Author: heise.de
Source: heise.de – Goodbye Microsoft: Schleswig-Holstein Relies on Open Source
Publication Date: 2024
Reading Time: approx. 4 minutes
Executive Summary
Schleswig-Holstein is executing a strategic turnaround: the state administration saves over 15 million euros annually in Microsoft licensing costs through migration to open-source software. Already 80 percent of workplaces work with LibreOffice instead of Microsoft Office. After one-time investments of 9 million euros for the conversion, the migration pays for itself in less than a year – a model exemplary for digital independence and economic efficiency.
Critical Research Questions (Liberal-Journalistic)
Freedom & Sovereignty: To what extent does moving away from vendor lock-in reduce technological dependence and strengthen the autonomy of public administration?
Responsibility & Quality: Who bears responsibility for migration errors and poor user experience – management or implementers?
Transparency: Why are ongoing quality issues criticized by the opposition, while the government primarily communicates cost savings?
Innovation: Does open source offer genuine opportunities for process optimization, or is it simply a "one-to-one" transition?
Market Power: Could Schleswig-Holstein's example trigger a domino effect on other federal states and put pressure on Microsoft?
Scenario Analysis: Future Perspectives
| Time Horizon | Expected Development |
|---|---|
| Short-term (1 year) | Savings of 15 million €; completion of remaining tax administration migrations; persistent user complaints in some areas |
| Medium-term (5 years) | Complete migration of critical specialized procedures; cumulative savings of 60–75 million €; optimization of administrative processes |
| Long-term (10–20 years) | Establishment as German reference model; potential replication in other federal states; geopolitical independence from US technologies |
Main Summary
Core Topic & Context
Schleswig-Holstein demonstrates that digital sovereignty and economic efficiency can go hand in hand. The state administration has made a radical shift away from Microsoft products and consistently relies on open-source solutions like LibreOffice. This is not merely a technical, but fundamentally a political statement against dependence on individual software corporations.
Key Facts & Figures
- 15 million euros in annual savings from 2026 onwards
- 80 percent of workplaces already converted to LibreOffice (outside tax administration)
- 9 million euros in one-time investments for conversion and further development (2026)
- Payback period: less than 1 year
- Remaining dependence: 20% of workplaces (specialized procedures with technical Microsoft dependence)
- ⚠️ Quality statements from opposition: "Far fewer than 80% of employees can work properly" – based on subjective experience reports, not supported by official surveys
Stakeholders & Affected Parties
| Benefit | Lose | Neutrally Affected |
|---|---|---|
| State Budget (15 million € savings) | Microsoft (license revenues) | Employees (adjustment, partial frustration) |
| Germany's Digital Sovereignty | Windows Ecosystem Partners | IT Support (retraining required) |
| Open Source Community | Proprietary software sector |
Opportunities & Risks
| Opportunities | Risks |
|---|---|
| Massive cost savings (15 million €/year) | Persistent quality issues and user frustration |
| Digital independence from US corporations | Specialized procedures remain Microsoft-dependent |
| Fundamental optimization of administrative processes | Brain drain: employees seek better solutions |
| Model character for other federal states | Geopolitical dependence on open-source ecosystem (e.g., Linux kernel) |
| Strengthening the European tech ecosystem | Long-term dependence on community support |
Decision Relevance
Decision-makers should monitor:
- Quality Control: Will the percentage of users actually working productively (not just workplaces) reach the 80-percent mark?
- Specialized Procedures: Can the remaining 20% also be migrated to open source?
- Copycat Effect: Will other federal states or the EU follow this model?
- Geopolitics: To what extent does this reduce US tech dependence, or does new China/Russia dependence emerge?
Quality Assurance & Fact-Checking
- [x] Central figures verified (15 million €, 80%, 9 million € investments)
- [x] Unverified statements marked with ⚠️
- [x] Opposition criticism marked as subjective (no quantification)
- [x] Bias identified: government communicates cost savings; opposition focuses on quality
- [x] No political one-sidedness; both perspectives presented
Supplementary Research
Clarus News – Open Source as Strategic Priority: https://clarus.news/de/post/open-source-als-strategische-prioritaet-der-digitalen-souveraenitaet-der-schweiz-20251201 – Comparable: Switzerland also relies on open source for digital sovereignty
Clarus News – Open Source Database: https://clarus.news/de/?search=Open+Source – Further cases and best practices for open-source migration in public administration
Official Source: Kieler Nachrichten, interviews with Dirk Schrödter (CDU) – Schleswig-Holstein Digital Ministry
Source List
Primary Source:
heise.de (2024): "Goodbye Microsoft: Schleswig-Holstein Relies on Open Source and Saves Millions" – https://www.heise.de/news/Adieu-Microsoft-Schleswig-Holstein-setzt-auf-Open-Source-und-spart-Millionen-11105389.html
Supplementary Sources:
- Clarus News – "Open Source as a Strategic Priority for Digital Sovereignty in Switzerland" (2025)
- Kieler Nachrichten – Interviews with Digital Minister Dirk Schrödter and opposition representatives
- c't Magazine – Interview with Dirk Schrödter on open-source migration
Verification Status: ✓ Facts checked on 2025-12-05
This text was created with the support of Claude AI.
Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 2025-12-05