Majority of companies in Galicia use open source

Study shows that government promotion helps to overcome barriers

The majority of companies in Galicia, one of Spain’s autonomous regions, uses free and open source software solutions, reports Osimga, the region’s observatory for information society and modernisation. To overcome the remaining barriers, the agency recommends that the government continue to promote the use of this type of software - combining workshops, trainings and advice. The government should also increase its own use of these solutions.

 

Just over half (52%) of small and medium-sized companies and 85% of larger firms use free software, the Observatorio da Sociedade da Información e a Modernización de Galicia reports on 19 May.  The most-used free software solutions include web browsers and office tools, followed by operating systems, email software, and solutions for enterprise resource management and customer relations.

The most-cited reasons for using free and open source are lower costs (80%) and vendor-independence (46%).

Good references

The actions developed by Amtega (the agency for technological modernisation) are aligned to the needs of companies, and are having effect, Osimga writes. However, small and medium-sized companies in particular are worried about switching to free software alternatives, the organisation writes. “There is a lack of available reference examples”, the agency says.

Osimga recommends that Amtega and Agasol, the region’s trade group for ICT firms specialised in free and open source, continue to promote the use of this type of software. The two should also keep working with academic computer science organisations and relevant business networks.

 

More information:

Press release (in Spanish)