Ron Bongo here once more to give more insights on business and how you could learn more about open source software.

In the past entries, you have learned how open source software can be beneficial to your business and how it can be a viable alternative to commercially marketed applications. Most people who have encountered using open source applications are familiar with alternative web browsers and office suite applications and may have used these for some time. This time, you could learn more about the open source options and alternatives available that you can apply to every aspect of your business. Prominent names in the industry like Ron Bongo and some others have recognized the power and benefits that these open source alternatives can give.

* Antivirus / Anti-Malware -- viruses and malware are still a plague to someone’s business. Trojans, spyware, and other viruses lurking online can damage thousands of dollars of valuable information and work that your business has already accomplished. There are open source anti-malware applications available that you can use to detect these viruses,the only downside is most of the available applications rely on manual scanning.

 

* Spreadsheet Applications -- work with numbers with this effective alternative that can handle even large spreadsheets that even scientists or mathematicians would appreciate.

* Document Creator -- the portable document format or PDF has become the premier standard for transferring secured documents between businesses. This alternative can create PDF files, as well as other popular graphical file formats.

* Word Processing -- word processing software is probably the most used application for most users. This alternative provides fast processing features with add-ons like dictionaries, translation,grammar checker and mathematical equation editing that can rival commercial applications.

* Desktop Publishing -- some users need more page lay-outing capabilities than what word processors can deliver.This desktop publishing alternative can provide just that.

* Project Planning -- manage your business plans more effectively with this alternative software that can give you the same power and features than most commercially available applications

* Instant Messaging -- people are sometimes fed up with the inconsistencies and built-in advertising in most commercially available instant messaging applications. This alternative can keep you connected and do what it was primarily intended to - communicate.

* Enterprise Resource Management /Customer Relationship Management -- small businesses can get the same automated management features that large companies enjoy through these open source alternatives.

* Accounting -- Finance management is an important aspect in every business and these accounting alternatives can give your business a boost in this area - without breaking the bank.

To learn more about the benefits of open source and how it can help your business or profession come and visit this blog as brought to you by Ron Bongo.

 

        

Ron Bongo here once more to give more insights on business and how you could learn more about open source software.

 

One of the main reasons why open source communities come up with superb and quality software is the fact that more people can look into the code and contribute freely without any of the “corporate hindrances” that characterize the conditions of developers working in a corporate environment. In a corporate setting, the roles played by developers are dictated by the direction of the business, often reminding them - “…you’re just programmers, stick to what we pay you to - write code!”

 

This is entirely different in an open source environment. First, there is no budget to talk about here and everyone can contribute freely on their own accord, pace and devotion. Next is the geographical aspect of the environment, which is basically - from anywhere in the world. And yet, the community of open source developers sticks to basic principles, the same principles that lead them to create better and more effective results. Such principles encompass everyone involved in open source, including prominent names like Ron Bongo and a whole lot more.

 

These principles include:

 

* There are no bosses here. We (developers) are all equal here.

 

* Everyone should stick to what is true, and should state only what is true.

 

* Trust the members of the team - unless they do something that would eradicate that trust.

 

* Review and test everything. Choose the best. Discard the rest.

 

* The fastest way to complete the project is to do everything right.

 

It is quite rare to find a corporate environment that operates like this. The corporate world is dictated by budget and deadlines and has an entirely different level of planning, execution, documentation, and review that characterize open source communities. The results - mediocre products that even open source projects can outmatch anytime. This is something corporate entities should learn from - and take their businesses to the next level.

 

To learn more about the benefits of open source and how it can help your business or profession come and visit this blog as brought to you by Ron Bongo.

 

 

        

Ron Bongo here once more to give more insights on business and how you could learn more about open source software.

Many companies across America have come to benefit from what open source software can offer. In fact, some companies have their whole IT infrastructure developed and built around open source.  Application servers running on an open source alternative from a high-end application, web pages delivered through an open source browser instead of its high priced predecessor - these are some of the things happening in these companies that make experts shake their heads in disbelief.

For them, using open source instead of using products from well-established corporate providers seems intrinsically wrong - but they just can’t shake the fact that the results experienced by companies using open source goes well beyond expectation. So, why did open source make this tremendous impact to businesses? Why is it even GOOD for businesses?

For one thing, open source prevented the monopoly of large companies to various applications from servers to specific programs. Prominent names in the open source industry like Ron Bongo focuses on further enhancing open source technologies making them even better for the whole world to use. Mainstream applications are done by paid professionals who are often penalized for mistakes made. Open source developers do this kind of work for free.

Why?Because they love and enjoy doing what they do best -- creating better products as a result. And they do it in an environment where members of the community can communicate with one another, choosing what works great for them and filtering out the mediocre from the best -- and it spreads. This is the reason that baffled experts as to why people are shifting from high-end products to open source applications. It is not just the price that drives them to it. They are shifting because they find the alternative a much better application.

To learn more about the benefits of open source and how it can help your business or profession come and visit this blog as brought to you by Ron Bongo.

  

        

Ron Bongo here once more to give more insights on business and how you could learn more about open source software.

The term commercial open source appears to be a contradiction of some sort to what was normally termed an open source application. First and foremost is the fact that the term ‘open source’ would basically refer to an application or a system that has a freely available source code. This seemingly self-contradicting element in commercial open source applications is much disputed in the industry -pointing out that an activity that produces a commercial product using open source software destroys the basic principle behind open source.

For those who do not understand what open source means - it is basically the principle of creating a system or application where other developers are free to look into the code that created it with the option to adapt or enhance as long as the new source codes are also made available. Part of this arrangement is the provision that any product or application derived from an open source code should be made available without any financial charges. There is a community of developers and users together with prominent names in the industry like Ron Bongo that focuses on further enhancing open source technologies.

 

Commercial companies using open source, aware of the restrictions and provisions in its use and distribution, would usually distribute the developed product for free to users - and would earn through the fees for support, training and further development for the end-user or company who will eventually use the application.  Another variation for this is to have two versions for a certain application - one that is fully open source and has freely available source codes and another that is completely proprietary but has upgrades and additional features than the open source version. Others can have applications based on an open source framework but can only be accessible through the developers own network and servers.

To learn more about the benefits of open source and how it can help your business or profession come and visit this blog as brought to you by Ron Bongo.

 

        

Ron Bongo here once more to give more insights on business and how you could learn more about open source software.

Open source has grown in popularity as well as in quality over the last decade and has provided developers with valuable programming resource for almost any applications. Anyone who is interested in learning more about open source can get education in four ways: online resources, formal classes and trainings,organized seminars, and self-study.

Podcasts,videos, documentations and other tools can be obtained through online resources and other product usually developed by a community of developers and programmers coming from different parts of the globe. This is probably the best way to educate one’s self on open source software and programming, as continued support and additional resources can be further obtained from the same community.

Some companies and businesses can also get the services of professional software training firms to conduct open source education trainings for their staff.Another way to get education is to attend seminars hosted by software or consulting firms and conducted by various resource speakers like Ron Bongo and other prominent names in the open source industry. The key thing here is to make assessments on what you, your company and your staff can get from these trainings and seminars and how it can be effectively used for your business.

To learn more about the benefits of open source and how it can help your business or profession come and visit this blog as brought to you by Ron Bongo.

        

During the later part of the 1990’s when one hears the term Customer Relationship Management, what comes to mind is a neat stack of index cards placed strategically near a telephone-cum-answering machine. Such systems proved an ineffective way of enhancing your relationship with the customer, resulting to poor customer retention and a much slower pace for customer acquisition. The result - less profitability and business success as having a less sound customer relationship would greatly affect the bottom line.

Visionaries in the software industry like Ron Bongo have dramatically changed all that. The rapid development of Customer Relationship Management of CRM software allowed businesses to better manage their relationships with their customers through a more reliable system of processes and procedures that has effectively and efficiently simplified customer interaction with the business. These systems can go way beyond the capabilities of index files of old resulting to better customer service which can eventually be translated into increase in profits.

However, a successful integration of CRM into the business does not simply employ installing the software then letting it do its thing on its own. As changes in the business environment continue to be a constantly evolving scenario, it is only but natural for the CRM software to evolve with the business to be able to adapt to its needs and the needs of its customers. Technology is not a solution in itself, particularly in the case of CRM, but it should be harnessed as part of the concerted plan of effort rendered by management as the business encounter more challenges and additional objectives. This streamlining of CRM technology through an open source approach is what integrators like Ron Bongo utilize to help companies tailor their system from the ground up -making it more worthwhile and more profitable for all.

Without open source applications, businesses wanting to harness the power of CRM would be left with a very short list of un-customizable software choices and would eventually end up failing to integrate the software into their existing business system. Thanks to developers such as Ron Bongo, open source applications for CRM purposes have proliferated making it easier for new companies or business to develop a system that can fit their own - at a considerably lower expense than what large software companies are offering.

 

 

        

Relationships: Key to getting buisiness
Over the holiday weekend, I was discussing with a few friends the reasons why our customers hire and continue to use our respective firms. One friend owns an advertising firm providing advertising and design services to Fortune 500 companies. The other has a wholesale business, selling to large retail companies. Both clearly agreed with each other that the relationship is the key reason why customers bought from them.

I agree, but what establishes the relationship? Most customers buy because they trust the company, the products or services and/or the people they buy from. Relationships are born out of trust between organizations. Even in a firm with high transaction volume, trust is established from product or service quality. Regardless of why or how, without trust, a relationship will deteriorate. But trust can be fickle; one simple misstep can cause trust to evaporate, potentially creating enough FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt), opening the door to competitors. Think Bear Stearns. Trust with their trading partners evaporated overnight despite adequate capital reserves beforehand ($17 billion). Essentially, the FUD caused a virtual run on the bank, perception became reality, and employees and shareholders paid dearly as JP Morgan bought up the assets cheaply.

Trust plays a huge role in keeping customers over the long-term.  
And, trust is built based on delivering above and beyond what’s promised and expected. But, what role does it play in establishing the initial relationship? In open source software sales cycle awareness shrinks for open source software vendors, so there’s less time to establish trust prior to the initial transaction. So, in this instance trust needs to be built on product or service differentiation, which open source establishes in cost, transparency and freedom of choice. However, as the CIO of CorraTech’s largest customer pointed out to me last night over dinner, he said that CIO’s don’t lose jobs over spending too much money or creating little flexibility (clear benefits of open source software), but they do lose jobs over not meeting delivery promises to the business. Proprietary software vendors that have the perceived stability through proven longevity clearly have advantages here; at least for the short term.

Add the benefits of Open Source and provide value
Beyond the hype around open source, it is still a mere blip on the screen of most large company CIO’s. As a percentage of IT budgets, open source has a long way to go—or more optimistically, grow. For my company, CorraTech, although about to achieve more than 80% revenue growth in the second quarter this year, we’ll continue to be patient, as we see the market quickly coming towards us. We believe we are in the right place; establishing the right relationships with an innovative business model, ready to help organizations willing to take the risk to invest in open source software. Why? Beyond losing ones job, there is truly organizational value to be had --- and frankly, value will always prevail once realized.

        

 

In 2006 all new software seemed to “open source” their code. To me it looked as if every new, and struggling, vendor was running after the hype. Many of these commercial software vendors were not born out of open source projects but rather converted or established themselves as open source companies by licensing some set of code under the public domain. In many cases they did so without first embracing community development. But, it was most interesting that these new open source vendors did not embrace open source because of the hype or community development, but rather because of the disruptive distribution model

The success of the open source distribution model will depend partially on which commercial approach a vendor chooses, but many vendors are primarily interested in getting their software more quickly adopted by achieving greater distribution. Developing software in stealth, signing up a hand full of beta customers in the first year, then releasing 1.0 and growing by sales one at a time is no longer a viable model. For one thing, the open source distribution model decreases the need for an expensive commercial sales force, decreases the need for extensive marketing costs and speeds product time to market. In addition, by lowering the cost-of-sale, open source vendors pass the savings to the end user in lower or no license fees and spend more effort on quality engineering. Over time this will be a difficult model for closed source software vendors to compete with, especially for software vendors whose software is based on older technology architectures.

Although, some may contend that open source software shrinks the typical sales cycle, it does not. It merely contracts the sales cycle awareness period. As the diagram above depicts, open source commercial vendors become aware of opportunities much later in the sales cycle allowing them to take less unsuccessful “turns” with suspects and prospects. With open source software, customers typically do a lot of self-evaluation. The open source software distribution model, therefore, reduces time spent at the beginning of the sales cycle and allows for more efficient time to be spent on higher quality opportunities. At CorraTech – as an open source professional services firm -- we experience this first hand. By the time a customer contacts us, various people in the organization have already downloaded and evaluated the technology and now require deeper analysis to ensure the product can meet all high priority business needs. Frankly, customers using demos to make million dollar software decisions, locking their organizations into a particular vendor was never a good way to buy software. So, not only does open source introduce a new sales process it introduces a new and better way to buy software for the customer. By lowering the total-cost-of-sale, open source provides a platform for better customer intimacy, which results with a greater number of positive customer experiences and more customer wins.

SugarCRM is a prime example of how to use the open source distribution model to achieve fast growth in an already crowded market. CRM has been around since the early 90’s. There are now tens of vendors. Yet, in the past four years SugarCRM has amassed 4000 plus customers. John Roberts, SugarCRM’s CEO, has built an excellent team and a fantastic product, and has made some incredibly intuitive and bold decisions about their business model (I do not want to discount this) but open source has afforded SugarCRM the ability to invest much of the $46 million raised in product development and engineering. This, of course, further translates into more customers as quality engineering produces functionally rich enhancements, among other things, at a much faster time to market. Here is a proof point --- about one quarter of SugarCRM’s total staff is engineers. Imagine that in a commercial software company!

        

This is important. Yes, SugarCRM is less expensive than proprietary solutions but very few actually come to
to Sugar because of price.

More often, customers are interested in the the flexibility provided by  open source. They can change the code, customize more easily, and choose to deploy on-demand or on-site. This is the big reason why Sugar is getting more popular. Customers are tired of being locked in to a proprietary code set or only one deployment model. Sugar gives customers the most modern, flexible CRM application in the market. That is the real driver of customer demand.

        

SugarCRM
SugarCRM is one of the world's leading providers of commercial open source customer relationship management (CRM) software for companies of all sizes. SugarCRM offers a flexible, cost-effective alternative to proprietary applications. SugarCRM's open source architecture allows companies to more easily customize and integrate customer-facing business processes in order to build and maintain more profitable relationships. SugarCRM provides several deployment options, including on-demand, on-premise and appliance-based solutions to suit customers' security, integration and configuration needs.

SugarCRM Features
SugarCRM brings a feature-rich set of business processes that enhance marketing effectiveness, drive sales performance, improve customer satisfaction and provide executive insight in all categories of business performance. It is a flexible platform providing many powerful capabilities to both large and small organizations.
SugarCRM is built on the pure Open Source LAMPS platform: Linux or Windows, Apache or IIS, MySQL, PHP, and SugarCRM. Its mobile solutions translate to less downtime and greater productivity. Sugar Suite integrates e-mail and calendar information with Microsoft Outlook, ensuring that company communications are centralized and coordinated. Due to the Flexible Delivery Model, there are no constraints around deployment. Moreover, the customizable User Interface and Workflow guarantee adaptation to the user, not the other way around. The Sugar Suite Modular Open Source Architecture provides 100% visible source code for inexpensive customization and support. The SugarCRM Neutral Operation System avoids "forklift" upgrades and propriety vendor lock-in.