When the idea of introducing open source technology to a business environment is brought to the table, most see the topic as one pointed toward cost-savings. But in 2015 this notion begs the question- ‘is it fair to tag open source as just a way to save money?’ I find it hard to say yes. While open source software is advantageous for those trying to reduce cost, there is so much more to offer for any size business, with any size budget.
Today’s competitive businesses are agile; they demand better flexibility, scalability and security in order to effectively react to changing business conditions. Obviously, if these demands are met, total cost of ownership (TCO) can be reduced; however, it shouldn’t be a surprise that TCO often drives projects without regard to requirement analysis, overriding standardization, integration and security factors. Sometimes this backwards process can overshadow the technical needs of a project.
So why should you consider open source, even before you think about budget?
Open source technology is driving a tremendous paradigm shift in the enterprise IT world. Its role in bringing innovation in everything from Big Data and Cloud Computing to Mobile and Social, has been phenomenal over the years. Now, open source is matured and capable of use with core business applications. It offers organizations the opportunity to be more flexible, help them reduce time to market, retain ownership of IP, improve security, and yes, even reduce TCO.
What really makes open source software unique is its dissociation from the idea that applications must be published and supported by large organizations. Open source products are readily available and easy to extend or modernize for better use. This community-generated model is the reason the quality of open source software has not only increased significantly in recent years, but continues to do so. In fact, over 100 companies join the Linux effort each year.
With all this information about how great open source is for fast moving organizations, it’s hard to believe that I’ve not yet mentioned the best part- the freedom! With open source, your hand aren’t tied, you get to use code, play with it, customize, rebuild, and reproduce any way you like! It’s nothing short of awesome.
Due entirely to this freedom, a wide variety of solutions are developed to solve virtually every need which means the world gets more choices, each one an improvement on the one before. Moreover, these upgrades— created through active community participation, combined with the solid policy of contribution evaluations for handling of problems and errors, are becoming even more secure and flexible.
As the needs of modern customers continue to shift rapidly, the need for flexible IT solutions is becoming more critical. As the adoptability of open source solutions in most industries increases, the need for proprietary applications dwindles. This innovation and community involvement is what will help you not only improve an organization’s responsiveness and competitive edge, but also directly impact the overall cost.
So when considering critical business applications, don’t think of cost. When you choose the most scalable, modern, and agile products, you’re choosing open source. And with open source comes savings.
What do you think?
