Federal diversity shapes Switzerland’s digital public administration portals

While portals such as mein.ar.ch and Digitaler Schalter Thurgau are organised and operated at the cantonal level, iGovPortal is based on a joint model involving several cantons. Likewise, Smart Service Portal Aargau combines cantonal governance with municipal responsibility, whereas Amtomat (so far) functions as a purely municipal model. Other platforms and initiatives, including egovpartner in the canton of Zurich and GemeindeConnect, are still at the development stage.

Technically, all portals use modular architectures that allow for flexible expansion. However, differences emerge in the integration of specialised systems and federal services: while some platforms already implement deep technical connections, others simply link to existing services. Operational approaches also vary, ranging from local solutions and hybrid models to cloud-based systems. In all cases, data sovereignty remains with the respective public administrations.

Governance structures and financing models are equally diverse. While some portals are run as associations, others are financed by cantons or joint organisations. Funding comes from membership fees, service level agreements, and in some cases additional support in the form of grants from Digital Public Services Switzerland.

The analysis makes clear that this diversity is both a strength and a challenge. While it allows for innovative solutions tailored to local requirements, it makes nationwide harmonisation more difficult. Different legal frameworks, technical standards and forms of cooperation lead to additional coordination efforts. It remains to be seen whether the future of digital public administration will focus more on independent federal developments or on a consolidated, standardised portal strategy, especially with respect to interoperability, open source and data sovereignty.

Working on behalf of OneGov.ch, the study conducted by the Institute of Public Management at the ZHAW School of Management and Law has systematically analysed the design and differences of currently known service portals for Swiss public administrations. The aim of the study is to provide a comparative overview of the technical architecture, organisational models and target groups as well as the benefits or areas of application of the service models. The portals investigated include Smart Service Portal (Aargau), mein.ar.ch (Appenzell Ausserrhoden), iGovPortal (Fribourg), Digitaler Schalter Thurgau (Thurgau), the planned e-service portal of egovpartner (Zurich), the comprehensive open-source solution GemeindeConnect of the Swiss Association of Municipalities / Myni Gmeind, which is currently being implemented, and the joint solution Amtomat.