Farewell Microsoft, Schleswig-Holstein is switching its administrative IT to free software and thus significantly reducing its previous license costs. According to the Ministry of Digitization, the annual costs for Windows, Microsoft Office and other programs will fall by more than 15 million euros in the coming year. One-off investments of nine million euros are estimated for the conversion of workstations and the further development of open-source solutions in 2026, meaning that the measure will pay for itself within a few months. The strategic move away from the previous provider is seen as a step towards greater digital sovereignty, as the state administration is freeing itself from dependencies in the long term and gaining technological freedom.
Around 80 percent of workstations outside the tax administration now use LibreOffice. This confirms the course that the Minister for Digitalization, Dirk Schrödter, has repeatedly described as necessary to reduce dependence on proprietary ecosystems. The tax administration is following its own migration path, for which the finance ministries of the federal states have agreed on a clear timetable. The remaining 20 percent or so of workstations must continue to use Microsoft programs for the time being, as individual specialist procedures are technically tied to Word or Excel. However, the continued replacement of these remaining dependencies is formulated as a priority goal.
Despite the high degree of conversion, critical voices from the opposition remain. Representatives of the SPD point out that the actual usability of the new solutions has not progressed to the same extent as the formal changeover. Migration experiences continue to show errors that impair the ability to work in individual areas. The Greens also concede that such a far-reaching change will cause friction. At the same time, it is emphasized that there is an opportunity to fundamentally modernize administrative processes and free them from long-standing dependencies. The sustainable optimization of processes is seen as a prerequisite for open source systems to unfold their full benefits.
The state administration is therefore faced with the task of systematically addressing initial technical problems and acceptance issues. The savings achieved provide additional financial leeway to gradually improve the open source solutions used and anchor them in the organization. The transformation process is described by political decision-makers as a long-term project that not only opens up economic benefits but also structural modernization opportunities.
Conclusion
Schleswig-Holstein’s switch to free software reduces dependencies, lowers ongoing license costs and strengthens digital sovereignty. The remaining challenges mainly concern technical fine-tuning and the adaptation of existing administrative processes, the further development of which is crucial for the long-term stability of the new IT structure.
| Source | Key message | Link to |
|---|---|---|
| Kieler Nachrichten | Classification of the political discussion and criticism of remaining migration problems | https://www.kn-online.de |
| South Tyrolean business newspaper | Statements by the Ministry of Digitalization on long-term goals and digital sovereignty | https://www.swz.it |
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