Arnaud Lef�vre

Slides of the JBoss/Nuxeo Event in London

As you may know, Eric and I were in London last week to lead our JBoss cohosted event about Open Source ECM. During these two hours, we shared our vision of ECM and how customers can rely on Open Source solutions to run supported applications that answers their business needs.

I'd like to warmly thank all of those who were there and shared this moment with us! Hope you had a great time guys !

For all of you that missed the conference or who want to play the slides again, here is the downloadable version of the presentation :

Open source ECM business breakfast was great !!!

The business breakfast we set up with Euriware las week was a great success !!! We were in a nice room opening on a fancy garden at the House of Latin America. We enjoyed presenting our open source ECM solutions and business offers. But I have to confess that we encountered a little problem... There were not enough chairs and a lot of interested customers :) Trust me I love this kind of problems!

Next month, I'll be in Bamako to talk about the interest of open source ECM in Africa and in Berlin to present Nuxeo and our business approach during the JBoss World.

Stay tuned!

How to transform an Open Source ECM project into a Success ?

Euriware and Nuxeo give you a good reason to wake up early in the morning ! We'll have the great pleasure to welcome you next thursday (10/19/2006) from 8 to 11 AM for an information breakfast, to share our experience about Open Source ECM projects and document management.

This meeting will give you the keys to transform your Open Source ECM project into a real success and to optimize the use of Open Source softwares.

I'll be pleased to present Nuxeo's document management products (including a live demonstration) and to discuss with you about the advantages of Open source ECM solutions.

And last but not least... As a cherry on top of the cake, Areva NC will be there to make a testimonial about their own success based on Nuxeo's solutions.

Be there and bring friends !

Nuxeo in Africa

My two last months were under the sign of Africa. I put my RYG Nuxeo’s T-shirt on and start to work. In two months I traveled to west and to east Africa. Two goals: launch Nuxeo Africa in west Africa, and improve relationships with our partners and customers in Madagascar. That means lot of hours spent in the sky and… lot of excitement about Open Source ECM advocacy and business development on Mother Earth.

Trip one - Nuxeo Africa inception in Dakar, Senegal

Nuxeo Africa is our latest subsidiary, its goals are simple : capitalize on our clients in west Africa and develop business in the subregion (Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, etc.). We already work in Senegal with great partners such as OpenSys and Genesys and we may count on the support of our customers like the Government Agency for IT development in Senegal and the Central Bank of West African States.

All the persons I’ve seen during my trip showed a great interest about Nuxeo and its ECM solutions, especially financial companies, banks, TelCo companies and government agencies. Many of them are currently in the process of validating open source ECM as their global ECM platform using Nuxeo’s offer. We give them an brand new sight on the software industry. Once again the focus on added value services (not on license fees) that we allow, is very appreciated.

All the lights are green, the market is there. All the prospects I’ve seen seamed to share the same enthusiasm. Especially at the end of the conference I gave about the interest of open source ECM solution in the african context and the strategy of Nuxeo Africa. Independence, cost reduction, ROI, needs adaptation… different continent, same leitmotiv, same solutions !

All I received in Dakar was interest, good vibes and a real motivation to go further. Trust me I can’t wait to go back there to launch our next project. And, if you wonder… yes, parties are hot around!

Trip two - Civil State deployment and local partnership empowerment in Antananarivo, Madagascar

In two years (I landed there for the first time 2 years ago) Madagascar changed a lot, of course there’re still old european cars (like Renault 4L or Citroen 2CV) used as cabs, zebus and rice based main dishes with exotic names like Romazava or Ravitoto. But… now there are WiFi hotspots almost everywhere in Tana (the short-name for Antananarivo, Madagascar capital) and broadband internet will be there in less than a year. I can not wait this moment, which means that we’ll be able to work more efficiently with our partners and clients.

Since two years we work in Tana with e-Sight, a malagasy IT company, to build the first open source civil state management application for the City of Antananarivo. This project, financed by the AIMF and lead by the City of Antananarivo, is a great step for the government: reliable civil state acts allow reliable ID card distribution, citizenship management, taxing, etc... And all together we turn this project into a success that we can be proud of.

Today, the City of Antananarivo runs Nuxeo �tat-Civil (since one year) in all of its districts and manages about 6000 civil acts a day. This application is a real success and provide a great experience to the citizens of Antananarivo: Faster delivery of acts Faster search of older acts No loss of data For the government, it means auditable act delivery process, no more fake acts hence less corruption.

Nuxeo ECM Platform is, maybe surprisingly, used there to manage critical data in a very high-availability environment. We have a multi-servers architecture, a PDF renderer engine, an audit engine and an AJAX forms framework. And for Civil State Officers… it simply works well! :-)

Another point of this project was about our ability to transfer technical competence to the local technical teams. After two training sessions, the team of e-Sight is now able to maintain the application and most important make it evolve. This case is the perfect illustration of the interest of using open source solution in Africa : get technical independence, high-level technical skills and low cost deployment.

But this is not the end and we have other opportunities in Madagascar. It’s still confidential but I hope being able to blog about that soon. So... stay tuned!

Africa from Paris

Here, at Nuxeo HQ we’re sure that Africa will become a major player in Open Source development. We feel to act like pioneers. I’m quite sure that in a few years, we’ll be very proud of what we participate to build today.

Want to make a smart move ? Choose open source ECM !

During the past five years, here at Nuxeo, we have built some of the largest e-government projects by providing great ECM solution for french ministries or governmental agencies. Today, CPS is the mainstream ECM Framework in the french administration. This success has naturaly lead lot of industrial companies to consider open source ECM as a suitable alternative. But they still have lot of questions about open source. The licencing model is one of those, but they also want to understand the business model that sustained Open source companies or Open source vendors such as Nuxeo. A big part of my job consists to explain how open source ECM solutions may benefit them. And most of the time, it works :)

When you’re talking with this kind of clients, you’re not talking to early adopters. They got internal processes, quality is the core of their businesses. They don’t have time to try, they want solutions that work and the most important they want solutions that can make them save money.

For them the choice of open source has to be a smart move in a cost oriented strategy motivated by ROI (I had to unleash the “R” word). These words may sound a little too marketingly correct, but believe me when it’s time to kick Documentum’s ass they are big part of the picture.

I’m not talking about revolution here but only how to optimize IT investment in ECM.

Services and only services !

What do we sell to our client ? We don’t sell the software and we don’t sell neither the right to use it. All of that is free. What we’re providing to our client is services to fulfill their needs. In our business model the software is only the very apropriate medium to provide these services.

What determines the cost of an open source project ? The cost is defined exclusively by your needs and how far they are from the framework you are using. Generaly, it’s based on three factors :

Framework adaptation
new component development
Integration in a global system

When you are using an easily extensible and mature framework, as CPS, the service cost is not very different from non open source vendor. But what I’m talking about here is services and only services... This is the only thing you have to pay for : productive work and nothing else (no payable usage right, no lincence cost, etc.).

When you are using a proprietary ECM solution you need to pay licences. The amount of these licences may double the cost of your project because it’s not directly based on what you need but on other criterias like the number of users accessing the application,, the number of servers running and sometimes even the number of processors you need to make it work.

The cost analisys of a project cannot be limited to the build phase, because after building it you’re supposed to use it. That’s what we call the run period, and that’s when open source application becomes an amazing source of benefits. You don’t have to pay anything to enjoy your application. Even the support services are an option. Your application may become a success and be adopted by lots of your employees to make them work faster and reuse their knowledge efficiently without extra cost.

What I'm saying here isn't about big maths, I’m sure I don’t need to get further... You already got me.

And what about subscription ?

Another alternative offered by open source ECM is that you can use out-of-the-box solutions.

At Nuxeo, we’re implementing several packaged applications like CPS Courrrier or CPS OpenSpace. Feel free to download them and of course to use them. I’m pretty sure you’re going to enjoy them. But that’s not the point of this post.

When you are using an application in an industrial context, you need to be sure that you’re going to get all the support and all the functionnal and technical help you need. I think that an open source vendor has to provide such professional services. So here at Nuxeo, we have already launched training and certification programs and we’re about to unleash our subscription program. I will talk about it as soon as it will be fully operational.

Subscription model provides lots of advantages for companies. It helps them manage the application, test it, upgrade it, resolve the problem they encounter by using it. But most of all, it gives them the insurance that their application will work the way they want to.

Like Eric B. and Rakim said before, you got to follow the leader. Top open source companies like Jboss and Redhat have adopted this business model, it simply works well and provides a great professional open source experience to their client.

And what about a conclusion ?

At Nuxeo we believe that realizing projects allows us to constantly innovate and create client oriented applications and not only secret labs powered ones. By acting on the field, we’re able to know what the market want and how to lead the software evolution. Projects and subscriptions are complementary activities and we have to provide both of them.

Why open source is a smart move for companies looking for professional ECM solution ? Because it’s cost oriented and only depends on your needs and now you can rely on open source software vendor like Nuxeo to get professional services. Moreover, it’s up to you to make the move you judge as the smartest one...

Open source redemption ?

Last day I was reading a post of Luis Sala from Alfresco and, I have to admit it, I was amazed how he turned to a better self since he met open source.

He seemed to me like vader quitting his mask and seeing the world with his own eyes : stop hiding things to his clients, have fun doing his job, stop selling licences, etc.

Is open source a miracle potion ? I really don’t think so. Nethertheless, working in the open source industry is really amazing. I agree with you on this point Luis. It’s a fantastic approach to satisfy our client’s needs and the best way to produce software. Sadly, open source can not make better personns of us. Personnaly, I prefer let that to psychotherapy.

Be fair and square, that’s how we roll at Nuxeo, since the beginning, and that’s how we build our success. I’m very happy to see that our vision is now shared by people that first laughed at us. Seems like Gandhi’s always right...

NWA : Nuxeo with attitude, bad boys of Open Source ECM

Just a few words to make an echo to Marc Fleury's last post. Definitly, we, at nuxeo, chose the red pill side of business not the cubical one. We're very proud of that. We think we can realize great things by being creative not by being a sheep.

What we're doing here is about defining a new business model and demonstrate that it is possible to be successful and innovative. We did it with CPS, the most powerfull open source ECM Platform and we're doing it again with Apog�e in a rich client approach.

We have a lot in common with Jboss Group in the way we see the open source market. I hope we'll have the occasion to meet and make business together, I think it'll be good for both of our companies.

It's more than a job, it's a way of life and we also have trashy pictures :)

PS: Marc, next time we're in NYC, we would be really delighted to spend a night with you

Inauguration du Portail R�gional des chambres des m�tiers du Nord et du Pas-de-Calais

Jeudi 2 f�vrier 2006, 15h30, le TGV nous (Florent Guillaume, Thierry Delprat et moi-m�me) emm�ne vers Lille. Une heure et quatre minutes plus tard, nous arrivons au Grand-Palais pour inaugurer l'un des plus importants projets que nous ayons r�alis� : le portail r�gional des chambres des m�tiers et de l'artisanat du Nord et du Pas-de-Calais. Il s'agit d'un portail collaboratif et applicatif, enti�rement bas� sur CPS, destin� � offrir des services � valeur ajout�e aux 34 000 des artisans de la r�gion.

Durant le speech d'inauguration, le pr�sident de la chambre des m�tiers a salu� l'int�r�t de l'outil pour les artisans et pr�sent� l'essentiel de ces fonctions :

Acc�s personnalis� pour chaque artisan (identifiant / mot de passe)
Acc�s au r�pertoire des m�tiers
Tableaux de bord personnalis�s
Webcarte (page de pr�sentation pour chaque artisan)
Agenda partag�
Webmail
Espaces collaboratifs
Zones d'�change avec la chambre des m�tiers
Gestion de la relation client pour la chambre des m�tiers
Formation ouverte � distance pour les apprentis
Gestion de l'apprentissage entre les artisans et les CFA

La mise en service du portail sera accompagn�e d'un plan d'envergure � destination des artisans afin que ces derniers puissent acc�der � du mat�riel informatique � prix pr�f�rentiel. L'objectif est de fournir une infrastructure suffisante afin que 5 000 artisans puissent utiliser les technologies de l'information en int�grant le portail dans leur quotidien professionnel dans les 18 prochains mois.

Le pr�fet de r�gion a �galement particip� � la manifestation et n'a pas manqu� de promouvoir l'usage de logiciels libres dans le cadre de ce projet �voquant notamment la possibilit� pour les autres chambres des m�tiers de r�utiliser la plate-forme si elles le d�sirent.

Ce projet repr�sente l'un des plus importants projets bas� sur la plateforme CPS et certainement l'un des plus ambitieux r�alis� en Open Source (les chambres des m�tiers y ont investi plus d'un million d'euros). Il a �t� r�alis� en collaboration avec Unilog et a permis de contribuer � CPS sous bien des aspects notamment au travers des probl�matiques d'annuaire, de mont� en charge et de services collaboratifs.

Nous tenons � remercier les chambres r�gionales du Nord et du Pas-de-Calais pour nous avoir fait confiance et pour avoir contribuer � faire de CPS ce qu'il est aujourd'hui et nous souhaitons que ce projet original et audacieux remporte le succ�s qu'il m�rite !!!

�diteur de logiciels libres : tiers de mutualisation

Ce post vient en r�action � un article paru dans le journal du net � propos des �diteurs de logiciels libres et des rapports qu'ils entretiennent avec les communaut�s et les acteurs �conomiques de l'informatique. Cet article est incomplet car il ne pr�sente pas les cas dans lesquels un �diteur de logiciel libre est � la t�te d'une communaut�. Il s'agit pourtant du mod�le suivi par Zope et par Nuxeo. Un �diteur de logiciel libre a plusieurs missions � sa charge :

Maintenir un logiciel et le distribuer,
D�finir et suivre une roadmap,
Animer une communaut�,
Assurer la liaison entre les communaut�s du logicel libre et les organisations �conomiques.

Pr�sent� de cette fa�on, il ne s'agit pas simplement d'un empaqueteur / diffuseur de logiciels libres existants mais bien d'un cr�ateur de logiciel leader d'une communaut�. L'exemple de Zope en la mati�re est frappant, Zope Corp est � la t�te des d�veloppements de la plateforme, et anime la communaut� des d�veloppeurs contributeurs. Il ne s'agit pas d'un exemple isol� puisque ce mod�le est suivi par IBM pour Eclipse, Sun pour OpenOffice.org et Nuxeo pour CPS.

Un autre aspect diff�renciant de l'�diteur de logiciel libre est son r�le de tiers de mutualisation. En effet, il assure que les projets men�s autour de la plateforme :

Convergent,
Respectent les r�gles de d�veloppement,
Ne d�veloppent pas deux fois le m�me module logiciel.

La mutualisation et la g�n�risation des modules r�alis�s dans le cadre de projet, de R&D ou par les membres de la communaut� repr�sentent le coeur de l'activit� d'un �diteur de logiciel libre. Cette d�marche permet de satisfaire les clients faisant appel � ses services en leur apportant des garanties suppl�mentaires :

Les modules d�velopp�s dans le cadre de projets puis g�n�ris�s profitent du support de la communaut�,
Les clients ne payent pas deux fois pour une m�me fonctionnalit�,
Les projets sont facilement maintenables car r�alis�s � partir d'un socle commun tendant vers la g�n�ricit�.

Cette approche innovante permet de cr�er des synergies de fait et participent � faire �voluer plus rapidement les technologies. En faisant appel � un �diteur de logiciels libres certains clients b�n�ficient des avanc�es des autres, ou financent des fonctionnalit�s compl�mentaires. Des organisations sans relation explicites participent au m�me effort de d�veloppement logiciel. Des SSII concurrentes peuvent b�n�ficer des d�veloppements r�alis�s dans le cadre de projets distincts pour acc�lerer leur processus de d�veloppement. Les b�n�fices du d�veloppement distribu� sont nombreux mais reposent sur l'action de l'�diteur de logiciel libre et de son interaction avec une communaut� repens�e au sens large compos�e de clients, de d�veloppeurs et �ventuellement de SSII.

Utilisation de logiciels libres dans le cadre de projets industriels : l'exemple de CPS

Voici les slides ( format OOo - format pdf) que j'ai pr�sent� lors des 2e journ�es tunisiennes du logiciel libre organis�es par l'ATU2L (association tunisienne des utilisateurs de logiciels libres).

Logiciels libres et d�veloppement durable

L'AIMF (association internationale des maires francophones) vient de mettre � jour son site web et nous pouvons constater avec plaisir que les logiciels libres y sont mis � l'honneur d�s la page d'accueil.

L'association annonce dans un article sa collaboration avec Nuxeo dans le cadre du projet de mise en oeuvre d'une infrastructure de gestion d'�tat civil � Madagascar enti�rement bas�e sur l'utilisation de logiciels libres sur les serveurs comme sur les postes de travail.

L'utilisation et le financement de projets bas�s sur l'utilisation de logiciels libres permet � l'AIMF de disposer de solutions adapt�es qui peuvent �tre facilement d�ploy�es sur diff�rents sites ou dans diff�rents pays. L'association peut d�s lors participer � la modernisation des �tats francophones en mettant � leur disposition des solutions performantes sans supporter de co�ts de licence. L'AIMF ne finance qu'une seule fois les logiciels qu'elle diffuse.

L'utilisation de logiciels libres peut ainsi devenir un formidable vecteur de d�veloppement informatique et �conomique pour les pays du sud. L'informatisation et la r�duction de la fracture num�rique se base sur de nouveaux principes :

Acquisition technologique durable
Faible co�t d'acquisition (investissement sur la comp�tence)
Facilit� de d�ploiement et de mutualisation des r�alisations logicielles
D�veloppement des comp�tences et des initiatives locales

La bataille de l'informatisation des pays du sud se situe aujourd'hui sur le terrain de la formation et de l'acquisition de savoir favoris�e par l'utilisation des logiciels libres. Nous pouvons esp�rer que ces derniers choisiront la voie de l'ind�pendance technologique et du d�veloppement de savoir faire � haute valeur ajout�e en utilisant des outils qu'ils sauront ma�triser et enrichir.