Closed vs. open platform: The call of the open road
(This article was originally posted to Gravity Software's Grow Your Business Blog)
One of the most overlooked criteria when shopping for business software is how it’s written — on an open platform or closed platform.
Oddly enough, many users fail to check that box and still look only for basic functionality before choosing an app — a mistake that can quickly become problematic when growing companies find themselves stifled by closed systems.
WHAT DOES THE TERM “OPEN PLATFORM” MEAN?
In general, open platforms are built with an open and documented API and tools that allow you to personalize the system. As such, they’re designed to be available for a wider spectrum of uses. They enable more flexibility, more creativity and easier integration, without calling for a (sometimes expensive) developer to step in and try to increase the functionality of their systems.
Further, because open systems are so much less proprietary, users often find it's easy to find advice and instruction when it comes to changes and additions.
“Sometimes it seems as if as soon as you make the effort to implement a new technology, it’s outdated six months after installation,” notes Michael Lukich on Salesforce.com. “Open platforms offer much more flexibility to these changes and make your experience (somewhat more) future-resistant. Upgrades are much easier and allow you to keep as up-to-date as you like … and open platforms give end-users the capability to engage with an established community of users, vendors and partners.”
CHALLENGES OF CLOSED PLATFORMS
Conversely, closed platforms can only be altered with the help of a developer with proprietary tools, and even then the options for alterations tend to be very limited. That can be challenging from a cost and convenience standpoint.
In addition to paying license and maintenance fees, companies using closed systems must employ developers to take care of support functions and updates, and new features often can’t be added without the purchase of more advanced software versions. That leaves the user largely at the mercy of the maker of the platform, which may end production of further iterations at any time.