April 28, 2009

Get the Gloves Out: Open Source vs Proprietary Content Management Systems

There is no shortage of community run, open source CMS options out there that serve a host of different companies willing and able to work in their prospective environments. There is also an abundance of companies who prefer to work with a proprietary system, developed and controlled by a single company.

Which is better?

That can be a daunting question. Do I go with an open source company like Drupal, Mambo, or Joomla!, or a proprietary system like Twelve Horses? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t cut and dry. It requires a significant amount of research, evaluation and judgment that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Content Management System

Step 1 – Be realistic

Don’t kid yourself, there is no silver bullet. Every option has pros and cons, but the goal is to find the solution that will provide you the most value and the least headache. Here is a comparison of the two:

Open Source:

Pros: Upfront costs are minimal. Many vendors are able to work in the major platforms, and if they aren’t, the learning curve is low. Updates and modules are typically free, abundant, and help is available all over the web.

Cons: Customization is more limited. Modifications and custom integrations are susceptible to upgrade issues that typically are not supported. Because open source is community driven, it is a one-size-fits-all approach that can create bloated features. Free add-ons can be buggy and present possible security threats. Potential downtimes can also present high risks for businesses.

Proprietary:

Pros: Business driven not community driven. Streamlined skill sets allowing for faster development times, and customization options are more flexible. Typically niche driven keeping features lean and inline with your industry. One company means greater support and accountability. In many cases, especially for medium to enterprise-level businesses, total cost of ownership is less in the long run.

Cons: There is a higher initial investment, licensing fees, and you are tied to one company for customizations and updates. Switching vendors can be difficult and expensive.

Step 2 – Define your needs

As with any integration of new technology, defining your end goals will help drive the tactics and products to support it. Ask your team the following:

How large will the site be?
Is it one site or multiple sites?
How many users will be accessing the system?
Will you be integrating your website with any other online marketing applications or vendors?
Who will maintain the site?
Do you have internal resources, or will you need outside support?
Do you require database and code level control?
What other supporting products and services does the CMS vendor provide?

These types of questions are critical in determining the best solution.

Step 3 – Research

Look at what is core to your company’s online success and find vendors that support the mission. If an open source option fits, look at the community and ensure that the development path is inline with your company. If a proprietary system is deemed the best path, make sure the company has a solid history of continual CMS development. Also, remember to look at total cost of ownership. Your time equals money, so the less time spent managing vendors is more time you can spend growing the business.

Step 4 – Act

Choose a solution and stick with it, but at the same time be aware of what your exit strategy would be and how much it might cost.

At the end of the day, you’ll find that a proprietary CMS is a targeted solution that offers less risk, more accountability, and greater scalability where an open source system offers greater internal flexibility and an abundance of add-ons that are generally free at face value. The real question is whether you want to concentrate on the execution of the medium or on your business? The choice is up to you.