When it comes to open source development services, you would have complete control over the source code you receive. Accordingly, you can modify and tailor it to cater to your particular needs. On the other hand, the subscription-based model software-as-a-service or SaaS, is developed and supported by external vendors, where businesses can basically rent the solution, and not have to deal with developing or maintaining it.

Let’s delve into the various aspects that distinguish open source from SaaS ecommerce software, as this will help you make an informed decision on what you should choose.

Open Source Vs SaaS- Know The Differences

If a lay person observes an ecommerce site developed using SaaS platform or one built by means of open-source solutions, they may not notice any distinctions between the two. Nonetheless, under the hood you will find many major differences in how each of these platforms work and the way in which ecommerce sites are built on each of them.

Security

One of the main factors while running an ecommerce store is handling shopper data, for instance, payment details, addresses, buying habits, purchase history etc. You would need to make the security and safety of this data a priority or risk losing a considerable number of customers.

Using an ecommerce solution through open source development services would mean that the responsibility to adhere to PCI compliance would be on your shoulders. You would have to make sure your site’s security firewall is free of bugs and select reliable security software to defend your site from external threats.

When it comes to SaaS platforms, you can depend on the full support of your vendor to look after the PCI compliance and security of your ecommerce site.

Cost

On the surface, it may appear that open-source solutions are the more affordable choice. Nonetheless, higher control over your ecommerce site will mean more liability and funds.

Though open-source solutions are freely available to download, you would have to take into account the charges for development, customising, hosting, and making it compliant and secure. And if you run a small company on limited funds, the charges for open source development services can amount to a substantial amount.

Conversely, SaaS platforms usually work on the basis of a monthly or annual subscription. Like renting a house, you pay a fee for as long as you want to use the platform, and your SaaS provider takes care of all the ecommerce functionality, such as product updates, security, hosting and PCI compliance.

Personalisation

Perhaps one of the highly considerable distinctions between SaaS and open source is customising of your ecommerce store.

As you would be able to use the source code as you see fit, open-source solutions give you leeway for full customization, be it the checkout process, themes or product pages. As there won’t be any obstacles, you can fully alter the website to meet your business requirements and offer a distinct customer experience. On the flip side, open-source platforms tend to be highly elaborate, which means that only experienced software providers would be able to provide open source development services.

In terms of SaaS platforms, you will get restricted customization. Your third-party provider would be in control of the source code, you would not have as much liberty to tailor your ecommerce site as you would have using an open-source solution.

Installation

Fortunately, SaaS and open-source platforms call for straightforward installation, you wouldn’t need experts.

Open-source platforms can be installed without cost, yet in terms of arranging and handling your ecommerce store, there are quite a few other costs that would have to be borne. This is where open source development services can be leveraged.

Conversely, SaaS vendors typically give you a free trial where you would be able to check out the solution prior to purchasing the paid version. Also after your site is set up, there will not be any cause for concern that you’d have to begin from scratch, because the third-party vendor manages almost all the backend processes in your stead.

Support and Maintenance

Just like security, ongoing support and maintenance would fall squarely on the shoulders of the open-source platform user. As you have complete flexibility over the software, you would have to look after the administration and infrastructure of your software, together with all updates and upgrades required. In this way, in case there are any problems in your ecommerce environment, the responsibility will lie with you to detect and fix the issue. You can rely on open source development services for ongoing support and maintenance.

Nevertheless, if you are an ecommerce business head who doesn’t want to dedicate resources and energy to maintenance, SaaS solutions serve as a far smarter choice. In the same way as you would rent a property and depend on the property owner to arrange for repairs of a clogged drains or faulty electrical panel, renting a SaaS solution means that the maintenance tasks and support will be covered by your external vendor.

In the end, choosing SaaS or open source development services comes down to each business’s unique needs and priorities. Have you decided what would work best for your business?

Most Internet users, whether they realize it or not, use an enormous amount of free open source software. The Internet inventors built its fundamental functions as open source projects. Those of us using it today have come into the rewards of their labors. It’s no wonder that open source technology service providers are in such high demand.

Superior software quality

As opposed to proprietary software, open source code tends to be of a superior quality. It stands to reason that software created in collaboration between thousands of developers across the world will be of much higher quality than that created by a team of developers. These developers bring with them experience and expertise in diverse industries, technologies and projects. What’s more, bugs get weeded out swiftly. This is because the code is continually being assessed by scores of developers.

Suppose that just a single developer has written code for open source, for the most part that code will be of a superior quality. This is because when writing code that merely you can your team can access, you wouldn’t focus too much on code style. Nonetheless, when writing code that can be accessed by anyone on the Internet, developers will tend to put as much effort as possible to prove themselves among their peers. This is why peer-reviews, collaborations and refactoring from the community play a significant role in open source technology.

Advanced data security

Many businesses rely on open source technology service providers because of the security of the product developed. The open source community is extremely helpful in isolating and alerting software owners to any and all security flaws. These get fixed promptly by the owners.  

Additionally, with open sourced products you will not find improper use of users’ data. With an ever-present open source community, any data misuse would quickly be identified. No owner would want to risk the reputation of their software in this manner.

Customization

Creating open source software is often equivalent to building highly customizable software. Equipped with open source code a developer would effortlessly be able to modify and alter the functionality of the interface to suit their needs.

For instance WordPress is a free and open-source content management system that allows you to create a customized app, website or blog. React Native is a popular open source framework for swiftly building native apps. Another example is Apache CloudStack is open source software that seamlessly serves to build cloud software.

Businesses will continue to break away from the concept that all software needs to be proprietary and will instead look for robust, cost-efficient solutions from open source technology service providers. Powered by open source technology businesses will be equipped with the building blocks that can ultimately result in new products and services.

Despite knowing the functionalities of open source software, if you are not convinced yet to get the service for your business, we are here to turn your attention to its benefits over proprietary options.

Flexibility

Flexibility and agility are two fundamental keys to an IT business. With the help of a reputed open source software development firm, you can experience technology agility. This will create different gateways for solving development problems.

A Better Pace

In this competitive digital era, speed is the key to win the race. The advantage of an open-source software development service is that it incorporates the speed and ability to gain community support, new products being released quickly.

Economic Option

If you make up your mind to get a proprietary solution, you may have to deal with high costs. On the other hand, open-source solutions are cost-effective and you have the option to start and scale the small initiatives. If a business is on a tight budget, an open-source software development service would be the way to go as it wouldn’t burn a hole in your pocket.

Information Security

As it makes the program accessible to the public, many misunderstand it as having weak information security. In fact with efficient open-source development, your information is completely secure. If a problem arises, there is always a solution for it.

Maintenance Cost Sharing

Community involvement is one of the biggest advantages of open-source software. Any issues faced can be solved by sharing the maintenance cost among multiple parties. It is easier than writing an application and sustaining it single-handedly.

Numerous companies claim to provide the best open-source software development service for your enterprise, but you have to choose the most suitable one based on your requirement. Ivan Infotech is one of the leading software development firms in the industry that have served globe-wide clients successfully and met their expectations. Our experienced team will understand your needs and process the work accordingly. Trust our expertise and let us do the job we know best.