No other comment makes clear the unexpected quantum leap of open source systems than this one. It originates from the debate recently kicked off by Stephan Schambach (“The Open Source eCommerce Alternative?”).
The more professional open source commerce systems become, the more they will go head-to-head against the traditional software houses.
Recently Stephan Schambach toned down his sweeping criticism of open source (“Open Source eCommerce Part II”) and even Ulrike Müller, “Chief Software Architect” at Demandware, was animated enough to write an impassioned plea (“The Benefits of ‘Open’ for the Software Industry”).
A SaaS (“Software as a Service”) provider such as Demandware is nowadays feeling pressure from two fronts: open source ecommerce solutions leverage the cost argument, and developments in cloud computing leverage the hosting argument. Appropriately Demandware is trying to mark its territory as the worry-free package for merchants without in-house technology competence.
Roy Rubin from Magento has already presented his counter arguments (“eCommerce Merchants Demand More”) in the Magento blog.
Originally posted in German by Jochen Krisch, adapted for excitingcommerce.com by Jason Soo.
