Open source for businesses has (almost) nothing but advantages!

As an open-source agency, we are committed to open-source software because it offers many advantages.

For example, companies can freely choose their service provider.

But open source is also about values and digital sovereignty. Of course, there are pitfalls as well.

Openness, collaboration with the developer community, and working together on software projects simply for the joy of technology—that’s what the open source community stands for. And we, too, uphold these values.

Open source combines core values with tangible benefits for businesses. At the same time, open source will be more important than ever by 2025: digital sovereignty, EU regulations, and the issue of data sovereignty make open-source software a strategic factor.

Open-source directory containing files such as CODEOWNERS and LICENSE

The Open Source Philosophy

The basic idea behind open source is to share software—and especially its source code—openly and completely freely. Unlike proprietary software, the code is available for anyone to view and use.

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

Benefits of Open-Source Solutions for Businesses

The data belongs to you

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

Standardization

Open source relies on open standards rather than proprietary formats—which promotes interoperability between different systems.

Independence from manufacturers

You are free to choose your support partner. If you're not satisfied, there are alternatives. No vendor lock-in.

Security

The software is open source—many eyes find bugs faster. Security vulnerabilities are patched much more quickly than with closed-source software, where you have to rely on the vendor.

Can be expanded as needed

You have the source code and can customize the software yourself or through a service provider to meet your exact requirements.

Strong Community

Take advantage of rapid innovation cycles thanks to an active developer community.

No licensing fees

Open-source software does not incur any license fees—only costs for support and customizations as needed.

Digital Sovereignty: Conscious Decisions Instead of Dependence

Digital sovereignty is often misunderstood. It’s not about giving things up, but about making informed decisions: Which data is critical? Where do we need control? Where is a pragmatic solution sufficient?

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 dependence —and that often only becomes apparent when it’s too late. Vendor lock-in, lack of portability, high switching costs.

A real-world example: ITZBund’s Government Site Builder has been based on TYPO3 since version 11—a clear commitment to open source “made in Germany.”

Digital Sovereignty: Informed Decisions Instead of Dogma

Digital sovereignty is often misunderstood in everyday life. For many, it means doing without: familiar tools, convenience, and speed. In our daily work, we see it differently.

Automation and Data Sovereignty: Our Approach to punkt.de

Automation is no longer just a “nice-to-have”—it’s essential for making processes efficient, error-free, and scalable. At punkt.de, we’ve been addressing this topic for many years—whether in content management systems, e-commerce projects, or custom business solutions. Our stance on this is clear: Automation can only be sustainable if the company retains control over its data.

Automation: Only Confident Automation Is Sustainable

Automation is part of the modern IT landscape. But tools like Make or Zapier mean your data ends up in third-party 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.

Here’s an example: Our public relations work is automated via n8n—without a single data record leaving our servers.

Our stance: Automation is only sustainable if the company retains control over its data.

Are there any downsides?

Even though we recommend open source, there are pitfalls.

Maintenance and Further Development

Communities can disband. For large projects (TYPO3, Linux), the risk is minimal; for small niche projects, it’s higher. An experienced open-source service provider can help you assess the situation.

No Traditional Warranty

There is no manufacturer to hold liable. However, professional support services make up for this—often offering more flexibility and better service than traditional manufacturer support.

Licensing Issues

Some open-source licenses require that changes to the code also be 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 are springing up around open-source projects that offer comprehensive services—from support and customization to hosting solutions.

The variety is impressive: from big data to cloud solutions to specialized communication systems. Thanks to collaboration within the community, many solutions can be combined—resulting in customized ecosystems with high data security.

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