Originally created to counter the rising costs of closed solutions, open source software has evolved into a fundamental pillar of tech innovation, and today is utilised by every type of organisation, from small start-ups to billion-dollar conglomerates. By democratising publishing, the open source approach has also enabled WordPress to become the world’s most widely used CMS, and thanks to a number of unique advantages, it’s now a leading choice for enterprises.
Flexibility
The adaptability of open source software enables enterprises to tailor solutions to fit specific business needs and use cases, streamlining existing workflows rather than adjusting them for the sake of software. As well as giving you the freedom to build custom features and templates, with an open source CMS you can also easily integrate with your preferred systems – covering anything from AI tools to marketing tech – empowering you to leverage best of breed systems instead of settling for best in suite.
Utilising an open source CMS also helps you to avoid vendor lock-in, allowing you to move from one agency to another without facing the high risks and costs associated with deplatforming.
Security
According to Red Hat’s 2022 State of Open Source report, 89% of IT leaders believe enterprise open source software provides the same or a higher level of security as proprietary software.
The number of security-conscious organisations that rely on WordPress – which now includes the White House, the UK’s civil service, and NASA – is also testament to its robustness.
Agility
For brands competing within a digital space, the timely rollout of new features – especially where there’s high user demand – can be critical. Unfortunately with a licensed product, you have to work to the timescale of your vendor, however with an open source CMS you can deliver new capabilities at the right pace for your business.
As the most widely used CMS platform, the sheer number of experienced WordPress developers across the globe can also make it much easier to secure resources for even the largest projects, resulting in a faster time to market. In 2022 alone, 1399 engineers in over 50 countries contributed to WordPress core releases, with the wider development community currently exceeding 100,000 people.
Cost efficiency
While projects built on an open source solution such as WordPress aren’t necessarily cheaper, they often deliver much greater value to enterprises as you’re paying for development time rather than licensing fees.
Additionally, a custom build on WordPress will provide the functionality you need, whereas with a licensed CMS you can be paying higher fees for a larger feature set that you’re unlikely to fully use.
Ownership
Along with full codebase access, open source gives enterprises ownership of their own IP and digital products. Importantly, with a WordPress CMS you’re also in control of your own development roadmap, giving you the power to plan, design and deliver new and improved functionality in line with your evolving requirements and growth strategies.
For a closer look at how open source software transforms digital publishing for large-scale organisations, click here to download a free copy of our latest guide – WordPress for enterprise.
