Widely adopted by French companies and administrations, open source is perceived as a major asset to meet the challenges of technological independence and ecological transition.

Systematic Paris-Region, CNLL, and Numeum commissioned the firm Markess by Exaegis to conduct a benchmark study on the use of open source within French companies and administrations, the Open Source Monitor France 2023. Based on an online quantitative survey conducted in the 2nd and 3rd quarters among 608 organizations with more than 20 employees, this study adopted the methodology of the Open Source Monitor, conducted in 2019, 2021, and 2023, in Germany by Bitkom, the federal digital and telecoms union, to enable comparisons at the European level and by sector of activity.

An undeniable openness to open source

Nearly two-thirds of private and public organizations say they are open, or very open, to free software.

More than 8 out of 10 companies use open source technologies, and 9 out of 10 organizations in the public sector.

More than a third of companies and administrations adapt the source code for internal use.

Recognized benefits…

The good reputation of open source and its impact on employer branding represent a major asset, especially for administrations,

The security and stability of open source technologies are also cited as major advantages,

With the limited cost remaining an important benefit. 

…and barriers to use

Organizations report being held back by the high need for training and the lack of specialists.

Both the public and private sectors have doubts about the stability of solutions and regret the lack of certifications.

An asset for major digital challenges

9 out of 10 public and private organizations see free software as a major asset for the digital sovereignty of France and Europe.

According to 80% of companies and 90% of administrations, open source plays a role as an accelerator or facilitator for the energy and ecological transition, especially in the IT & Telecoms and Automotive Industry sectors.

“This study, with a panel of over 600 organizations, confirms the current and future importance of the use of Open Source especially in the construction of systems or solutions. It also reveals that at the application level for users, the benefits, offers, and modes of collaboration expected are quite distinct from those for tools and components which are made by and for technicians. While awaiting this distinction to be assimilated, the transparency and openness of Open Source already promise a bright future and directly echo the growing consideration of sovereignty issues. “

Pierre Baudracco, President of the Open Source Hub at Systematic Paris-Region

Choices of solutions guided by functionality

The functionality of the solution, the open source license, and security indicators are the top three criteria for choosing open source solutions.

The possibility of integration with other open source solutions used and the reputation of the community linked to the solution are also important factors.

The key role of partners

Nearly 80% of organizations use a digital services company for the development, integration, or outsourcing of open source solutions in both the private and public sectors.

On average, 1 out of 5 organizations turns to open source solution publishers for its projects.

Notably, the role of “foundations” and consulting firms in support.

Broad participation in the development of open source

More than half of public and private organizations have employees participating in community projects.

Half of the companies and a third of the administrations are involved in open source through their purchases of support services or subscriptions from open source publishers.

Overall, 75% of companies and 87% of administrations participate in one way or another in the development of open source.

Emerging governance practices

A third of companies and nearly half of administrations have set a cross-cutting strategy for the use of open source.

In total, 7 out of 10 organizations, public or private, have established an open source policy.

In the Administration, one in five organizations has established an Open Source Program Office (OSPO), compared to less than one in ten companies.

The Open Source Monitor France 2023 was presented on December 6 at the Open Source Experience 2023 at the Palais des Congrès in Paris.

It benefited from the support and valuable insights of its partners: Alliance Libre, Bluemind, Cigref, Dinum, Docaposte, Eclipse Foundation, OVHcloud, PLOSS-RA, Red Hat, Smile, SoLibre, TOSIT, Worteks.

systematic-paris-region.org

Open Source Monitor France – Rapport 2023