Why choose open-source software?

Unleash your digital potential. Are you still using proprietary software out of habit? Because "everyone else does it"? It's time to ask the real question: who truly owns your data and work tools? Open-source software isn't just a free alternative. It represents a fairer, safer, and more efficient economic and technological model.

Take back control of your data and tools

With proprietary software, you own nothing. Your data is stored on servers you don't control, and the vendor can change their terms, raise prices, or discontinue a product overnight.
Open source gives you back control:
You host wherever you want (at home, in the cloud, or on-premises).
The code is transparent: no one can hide a backdoor.
You're not locked into any vendor's control.
🔑 In short: your data belongs to you. Period.

Reduce your costs sustainably

No more per-user licenses, annual subscriptions, compliance audits, or unilateral price increases.

With open source:
Software is generally free.
You only pay for what you need (support, training, custom development).
You can keep your old computers running longer (Linux can revive machines that are 5 to 8 years old).
💰 Concrete example: A small business with 50 employees that switches from Microsoft Office to LibreOffice saves between €5,000 and €10,000 per year.

superior safety and reliability

Open source is safer.
Because thousands of experts worldwide are constantly inspecting the code.
The facts:
A critical vulnerability is fixed in hours, not weeks.
No surprises: you see exactly what the software is doing.
Linux powers 100% of the world's supercomputers and the majority of its servers—that's no coincidence.
🛡️ In short: with open source, security isn't a promise, it's a natural consequence of transparency.

How to migrate to open source?

A smooth, step-by-step transition
Migrating to open source doesn’t mean switching everything overnight. It’s a gradual, controlled, and seamless process. Here’s how we do it (and how you can too).

Audit and replace position by position

You can’t migrate everything at once.
Take stock of your proprietary software (Windows, Office, Photoshop, Outlook, etc.).
Identify an open-source alternative for each (LibreOffice, GIMP, Thunderbird, etc.).
Start with the least critical workstations (secretarial, HR, reception).
🎯 Goal: Replace one piece of software at a time without panicking.

Test in hybrid mode before switching.

Install Linux alongside Windows (dual boot) for a few weeks.
Train users in half-day workshops.
Verify that all peripherals (printers, scanners) are working.
✅ Golden rule: When the team is comfortable and 95% of use cases are covered, make the switchover permanent.

Post-migration support

Migration isn’t the end, it’s the beginning.
Plan for a support contract (helpline, patches, updates).
Designate trained internal contacts to assist colleagues.
Keep an eye on security updates (Linux is very stable, but not static).
🛡️ Key to success: Open source never abandons you, but you need to know who to call when you get stuck.

About HKOWT Suisse SA

About HKOWT Suisse SA
Public limited company specializing in open source solutions
Member of the Free Software Foundation

Overview
Founded on May 11, 2023, and based in Lausanne (Avenue de Gratta-Paille 2), HKOWT Suisse SA is a public limited company with a share capital of CHF 100,000, registered in the commercial register of the Canton of Vaud.

HKOWT Suisse SA is firmly committed to free and open source software, supporting businesses, communities, and institutions in their transition to free, ethical, and sovereign digital infrastructures.

Our Mission
In a world where digital sovereignty has become a major strategic issue, we place freedom, transparency, and performance at the heart of our work.

Our areas of expertise:
Linux migration: step-by-step support, from audit to deployment
Open source solutions: custom integration (ERP, LibreOffice, PostgreSQL, etc.)
Consulting and training: skills development for teams
Support and maintenance: technical assistance and security patches

Our commitment: member of the Free Software Foundation
HKOWT Suisse SA is proud to be a member of the Free Software Foundation (FSF).

The Free Software Foundation, founded by Richard Stallman in 1985, is the long-standing organization dedicated to promoting free software. The FSFE (Free Software Foundation Europe) is the European organization working to:
Defend digital freedoms
Promote open standards
Ensure respect for users in the face of proprietary software

As a member, we actively support:
Full transparency of source code
Users’ right to control their data
Interoperability and the absence of proprietary formats
Collaborative innovation driven by open-source communities

« Free software is about freedom, not price. » — Richard Stallman

Our Values
Value: Concrete Commitment
🔓 Transparency: Auditable code, no backdoors
🛡️ Sovereignty: Your data belongs to you, controlled hosting
💰 Savings: Sustainable reduction of licensing costs
🤝 Collaboration: Contribution to the open-source projects we use
🇪🇺 Independence: No vendor lock-in, interoperable solutions
Our Expertise
HKOWT Suisse SA combines:
Technical Expertise: Mastery of the main Linux distributions (Ubuntu, Debian, Rocky Linux, Linux Mint, OpenBSD, FreeBSD) and the open-source ecosystem

Legal Compliance: Swiss public limited company structure, adherence to applicable regulations
Local Presence: Based in Lausanne, serving Swiss and European companies

Contact Information
HKOWT Suisse SA
Avenue de Gratta-Paille 2
1018 Lausanne, Switzerland

Commercial Register: IDE/VAT: CHE-178.085.738 VAT
Administrator: Pascal Annen (sole signatory)

Join us! Want to liberate your digital infrastructure?
HKOWT Suisse SA guides you towards a free, secure, and cost-effective information system.

📧 Contact: [pascal.annen@hkowt.com] 🔗 Website: [https://hkowt.com]

HKOWT Suisse SA – Because your data deserves freedom. 🐧

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Get in Touch

Find us at the office

HKOWT Suisse SA,Avenue Gratta Paille 2, 1018 Lausanne

Give us a ring

Pascal Annen +41 79 150 68 68 Mon – Fri, 8:00-22:00

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