{"id":71,"date":"2009-01-31T15:36:06","date_gmt":"2009-01-31T15:36:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hr-softwareblog.com\/?p=71"},"modified":"2012-06-05T21:02:47","modified_gmt":"2012-06-05T21:02:47","slug":"source-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comparehris.com\/blog\/source-free\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Source \u201cFree\u201d HRIS Software"},"content":{"rendered":"

In December of 2008, I was emailed by a writer with HR Magazine and asked for my opinion on open source\u00a0HR software<\/a>. Truthfully, I didn\u2019t know much about the subject or the projects when I first received the email. I set up a meeting for the next week and then began doing some research.<\/p>\n

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The concept of \u201cOpen Source HRIS<\/span>\u00a0Software\u201d has been most successfully implemented with the Linux operating system. IT people were looking for something other than Microsoft and created the project and code. The way an open source application works is that the source code is free and available for modification. As programmers make modifications and additions to the code, others using the system receive the benefit. From a user\u2019s perspective, it\u2019s very attractive because it can be modified by the user; as opposed to a \u201cboxed\u201d system where the source code can\u2019t be modified.<\/p>\n

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The question is will the concept of \u201cOpen Source\u201d work in the HR software industry.<\/p>\n

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Linux was successful because there were needs not being met by Microsoft or anyone else. Many IT professionals tend to be almost defiant toward Microsoft. I am sure the search for anything but Microsoft fueled the motivation for the work that went into Linux. The elements that made Linux successful aren\u2019t factors in the\u00a0HR software industry<\/a>. There is an awful lot of extremely well written software packages designed to fill practically any need. There is no monopoly within the\u00a0HR Information Systems<\/a>\u00a0market. Customers have a large number of options. The sometimes defiant attitude that exists between IT and Microsoft does not exist within the HR profession toward any particular\u00a0HR software solution<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Pros of Open Source HR systems<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Yes, there is a market for an open source\u00a0HR solutions<\/a>\u00a0but, in my opinion, it is very small. The companies that might adopt an open source\u00a0HR product<\/a>\u00a0are going to be those who want to either create their own system or have the source code to modify a system to match their exact needs which can\u2019t be met by any other product on the market. Over the last fifteen years, I have encountered very few, if any, companies who would be in the market for an open source HR system.<\/p>\n

A very low cost\u00a0HRM Software<\/a>\u00a0will attract business.\u00a0\u00a0However, I am not sure how successful these companies will be with maintaining a system that requires greater work and IT involvement than do other systems.<\/p>\n

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Cons of Open Source HR Systems<\/strong><\/p>\n

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U.S. and Canadian HR departments tend, on the whole, to be understaffed. Are these personnel going to have the time necessary to self implement the system, maintain it, and deal with the constant upgrades that re required with an open source HR system?<\/p>\n

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Additional concerns:<\/p>\n