Even though using open source can be generating significant savings, the fact that the software license is free is only one element of the return on investment - and decision makers are well aware of this. The stakes of open source adoption by a growing number of organizations involve considerable investments by vendors, especially for the enhancement of their solutions. This does not corrupt the community-based development effort, but covers a legitimate demand for quality from enterprise users.

Confronted with this demand, and its cash-related requirements, several business models have been thought out by open source vendors: subscription-based model, dual-licensing model, services model, sponsoring, etc.

The “freeness” of open source software carries another key advantage that is less often mentioned, but which I think is as important as this “freeness”: it can be quickly appropriated by systems integrators. With free and unrestricted access to the software (unlike proprietary solutions), these SIs can develop services offerings, the diversity of which generates a healthy competition for users. Open source then creates a strong alternative to the proprietary world: around lower-TCO solutions, users benefit from a real choice for services. The ROI of the solution is thus accelerated. And because open source is also very present in the educational system, available expertise grows very quickly.

I am not saying proprietary models will be dying soon. I do think however that they need to evolve. For the greater benefit of users!

Bertrand