Introducing Open Source Software into your Business
Identifying and implementing Open Source Software can bring tangible operational cost savings to your business whilst also providing other benefits such as increasing your competitiveness through the introduction of improved revenue generating business processes.
What is Open Source?
The Open Source development model is based on providing mutual support and encouraging all participating users to share the development costs. This means that no licence fees apply and that the participating organisations all share the benefits in terms of software that meets their needs exactly, a more dynamic market for IT support, and greater collaboration to improve the programs.
Why would a business select and implement Open Source Software?
Open Source gives users the opportunity to increase choice, competition and efficiency, whilst achieving long term savings and avoiding lock-in with suppliers. With Open Source, users are not committed to software suppliers and long contracts. The flexibility and freedom of Open Source allows businesses to select a combination of software applications specific to their needs from the range of Open Source products available.
Proprietary software and Open Source software is likely to co-exist in most businesses in the near future.
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How does the Open Source software model work?
The basic concepts behind Open Source Software can be simplified as:
- When programmers can read, redistribute and modify the source code for a piece of software, the software evolves.
- People improve it and adapt it. And this happens at an astonishing pace compared to conventional software development.
- Any change that improves on the original is shared openly and over time the program collects a library of improvements that add value to the software suite – it is often described as "community developed software".
- It is believed the number of individuals inspecting and adding value to Open Source programs improves the quality, security, development speed and adaptability over time.
Open Source Software can be grouped into a “software stack”:
- Platforms
- Servers
- Middleware
- Applications
- Tools / Frameworks
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Business Benefits
A typical business can benefit from implementing one, or a range of Open Source Software, within this stack.
deBurca is experienced in a wide range of web based Open Source Software and can help advise and support your business by identifying, integrating, hosting and maintaining solutions tailored to your business needs.
Typical Open Source Software applications that deBurca supports include:
- Customer Relationship Management
- Content Management Systems and
- Knowledge Management Systems
- Coming soon - eLearning course on Open Source Software...
Further information on Open Source can be also be found within CoPe.
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