Open source for companies:
(almost) only advantages!

As an open source agency, we are convinced of open source software - because open source offers many advantages. Not least, companies are free to choose their service provider. But open source also has to do with values - and with digital sovereignty. And yes, there are also pitfalls.

Openness, exchange with the developer community, working together on software projects for the pure fun of technology - this is what the open source community stands for. And we also represent these values.

Open source combines values with tangible benefits for companies. At the same time, open source is more important than ever in 2025: digital sovereignty, EU regulations and the question of data sovereignty make open source software a strategic factor.

Open source directory with files such as CODEOWNERS and LICENSE

The open source philosophy

The basic idea of open source is to share software and, above all, its source code openly and completely freely. In contrast to proprietary software, the code can be viewed and used by anyone.

The business model? Not the sale of licenses, but services: Support, setup, maintenance, consulting and customization. Communities and agencies are emerging around projects such as TYPO3 or Neos that offer exactly that. This gives companies the best of both worlds: reliable support without license costs and the innovative power of an open development culture.

Advantages of open source solutions for companies

Security

The software is open source - many eyes find errors more quickly. Security gaps are closed much faster than with closed source, where you are dependent on the manufacturer.

Can be extended as required

You have the source code and can adapt the software to your exact requirements yourself or via a service provider.

Strong community

Benefit from fast innovation cycles thanks to an active developer community.

No license costs

Open source software does not incur any license fees - only costs for support and adjustments as required.

The data belongs to you

With open source, you can transfer your data to other systems in a structured way. With closed source, this is often difficult or impossible.

Standardization

Open source relies on open standards instead of proprietary formats - this promotes interoperability between different systems.

Independence from manufacturer

You are free to choose your support partner. If you are dissatisfied, there are alternatives. No vendor lock-in.

Digital sovereignty: conscious decisions instead of dependency

Digital sovereignty is often misunderstood. It is not about doing without, but about making conscious decisions: Which data is critical? Where do we need control? Where is a pragmatic solution enough?

Our approach:

First we check: Is there a good open source solution?
Then we check: Is there a strong European solution?
Only then do we turn to international players.

A lack of sovereignty means dependency - and this often only becomes apparent when it is too late. Vendor lock-in, lack of portability, high switching costs.

A practical example: The Government Site Builder of the ITZBund has been based on TYPO3 since version 11 - a clear commitment to open source "made in Germany".

Digital sovereignty: conscious decisions instead of dogma

Digital sovereignty is often misunderstood in everyday life. For many, it means giving up familiar tools, convenience and speed. We see it differently in our day-to-day work.

Automation and data sovereignty: our approach to punkt.de

Automation is no longer a "nice to have", but a key factor in making processes efficient, error-free and scalable. At punkt.de, we have been working on this topic for many years - whether in content management systems, e-commerce projects or individual business solutions. We have a clear stance: automation only works sustainably if the company retains sovereignty over the data.

Automation: only sovereign is sustainable

Automation is part of the modern IT landscape. But tools like Make or Zapier mean Your data migrates to external clouds.

We take a different approach: self-hosted automation with n8n (for flexible workflows) and Camunda-7-Forks (for enterprise processes). All data stays with you. All processes are transparent.

For example, our press work is automated via n8n - without any data leaving our servers.

Our position: automation only works sustainably if the company retains control over the data.

Are there any disadvantages?

Even if we recommend open source: There are pitfalls.

Maintenance and further development

Communities can dissolve. The risk is minimal for large projects (TYPO3, Linux), but higher for small niche projects. An experienced open source service provider can help with the assessment.

No classic warranty

There is no manufacturer who is liable. However, professional support offers compensate for this - often more flexible and better than classic manufacturer support.

License issues

Some open source licenses require that changes to the code are also disclosed. In practice, however, this rarely causes problems.

Open source service providers: your advantage

The supposed disadvantage of "no manufacturer support" is actually an advantage: you choose your support partner yourself. Agencies that offer an all-round service - from support and customization to hosting solutions- are emerging around open source projects.

The variety is impressive: from big data and cloud solutions to specialized communication systems. Thanks to the exchange within the community, many solutions can be combined - resulting in individually tailored ecosystems with a high level of data security.

We also see ourselves as an open source agency and will be happy to advise you on the use of open source software in your company.