I have the code, now what?
Open-source software often comes with the promise of “free to use.” For machine manufacturers, this sounds like a perfect opportunity — why not embed an open-source CMMS or OEE platform into your machines and offer more value to your customers?
The reality: open source gives you the code, but not the integration, customization, or long-term support. Without the right people on your team, you’ll quickly discover that “free” can get very expensive.
The Challenge
Machine builders excel at mechanical and electrical engineering. But software is a different game:
- Customers expect dashboards, alerts, analytics, and uptime reports.
- Machines need to connect with PLCs, OPC UA, and databases.
- Data has to be visualized in a way that non-technical operators can use.
That requires software developers and integration engineers. If you don’t already employ them, you’ll need to hire — and that’s where the real cost appears.
Check how a typical project works
The Cost Breakdown
Here’s what it actually costs to staff up and deliver customer-ready open-source software.
| Option | What it Includes | Typical Cost (EU/Germany) | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-house hires | 1 software developer + 1 integration/automation engineer | €120k–€170k/year (plus overhead) | Full control, long-term capacity, internal know-how | High upfront cost, slow to build, ongoing salaries |
| Freelancers | Contract developers & integrators on demand | €50–€100/hour → ~€3k–€6k/month for limited scope | Flexible, no long-term commitment, access to specialists | Harder to coordinate, variable quality, hourly costs add up |
| Outsourcing/partnership | Specialized company delivers customization, integration, and support | €20k–€50k per project | Predictable project cost, ready expertise, faster time-to-market | Less internal know-how, dependence on partner |
The Strategic Choice
The key question for machine builders is not “should I use open-source software?” but rather:
👉 “Do I want to build a software company inside my machine company?”
For most, the answer is no. Open source lowers the entry barrier, but it doesn’t eliminate the need for expertise. Customers expect a polished, integrated solution — not raw source code.
Conclusion
Open-source CMMS and OEE platforms are powerful tools, but they’re not turnkey. The code might be free, but the integration, customization, and support are not.
For machine builders, the smart path is usually not to hire a full software department, but to partner with specialists who already understand both the manufacturing world and the software stack.
That way, you deliver immediate value to your customers — without six-figure overhead
Learn about our offerings
If you’re exploring open-source OEE or CMMS for your machines and want to deliver customer-ready solutions without building a full software team, let’s talk. We help machine manufacturers integrate, customize, and support these systems — so you can focus on what you do best: building great machines..