Open Source Office Software for SMEs

By Subashini Selvaratnam

BILLION Solution Systems Sdn Bhd has made available an open source office application software which is targeted at the more cost-conscious small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

KaiOffice 2005 offers four modules, namely KaiWriter (a word processor for creating documents), KaiCalc (a spreadsheet for analysing data), KaiImpress (a presentation software) and KaiBase (a database software). There are two additional modules called KaiDraw (a drawing software) and KaiMath, which does complex scientific calculation.

Billion Solution’s marketing director Ray Tan said in terms of look and feel, KaiWriter is similar to MS Word while KaiCalc is similar to MS Excel.

As for KaiImpress, the module is similar to MS PowerPoint while KaiBase and KaiDraw are similar to MS Access and MS Paint respectively, he said.

According to Tan, the programs’ interfaces are similar to MS Office applications hence, there is no need for end users to relearn the programs.

For example, end users can use the same shortcut keys as the MS Office applications, including Ctrl+V for “cut” or Ctrl+C for “copy”.

All the programs come with built-in Adobe Portable Document Format file output, which means users can save the documents in PDF format. In terms of features and functionalities, KaiOffice 2005 is no different from the two open source-based software, namely OpenOffice and StarOffice.

Tan said the main difference between the software and KaiOffice 2005 is customer support.

“We can resolve any compatibility and bugs issues within 24 hours. Customers can send their queries via fax or e-mail. We have a support office in Kuala Lumpur which consists of two full-time technical personnel. We also employed five to six contract staff,” he said.

KaiOffice 2005 supports four languages, namely English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Korean.

It retails at RM299.