I’ve run a couple posts before about free or low-cost software alternatives and different ways to cut the IT cost your company may be incurring. Nowadays the info in those posts holds as well as ever.

However today I want to point you to a specific resource that was brought to my attention a while ago. It’s a list on the  Mashable website, detailing a whole raft of open source software programs. And this list is a little bit different…

Specifically, this list is broken down into categories, that could be of particular interest to small and mid-sized businesses. For one, there’s a category for open-source ERP software options (for those not in the know, ERP is Enterprise Resource Planning, a way of tying in inventory, purchasing, sales, shipping, payroll, costing, manufacturing, and… well, you get the idea). There’s also a category for Project Management, and one for Customer Relationship Management (CRM).

Why do these matter? All along, we’ve preached about how technology should and can be a tool for business. It’s great to have all these wonderful computers and technology toy on hand, but if you’re not using them properly, where’s the competitive advantage?

Being able to properly collaborate on and track projects can be a big thing. It helps make sure that you’re not missing steps on projects, and hurting your chances for referral work. CRM allows you ensure that your sales low is working the way it’s supposed to, and to make sure you’re not leaving money on the table. And technology can easily help you achieve both these goals, as well as others.

So take a look at the list, and see if there’s anything you might need. And since it’s free, if there’s anything you want. Of course, as always you should take to your IT support people to see if there are any issues with what you already have. But most importantly, open your mind o the possibilities… and the potential.