The Open Source catch: free but useless?
OK, so there is a catch… or at least there can be.
Why do you need a Thirdway agency when the free web tools and information you’ll ever need may be just a Google search away? There so much free stuff out there it should in itself present ample opportunity (tools, advice, processes, etc) to make projects cheap.
Yes, great free stuff is out there, but it is free as in ‘free to download.’
It is not free in the sense of ‘free beer.’ There can a big time cost in trying to learn from scratch what to tools to use. Elements of this are:
- Total Cost of Ownership – cost of training adoption etc
- Cost of selecting the wrong platform
- Cost of poor implementation and errors
The problem is that we are swimming in an ocean of information. Most people do not know what they need, when they need it, how to find it and what to do with it. It’s a bit like finding oil bubbling out of the ground but not knowing how to extract and refine it.
Firstly, you need a broad and up-to-date knowledge of all the goodies available, so you can make an informed decision.
Secondly, all those free goodies are next to useless you have the specialised expertise to know how to use and apply them.
A Thirdway agency provides the expertise needed.
10 big questions before you rush off on your own with a free application:
Open source applications can provide excellent functionality, but:
- Which one should you use and why?
- Who will look after it and upgrade it?
- Who will fix it when it goes wrong?
- Where will you host it?
- Does your strategy mean using one or multiple systems?
- Does each ‘latest and greatest’ tool match your risk profile?
- How do they work together (e.g. with search engines).
- Could it actually be more cost effective to deploy a proprietary tool when total cost of ownership is considered?
- Who do you believe? (everyone tells you they have the best!)
- Is it best to get some independent advice from someone who isn’t pushing any particular system or tool, who can understand your business needs, and help you make the right decision?
A Thirdway agency can help you answer these questions effectively.