Trapped in MS Office
8 hours ago
- #Microsoft Office
- #Open Source
- #Digital Sovereignty
- Europe's digital dependency on US tech is a geopolitical risk, with Microsoft Office being a primary target for replacement due to its outdated model.
- Microsoft Office's architecture is based on a 1980s paper document model, which is no longer relevant in today's digital, collaborative work environment.
- Alternatives like LibreOffice exist but replicating the same model may not solve the underlying issues; a shift to a new, dynamic work model is needed.
- The Swiss and Austrian militaries have raised concerns over cloud dependency and AI integration in Microsoft Office, leading to moves towards open-source solutions.
- Replacing Microsoft Office is not just about cost savings but also about improving efficiency and moving away from time-consuming formatting tasks.
- Change management is a significant challenge in transitioning away from Microsoft Office, as users are accustomed to its quirks and workarounds.
- Europe's attempt to achieve digital sovereignty requires not just swapping software vendors but rethinking the entire work model to be more collaborative and less document-centric.