Why Cloud?

A cloud offering lowers the barrier to entry significantly. Companies can get started without having to set up servers, configure infrastructure, or think about technical operations first. The software is available immediately and can be used from anywhere with an internet connection.

That is especially valuable for small companies. They often do not have their own IT team, and even when they do, their time is limited. In many cases, they simply need software that works reliably and is easy to adopt.

Cloud makes that possible. It improves accessibility not only in the technical sense, but also in a practical one. Companies can start using the software faster, with less effort and less risk of getting stuck on operational details before they have seen any real value.

A hosted offering is often treated as the opposite of digital sovereignty. But that is only true when the hosted model locks customers in.

It does not have to work that way.

In an open source context, a cloud offering can be designed as a practical entry point rather than a trap. It can give companies the convenience of managed hosting without taking away their options later. That changes the role of cloud completely. It becomes a way to reduce operational friction, not a way to create dependency.

The important thing is not whether the software is hosted by the vendor or by the customer. The important thing is whether the customer remains in control.

That control starts with data access.

Companies should be able to access their data at any time. Their data should not be hidden behind artificial barriers, proprietary formats, or processes that make leaving difficult. A cloud offering can still respect this fully.

In fact, this is one of the key advantages of combining open source software with a hosted model. Companies get a simple and accessible way to use the software, while still knowing that their data remains theirs. They are not reduced to renting access to a black box. They are using software with a clear path to transparency and portability.

That creates a different relationship between vendor and customer. Trust no longer depends only on promises. It is reinforced by the fact that the customer has real options.

For many companies, self-hosting is not the right choice at the beginning. But it can become the right choice later.

Requirements change. Internal expertise grows. Compliance expectations increase. A company may want more control over infrastructure, more customisation, or a setup that fits specific internal policies. In that situation, the ability to switch from cloud to self-hosting is valuable.

That option changes the meaning of the cloud offering.

It means companies do not have to decide everything upfront. They can start with the most accessible model and move to a more self-managed one when the need becomes real. They can choose the level of operational responsibility that fits their current situation.

This is particularly useful for small companies. It allows them to start simply without giving up future flexibility. They can adopt software based on what works today without closing off better-fitting options for tomorrow.

A good cloud offering does not replace the idea of digital sovereignty. It supports it in a more practical way.

Not every company wants to become an operator of its own software stack. Many simply want software that is easy to use, available when needed, and aligned with their values. If they can use a hosted version today, keep access to their data, and move to self-hosting later, they get both convenience and freedom.

That is often a better path than forcing an all-or-nothing decision.

Instead of choosing between ease of use and independence, companies get a model that combines both. Cloud becomes the simple starting point. Self-hosting remains the available next step.

This approach fits the reality of many small businesses better than a pure self-hosting model.

In theory, full control sounds ideal. In practice, many small companies need software that is ready to use, easy to maintain, and available without extra infrastructure work. A cloud offering answers that need. At the same time, the open source foundation and the option to self-host later protect the customer from the usual downside of hosted software.

That combination is strong because it reflects how small companies actually work. They need simplicity, but they also want to avoid unnecessary dependency. They want convenience, but not at the cost of losing control over their own data and future choices.

In this context, a cloud offering makes sense because it improves accessibility without having to undermine digital sovereignty.

It gives small companies an easy way to get started. It reduces technical overhead. It makes the software available faster and to more people. At the same time, companies can retain access to their data and keep the option to switch to self-hosting whenever they feel the need for it.

That makes cloud not a contradiction to the broader idea, but a practical part of it.

When done right, it offers the best of both worlds: the convenience of managed software today and the freedom to take more control tomorrow.