Conceived as a one-stop shop, EasyGov.swiss makes it easier for businesses to handle administrative procedures online. Diobe Wyss, Head of Communications for the digital platform, outlines its recent and upcoming developments.
Launched in 2017 by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the EasyGov platform streamlines administrative procedures for Swiss companies by consolidating the administrative services most requested by economic actors on a single virtual portal.
Can you present EasyGov’s offering?
Diobe Wyss: EasyGov makes administrative procedures simple, fast, and efficient. It is a secure and reliable platform that allows companies to handle authorizations, applications, and reporting electronically in one place. This lightens the workload and lowers costs, both for businesses and the authorities. EasyGov is part of "Digital Public Services Switzerland strategy for 2024-2027", in which the Confederation, cantons, and communes are working together to reduce the administrative burden on companies.
Who is the platform aimed at?
Wyss: EasyGov is designed both for established businesses and for start-ups or new founders. For example, founders can register their company directly with the commercial register, social security (AHV/AVS), VAT, or accident insurance. Existing businesses can log in with their business identification number (UID) and carry out administrative procedures right away.
Our primary target group is SMEs, but some procedures, such as permits for recurring night, Sunday, or public holiday work, are also relevant for larger companies. These permits can only be requested through SECO and EasyGov. Private service providers, such as fiduciaries or notaries, can also complete tasks on behalf of a company. Users don’t need to know the responsibilities or processes of each authority; the portal guides them step by step.
What are the main advantages?
Wyss: EasyGov reduces the administrative burden of dealing with the authorities. The portal was conceived as a “one-stop shop,” meaning that entrepreneurs can carry out all the procedures available on the platform with a single account and login. Re-using data already entered saves time and effort, and all services are available 24/7, 365 days a year. Administrative services and EasyGov’s own support hotline are offered in German, French, Italian, and English.
Do you have some key figures?
Wyss: At present, EasyGov provides around 60 administrative services from different federal and cantonal authorities. More are planned in the coming years. Since its launch, over 140,000 companies have registered—about one-fifth of all Swiss businesses.
Which functions are most frequently used?
Wyss: The notification procedure for short-term gainful employment of up to 90 days is by far the most used. Since it went online, around 40,000 notifications have been processed each month via EasyGov. Next come debt enforcement procedures (information requests, enforcement applications, continuation requests), followed by labor law procedures (work permits, job notifications), and company registrations.
How much does it cost to use EasyGov?
Wyss: EasyGov itself is free of charge for companies. However, certain offices may charge additional fees—for example, commercial register entries or information from debt enforcement proceedings.
What measures ensure data security?
Wyss: EasyGov meets the highest standards of data protection and security. All transmissions are encrypted, and data is stored exclusively in Switzerland. Current technologies protect against misuse, and regular pentesting ensures new threats are identified and addressed immediately.
What new functions have recently been added?
Wyss: Since this spring, the online notification procedure for EU/EFTA citizens working up to 90 days has been integrated into EasyGov, in cooperation with the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). Company address changes and relocations have also been simplified since last year, even when moving to another municipality. Users can now complete the entire relocation process in one step and update their new address with all authorities linked to EasyGov.
What improvements are planned next?
Wyss: By 2027, the platform will adopt a new IT architecture, making it easier for partner authorities to add new administrative services. At the same time, EasyGov will be given a new design and the user experience must be significantly improved, which is something I feel particularly strongly about. The range of administrative services will then also be expanded, guided as much as possible by the priority needs of businesses.
