CeBIT Open Source Project Lounge -- ]project-open[

In a nutshell - how would you describe your project in a few words?

]project-open[ is enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for service providers that support more than 60 business processes in the areas of project management, IT service management, financial manage and knowledge management. The application of ]po[ ensures more transparency and planning security in the enterprise and allows location-independent access to current information across all hierarchical levels.

When did the project begin?

]project-open[ was founded in 2003 by Frank Bergmann in Barcelona, Spain.

How many active members does the project have?

The ]po[ community consists of about 10 independent developers and more than 50 partners that deliver services for the product. The Web framework community has around 13,000 members, among them numerous universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Heidelberg.

How did the project come about?

Out of a need to find a low-cost IT solution for a friendly local company, together with a vision to develop software that gives users more freedom, independence and leeway.

What would make a CeBIT visitor interested in your booth?

To be convinced that ]po[ is more than just a low-cost alternative to proprietary software. The strong integration of the end-user application and the continual feedback from the community ensures innovation and software quality of the product.

Who do you make your software for?

For all who could profit from its functionality. For startups, ]po[ is a low-cost alternative that can easily grow with the enterprise. It convinces mid-sized companies with its modular structure that allows delivery of phased and heterogeneous software in a compact, inclusive solution that with its open architecture is easily integrated into the IT landscape. Larger service providers are starting to discover more and more the strategic advantages of the open source code and how to profit from the scalability and robustness of the solution.

Where do you see your biggest current challenge?

In a market that is dominated by the potent sales force of established providers, to continually gain the attention of customers with our innovative and creative methods.

If you were to hire a full-time project developer now, what problem should he or she be ready to solve?

As with all open source projects, the support for continual improvement of the user experience is desired.

Under which license is the software currently offered?

The core module is licensed under GPL 2.0. Application-specific modules are under a GPL-like ]po[ license.

Internet address: http://www.project-open.com