SMEs must consider open source

Open source is a viable option for SMEs but not because it is necessarily "cheaper" than proprietary solutions (although this is often the case). Rather, open source - because of its inherent qualities for flexibility and scalability - is ideal for SMEs that have ambitions to lose the "S" appellation.

So says Yossi Hasson, MD of Synaq, a SME focused on providing open source solutions to SMEs (and large enterprises) who believes it's time open source lost its undeserved reputation as a platform for geeks.

"It's extremely effective in the workplace," he maintains and points out that Synaq, apart from being an open source advocate, is a 15-person company that runs almost everything on open source. The only exception is the company's accounting system.

"There is place for both open source and proprietary in any SME environment - it's really about the right tools for the job," he adds.

For example, in a desktop environment in which users just need a simple Web interface, basic word processing and a spreadsheet, an open source package like Ubuntu running Open Office would be perfect. These users don't need the bells and whistles of a Microsoft Office.

At the other end of the scale, for a SME that is growing and has constantly changing needs - it may need to implement CRM or workflow management and be able to build this up over time or adapt it to enable changes in the business strategy - then open source is absolutely the way to go. Open source allows for rapid change, customisation and greater flexibility.

Hasson says there are many open source "big ticket" tech solutions - CRM, BI, mail tools and the like - which can be and are readily tailored to SME requirements.

"SME versions of heavyweight proprietary solutions generally offer fewer features than their big brother counterparts which is why they are more affordable for the SME. But what if the particular whistle that has been left out is one the SME needs? And what if there are still features in the 'lite' version that the SME can easily do without?

"With an open source option, SMEs can have a solution that not only fits their precise needs, it will be easy to scale as the business grows," he explains.

He acknowledges that some SMEs may be reluctant to go the open source route because of concerns that a shortage of open source skills would make it more expensive to maintain than a proprietary solution.

However, he points out that there is a general shortage of IT skills across all platforms - and it's a worldwide phenomenon.

"It's important to bear in mind that while there may be more individuals with MS skills, they are not all good skills. Many of them may be merely average.

"Quality support is available for open source through companies like Synaq. There are also a lot more open source learnerships available and the number of people being trained is growing," he concludes.