SAP and Telekom develop central citizen app for Germany

According to a report by Handelsblatt, SAP and Deutsche Telekom are to implement a citizen app that offers central access to government services. According to the report, it is an “AI-based administrative platform” of the federal government, through which citizens can submit applications, book appointments, verify their identity, and retrieve information. The newspaper refers to project documents as well as participants in a roadshow of the Federal Ministry for Digital and State Modernization (BMDS).

All three project partners confirmed plans for the app to Handelsblatt. “The goal is to make administration more efficient, faster, and more service-oriented – with less bureaucracy, shorter processing times, and a seamless one-stop shop,” a spokesperson for the BMDS said. The presentation of the application will be communicated at a later date, and a name has not yet been decided. Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger prefers the designation “Deutschland-App”.

Child benefit applications and company formations

Wildberger had already mentioned the app at a conference in February and announced that it would fundamentally change the relationship between citizens and the state, together with the EUDI Wallet. However, its use will remain voluntary, Wildberger explained: “It's not about the state knowing everything, but about everyone being able to decide for themselves how they use the digital services.”

Most of the use cases for the app are expected to come from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs; Minister Bärbel Bas had already announced a “central digital social portal.” Initial services will include, among others, child benefit applications, residence registrations, old-age security, and company formations. According to the report, Telekom is working on a first prototype, which is expected to be ready in April. Initially, the app will be tested in several pilot municipalities such as Hamburg, Dresden, Nuremberg, and Wiesbaden, as well as at the Federal Employment Agency, before its gradual introduction.

SAP, Telekom and a bit of Schwarz Digits

According to Handelsblatt, Telekom will be responsible for the operational management, while its subsidiary T-Systems will handle the cloud infrastructure and data storage. SAP's Business Technology Platform (BTP) will serve as the technical platform for the app, handling data processing and process control. SAP will also contribute AI, with “learning AI agents” guiding users through applications and automating administrative processes. “AI guides and supports the application process. The complexity of the processes recedes into the background,” Handelsblatt quotes from the concept.

Schwarz Digits is apparently also on board. The digital division of the Schwarz Group will integrate the open-source messenger Wire into the app, and discussions have already taken place. Wire will serve as a secure communication channel between citizens and authorities.

Apparently, there was no tender for this ambitious project. It was not necessary because SAP and Telekom already have corresponding framework agreements. A spokesperson for the BMDS told Handelsblatt: “A framework agreement from the federal purchasing department is being used for this contract.”

(axk)