[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":422},["ShallowReactive",2],{"navigation-docs_en":3,"/en/blog/opendesk-partner-program-2026-posts_en":51,"/en/blog/opendesk-partner-program-2026-surround-posts_en":411},[4],{"title":5,"path":6,"stem":7,"children":8,"page":25},"En","/en","en",[9],{"title":10,"path":11,"stem":12,"children":13,"page":25},"Docs","/en/docs","en/1.docs",[14,26],{"title":15,"path":16,"stem":17,"children":18,"icon":25},"Getting Started","/en/docs/getting-started","en/1.docs/1.getting-started/1.index",[19,21],{"title":20,"path":16,"stem":17,"children":-1},"Introduction",{"title":22,"path":23,"stem":24,"children":-1},"Migration Roadmap","/en/docs/getting-started/migration-fahrplan","en/1.docs/1.getting-started/2.migration-fahrplan",false,{"title":27,"path":28,"stem":29,"children":30,"page":25},"Technologies","/en/docs/technologies","en/1.docs/2.technologies",[31,35,39,43,47],{"title":32,"path":33,"stem":34,"children":-1},"Nextcloud","/en/docs/technologies/nextcloud","en/1.docs/2.technologies/1.nextcloud",{"title":36,"path":37,"stem":38,"children":-1},"Matrix / Element","/en/docs/technologies/matrix","en/1.docs/2.technologies/2.matrix",{"title":40,"path":41,"stem":42,"children":-1},"ONLYOFFICE","/en/docs/technologies/onlyoffice","en/1.docs/2.technologies/3.onlyoffice",{"title":44,"path":45,"stem":46,"children":-1},"Ubuntu Linux","/en/docs/technologies/ubuntu","en/1.docs/2.technologies/4.ubuntu",{"title":48,"path":49,"stem":50,"children":-1},"Keycloak","/en/docs/technologies/keycloak","en/1.docs/2.technologies/5.keycloak",{"id":52,"title":53,"authors":54,"badge":60,"body":62,"date":373,"description":374,"extension":375,"faq":376,"howto":386,"image":403,"meta":405,"navigation":406,"path":407,"seo":408,"stem":409,"__hash__":410},"posts_en/en/3.blog/13.opendesk-partner-program-2026.md","Introducing openDesk – the Open Workplace Built from Open-Source Tools",[55],{"name":56,"to":57,"avatar":58},"Michael Wolf","/en/about",{"src":59},"/michael.webp",{"label":61},"Open Source",{"type":63,"value":64,"toc":361},"minimark",[65,69,77,82,85,167,174,178,206,210,213,241,250,254,257,261,311,314,318,321,325,340,347,351,354],[66,67,53],"h1",{"id":68},"introducing-opendesk-the-open-workplace-built-from-open-source-tools",[70,71,72,76],"p",{},[73,74,75],"strong",{},"openDesk"," is a lovely example of how well open source works together today. The suite combines several proven programs into one shared digital workplace – with files, email, chat, video calls and project planning. It was developed for public administration, but the idea behind it is exciting for everyone.",[78,79,81],"h2",{"id":80},"whats-inside-opendesk","What's inside openDesk?",[70,83,84],{},"openDesk isn't completely new software, but a carefully coordinated collection of well-known open-source projects:",[86,87,88,101],"table",{},[89,90,91],"thead",{},[92,93,94,98],"tr",{},[95,96,97],"th",{},"Area",[95,99,100],{},"Building block",[102,103,104,112,120,128,136,144,152,160],"tbody",{},[92,105,106,110],{},[107,108,109],"td",{},"Files and sharing",[107,111,32],{},[92,113,114,117],{},[107,115,116],{},"Office documents in the browser",[107,118,119],{},"Collabora Online",[92,121,122,125],{},[107,123,124],{},"Email and calendar",[107,126,127],{},"Open-Xchange",[92,129,130,133],{},[107,131,132],{},"Chat",[107,134,135],{},"Element (Matrix)",[92,137,138,141],{},[107,139,140],{},"Video conferencing",[107,142,143],{},"Jitsi",[92,145,146,149],{},[107,147,148],{},"Projects and tasks",[107,150,151],{},"OpenProject",[92,153,154,157],{},[107,155,156],{},"Knowledge and wiki",[107,158,159],{},"XWiki",[92,161,162,165],{},[107,163,164],{},"Single login",[107,166,48],{},[70,168,169,170,173],{},"Behind it is the German ",[73,171,172],{},"Centre for Digital Sovereignty of Public Administration (ZenDiS)",". It makes sure the building blocks fit together well, are securely configured and are updated regularly.",[78,175,177],{"id":176},"why-this-is-good-news","Why this is good news",[179,180,181,188,194,200],"ul",{},[182,183,184,187],"li",{},[73,185,186],{},"Proven programs:"," Every building block has a big community and many years of development behind it.",[182,189,190,193],{},[73,191,192],{},"Unified interface:"," Instead of many separate programs, there's one shared entry point.",[182,195,196,199],{},[73,197,198],{},"Open code:"," The source code is public, and anyone can look at how everything works.",[182,201,202,205],{},[73,203,204],{},"Setting an example:"," When large organisations rely on a workplace like this, trust in open source grows overall.",[78,207,209],{"id":208},"and-what-does-a-small-business-get-out-of-it","And what does a small business get out of it?",[70,211,212],{},"Even though openDesk is meant for public authorities, the individual building blocks are open to everyone. For a small office, law firm or practice, a lean combination is often enough:",[179,214,215,220,229,235],{},[182,216,217,219],{},[73,218,32],{}," for files, calendar and contacts",[182,221,222,225,226,228],{},[73,223,224],{},"Collabora"," or ",[73,227,40],{}," for office documents",[182,230,231,234],{},[73,232,233],{},"Element"," for chat and video calls",[182,236,237,240],{},[73,238,239],{},"Vaultwarden"," for passwords",[70,242,243,244,249],{},"That way you get the same benefits – just sized to your team. You'll find more ideas under ",[245,246,248],"a",{"href":247},"/en/alternativen","Alternatives",".",[78,251,253],{"id":252},"an-honest-look","An honest look",[70,255,256],{},"An open workplace feels different from familiar programs in places. There are small differences in how things work, and not every special feature has an immediate equivalent. But for the vast majority of everyday tasks – sharing files, editing documents, chatting, planning meetings – it works really well.",[78,258,260],{"id":259},"the-building-blocks-in-brief","The building blocks in brief",[179,262,263,269,275,281,287,293,299,305],{},[182,264,265,268],{},[73,266,267],{},"Nextcloud:"," Files, sharing and collaboration – the heart of many open workplaces.",[182,270,271,274],{},[73,272,273],{},"Collabora Online:"," Brings LibreOffice to the browser so several people can work on documents at the same time.",[182,276,277,280],{},[73,278,279],{},"Open-Xchange:"," Email, calendar and contacts in one web interface.",[182,282,283,286],{},[73,284,285],{},"Element:"," Chat based on the open Matrix standard, end-to-end encrypted.",[182,288,289,292],{},[73,290,291],{},"Jitsi:"," Video conferences right in the browser, with no installation needed for guests.",[182,294,295,298],{},[73,296,297],{},"OpenProject:"," Plan projects, tasks and timelines clearly.",[182,300,301,304],{},[73,302,303],{},"XWiki:"," A wiki for collecting knowledge and how-tos.",[182,306,307,310],{},[73,308,309],{},"Keycloak:"," Makes sure everyone can sign in everywhere with a single login.",[70,312,313],{},"Each of these projects has its own active community and is developed independently. openDesk makes sure they fit together well.",[78,315,317],{"id":316},"an-example-for-a-small-office","An example for a small office",[70,319,320],{},"A tax adviser with four employees wants to try an open workplace. She starts with Nextcloud for client folders and Collabora for documents. After a few weeks, Element is added for internal coordination, and later a shared login. The specialist accounting software stays as it is. After three months, everyday work around the specialist software is open, clear and in one place.",[78,322,324],{"id":323},"how-to-get-started","How to get started",[326,327,328,331,334,337],"ol",{},[182,329,330],{},"Think about which features you need day to day",[182,332,333],{},"Start with a small test group",[182,335,336],{},"Work in parallel for a few weeks",[182,338,339],{},"Decide together how to continue",[70,341,342,343,249],{},"If you'd like to be shown around at a relaxed pace, have a look at my ",[245,344,346],{"href":345},"/en/training","workshops",[78,348,350],{"id":349},"conclusion","Conclusion",[70,352,353],{},"openDesk shows how well open-source programs can work together. For small businesses, that means: the building blocks are mature and ready – you can start small and grow at your own pace.",[70,355,356,357,249],{},"If you'd like to give it a try, I'm happy to help – ",[245,358,360],{"href":359},"/en/contact","just drop me a line",{"title":362,"searchDepth":363,"depth":363,"links":364},"",2,[365,366,367,368,369,370,371,372],{"id":80,"depth":363,"text":81},{"id":176,"depth":363,"text":177},{"id":208,"depth":363,"text":209},{"id":252,"depth":363,"text":253},{"id":259,"depth":363,"text":260},{"id":316,"depth":363,"text":317},{"id":323,"depth":363,"text":324},{"id":349,"depth":363,"text":350},"2026-05-26T00:00:00.000Z","openDesk bundles proven open-source programs into an office suite. What's inside, who it suits and how you can try it out.","md",[377,380,383],{"q":378,"a":379},"What is openDesk?","openDesk is an office suite that combines several proven open-source programs into one shared workplace. It's run by the German Centre for Digital Sovereignty of Public Administration (ZenDiS).",{"q":381,"a":382},"Is openDesk only for public authorities?","openDesk was developed for public administration. The source code is open, and the individual building blocks such as Nextcloud, Element or OpenProject are available to everyone. So small businesses can use the same programs.",{"q":384,"a":385},"Do I need my own IT department for a workplace like this?","No. The programs can run as a managed service. Then someone else takes care of servers, updates and backups, and you simply use the applications.",{"name":387,"description":388,"totalTime":389,"steps":390},"Trying out an open workplace","How to test an openDesk-style workplace without much risk.","P4W",[391,394,397,400],{"name":392,"text":393},"Clarify your needs","Write down which features you really need day to day, such as files, mail, chat and video calls.",{"name":395,"text":396},"Small test group","Two or three people try the new workplace in parallel for a few weeks.",{"name":398,"text":399},"Collect feedback","Talk together about what works well and what's still missing.",{"name":401,"text":402},"Expand step by step","If it fits, add more areas and people.",{"src":404},"/img/blog/photo-1497366216548-37526070297c.webp",{},true,"/en/blog/opendesk-partner-program-2026",{"title":53,"description":374},"en/3.blog/13.opendesk-partner-program-2026","l0ZahBxGDtYakePS9e0RXlDFu4rLRPzOTOZqCs8CImQ",[412,417],{"title":413,"path":414,"stem":415,"description":416,"children":-1},"AI Assistants at Work – How to Keep Track of Your Data","/en/blog/microsoft-copilot-flex-routing","en/3.blog/12.microsoft-copilot-flex-routing","Copilot and other AI assistants are handy. What to check in settings and data processing – and which open alternatives exist.",{"title":418,"path":419,"stem":420,"description":421,"children":-1},"DORA and the Exit Strategy – What Every Business Can Learn from Banks","/en/blog/dora-microsoft-365-exit-strategy-banks-2026","en/3.blog/14.dora-microsoft-365-exit-strategy-banks-2026","Thanks to DORA, banks need a plan for switching IT providers. A great idea that helps small businesses too. Here's how.",1792720367967]