Key facts
swisstopo is modernising its production platform with the programme “New production systems”, or NEPRO. This will cost CHF 65 million and is essential, as the implemented ArcMap software version will reach the end of its life at end-March 2026. The entire production chain for geodata is due to be optimised at the same time. This ranges from aerial photography of Switzerland to the provision of geoproducts. This product range is very broad and includes printed maps and the digital equivalent in the form of a map viewer in the federal geodata portal.
With a planned rollout time of ten years, at the time of the audit NEPRO had reached the halfway point and some of its projects were in the realisation phase. Such a large-scale programme took swisstopo into uncharted territory, and NEPRO got off to a slow start. This challenge and the associated weak points were already mentioned in the first audit by the Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO) back in 2022, which was critical of the situation. swisstopo subsequently opted for a new implementation variant. The focus was to be placed on the technical migration, in order to fulfil the legal mandate. The production chain is only due to be optimised in a second programme phase, during live operation. These aspects were still being worked out at the time of the audit, and will not be available until October 2024.
In the SFAO’s view, there is a significant need for action in two areas. First, the promised benefits of NEPRO and the programme goals should be given more definition and a binding quality; second, the impact of the new implementation variant has not been sufficiently assessed or addressed. The new programme head, who started in April 2024, has identified the key deficiencies in the programme setup. First positive results have been achieved, but they are not enough for the current status to be rated as satisfactory. The majority of the recommendations therefore remain open, as they concern the main basis for the programme.