Despite the obvious benefits of free software for customers, it also has disadvantages that need to be controlled and mitigated by companies seeking to exploit related business opportunities.
Economic effects
Customers can be reluctant to embrace free software because of switching costs or compatibility with the solutions that it uses. The evaluation of alternatives can sometimes be biased by the search for short-term results or returns, the technology myths associated with free software or the customer's historical association with the software it uses.
Risk management
Any technological implementation in an organisation will have a degree of associated risk (even for private customers), broadly comparable in free and proprietary software. For the customer, the possible nuances between the two solutions may be unsurmountable in certain conditions, such as when the customer has a history of one or more failed migration attempts.
The customer may sometimes be unwilling to take risks with new software that could affect the regular operation of processes, technology and staff, doing away with the need to adapt them to enhance the organisation's efficiency after a relevant technology implementation. This can also be a further source of operational problems if it is not carefully planned.
Cost management
Some of the costs of an implementation may be common regardless of whether free or proprietary software is used. Customers sometimes believe that platform changes inevitably involve more costs due to training, support and staff motivation, or due to the loss of company productivity, for example. It can be difficult to counter these arguments, mainly because they are difficult to measure and quantify economically.