Office Migration & Document Conversion
Germany has made ODF mandatory for all public administration. .docx, .xlsx, .pptx are being phased out. Schleswig-Holstein already runs 80% on LibreOffice — saving €15 million per year in license costs.
This isn’t a trend. It’s a legal requirement. And it doesn’t just affect government — every organization that exchanges documents with German authorities will need to handle ODF.
What we deliver
- Migration planning — inventory of existing documents, templates, macros. What converts cleanly, what needs manual work, what can be dropped
- Document conversion — batch conversion of .docx/.xlsx/.pptx to ODF with quality checks. Not just “Save As” — verified formatting, formulas, cross-references
- Template migration — corporate templates, letterheads, forms rebuilt for LibreOffice
- Macro analysis and rewriting — VBA macros assessed, migrated to LibreOffice Basic or replaced by simpler solutions
- Hybrid operation — parallel running of MS Office and LibreOffice during transition. Compatibility profiles, format handling rules
- End-user training — hands-on workshops for teams. Not “click here” — understanding the differences, working confidently from day one
Why this matters now
- ODF mandatory in German public administration by 2027 — IT-Planungsrat decision, March 2026
- Schleswig-Holstein — 30,000 civil servants migrated, 80% complete, €15M/year saved
- Bundeskanzleramt switching to openDesk (ZenDiS — Centre for Digital Sovereignty)
- EU-wide — France, UK already moving. European Digital Infrastructure Consortium founded by DE/FR/IT/NL
Every organization exchanging documents with public institutions needs to be ready for ODF. The question isn’t whether — it’s when and how.
Our approach
Inventory first, migration second. We map what you have before we touch anything. Templates, macros, shared documents, workflows — everything documented.
Convert in batches, verify each one. Automated conversion with manual quality checks. Formatting that breaks gets fixed before rollout.
Train during transition, not after. Your team works with the new tools while the old ones are still available. No cold-turkey switch.
Document everything for the next person. Migration runbook, known issues, workarounds — your team owns it after handover.
Background analyses on digital sovereignty: digital-independence.org
See also: Consulting, Training and Workshops · IT Automation · Germany Makes ODF Mandatory: What This Means for Your IT