Switzerland's Federal Chancellery has concluded that its Federal Administration can effectively operate using free and open-source software (FOSS) as an alternative to Microsoft 365. A recent proof-of-concept study determined that FOSS solutions are fundamentally suitable for the core standard processes of the executive branch, paving the way for a follow-up program to implement these alternatives.

The study encompassed a comprehensive suite of applications, including document editing, email, calendar, contacts, tasks, file storage, audio and video conferencing, chat, and identity and access management. While acknowledging technical, operational, and organizational hurdles that might currently prevent widespread productive use, the core conclusion is that browser-based FOSS solutions can support essential administrative functions.

Among the FOSS applications tested were Collabora Online for document editing, Open-Xchange for email, calendar, contacts, and tasks, Next Cloud for file storage, OpenProject for project management, XWiki for knowledge management, Nordest (Jitsi) for audio and video conferencing, Element for chat, and Univention for identity and access management.

Following the positive assessment, Switzerland plans to make such software available to approximately 3,000 employees by the end of 2027. Funding for this initiative will be drawn from parliamentary approvals for the development of a sovereign Swiss open-source platform for office automation.

This move aligns with a broader trend in Europe where several countries are reducing their reliance on Microsoft services in favor of open-source alternatives, often citing reasons of "digital sovereignty" and a desire to lessen dependencies on non-European technology providers. France, for instance, has been migrating away from Windows in favor of Linux. The European Union itself has also been actively encouraging the adoption of open-source software among its teams and promoting it more widely across the continent. While cost savings are often a notable benefit of such transitions, the primary driver appears to be greater control over digital infrastructure and data.