Speed: the power of open source and rapid prototyping

Fast progress in AI doesn’t require a room full of PhDs or months of development time. With open-source tools, anyone can quickly experiment, learn, and deliver working prototypes.

Take the Frappe framework, for example. This open-source platform enables rapid application development, letting Kiwi businesses build custom applications and AI-driven solutions without starting from scratch. Combined with robust databases like PostgreSQL and MySQL, you have everything needed to manage data, prototype quickly, and demonstrate results to stakeholders in days rather than months.

The beauty of Frappe is its flexibility. Whether you’re building customer portals, data dashboards, or AI-powered tools, the framework handles the heavy lifting: authentication, permissions, API integrations: so your team focuses on solving business problems, not wrestling with infrastructure.

Rapid prototyping allows you to fail fast, discover what your customers really want, and refine your solution in real time. This agility is essential for competing in New Zealand’s fast-evolving markets. However, speed means nothing if you’re building on shaky foundations.

Explore how this works practically in our AI & Technology Blueprinting resources.

Quality: the open source foundation you already trust

Quality isn’t about complexity: it’s about building on proven ground. The Frappe framework, along with databases like PostgreSQL and MySQL, offers standards for reliability and transparency. These tools have been tested in production environments around the world and continually improved by vibrant open-source communities.

What does that mean for Kiwi businesses? You benefit from code that’s open for inspection, extended by thousands of developers, and supported by exceptional documentation. Mistakes are found and fixed quickly, knowledge is shared freely, and your team is empowered to own the technology: not just lease it.

For instance, ERPNext: the open-source ERP built on Frappe framework is used by businesses globally, from manufacturers to retailers. This real-world testing means when you build on Frappe, you’re inheriting years of refinement and best practices. As a result, you’re not gambling on untested promises. You’re building with tools that have already earned their reputation.

This reduces errors, increases trust, and ensures your solutions scale as you grow: without the risks of vendor lock-in or hidden costs.

Dive deeper into building reliable, people-centric solutions with our advice on Human-Centred Design.

Cost: the open source advantage

Budget pressure is real: especially for NZ businesses seeking to unlock new growth. Open source isn’t just free up front. It means you have full control over how, when, and why you scale your AI initiatives.

Without annual licensing fees for platforms like Frappe, PostgreSQL, or MySQL, you invest primarily in learning, testing, and refining your product. Small and medium businesses can start with what they need, experimenting at low risk, and scaling only after results are proven.

The Frappe framework particularly shines here. Instead of paying thousands for proprietary platforms that lock you in, you get a full-stack framework that’s free to use and modify. Your costs shift from licensing to capability-building: training your team, customising solutions to fit your unique needs, and iterating based on customer feedback.

This approach minimises expensive dead-ends. Therefore, resources remain focused on improving customer outcomes instead of long negotiations or recurring software charges. In my experience, this shift in mindset: from “what can we afford to licence?” to “how can we learn fastest?”: changes everything.

See how a “test-and-learn” approach can improve ROI at our Customer Journey Mapping page.

The magic happens at the intersection

Combining speed, quality, and cost creates exceptional outcomes. For example, using the Frappe framework with PostgreSQL or MySQL, a business can rapidly spin up a pilot application, confidently manage large datasets, and iterate without new purchases for every experiment.

I’ve seen Kiwi businesses build entire customer portals, AI-powered recommendation engines, and data visualisation tools using this stack: often going from concept to beta in weeks. The intersection is where true innovation happens: where you don’t have to make trade-offs between doing things quickly, getting them right, and keeping them affordable.

Moreover, because Frappe is designed for customisation, you’re not fighting against the framework. You’re working with it, adapting it to your context, your customers, your unique competitive advantage. In fact, I’d argue this is where most Kiwi businesses thrive: when resourcefulness meets ambition.

Read examples of this intersection in action at our Innovation Labs.

Making it work in practice

So how do you actually put this into action? Here’s what I recommend:

Start with people, not platforms. As my colleague Liz often reminds teams: “Before you choose any technology, you need to understand the humans you’re designing for. Human-centred design isn’t a nice-to-have: it’s the foundation that makes everything else work. When you start with empathy and real customer insight, the technology choices become clearer, and your solutions actually solve the right problems.”

This matters. Start with a simple, well-scoped question rooted in genuine customer needs. What problem are you trying to solve? Who will benefit? How do they currently experience this challenge? Use techniques like customer journey mapping and persona development to build deep understanding first.

Then: and only then: turn to tools like Frappe, PostgreSQL, or MySQL to validate your assumptions. The Frappe framework is particularly useful if you need a web interface, user management, or API connectivity: it handles these out of the box.

Don’t be afraid to try: and discard: small experiments. Test with real users, not just internal teams. Build the simplest version that could possibly work, then iterate based on what you learn.

Document what you learn and cycle fast. Iteration wins every time. Build capability within your team as you go, rather than outsourcing all the thinking. The Frappe community offers extensive documentation, forums, and examples: use them.

Moreover, resist the urge to overcomplicate. The best AI solutions often start with the simplest possible version that works. Frappe’s modular design encourages this: add only what you need, when you need it.

If you want hands-on support, our Data Driven Experience and AI Strategy sessions cover all these bases.

Why open source works especially well for NZ

New Zealand is uniquely positioned to benefit from open-source AI and rapid application development frameworks like Frappe. Smaller teams, creative problem-solving, and a focus on value mean you’re not bogged down by bureaucracy or high sunk costs.

By using open-source frameworks, Kiwi businesses can safely experiment, tailor solutions to local needs, and scale efficiently: staying ahead while keeping true to what matters most: people, purpose, and practical results. Furthermore, New Zealand’s collaborative culture aligns perfectly with open-source philosophy: share knowledge, solve problems together, and build on what works.

Where to from here? Your Open-source AI tools journey

Naturally, Open-source AI tools are already transforming how New Zealand businesses compete, innovate, and serve their customers. The question isn’t whether to engage with AI: it’s how to do so in ways that honour both ambition and pragmatism.

So what’s the one thing you’d like AI to help you solve? What small experiment could you run this month using Frappe, PostgreSQL, or MySQL? What would success look like, even in miniature?

The tools are ready. The communities are supportive. The frameworks are proven. The only question left is: what will you try first?

Ready to explore how these principles apply to your organisation? Get in touch with Good CX and let’s talk about what’s possible.