Open. Transparent. Pioneering.
It refers to software whose source code is publicly available. Anyone can view, modify, and share it - an approach built on transparency, collaboration, and trust.
Licenses such as MIT, Apache, or GPL ensure that this openness is preserved.
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In Germany, around three out of four companies (73%) now use open-source software.
(Source: Bitkom Research, Open Source Monitor 2025)
Driving Innovation
Few areas demonstrate the impact of collective development as clearly as software.
Open Source allows people around the world to work on the same projects, exchange ideas, and solve problems together. This dynamic often surpasses traditional development models.
From Linux and Android to Kubernetes, many of today’s key technologies are built on open foundations. They prove that innovation thrives when knowledge is shared.
Open Source also lowers entry barriers. It gives startups and established companies alike access to cutting-edge technology, encourages experimentation, and turns progress into a shared effort.
What Makes It Different
While proprietary solutions are controlled by individual vendors, Open Source evolves through a collective process supported by a global community.
Its code is visible, reviewable and adaptable. That transparency builds trust.
The result is systems that are not only more flexible but also more sustainable—independent from specific vendors, continually improving, and open to contributions from real-world experience.
Architecture
This makes it possible to replace or extend parts of a system without having to change everything else. Such flexibility accelerates development and allows companies to create their own extensions or forks tailored to their needs.
Many Open Source platforms are designed this way. Modular ERP systems, workflow automation tools, and open content frameworks illustrate how easily individual components can be combined or extended. This approach enables faster integrations, shorter development cycles, and more innovation freedom than closed systems usually allow.
This approach enables faster integrations, shorter development cycles, and greater freedom for innovation than closed systems typically allow.
Code Transparency
One of the most important technical differences lies in traceability.
Public repositories make it easier to conduct security and compliance checks. Companies can run their own audits or use automated analysis tools to detect dependencies, licenses, or potential risks early on.
Open development processes also increase accountability. Pull requests, commit histories, and issue trackers provide a complete record of who changed what and when—an invaluable foundation for quality assurance and long-term maintenance.
Sustainability Through Community
Because the code is open, no organization depends on a single provider. Even if a project is discontinued, the community can continue it through a fork. That’s true sustainability in software development—independent from corporate decisions.
Business Advantages
Open Source is no longer a technical niche. It has become a strategic asset.
Companies, public institutions, and educational organizations increasingly rely on open systems to strengthen their digital sovereignty.
They want to understand how their software works, make independent decisions, and remain flexible instead of being tied to the rules of individual vendors.
Open Source also provides tangible economic benefits:
- Shared development costs
- No expensive license fees
- Faster innovation cycles
- Real-world solutions created by skilled professionals
Those who actively contribute to Open Source benefit from an environment that encourages creativity and responsibility - the foundation of sustainable innovation.
Practical Diversity
Tools like n8n (automation), Odoo (ERP), Strapi, and Ghost (content management) show how powerful Open Source has become.
They allow organizations to design custom workflows, combine systems flexibly, and automate processes far beyond what traditional software often allows.
This makes it possible to expand or completely rethink rigid IT structures.
Open interfaces and modular architectures enable workflows that were once technically or financially unfeasible.
Looking Ahead
Open Source already drives many of today’s most important technologies - from artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure to Open Data and Open Science.
von Künstlicher Intelligenz und Cloud-Infrastruktur bis hin zu Open Data und Open Science.
The speed at which Open Source evolves shows that we are only at the beginning of an open era.
In the coming years, its influence will continue to grow and not just in technology, but also in business and society. More and more companies are realizing that long-term innovation is almost impossible without Open Source.
Now is the time to help shape this change. Those who embrace openness early gain faster development cycles, direct access to know-how, and the strength of a global community.
With our long-standing expertise in Open Source, we help organizations harness this potential effectively.
We analyze existing structures, identify suitable technologies, and develop strategies to integrate Open Source sustainably—for greater efficiency, independence, and a real competitive advantage.
In our next article, we take a closer look at a frequently misunderstood topic:
“Open Source and Security – Why Openness Is the Best Defense.”
