The advantages of open-source software are well known. It's free to use, completely customizable and relatively bug free. When bugs and security holes arise, they are often discovered and patched quickly because of the many different people continually working on the code. However, there are times when opting for proprietary software makes more sense for your business.
1. When proprietary software fits your needs.
Companies that create and sell software design it to solve a problem and tailor it to businesses. While open-source software might be able to fill your needs, it might take it a bit of work to customize it for your workplace. Proprietary software is built to service those needs and can often easily be customized for the specific requirements of your business, thus allowing you to adopt it much more quickly.
2. When it's easier for untrained users.
Oftentimes proprietary software is much easier to use when compared to open-source counterparts. Not everyone in your office will be a computer expert, and the added training needed for some open-source options can add to the cost of implementation while delaying widespread adoption in your business.
3. When it's the standard.
It's important to be compatible with the outside world in business. This greatly enhances the speed of communication between both other businesses and consumers which can improve your productivity. Many proprietary solutions have seen widespread adoption across the computing world which makes them the standard in what they do. When an application reaches this point, you will want to be sure your business is compatible. The best way to do that is to use the standard yourself instead of some open-source solutions which may or may not work with the rest of the world.
4. When support is better and needed.
If you have a problem in business, you can't afford to wait for hours or days to hear from someone. Open-source software often relies on the community for the support of its products. Posting on a forum and hoping for a response when you encounter a problem you can't solve just won't cut it for most businesses. Proprietary software almost always has a help desk you can call to receive support as soon as the problem arises so you can resolve it quickly.
5. When you need software as a service.
The cloud is king in business today with employees working from a variety of locations. Software as a service is cloud-based option that can be used almost anywhere. While some open-source solutions are beginning to adopt this method as well, you will have to create your own cloud in order to use them. Software as a service allows companies to shift the burden of maintaining sometimes-costly infrastructure and any troubleshooting to the cloud service company and can greatly reduce an IT budget in the process. This convenience is usually found only with proprietary software, so if you prefer this type of software for your business, you will have to go commercial.
Open-source software offers great advantages for companies and provides some of the most powerful software available on the market. However it is often more difficult to use and lack some features that a company must have to do business. There are times when choosing open-source software is the right decision for your company, but there are also times when proprietary software is a necessity. Knowing when to recognize the best software option is the first step to effectively managing your software infrastructure at your business and is paramount for any business that wants to increase its productivity while also keeping costs under control.
