Ghosts of Hackfest: ideas that never came to life
Over the years, Hackfest has generated plenty of exciting ideas for improving Galaxus and Digitec. But why do some ideas get buried after winning an award? Let’s take a tour of the Hackfest graveyard – and discover that not every buried idea is actually dead.
Our Hackfest teams come up with great ideas year after year. Here are five examples – and why some of them are still on the waiting list.
Banana Scale
We’ve all been there: you order something, unwrap it and – surprise – the toy is half the size you expected, or the fan is so huge it won’t fit on your desk after all. The proposed solution? A banana to serve as a size reference right there in the product image. According to Baymard Institute, 42 per cent of users actively try to gauge a product’s size from its photos. The idea was to dynamically display familiar everyday objects – say, a banana, a credit card or an A4 sheet – next to each product. The reference object would automatically adjust based on the product dimensions (Banana Scale, Hackfest 2022).
Status: not yet implemented, as our suppliers’ size data isn’t always reliable – and our own also needs work.
Galaxus Wrapped
Isn’t it fun when Spotify’s year-end recap reveals you’re a secret heavy metal fan – or have the musical taste of a 75-year-old? Galaxus could soon offer something just as revealing: a personalised year-in-review video for every customer, showcasing your shopping habits that year. What was your favourite category? How often did you opt for Snail Mail? How many products did you review – and how does that stack up against the rest of the Community? (Galaxus Wrapped, Hackfest 2023)
Status: «We actually started building this in 2024, but it got deprioritised because other projects took precedence. I’m also a bit sceptical of the idea, given every December users are flooded with year-in-review content from loads of companies. The feature doesn’t feel fresh anymore. But maybe we’ll find a way to change that,» says Alexander Mühlbach, Senior Product Owner (see also cover photo for Banana Scale).
How to get in touch online (fast)
What if shopping on Galaxus were a little more social? This Hackfest idea aims to connect users with each other: you can add friends, share activity with selected people and follow their recommendations. You can share purchases, reviews, product questions, comments and marketplace listings with your friends. This activity is shown in a personal Friends Feed – a source of inspiration for discovering interesting products faster. (How to get in touch online (fast), Hackfest 2025)
Status: «I like the idea – but it only got second-to-last place at Hackfest, and no one in the company has shown interest in taking it further since. So we haven’t pursued it and have moved on to other projects,» says Irina Klemm, Product Owner.
Easter Eggs
What if there were a hidden little game on Galaxus that only the most curious users would ever find? That’s exactly what one Hackfest team had in mind for Galaxus: Easter eggs – hidden features, secret pages or mini-games that don’t jump out at you, making it all the more satisfying when you find them. Anyone who stumbled across one of these treasures would certainly share it all over social media – providing Galaxus with organic visibility in the process. A team of five to eight people was supposed to decide which digital surprises would work best to make the shop an experience in itself. (Easter Eggs, Hackfest 2024)
Status: not yet implemented as a standalone initiative.
Gamification
What if the working day felt a little more like a video game? One Hackfest team took on that question. Starting in the warehouse – think Hall of Fame for the most diligent pickers and fun facts like «Today you handled products worth CHF 20,000». The idea was to build a gamification prototype that could later be rolled out across all departments. The goal isn’t performance pressure – it’s added fun and motivation day-to-day for everyone, from the warehouse to the office. (Gamification, Hackfest 2025)
Status: idea scrapped. Employees might feel pressured by the tool. On top of that, work processes change constantly, which would require ongoing adjustments and maintenance. This concludes our tour of the Hackfest graveyard. But not all of the buried ideas are necessarily dead forever. The odd one might be resurrected.
Our next Hackfest runs from 24 to 26 June.
These ideas are just a sample from a large pool. What do you think of them? Which ones would you like us to implement – and why?
A soft spot for good series, loud music, science fiction and (second division) football. As PR Manager, I am available to answer journalists' questions about Galaxus and honest e-commerce.
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