TL;DR
Three companies, three sizes, one common point: free software helped them gain efficiency and autonomy.
- Micro‑business – StepEarly (furniture e‑commerce) replaced Excel and isolated tools with the open‑source ERP ERPNext → better order traceability, automated customer follow‑up, fewer errors. Result: growth accelerated and improved customer satisfaction.
- SME – Van Dyk Trucks (truck repair) centralised CRM, inventory and invoicing with ERPNext → less manual data entry, real‑time coordination between workshop, parts and accounting, improved follow‑up. Result: optimised scheduling and time saved for technicians.
- Large enterprise – Walmart (retail) built a private cloud based on OpenStack and Kubernetes to avoid dependence on public providers. Result: millions of dollars saved, deployments 1,700× faster, and greater control over data and infrastructure.
Commonalities: cost reduction, data integration, service improvement, technological independence.
Differences: Scale and resources mobilised (quick implementation for a micro‑business, massive infrastructure for a large enterprise), specific objectives (structuring the base vs optimising at scale), type of free software used.
Introduction
Free and open‑source software (FOSS) is no longer the preserve of eclectic IT enthusiasts: from very small companies to multinational giants, more and more businesses are adopting it to accelerate their digital transformation and regain control over their technology.
Case #1: StepEarly – A micro‑enterprise optimising online furniture sales (TPE)
Company profile: StepEarly is a very small business founded in 2020, specialising in online office furniture sales. It''s a young e‑commerce startup.
Free software adopted: To manage its operations, StepEarly chose the open‑source integrated management software ERPNext, including CRM and inventory modules.
Reasons for choosing FOSS: From its first year of activity, StepEarly was faced with the limitations of its initial tools (like the Tally accounting software). Several bottlenecks prevented scaling: manual processes, data scattered across spreadsheets, and poor customer follow‑up.
Results and benefits observed: Adopting ERPNext transformed its operations in just six weeks. Thanks to a customised implementation, every sales order is tracked end‑to‑end, customer follow‑up is automated, and errors have been drastically reduced.
Challenges encountered and solutions: For such a small structure, the main challenge was implementing a full ERP without disrupting activity. StepEarly called on a specialist integrator to configure the system, migrate data and train the team. The initial investment paid off quickly.
Case #2: Van Dyk Trucks – An SME service provider unifying its processes (SME)
Company profile: Van Dyk Trucks is a North American SME specialising in the repair and maintenance of heavy trucks (fleet of vehicles). It''s a service provider with 150 employees.
Free software adopted: Facing management difficulties, Van Dyk Trucks decided to migrate to ERPNext, the same open‑source ERP used by StepEarly, to manage all its processes and communications with customers.
Reasons for choosing FOSS: Before this change, Van Dyk Trucks used a combination of disparate tools: many Excel spreadsheets, emails, QuickBooks for accounting, whiteboards, etc. Data duplication and re‑entry created errors and delays.
Results and benefits observed: Implementing ERPNext literally centralised all operations on a single platform covering the entire repair cycle. Real‑time visibility over stock and scheduling has improved resource planning and customer experience.
Challenges encountered and solutions: Moving to a single ERP required revising company habits. Initially, resistance to change was a classic issue: switching from paper to digital. Training and gradual deployment eased adoption, and the improvements quickly convinced teams.
Case #3: Walmart – A global giant optimising its open‑source cloud (large enterprise)
Company profile: Walmart needs no introduction: it is one of the largest retail companies in the world (around 2.3Â million employees globally), with a highly complex logistics and IT network.
Free software adopted: Walmart has built its own private cloud based on OpenStack, a widely used open‑source cloud infrastructure platform. OpenStack orchestrates dozens of data centres and thousands of servers across the world.
Reasons for choosing FOSS: Walmart''s primary motivation was to regain control of its costs and technological destiny in the face of public cloud giants (Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud).
Results and benefits observed: The gains for Walmart have been spectacular at the scale of a multinational. By adopting this hybrid cloud strategy based on open source, Walmart succeeded in reducing costs, accelerating deployments and innovating faster.
Challenges encountered and solutions: Transitioning to an open‑source cloud at this scale wasn''t without difficulties. Initially, OpenStack upgrades were laborious and required dedicated teams. Walmart invested in automation tools and internal expertise to stabilise its platform.
Similarities and differences by size and sector
These three stories—a micro‑business, an SME service provider and a retail multinational—demonstrate that free software can provide tangible benefits at any scale, from efficiency gains to independence from proprietary vendors.
Common points: In each case, the adoption of FOSS was motivated by the need to reduce costs, improve operational efficiency and gain technological independence. StepEarly was able to structure itself quickly; Van Dyk Trucks streamlined its processes; Walmart regained control of its infrastructure.
Differences by size: Naturally, the issues are not the same for a micro‑business and a global giant. The scale of the project first: StepEarly deployed an ERP in a few weeks, whereas Walmart built a global cloud over several years. The resources mobilised and the risks taken are proportional.
Differences by sector: The business domain influences priorities. In e‑commerce (StepEarly), the focus was on commercial management—leads, orders, web integration. In truck servicing (Van Dyk Trucks), inventory and scheduling were critical. In retail (Walmart), the stakes revolved around the scalability of the infrastructure.
Specific issues: For the micro‑enterprise StepEarly, the main risk was successfully handling digital transition from the outset to support growth. The story shows that investing in open source early pays off. For Walmart, the challenge was scaling, while for Van Dyk Trucks, it was cultural adoption.
Conclusion: Free software, a cross‑cutting asset for competitiveness and autonomy
These three companies—though very different in size and sector—illustrate the transformative power of free software. Whether it''s a micro‑enterprise, an SME or a multinational, adopting open source allows you to build scalable, modular and future‑proof IT.
Beyond the benefits, these stories also show that adopting free software is a strategic investment. It''s not enough to install open‑source software: you have to plan the change, train the teams and adapt processes to reap the full value.
Comparing sizes, you see that free software acts as an equaliser: it gives smaller organisations access to world‑class tools (a full ERP, a cloud platform) without the prohibitive costs of proprietary licences.
In conclusion, the 2020–2022 period showed that free software is a catalyst for success for companies of all sizes. From start‑ups to multinationals, those that dared to adopt it have gained agility, sovereignty and competitiveness.
Sources:
- StepEarly experience with ERPNext, case study Frappe (2021) frappe.io frappe.io frappe.io
- Implementation of ERPNext at Van Dyk Trucks, case study Frappe (2021) frappe.io frappe.io
- Open‑source cloud strategy at Walmart, TechTarget (2022); OpenInfra Summit (2025)
- "Adopter le logiciel libre, un facteur de compétitivité", McKinsey via Opensource.com (2021)
- Potential savings linked to free software in Quebec (study, 2021) tvanouvelles.ca