Big Businesses Finding Solution in Open Source Software

Open source software is now being adopted more frequently by companies of a larger size. According to Software Development Times in a recent article, “Open source isn’t a buzzword or even a type of software; it has become a new way of doing business in software.”

Bigger companies are finding the solution to their software needs in open source applications. At DataSync in the past 60 days, we have seen a trend in more larger-sized companies turning to open source SaaS.

Why the trend of big businesses moving towards open source software?

1. Cost efficient alternative to traditional software

Open source software provides a cost-efficient solution to companies’ needs for a better alternative than Microsoft Exchange, for example. In the current state of the economy, companies are searching for alternative options when choosing software providers. In a recent article from Network World, John Fantana writes, “The combination of pumped-up technical features and relatively low prices are giving vendors with open source-based products more inroads to corporate networks than ever before.”

2. More open source options available today than ever before

The adoption of open source software today is due also to the number of companies developing new open source solutions. Also in the Network World article, Barry Crist, CEO of Likewise, a maker of integration and identity management software for mixed environments, says, “In the dot-com bust it was Unix to Linux migration because Linux was cheaper than Solaris on SPARC. Phase 2 [of corporate open source adoption] has been accelerated by the current economic conditions. IT is looking to do things in a cost-effective manner and there are a lot of viable open source solutions out there.”

3. Quality of support and security

The quailty of support offered from these reputable open source solutions is also an advantage. Fantana comments, “Adoption has also been fueled by the success of established open source companies such as Red Hat, Novell, Alfresco and SugarCRM, which have proven to enterprise users that it isn’t the development process but the results (and quality support) that matter.”