LinuxWorld has a good (and flattering :-) post on Alfresco and the rise of open source Enterprise Content Management that is faster, more usable, and a heck of a lot cheaper than traditional proprietary ECM. But ease of use should not be underestimated as a key driver in Alfresco's, and other open source applications', growth. Who cares about technology that no one knows how to use? Terry Barbounis, CTO at the C LinuxWorld has a good (and flattering 🙂 post on Alfresco and the rise of open source Enterprise Content Management that is faster, more usable, and a heck of a lot cheaper than traditional proprietary ECM. But ease of use should not be underestimated as a key driver in Alfresco’s, and other open source applications’, growth. Who cares about technology that no one knows how to use?Terry Barbounis, CTO at the Christian Science Monitor, answers: Content management technology, in general, has been something to be desired for sometime now, Barbounis says. “Systems are just not easy enough to use and as a consequence customers either don’t use them or get little value from what they do,” he says. “ECM when properly leveraged can stretch the value of an asset to its full potential.” Barbounis adds that ECM mitigates the risk and legal implications of misuse. “The key to an ECM platform’s success is not only that it works well from technical perspective, but that it’s easy for the users to learn, use and embrace.”When I look at the success of MySQL, SugarCRM, JasperSoft, Pentaho, OpenBravo, etc., I see systems that take the complexity out of IT. When the incumbent proprietary vendors deride these systems as “lightweight,” they may actually be offering them the highest compliment. Customers certainly seem to think so. Alfresco lists customers on its website that include H&R Block, Electronic Arts, McGraw-Hill, European Commission (think: European Union), MIT, Shimano, Davis Polk Wardwell LLP, KLM Airlines, Boise Cascade, American Stock Exchange, State of Nebraska, State of Louisiana, Japan Airlines, and others (as well as 240 or so that aren’t listed, including three of world’s largest financial services companies). Apparently, open source applications work just fine for large (and small) enterprises.Truth in advertising: I work for Alfresco. I am glad I don’t work for the proprietary competition. That would be depressing. And futile. 🙂 Open Source