Clients, partners and communities

Markas' new digital solution, SmartCare, relieves healthcare personnel of non-core activities, enabling them to focus entirely on nursing tasks and patient care. SmartCare facilitates instant communication with patients and coordinators, providing a simple and efficient way to submit requests, monitor their progress, and generate relevant reports.

The project will become fully operational at the Austrian headquarters starting in 2024. It includes an advanced system that will enable electronic management and monitoring of all  inspections, making the entire verification and evaluation process more efficient and accurate. In details, all inspections will be conducted exclusively through Smartgate Mobile, while evaluations will also be managed through the platform, ensuring improved traceability and quality.

To support the system's implementation, accounts for both clients and inspectors have been created, with the option to add new users as needed. This ensures user flexibility, easy access and interaction.

These inspections will be essential for to maintaining high and consistent standards during QHSE (Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment) department visits, making the system a vital tool in maintaining and monitoring operational quality.

In 2023, one of the most significant challenges faced by Markas Italy, with a substantial impact on company costs, was the rising energy prices.

To address this difficulty, Markas adopted SWAP contracts—energy price hedging agreements that protect the company from potential cost fluctuations. SWAPs are arranged with a financial institution, setting an upper limit within which, if the market price falls below the agreed threshold, Markas pays the difference; however, if the market price exceeds this limit, the institution covers the difference.

In 2023, Markas applied SWAPs solely to electricity, but this strategy will also be extended to natural gas in 2024.

GWB (Genossenschaft - Cooperative, Werkstätten - Workshops, Begleitung - Support) is a social cooperative in Bolzano that promotes the inclusion of individuals with cognitive, psychological, and physical disabilities.

In 2023, Markas selected GWB as a partner to find an innovative and sustainable solution for packaging Christmas gifts for clients. GWB team members prepared items such as chocolates, Zelten, and wine bottles in handcrafted bags and wooden boxes, applying labels and inserting brochures when needed. By employing individuals with various disabilities, GWB carefully distributes tasks according to each person’s abilities, aiming to foster independence as well as personal and professional growth.

Although Markas could have managed these activities internally, it chose to collaborate with GWB to support inclusion and equal opportunities in the workplace—a decision that reflects the company’s core values and commitment to tangible social responsibility.

The positive outcomes and shared satisfaction have laid a strong foundation for another successful partnership in 2024.

Throughout the year, Markas Austria launched numerous initiatives, demonstrating a strong commitment to integrating and supporting its employees, particularly those from challenging backgrounds. Markas Austria is a major employer for many immigrants, offering them concrete assistance in adapting to a new environment and developing the language skills needed to enter the workforce.

Disability centers and women’s shelters have also been important focus areas. For example, the St. Pölten day center for people with disabilities regularly participates in Christmas gift preparation activities for Markas Austria, providing its members with an opportunity to feel actively involved in the community. Additionally, Markas Austria partners with various women’s shelters throughout Austria, providing women residing in these shelters access to secure job opportunities. In Vienna, candidates from these backgrounds are invited to participate in recruitment days, while in Mödling and St. Pölten, there is a direct link between the shelters and Markas Austria to facilitate job placements.

Inclusion is a priority for Markas Austria, supported by a dedicated officer who works closely with local administrations and women’s shelters to streamline the hiring process. Significant attention is given not only to promoting job vacancies but also to sharing selected job announcements with center representatives, ensuring unbiased access to employment opportunities.