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Challenges_in_implementing_free_software_in_small_.pdf

Bulletin of Electrical Engineering and Informatics


Vol
.
 
1
3
, No
.
 
1
,
 
February
 
20
2
4
, pp
.
 
586
~
597


ISSN:
 
2302
-
9285
,
 
DOI:
 
10
.
11591/eei
.
v
1
3
i
1
.
6710
 

 
586


Journal homepage
:
 
http://beei
.
org


Challenges in implementing free software in small and medium
-


sized enterprises in the city of Montería: a case study


Rubén Baena
-
Navarro
1,2
, Juan Vergara
-
Villadiego
2
, Yu
lieth Carriazo
-
Regino
1,2
,
 
Richard Crawford
-


Vidal
1
,
 
Francisco
 
Ba
rreiro
-
Pinto
1


1
Department of Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Colombia


2
Systems Engineering Program, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Montería, Colombia


Article Info
 
ABSTRACT


Article history:


Received
 
May 12
,
 
2023


Revised
 
Aug 2
,
 
2023


Accepted
 
Aug 4
,
 
2023


This study investigates challenges and opportunities in adopting
 
free and


open
-
source
 
software
 
(FOSS)
 
in
 
small
 
and
 
medium
-
sized
 
enterprises


(SMEs) in Monteria, Colombia
.
 
The research reveals that around 77
.
5% of


SMEs prefer free software, yet surprisingly, 80% are unaware of the benefits


of open
-
source licenses, with nearly 45% not adopting them due to la
ck of


knowledge
.
 
Implementing
 
FOSS
 
in
 
SMEs
 
offers
 
legal
 
and
 
economic


advantages, including reduced software acquisition costs, compliance with


data protection and privacy regulations, and fostering innovation
.
 
However,


adoption
 
barriers
 
persist,
 
necessitat
ing
 
further
 
research
 
for
 
enhancing


implementation
 
in
 
Colombian
 
SMEs
.
 
Notably,
 
Colombia's
 
ethical


framework for AI serves as a guide for ethical AI and
 
open
-
source software


deployment,
 
aligned
 
with
 
sustainable
 
development
 
goals
.
 
This
 
study


highlights free s
oftware usage prevalence in Monteria's SMEs and critical


factors
 
hindering
 
full
 
adoption
.
 
Addressing
 
challenges
 
and
 
leveraging


potential
 
benefits
 
can
 
improve
 
efficiency,
 
regulatory
 
compliance,
 
and


contribute to sustainable development
.
 
Continued research i
n this field can


promote broader and
 
stronger implementation of
 
FOSS
 
in
 
Colombian


SMEs
.


Keyword
s
:


Free software


Implementation strategies


Information and


communication technologies


Intellectual property


Small and medium
-
sized


enterprises


This is an open access article under the
 
CC BY
-
SA
 
license
.


Corresponding Author:


Rubén Baena
-
Navarro


Department of Systems Engineering, Universidad de Córdoba


Montería
 
230002
, Colombia


Email:
 
rbaena@correo
.
unicordoba
.
edu
.
co


1.
 
INTRODUCTION


In recent years, the information and communication technology (ICT) sector has experienced


significant growth in the use of
 
f
ree and open
-
source software
 
(
FOSS
)
 
[1]
.
 
This type of software is


particularly attractive to small and medium
-
sized enterprises (SMEs) due to its freedom of use, duplication,


modification, and distribution
 
[2]
.
 
Its affordability
 
and ability to adapt to the specific needs of each


organization have driven an increase in its use globally
 
[3]
.
 
In Colombia, SMEs represent 98% of the


country's businesse
s and generate 80% of employment
 
[4]
.
 
ICT can be an essential tool to improve the


efficiency and productivity of these businesses; however, the cost associated with the acquisition and


maintenance of commercial software can represent a barrier for many of them
 
[5]
.
 
In this conte
xt, free


software emerges as a viable solution
.


The use of free software offers numerous legal benefits to SMEs
 
[3], [6]
.
 
Firstly, it can minimize the


risk of copyright and intellectual property violatio
ns, as it is usually distributed under licenses that allow the


modification, distribution, and free use of the software
 
[2]
.
 
Additionally, it can help SMEs comply with data