Why choose an open source CRM application over a proprietary one?
When choosing what system you want your computer to run off the first options that come to mind are Apple and Microsoft, right? That is because they are the most well known and recognisable to us. It's the same when we choose most software/applications that we use, we look for the brand. In this blog I will tell you why choosing an open source CRM for your business is not only the most cost effective but the most efficient option also.
Many businesses have already started to cotton on to the Open Source revolution with a recent report showing that 76% of developers are using open source technology in some way. But then why is it not more common in mainstream technology? I think the general feeling is that if you pay more for something then it is better, thus rendering open source the cheaper more inferior option. Despite this, people are now finding out that open source is a far better option for your business application, it is adaptable, customisable to your business needs, has high levels of security and you own the right to use the source code free of charge– it's yours!
Here are just some of the reasons you should choose an open source CRM solution over a proprietary one.
Community life
Open Source projects are always community based projects, this means that members of the open source community work together to make it a superior product. This is not the only source of support and development, many authors of open source CRM solutions offer a additional paid for solutions if required. As a result of this, you can enjoy constant improvements and bug fixes through a community with no direct costs. As soon as a bug or issue is identified, community forums will offer you help and support to help resolve and provide advice when you are stuck. All of the above means that your company can have the confidence that the business can adapt quickly to the ever changing demands of the marketplace.
Safe and Secure
With the growing number of hackers out there, software is becoming increasingly vulnerable, especially proprietary products, even though Apple may seem to have fewer bugs, this is only because they are not viewable by the public. Open source products make themselves more secure by exposing themselves and providing full visibility. This could be due to the above mentioned community who are always quick to fix bugs whereas with proprietary software there is only a small group of people tasked with the duty fixing these bugs. An amazing 72% of people said they would choose an open source application due to it's superior security.
Customisation
Most proprietary software will appear to come with a multitude of options and customisability, claiming they can meet all your business needs, however, integrating them with other business applications like ERP can cost a small fortune. The code itself is not made available to the general public This problem is not shared by their open source counterparts as they are built to be extendible, flexible and customisable. They allow developers direct access to the source code which truly means it can be adapted to meet every businesses needs.
Cost is Key
The obvious driving factor behind choosing an open source application is cost, an open source application will always be much lower in price, if not free, than it's proprietary alternatives. There are also lower security, maintenance and upgrade costs. In most business application projects, a significant section of the budget will go towards the implementation phase. With proprietary applications there will not be the pletherer of developers who are ready at the drop of a hat to take on any customisation needs unlike with it's open source competitors. This community of developers means open source are starting to win over implementation projects. These is also a growth of free plugins produced which will always result in lower cost of ownership and implementation.
No Need to Reinvent the Wheel
There are very few proprietary software that do not have an open source alternative. Why spend time paying for something that someone else has created for free. There is no point creating a CRM software from scratch, it is a more effective use of your time to find an open source application you are happy with and then develop and enhance this to your own requirements. The final software solution can be completed more quickly, or else more features can be added and more testing can be done
Feature Rich
Open source software has a variety of clients who all have different requirements. Opens source license encourages companies to share these enhancements and so unlike its proprietary counterpart it doesn’t need a lot of people requesting a feature before it is implemented. Proprietary software source is accessible by the creator and the consumer is unable to make any modifications to the CRM software without the consent of the vendor.