Customer Case Study
Community Edition with targeted use of support hours provided by our team – a smart IT strategy for businesses
>> Interview partner: Samuel Wolf, Wolf Maschinenbau AG
Samuel Wolf on the initial situation:
“In spring 2023, we were looking for a new groupware solution under the following – not entirely straightforward – circumstances:
* Open-source project with access to the source code
* Installation on our local server
* Integration with mobile devices via EAS and/or calDAV/cardDAV
* Full access to the software, data and database
* The company behind the project provides active support
* Purchase of support, thereby supporting the developers
* We can provide financial support for the project and its further development
* Test pre-release versions and changes to contribute ‘actively’ to the project“All these points apply to EGroupware, a project that has been on the market for many years and is actively being developed by a company in Germany.” Samuel Wolf
Implemented solution: EGroupware Community Edition (CE) – open source with support
How can using the free CE version with on-premises installation support an open-source project, and what freedoms and safeguards does it offer the company? We spoke to Samuel Wolf from Wolf Maschinenbau AG about how they use the CE version of our collaboration solution.
“Our first step was to set up a local system and just give it a try. Unlike with competitors, EGroupware made this possible without any issues and completely anonymously.”
At the time, the new version 23.1 CE had just been released. Although it was technically brand new, Wolf decided to test it right away. It quickly became clear that all key features—email, calendar, contacts, and ActiveSync connectivity—were working. The Wolf IT staff resolved minor issues themselves through the forum and by submitting tickets to EGroupware Support using the initial support units they had purchased.
“It’s worth noting that EGroupware provided bug fixes – which were necessary simply because of the new release – very quickly. We were then able to easily install them in our instance as a downloadable patch; that’s exactly how it should be! The actual migration went smoothly, and after just a few days, we were able to take the old solution offline.”
And what comes next? Over the past three years, the Wolf team has further integrated EGroupware into the company’s daily operations. Through the forum, purchased support packages, and direct contact with EGroupware GmbH, Wolf Maschinenbau AG has continued to monitor software development and has actively influenced it in several areas.
Wolf has also tested the current version 26.x in the CE as a pre-release in the spirit of open source.
“Here, too, EGroupware embodies the open-source philosophy: Anyone can install and test the new CE version entirely on a voluntary basis and with no obligations,” said Samuel Wolf, explaining the central idea behind the project.
We were particularly pleased with Samuel Wolf’s assessment of version 26.x. It clearly demonstrates how well the open-source philosophy can work and how important true freedom of choice is in the IT sector.
“In addition to technical improvements and a completely redesigned user interface, EGroupware Release 26.x CE includes AI integration. This can be operated either via an external AI connection or using a local AI; EGroupware gives you complete freedom to choose.”
“We had already connected the pre-release version to our local AI server to test the AI features for emails (translation, summarization, etc.). It worked flawlessly. We are thrilled that EGroupware has integrated this interface, taking the software to a whole new technical level—with the freedom to use a local AI!”
What does the future of IT look like at Wolf Maschinenbau AG?
Samuel Wolf explains how his IT infrastructure remains independent while the company still benefits from professional support and, at the same time, contributes to our project as part of the community.
“We will continue to support the further development of EGroupware through support hours. EGroupware GmbH embraces the open-source philosophy just as we do; independence—and thus digital sovereignty—is extremely important to us. We hope that even more companies will choose EGroupware and, as CE users, contribute to this ‘Made in Germany’ project through support hours.”
This model allows us to continue developing the CE free of charge for everyone. Thanks a lot to Wolf Maschinenbau AG—and to all other CE users!
Digital sovereignty doesn’t mean having to do everything yourself. It means having a choice. If you are interested in EGroupware support budgets, would like to take advantage of our expertise, and actively support the development of the software, please feel free to contact our team.
About Wolf Maschinenbau AG:
Wolf is a manufacturer and supplier of innovative rotary and linear indexing machines and related peripheral equipment for the customized and precise machining of metal rings, bars, turned parts, and more. The company’s services include the development, design, manufacture, sales, and maintenance of high-precision automation solutions. As an owner-managed family business, Wolf ensures personalized and tailored support for its customers.