BOSTON / LONDON — 15 May, 2012 — An increasing trend toward commercialization of open source Web Content & Experience Management (WCXM) solutions is narrowing the gulf between open source and proprietary business models, according to an updated evaluation report released today by independent analyst firm, The Real Story Group (formerly CMS Watch).

RSG’s evaluations cite greater sophistication among open source WCXM vendors as they strive to turn their technologies into revenue-generating offerings through support subscriptions, add-on modules, and implementation fees.

“At the same time,” notes RSG Senior Analyst Irina Guseva, “we’re also seeing savvier customers recognize that open source alternatives are not in fact free, and typically require similar amounts of investment compared to what proprietary WCXM systems require.”

These findings come from Version 21 of Real Story Group's Web Content & Experience Management Evaluation Stream, which provides detailed, in-depth critical analyses of 35 major WCXM suppliers from around the globe.

The Real Story Group observed heightened levels of commercial activity among open source WCXM vendors:

• Acquia is becoming a major commercial arm for Drupal, providing greater advisory services amid a global vacuum of Drupal talent
• DotNetNuke is using venture funding to expand its partner channel, although the system’s suitability for enterprise deployments remains questionable eZ Systems has concluded several acquisitions, increased its pricing, and introduced new support options
• Hippo has gone on a hiring spree, although its penetration of the North American market remains slow
• WordPress, an increasingly popular publishing tool, garners ever-greater installs, opening up opportunities for commercial consultants and theme designers

Several open source WCXM platforms remain staunchly community based, mostly notably Joomla!, Plone, and Typo3.

"Organizations evaluating WCXM vendors should note key differences between commercial and community-based open source models," notes RSG Analyst Matt Mullen. "There are pros and cons to both approaches, but the growing commercialization of the segment overall certainly narrows the gap between open source and proprietary solutions.”