[ubuntu-uk] Ubuntu for small business

[Jim Price]

On 27/07/10 21:40, Philip Stubbs wrote:
> On 27 July 2010 18:42, Jim Price<d1version at hotmail.com>  wrote:
>> I've been reading the list for a few weeks (and posted once to get gmane
>> set up and tested) in preparation for an upcoming job. I have a contact
>> who is keen on using open source wherever possible in a new startup
>> company, so I am looking for any kind of resources which might help in
>> such a situation. I've been using open source software for years, but
>> only in large corporations in fairly narrow applications.
>>
>> I couldn't make the Ubuntu in Business meeting a couple of weeks ago,
>> but is there a writeup of what happened there? Are there any other good
>> starting points to get an overview of what Ubuntu can offer the small
>> (but hopefully fast growing) business?
>
> If you need to get up and running quickly, and resources are tight,
> have you thought about using Google Apps for your domain? Register a
> domain name, set up google apps with that domain name, and you
> instantly have 100 email accounts all for the cost of the domain
> registration. Client machines can be anything with web access and a
> browser. Instantly have ability to work away from the office. Later,
> as time and resources allow, you could either upgrade to the paid for
> version, or migrate away to running your own servers, as required.

That does make it sound very tempting. The situation I don't want to get 
into though is to hit the limit of the free access and find I'm faced 
with a huge project if I want to migrate to something else. Also, it 
doesn't quite tick the "can we do this entirely with open source 
software" box.

> I would be interested in what you find in the way of ERP. There is
> half an idea floating around inside my head that concerning that.

I think I have a fair amount of time for that, as it isn't something 
which needs to be there until the company gets a lot bigger. Having said 
that, I need to make sure I don't get into any holes which are difficult 
to get out of later on.

-- 
JimP