Some of you have been asking about Efurbishment Ltd, and the rationale behind my venture into the world of IT consultancy. Here goes.
It is an exciting time for any of us doing business on the Internet. Business is conducted quickly and globally. We communicate using email. We investigate using Google. It doesn't cost us a thing. Now, many of us are also using free business software from the Internet, often in preference to purchased solutions such as Microsoft Windows or Microsoft Office. Even Government organisations, motivated by both cost and political factors, are experimenting with free software to avoid locking themselves into solutions delivered by a single corporation. With free software we can run our computers, write our letters, and even build business applications for our customers. In many cases these free solutions are more secure and more flexible than solutions purchased off-the-shelf. You may have heard these free solutions being described as "open source".
Open source software is free to use, that is, at no monetary cost. Moreover, anyone can view, modify or redistribute the source code that was used to build the software in the first place. A legal licence protects its free status. Open source software is developed by open, committed Internet communities, often sponsored by commercial or professional organisations. Many open source projects are worked on by hundreds of developers, including me, all freely donating their time in the pursuit of better software.
So how can open source software help those of us who are running a business? The obvious advantage is that it doesn't cost anything. But there is more. Imagine your consultant has supplied you with a traditional "closed source" solution. What happens if you experience bugs, or you need further customisation work done? You must go back to your original supplier. This will cost you money. What happens if your supplier goes out of business? You are on your own. Your solution is no longer supported, and you may not even be able to retrieve your important business data from it. Open source software mitigates these risks. If you have the source code then you are in control. A consultant supplying you with an open source solution will be able to supply you the source code too. Possessing the source code is like possessing the negatives to your wedding photos. You may not be a photographer yourself, but if you have the negatives, and need reprints, you can always find another, perhaps cheaper photographer to do it for you. Open source may not suit everyone, but it does suit those of us who want to be in control of our IT investment. If this sounds like you, then Efurbishment is here to help.
Efurbishment is a consultancy. Efurbishment has the knowledge, experience and expertise to consult with you, make recommendations, and then assist you with implementing the software solutions your business needs. Efurbishment is different because its solutions are based on open source software. By reducing the cost of the software, Efurbishment gives you more value-added support and advice for your money. By supplying the source code, Efurbishment gives you control of your solution.
 | "To provide high-quality and ongoing consultancy services to clients that want to solve their business problems with Internet technologies and open source thinking." |
