B2B Connection

Human Resources is no longer confined in the back-office attending to piles after piles of paperwork. Thanks to the Internet and modern technology, HR has completely transformed into a tech-savvy department that takes advantage of cloud-based HR Solutions to hire, manage time-off, conduct onboarding and offboarding activities, and so much more. The human resources department is usually a place of frenzied activity. Thanks to the benefits of cloud HR software, HR professionals now have the tools to reduce and simplify administrative tasks like payroll and record keeping. They can instead focus on issues that can make or break a company in this era of fierce competition— like employee engagement. Those looking for a quick refresher on cloud hr software should check out this video first. This is a vendor video, and  serves as a great crash course or refresher.  A Look Into 90s HR In 1995, when a manager at one of Hannaford Brothers Co.’s grocery stores wanted to check his 401(k), he needed to dial into a voice-activated telephone system. Interactive phone systems were at the heart of the 90s HR ecosystem. For many workers, the 16-line touch-tone system they used for HR purposes at the time was state-of-the-art. […]

How many of your employees and managers know the direction the company wants to go? How well do they understand the company’s short term and long terms goals? David Witt, of Blanchard LeaderChat reported that only 14% of employees have a good understanding of their company’s strategy and direction. If only 14% of employees understand the strategy and direction, the majority of employees are spending time and effort without knowing how their actions contribute to the future of the company. As a leader looking around your organization, can you confidently say your teams know what you want to do next? If not, a formalized goal and objective setting process can help. A “formal process” doesn’t have to be daunting or elaborate. All you need is a structured way to communicate goals, organize priorities, and document a plan. Check out this free template for goal setting and development planning. Along with the tips in this article, it will help you drive collaboration between management and individual contributors. The best way to improve is to start small. It doesn’t need to be adopted by the whole organization to make a difference. You can use the template to have a conversation with your […]

Our world is becoming increasingly data-driven. This is true if you work in the public or private sector. You will be asked to justify critical decisions with data. Even more so, technological advancements give us the opportunity to leverage data to make informed decisions. Surveys are an incredibly helpful and common way to collect qualitative and quantitative data. But not everyone knows how to craft effective surveys that produce useful and reliable results.  Why is Good Survey Design Important?  If you’re wondering why establishing good survey design practices is important, it’s simple. Good surveys with good questions produce good data that can turn into valuable insights. Poorly designed surveys result in unreliable, shoddy, and low-quality data. Where good surveys inform smart decision making, bad surveys are worse than unhelpful. They can be actively harmful. Having high-quality survey data is critical In the academic setting. It’s necessary for producing accurate and influential academic studies. Scholars that produce journal articles found to be based on shaky data can lose their funding and credibility.  Surveys are also used to conduct various types of research within the business world, including:  Market research  Competitive research  Product feedback  User experience research Employee experience feedback Customer feedback   […]

Despite what you may have heard, neither push or pull marketing is dead. They are very different methods of creating the same result: higher sales. Understanding the difference between them and how they can work for you can help achieve this marketing goal. Along with this, it is vital to know the tools that can help you implement each approach. All of this information will combine to generate a better end-result for marketing professionals.    Push Marketing Pull Marketing Other Names Old Marketing, Interupption Marketing, Outbound Marketing New Marketing, Inbound marketing Medium and Types TV Ads, Radio Ads, Billboards, Banner Ads, Newspaper and Magazine Folds Blog and Website content, How-tos, Newsletters, Assistance Videos Best for Push Products to a Broad Audience, Interrupt the Customer, Sell Why the Product is Right for ThemTldr:You Find Leads Drawn Clients in, Generate Genuine Interest and Solve Customer NeedsTldr:Leads Come to You Cons Smaller ROI, Expensive and Can Fail to Yield Results, Huge Competition Requires Smart Targeting and Customer Understanding   What Is Push Marketing? The idea of push marketing, as the name suggests, revolves around taking a product to the customer. This is the type of marketing many individuals who are not marketing professionals […]

With more and more businesses including a remote workforce, it’s becoming necessary for employees to be able to access their workstations from any device. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) allows organizations to virtualize workspaces, and allow off-premise access.  VDI also allows businesses to not have to worry less about specific hardware for employees. Regardless of a user’s host OS, VDI software allows access to Windows, Mac OS, and Linux distributions.  The best VDI software offers high reliability, speed, and low network load. There are many VDI tools businesses can choose from. From Mac-specific options like Parallels to VMWare’s suite of virtualization tools. These options can get pricey for a business looking for simple virtualization features, or access to a Windows desktop on an Apple device. For businesses seeking a more affordable option, there are a variety of free and open-source VDI platforms. Understanding the ideal use cases for VDI tools, as well as their standout features and pricing options is essential when making a purchasing decision. Red Hat Virtualization – High Performance and Scalability Red Hat Virtualization is an open-source VDI tool. The solution also has a paid offering that includes support and hands-on implementation.  For businesses with a skilled IT […]

The business-to-business environment is constantly evolving, presenting challenges to newcomers and experienced professionals alike. Understanding the definition and working reality of this ecosystem is vital for many reasons. This can be improving your own implementation or making better B2B purchase decisions. B2B can refer to organizations, transactions, and more. You apply these operational definitions, strategy, and software to your unique use case.  What is B2B? B2B refers to organizations, transactions, or products designed with a focus of interacting directly with other customers. This is different from B2C, or Business to Customer.  B2B has its focus on interactions with individual, personal customers. One confusing aspect is that both B2B and B2C organizations sell products and services. What changes is the target audience. In a B2B environment, they are selling to other businesses, and thus other businesses are the customers. B2B companies still have “customers” in a sense, they are just professionals and organizations rather than personal consumers.  B2B buying and selling exists in all kinds of industries. One of the easiest to understand is in the tech industry, where TrustRadius reviews are focused. A vendor creating Human Resource Management software is not marketing this at a store for individuals. No individual […]

Would-be busters are capitalizing on modern technology to exploit businesses for financial gain and espionage. Cyber crime is an increasingly prolific and profitable option. It is the single greatest risk to most companies today. If you’re not already aware of the scope of the threat: 73% of organizations do not have sufficient network security in place (Hiscox) Cyber-attacks have seen a 67% increase since 2014. Malware is the more common attack and the most expensive to resolve. (Accenture) Identity theft spikes amid pandemic (WeLiveSecurity) Almost half of the cyber attacks in the US were directed at SMBs (CNBC) The average cost per cyber attack against an American company in 2018 came out to more than $500,000 (Hiscox) The U.S. is predicted to account for more than half of breached data by 2023 (Norton) The cost of cybercrime comes from business disruption, information loss, revenue loss, and equipment damage. Firewalls are a crucial front line of defense against these threats, but not all firewalls deliver the kind of security at the locations you most need it.  We will explore the different types of network firewalls, explain the different ways to implement firewalls. This will help you select the best solution for […]

Cloud storage allows users to access large amounts of storage without having to build a server room in their closets. For many personal and professional use cases, this can be an extremely affordable option. Understanding the difference in pricing for the major cloud storage options can help you make the right decision for your needs.  The software reviewed on this list are: Google Drive Box DropBox What Are The Best Cloud Storage Solutions? While there are dozens of cloud storage options, this list covers pricing information of the top 3. Google Drive, Box, and DropBox are the Top-Rated award winners for this software category. These ratings are based purely on reviews: no vendor can pay for this award. Each of these software has a catalog of experiences detailed by users like yourself.  Google Drive – Powerful Cloud Storage for All Needs Google Drive as a purely cloud storage software is a separate thing from the host of tools Google offers. This can be rather confusing to many users. One of the major benefits of Google products is the seamless integration with other products from Google and other vendors. A slight downside of this is the border between each of them […]

Every day we interact with primary and secondary storage without being knowing it. Rarely, however, do most of us stop to consider their differences. These differences are important, though, because they affect how we interact with data, namely by what the two different storage types can do. You may be more familiar with primary storage as it is commonly used as random access memory (RAM), the memory used by computers for running programs and their data. Data saved within this type of storage is temporary and ephemeral. With secondary storage, it’s that hard disk drive (HDD) in our computers. Secondary storage data is permanent, and typically only “goes away” if it is deleted or destroyed. When on the market for data center backup software, it’s important to differentiate between primary and secondary storage, and just where they fit in the grand scheme of your data protection strategy. In this blog post, we’ll address just what primary and secondary storage are and how they differ! What is Primary Storage? There are three main types of primary storage that every IT professional should know about: read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, and cache memory. Another type of primary storage is read-only memory (ROM), […]

Industry reports indicate that over 50% of SMBs suffer data breaches, yet less than 30% have effective protection against cyberattacks.  While training your employees against social engineering attacks (like phishing) is a crucial step toward improving your cybersecurity, the easiest step is investing in a network firewall. Network firewalls automatically protect against a variety of malicious data and users and can also offer peripheral security services to your business.  While firewalls traditionally targeted enterprise-level companies, some vendors have tailored their offerings to suit the scale and unique needs of SMBs. Small to midsize business reviewers on TrustRadius highlight these products as the best options for their businesses:  Watchguard Network Security pfSense Cisco Meraki MX SonicWall TZ SonicWall NSA series Untangle 6 leading firewalls for SMBs This list includes the products present on the Small Business Firewall TrustMap, which is dynamically generated based on the intersection of B2B buyers’ interest and trScore. They are ordered according to the number of small business ratings and reviews each product has. #1 WatchGuard Network Security — The Option for MSPs Some businesses find value in partnering with a 3rd-party Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS) provider to outsource their firewall security rather than having to manage it in-house. […]

OCR software is not limited to a specific industry. Finding the best free OCR software requires assessing the amount and complexity of documents that need to be processed. Although the products mentioned in this piece share the same functionality, they work best in different circumstances. This piece will help you determine which free OCR software will best suit your unique use case.  OCR Software Open Source? Platforms Suitable for Beginners? Biggest Pro Biggest Con Amazon Textract No Browser Yes  (Single-Page Extractions) Advanced OCR features Multi-Page Extraction Can Be Difficult  Tesseract OCR Yes Windows, Linux, Mac No Training Materials Command Line Interface SimpleOCR No Windows, Mac Yes High Accuracy Supports Two Languages Microsoft OneNote No Windows, Mac, Android, iOS Yes User-Friendly Interface Subscription Required for Handwriting Recognition Easy Screen OCR No Windows,  Mac, Android, iOS Yes Mobile Apps No Batch OCR Capabilities  Benefits of OCR Software OCR, or optical character recognition, is the process of detecting and extracting text from images. OCR software is especially useful for businesses that regularly scan documents. Users can use this software to convert PDF files into searchable documents, collect text from batches of digital images, or save extracted text in a different file format.  OCR […]

While accounting software is used for a huge array of organizations, not everyone wants to pay for it. Free accounting software can offer some or all of the functionality you need to keep your business operating effectively. The best free accounting software allow for accurate record-keeping and analytical tools. Working within the natural limitations of free software can help you find a cost-free option to work for your use case.   User Cap  trScore Biggest Pro Biggest Con Wave Unlimited 7.2/10 Unlimited Invoices, Users, and Transactions Per-Transaction Payment Acceptance Charge Akaunting Unlimited N/A Open-Source, Mobile-Friendly Less Customer Support Than Vendor Software ZipBooks Free One 8.4/10 Great Payment Acceptance One User Limit Wave – Unlimited, Free Accounting for All For a huge number of use-cases, Wave is going to offer a host of features without many of the limitations of free choices. Its major limitation is that it does charge a per-transaction fee for accepting payments. If you are okay with this, or use a different method of payment collection, the features are extensive.  Wave offers unlimited income and expense tracking. Sales tax is automatically calculated on both expenses and income. These are specifically designed to help you regulate and manage […]

Free antivirus software allows you to focus on your tasks, rather than worry about security or your wallet. Antivirus software provides a sense of security and peace of mind. Access to the internet can leave a computer or mobile device vulnerable to malware and viruses, along with other threats. While it’s hardly controversial to want to stay safe from these threats, the price can be a sticking point for many. Various types of security exist, and finding one that is right for you is essential. The Reality of Antivirus in 2021 Security risks are a real threat. Cybercrime is estimated to cost $500 billion per month in 2021. With this danger, a problem around the world, protecting yourself is vital. For many people, antivirus software is not going to be the way to stop many common attacks. Some of the most common and impactful cybercrime happens outside of the area of antivirus influence. Large data leaks and cryptojacking are areas outside of the protection of this software category. Phishing attacks and bad email attachments largely circumvent antivirus or are blocked by the email provider.  This is not to say antivirus is not useful. It is just important to remember that […]

While 3D printers and filament will cost you money, the software does not. 3D printing allows you to take an image from a computer screen and set it on your workbench or kitchen table. Doing so requires a variety of software and skills. Understanding the tools available to you will help you turn your 3D vision into a physical reality faster and more easily. This is true whether you will be using the software for mechanical engineering, hobby modeling, and everything in between.   Software Type OS Ease of Use Open-Source Ultimaker Cura Slicer, 3D Hosting Windows, macOS, Linux Beginner No Slic3r Slicer, Auto-Repair Windows, macOS, Linux Intermediate Yes OctoPrint Remote Printing, 3D Hosting Windows, macOS, Linux Intermediate Yes Meshlab Mesh Edit and Repair Windows, macOS, Linux Advanced Yes What is the Best Free 3D Printing Software for you? Unlike many pieces of this type by TrustRadius, this is less about finding the one software that works best for you. Some users may just want a simple 3D printing slicer. Others may need a slicing, editing, and remote printing group of tools.  The reality of finding 3D printing tools is that the variation in your own experience and print complexity […]

Business Process Management (BPM) tools are essential when mapping out your company’s business processes through the systematic design, modeling, implementation, optimization, and measuring of the workflow. Open source workflow engines aid in the development of these process-driven applications. Having access to this kind of workflow perspective works to reduce inefficiencies, human error, or miscommunications between individuals.  BPM has developed into an essential, high-powered business development tool. It can provide a visual process design tool that allows even non-tech savvy users to design and test processes and workflows. It provides transparency into the organizational overview of the company (which is beneficial for employees and stakeholders).  Trying to find the best BPM and open-source workflow engine for your company can be a daunting task. Maybe you are a developer looking to dive into the BPM world for the first time, unsure of where to begin? Maybe you are a conditioned IT professional looking to explore alternative, free BPM options? Whichever you are, utilizing a free solution can help give insight into what exactly your business needs from its BPM software.   Top 3 Open Source Workflow Engines and Free BPM Software Tools   Open-Source OS Biggest Pros Biggest Cons Bonita BPM Yes Windows, […]

For small businesses, recruiting is already an expensive endeavor- anywhere from $1,000-5,000 per hire. Those preexisting expenses can price some companies out of using an ATS, despite how valuable they are for recruiting. Fortunately, there are a host of open-source or free versions of paid Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) platforms available for small businesses. This software tends to be limited in volume or scope of features, but the products we’ve listed here can provide the support small businesses need to find quality candidates on a very limited budget. The best free recruitment software can allow small businesses to find the best candidate on smaller budgets for their team.  Is Free Recruitment Right For You?  Free ATS software is typically a cloud-based service that supplies many essential recruiting capabilities and features. You should consider a free ATS tool if:  You are only hiring a limited number of people. You’re hiring for relatively basic/unskilled positions that aren’t very specialized. You only need an ATS for a very limited period of time (note: if you need an ATS once, odds are you’ll need it again later). Free products often mean there are certain limitations or drawbacks tied in. For example, free ATS products […]

Understanding the reality and misconceptions of the pricing of call tracking software is vital in helping your organization plan its use of the tool. Call tracking software offers organizations insight into the customer journey and provides valuable information to sales and marketing teams. This makes this a highly sought-after tool for many different types of organizations. Everyone can agree that getting software for free is better than paying, but is this possible in this software category?  Does “Free” Call Tracking Exist? The most important question: Can you actually get this type of tool for free? Short answer: Not really. TrustRadius has many pieces outlining free software options. Sometimes, it can be just as important to share where software can not be used for free. There are a few options out there, but they will have one of the following limitations: They are part of a larger software suite They are very limited in user limit/call numbers, and pay per minute  They are open-source, and very unpolished Most call tracking software has payment models structured around how much one uses the product. Most also offer free trials, but these are often 14 days, and rarely go beyond 30. With these criteria established, […]

Consumers consider different factors and weigh their options before making a purchase. (Especially large and expensive ones.) This is even more pronounced in the B2B world. Business technology purchases are often more expensive than B2C purchases. And they are closely tied to the return on investment (ROI) of the business.  As a tech marketer, it’s critical to understand the journey your buyers take. Which steps do they take? What do they care about most in each phase of the buyer’s journey? And how can you best support them as they narrow down the list of products they’re considering?  Answering these questions will help you forge stronger relationships with your buyers.  What Is The Buyer’s Journey in B2B? Before detailing each stage of the buyer’s journey, here’s a quick explanation of what it is.  The buyer’s journey starts when the buyer realizes they have a problem and need a software solution. The middle part of their journey is about researching, evaluating, and comparing different options. The final stage of their journey is selecting a product to purchase and enter negotiations with the vendor. In summary, there are three main stages of the buyer’s journey.  There are also a few important things […]

It’s one thing to hear a tech issue described, but quite another to witness it with your very own eyes. Anyone who has ever tried to help someone fix an issue over the phone is painfully aware of this.  Remote desktop tools give tech support teams the power to see user behavior, application quirks and desktop environments for themselves This helps them diagnose issues quickly and efficiently. They can also help technical teams launch new releases and updates for clients and quickly install applications, rather than guiding them through every step of setup.   trScore Top-Rated OS Biggest Pro Biggest Con ConnectWise Control 8.6/10 Windows, MacOS, Linux Broad OS Support Dated UI Apple Remote Desktop 7.0/10 MacOS Strong Functionality Mac Only GoToAssist 7.8/10 Windows, Linux (Chat only MacOS Accessibility and Mobile Friendliness, Including iOS and Android Some Users Say it is Expensive for its Features DameWare Remote Support 8.5/10 Windows, MacOS, Linux Ease of Use Some Users Say it is Expensive for its Features TeamViewer 8.2/10 Windows, MacOS, Linux Speed, Integrations No Calendar Tool BeyondTrust Remote Support 8.7/10 Windows, MacOS, Linux Security, Ease of Use Mobile App Has Issues Desktop sharing applications have been around for many years. Due to […]

CRMs for higher education enable universities to streamline their communications and track and report on an individual’s journey within the institution. This leads to a more engaged student and alumni body, better understanding across teams, and, eventually, increased ROI. The nature of higher education means CRM requirements for higher education are different from that of other organizations. To understand which CRM is best for your organization, you must first understand how these needs are different.  What is a CRM for Higher Education? Customer relationship management (CRM) is a type of software that acts as a communication aid for teams and individuals. At higher education institutions, a CRM stores data and organizes it in a way that enables users to streamline admissions, target their marketing campaigns, and track results at the other end. CRM systems contain a unified record of all contact information, activities, and attributes for each individual. As a result, users can ultimately provide students, alumni, and donors the best possible service, from their initial inquiry at the start of their application journey to graduation – and beyond. Higher education is becoming increasingly competitive and globalized. Naturally, the focus on the quality of digital communication has intensified. With the […]