With every project that Openia undertakes, be it for a client in the public sector or for a private enterprise, however large or small, there are three guiding principles which we adhere to strictly at all times. In doing so, we pride ourselves in providing solutions which match the requirements of Internet technologies for the 21st century.

These principles, which are mutually complementary, are:

• Open Source Software (OSS) technologies

• Usability

• Accessibility

There is no doubt that application of these principles allows us to provide our clients with the very best solutions, and at a fraction of the price associated with proprietary software. Here's how:

OSS technologies allow us to give our clients free and unlimited access to the code and documentation pertaining to the products and services we provide. This strategy also has implications with respect to the price of a solution since most OSS products have minimal or low licence costs.

Usability of a product or solution as high priority in the design process directly results in increased efficiency and therefore productivity of the end result. This results in measurable financial benefits for the client and also ensures that the end-user develops a favourable opinion of the site and is therefore likely to return.

Accessibility considerations at the design stage mean that disabled users are not excluded from using our products and services effectively. In some countries, and depending on which markets are being targeted, this may account for up to 10-20% of the population. As well as the legal and ethical implications of including all sectors of the community, there are obvious commercial benefits associated with retaining as wide an audience as possible. Having the expertise required to build accessibility features into the design of our products means that Openia is able to undertake public sector projects where accessibility forms a major requirement.

We use the FSF definition for the word FREE and Open Source interchangeably in this website.