caregiver organization needs.

In 2011, Anne-Rose Robert, the head nurse at Le Castel, inquired whether it was feasible to forward alarms to her Android smartphone. A few months later, "Liberty-Mobile" emerged as the world's first fully integrated smartphone app tailored for long-term care.

By 2012, SmartLiberty's CEO and board members endorsed a new business strategy with a pronounced focus on long-term care.

In February 2015, SmartLiberty was officially introduced as a brand and product during the Curaviva congress, hosted by the Swiss Nursing Home Association. Simultaneously, they launched 27 new products. SmartLiberty now possessed a comprehensive stack, spanning from hardware chips to service solutions, including the requisite patent for their RTLS system and all accompanying software.

Even during the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, SmartLiberty sustained impressive 10% revenue growth while unveiling version 2.0 of its app. This further heightened the popularity of SmartLiberty. The 45-member team harnessed this period to explore solutions for accelerated scalability.

In 2022 SmartLiberty introduced the "motica" brand (signifying More Time For Care) to offer a digital app to nursing homes employing alternative nurse call solutions. Their inaugural substantial integration featured a partnership with Gets MSS, a prominent leader in the Swiss market.

In 2023 SmartLiberty took a significant stride by becoming a part of the NEXUS Schweiz AG Group, motivated by the mission to spearhead the digitalization of nursing homes across Europe through innovative comprehensive solutions.

As of April 30, 2023, SmartLiberty AG has become a subsidiary of NEXUS SCHWEIZ AG, with NEXUS SCHWEIZ AG acquiring a 90% stake. NEXUS SCHWEIZ AG, in turn, operates as a subsidiary of NEXUS AG, a prominent software provider in the healthcare industry across Europe. NEXUS SCHWEIZ AG offers a comprehensive suite of solutions, encompassing everything from integrated house solutions such as KIS, HIS, or patient administration to a diverse array of specialized applications and industry-specific offerings for nursing homes and Spitex organizations. With over 5,000 applications currently installed within the Swiss healthcare system, NEXUS SCHWEIZ AG plays a pivotal role in supporting service providers in their day-to-day operations.

As a member of the NEXUS Group, SmartLiberty is poised to leverage NEXUS's extensive expertise and international network within the healthcare sector, enabling the company to effectively market its products across the European landscape.

We are convinced that our joint e-health expertise will contribute to supporting nursing facilities in overcoming future challenges. Digital solutions have an important part to play in ensuring efficiency in care and residents' well-being at the same time.