Everybody can agree that there is no way to avoid the cost of software support. And even if you develop your piece of software, you will still have to properly maintain it - which again, has its costs attached.
Software support and maintenance have their roles to play, after all. If you don't invest in maintenance, you run the risk of encountering various software bugs and become vulnerable to numerous security issues.
There's also the ever-present possibility of your organization no longer is complying with government regulations, and there will not be any warning until it's too late.
Your business will also fall behind regarding improving software features. It will affect the overall effectiveness of your operations, and can also lead to customer dissatisfaction, in the process. These are a few of the reasons why you can't avoid Drupal support and maintenance.
But luckily, however, none of these imply that you can't lower these costs by a significant margin. With a bit of planning, knowledge, and foresight, you can achieve this and not allow your Drupal maintenance and support costs spiral out of control.
That said, there are several ways how to achieve that.
Cost-Effective Options
Never assume that the premium-priced service will be the most cost-effective option available. It's important to remember that many service providers will increase these costs on a yearly basis, while your organization's experience matures. It means that the level of support required will decline over time, even if prices will tend to rise.
Default levels of support costs are, on average, 30 percent higher than lower levels of support. In most cases, however, it's better to start with one such default package. But as your knowledge increases and matures, it's better to evaluate all support offerings and take advantage of lower-cost maintenance and support, especially if the premium support option will no longer be as cost-effective.
Reduce Shelfware
In short, shelfware stands for unused software and licenses that are still charged for both support and maintenance by the provider, for example an unused Drupal theme. Various discounts and promotions may encourage you to buy software in bulk, as part of a package, but there is a high chance that there will be some shelfware that you don't need.
Some providers may allow you to terminate your shelfware, but others may not. With some providers, there is also the possibility to suspend maintenance for unused software at a cost, but this is not always the case. If neither option is available, Europe-based companies can resell their shelfware via an established used license reseller.
Evaluate Third-Party Support Options
Third-party support, which implies support obtained from a different company than the licensor, will sometimes have cheaper services. In some cases, this can be 50% less, depending on the circumstances.
By evaluating these options and consulting the licensor's terms and conditions before going for third-party support, to make sure that it's a better and less expensive alternative.
Ameex Technologies is one example of third-party support, which can substantially lower your Drupal maintenance and support costs. For more information about our services, visit our website or contact us directly.