Open source suppliers offer SaaS challenge

Open-source software suppliers are gearing up their Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings with last week seeing announcements from four key players. SugarCRM has signed a deal with data integration specialist Talend and OpSource has signed up on-demand integration provider Boomi.

Both deals aim to simplify the integration of applications in a SaaS environment and encourage use of their respective on-demand platforms. If successful the moves could also challenge salesforce.com's AppExchange strategy to open up its platform to broader SaaS applications.

The Talend/SugarCRM deal brings Talend's Open Studio integration software into the SugarCRM fold, opening the door to integrating its open-source customer relationship management (CRM) application with business intelligence and data warehouse applications. Talend Open Studio is available as a free download, while its Integration Suite and Talend On Demand services are available on subscription.

The deal realises part of SugarCRM's ambition, announced earlier this year, to build relationships with developers and chip away at salesforce.com's fast-growing AppExchange programme.

The deal between OpSource and Boomi is potentially more far-reaching in that it aims to provide full integration between applications in a SaaS environment rather than only data integration. OpSource's web-based, platform claims to offer full support for on-demand applications based on a unit-pricing model.

The Boomi on-demand integration service works through what it refers to as a 'lightweight, dynamic run-time engine called an Atom'. The company says: 'Boomi Atoms contain all the components required to execute an integration process from end-to-end and can be used for SaaS-to-SaaS integration or downloaded behind the firewall for on-premise integration.'®