Open systems and the future of connected tech

How open systems are forging tomorrow's hyperconnected tech

As business owners or managers, while we understand what an open system is, do we really get what it does for us, today? And what about tomorrow? While the concept of “open” is easy to grasp, the future of open, has yet to be revealed.
We know that an open system, in the context of computing, is a system that combines portability and interoperability, and makes use of open software standards. Typically, it refers to a system that's interoperable between different vendors and standards. It's fundamentally modular, so that hardware and software need not be attached to a single vendor or platform. And modularity powers flexibility.
Fast forward to tomorrow's hyperconnected technology, and system openness takes on a whole new meaning. Not only will different components be able to be added, removed, updated or expanded, open systems are gearing up to turn tech on its head.
What does this mean for you – and your business, and why should you get onboard?

One is the loneliest number

Most likely, your organization depends on a myriad of tools, platforms, apps, and software to manage its business operations. But no single piece of software or single app can help your business achieve everything it needs without losing operational efficiency or revamping the platform.
Today's 'closed' proprietary systems are being put out to pasture, as they rely on software that's usually not compatible with other platforms, or worse, that company data isn't accessible outside of the system. “No single technology or provider can solve all challenges,” says Greg Wenzel, executive vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton. “Our global threat environment is constantly changing, where secure open architectures can help create more effective, agile and resilient systems, and get practical solutions into the field faster.”
Open systems can seamlessly connect with other external systems and apps, and share data without any constraints – because they're agile, as both the system itself, and its various components, are open. An open ERP system, for example, enables new levels of interoperability between core business processes, external data, IoT devices, and third-party apps. Driven by APIs, those powerful little connectors, enables fast integration to an infinite number of connected systems, software, and devices.

More power to the people

Not only do open systems drive innovation, they single-handedly enhance collaboration between organizations, and build partnerships between innovators across industry and academia. Faster integration of concepts, and emerging technologies. What could be better than this?
Open systems are the cornerstone of the global tech community, where stakeholders can share ideas, develop new technologies, decrease time to market, and fuel innovation – and competition. In turn, these open, community-driven technologies contribute, in epic proportions, with more flexible, agile, and secure systems, saving valuable time, resources, and costs.

What's in it for you?

1. Lower that TCO. Open systems can run on just about any architecture, without impacting your infrastructure that often leads to high maintenance costs. Today, close to 80% of any given company's IT budget is devoted to “keeping those lights on,” with big spends on system maintenance, instead of focusing on future developments. By lowering infrastructure TCO, you'll have more money and resources to spend on innovation – and focus on strategic business growth.
2. Flexibility in a flash. Open systems are just that – they're 'open' to change, with the ability to adapt to fundamentally more environments. This renders them more compatible with third-party software, apps, and platforms than old-school 'closed' proprietary systems.
3. Immediate innovation. Open technologies are collaborative, and collaboration leads to faster development, system expansion, and accelerated innovation. That's because open systems' building blocks are not proprietary – they live and breathe. Open platforms powered by open data sources generate faster analytics, allowing you (and your developers) to innovate smarter, quicker, and deploy all of those hyperconnected technologies, faster.

End Game: Keep your options “open”

One thing we know for certain, for tomorrow's open systems – the cloud reigns supreme. With cloud adoption reaching new heights, businesses are moving from investing in traditional servers, over to cloud-based systems, offering more adaptable, flexible, and affordable infrastructure.
When it comes time to choose, opt for open. Open systems will help you prevent vendor lock-in, so you won't have to rely on a single proprietary platform or data source, plus, it makes your migration to the cloud exceedingly easier, faster, and more efficient. On a final note, open systems don't just refer to the physical, they're also driven by the logical – with a greater understanding of how open systems and open data sources seamlessly connect and hyper-connect all things tech, today – and well into the future.