Tendering with Ubuntu

Why are companies still panic stricken about the use of Linux? When you ask the general public how they feel about Android, Chrome or Chromium, most individuals have few concerns. They tend to cite numerous reasons for choosing a preferred operating system; raving about its superior quality. However, if you ask them how they feel about Linux, it’s an entirely different story. A lot of users seem to think it’s complicated, hard to use, requires advanced technical knowledge, laden with compatibility issues and a bunch of other reasons.

Whilst a number of consumers are still scared by the word Linux, an increasing number of public and private organizations have woken up to the advantages an operating system like Ubuntu can bring. Rather than get preoccupied with the limitations of Linux, many enterprises are testing and embracing the OS, demystifying its limitations and giving access to their end users who, in turn, benefit from high performance and  robust solutions at a fraction of the cost of proprietary software.

Reputable and esteemed entities like the French National Police, the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the University of Delhi in India (top 5 in India*)  have all run tenders for Ubuntu Certified products. These tenders have served to endow millions of people with secure, virus free and stable IT environments. Moreover, these entities have managed to better balance their budgets and put the savings towards more needed social or student programmes.

In a world, where we seek differentiation, variety, quality and savings, it is hard to understand why a company would continue to invest millions of dollars for an OS. In proprietary models USD100  or more can be attributed to the OS alone. Hefty cost, when an organization could slice this cost by a third or more with alternative open source options.

Over the past three months alone, the Ministry of Interior in France, the government of Extremadura in Spain, the government of Odisha in India, National University of Defense and Technology in China, and Plan Ceibal ran by the Uruguayan government, have all issued tenders requesting Ubuntu and / or Ubuntu Certification. These are just a few examples of tenders which will translate into several hundred thousand more students and employees using an alternative OS. It is quite clear that their choice is being driven by superlative security, flexibility and cost savings that Ubuntu affords.

Canonical recognizes this growing demand and we are building more tools that will allow these entities to get devices pre-loaded by OEMs which are fully enabled and compatible with the hardware components. Ubuntu is increasingly attractive for more and more entities given that its virus free, has equal or fewer technical incidents than proprietary software and avoids partner lock-in. Furthermore, Canonical offers a number of services to the public entities that helps make the transition easier and faster.

So, if you are a public entity working with a constrained budget with the aim of improving your computer park, you may want to analyze implementing an alternate OS. There are a number of organisations that have been using Ubuntu for years and raving about it, and an increasing number of reputable enterprises that will adopt it in the very near future. You may have to consider that all the ‘evils’ that are cast upon Linux may, in fact, be unfounded.

For more information or to learn more about tendering with Ubuntu please contact tenders@canonical.com

*Source: Ranking 2015 http://www.4icu.org/in/