CS373 - Open Source Software Scenario 2

Scenario 2: SaaS Productivity Tool

Potential Benefits of Open Source:

• Trust and adoption: Customers could audit the code for privacy/security, which might appeal to government and enterprise clients.
• Community innovation: Open-source contributors could add niche integrations (e.g., linking to lab equipment scheduling, custom APIs).
• Marketing: Being “open source” could be a differentiator in a crowded market.

Potential Risks/Challenges:

• Revenue erosion: Competitors could host the same software for free or a lower fee.
• Differentiation loss: If the code is open, the startup must compete on support, branding, and hosting convenience rather than unique features.
• Support overhead: Users might expect free support for bugs, increasing costs.