Digital Dependence: Hidden Costs for Administrations

A Swiss technology firm is sounding the alarm over the hidden long-term costs of government and corporate reliance on single proprietary software suppliers. Infomaniak, an expert in the sector, argues that this dependence is not merely a technical detail but a significant budgetary, legal, and political decision with repercussions lasting decades.

The company points out that public debate typically focuses on the immediate annual costs, comparing prices per workstation and discussing "productivity." However, the enduring expenses incurred over ten, fifteen, or twenty years are rarely examined. This oversight persists despite repeated political declarations across Europe advocating for digital sovereignty.

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The dependence of an administration on a single proprietary software supplier is not a technical detail. It is a budgetary, legal, and political decision whose effects are measured not over the duration of a contract, but over ten, fifteen, twenty years.

Infomaniak observes a striking disconnect between these political statements and the ongoing signing of contracts with major American software providers. European Union companies are reportedly spending a substantial 264 billion euros annually in this sector. The firm stresses that this reliance has profound implications that extend far beyond the duration of a standard contract, shaping the future digital landscape and autonomy of administrations.

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Political declarations in favor of digital sovereignty are multiplying everywhere in Europe, yet contracts with major American suppliers continue to pour in.