Open source for your next CRM deployment
SugarCRM and other open-source CRM vendors have a slick value proposition for the CIO: Save money, boost innovation, and improve internal adoption. What's not to love?
According to a CIO.com article, it depends on the type of organization you're helming. For some, it's possible that open-source CRM won't be a good fit. But these will be the exception, not the rule:
Since most of the code is open, the applications tend to be very customizable, run on any platform, and have a good, if not all-encompassing, feature set. Indeed, SugarCRM, the largest player in the category..., has added more mobile features than many of its commercial rivals....
Unlike commercial software, open source code, is just that--open. Users are free to modify and distribute most of it under any of the several commonly used open source licenses. In fact, openness and the right to modify the source code is a key advantage for tech-savvy companies willing to take on development tasks.
Does this mean that the only way to benefit from open-source CRM (and other open-source enterprise applications) is if you're a technology-savvy shop? Of course not. Most don't need to tweak the code, and never will. But even those who don't benefit from those who do.
If a CIO has decided to buy wholeheartedly into a particular vendor's complete stack (e.g., Oracle), then perhaps open-source CRM isn't for them. Open source is for those who like choice, not manacles. :-)
Matt Asay brings a decade of in-the-trenches open-source business and legal experience to The Open Road, with an emphasis on emerging open-source business strategies and opportunities. Matt is vice president of business development at Alfresco, a company that develops open-source software for content management. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. You can follow Matt on Twitter @mjasay. 




Free CRM: http://www.FreeCRM.com
Zoho CRM: http://www.ZohoCRM.com
Each has its benefits, I have found FreeCRM to be very feature rich, and Zoho much more simple with less features
You are not limited or locked in to an expensive software behemoth like Oracle or SAP.
Want to change the code? Have at it.
You are not limited or locked in to an expensive software behemoth like Oracle or SAP.
Want to change the code? Have at it.
Cost effectiveness is THE biggest attraction, besides there is always the fear that what's free/cheap open source today may become commercial and mainstream tomorrow.
- by neophyteblogger July 28, 2008 10:36 PM PDT
- Am sure Concursive must have added something in small print or else the CRM is at best a vendors software with the more sophisticated features being available at a price.
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