Administrative digitalization in Germany in the European comparison

Introduction

The digitalization of administration is one of the greatest challenges facing European states. It not only affects the efficiency of government processes but also the satisfaction of citizens and the competitiveness of the economy. As CEO of SmartDocuments, an international Software company specializing in template management and document automation—both in the private sector and in the Public Sector—I gain comprehensive insights into the status of administrative digitalization. Experience shows – how widely the requirements vary from customer to customer—from highly digitalized processes to paper-based structures.

What is the DESI Index?
The Bitkom DESI Index is an index measuring the degree of digitalization in EU countries, created by the digital association Bitkom. It compares countries across four areas: digital infrastructure, digital skills, digitalization of the economy, and digital public services. Bitkom is thus continuing a previous survey conducted by the European Commission.

Germany in European comparison

According to the Bitkom-DESI Index, which compares the digitalisation progress of EU countries, countries such as Estonia, Denmark and the Netherlands are considered pioneers in administrative digitalisation, while Germany struggles with structural and organisational hurdles.

But what is the reason for this?

• Federal structures: A key difference lies in Germany’s federal organisation. Around 90 % of administrative services are provided by the federal states and local authorities. This fragmentation makes it difficult to implement uniform digital solutions. Centralised states, such as Estonia or Malta, benefit from clear responsibilities and can introduce digital platforms more quickly and comprehensively.

• Lack of process continuity: Germany often relies on digital forms without fully digitalising the underlying processes. This means that applications can be submitted online, but processing still takes place on paper. Other countries, by contrast, already offer what is known as “end-to-end” digitalisation. This means that administrative procedures can be completed entirely online.