How customer voice
drives business

Looker and Tableau Desktop are Business Intelligence tools designed to help users perform data analysis and create visualizations to display their findings. Both Business Intelligence tools are used by businesses of all sizes, though large enterprises prefer Tableau Desktop while Looker is most popular with mid-sized businesses. Tableau Desktop offers strong visualization features that allow data analysts to create sophisticated visualizations. Looker has robust analytics features that enable non-technical users to create simple queries, while technical staff can create complex, customized queries. Features Looker and Tableau Desktop both provide essential business intelligence features such as data visualization and analysis, but they also both have some standout features. Looker includes a library of analytics code blocks that allow new users to perform analysis on stored data easily. These code blocks are entirely customizable as well, so advanced users can create custom queries. Looker also offers many built-in integrations and has a flexible system for pulling in data from applications that don’t have a native integration. As a result, Looker can collect data from many sources without issue. Tableau Desktop includes OLAP compatibility, allowing for web-based analytics and data collection. Additionally, Tableau Desktop has APIs for many big data analytics tools, allowing […]

Cassandra and MongoDB are NoSQL databases designed to store large amounts of data in a highly scalable way. Cassandra tends to be used by mid-sized companies and larger enterprises, while MongoDB is a popular choice for companies of all sizes. MongoDB is great for smaller businesses due to its affordability and flexible querying. Large enterprises may prefer Cassandra due to its scalability and safeguards against database downtime. Features Cassandra and MongoDB both have essential NoSQL database features, but they also have some standout features that set them apart. Cassandra is a highly scalable database solution that can manage large amounts of unstructured data. Additionally, Cassandra utilizes multiple master nodes, so if one node goes down, data availability doesn’t suffer as long as other nodes are available. Cassandra is easy to set up, even without support, in part due to simple data replication capabilities. MongoDB uses a data-oriented data model that makes it straightforward to perform data analysis. Secondary indexes are also supported by MongoDB, which makes querying flexible and fast as long as the queried documents aren’t missing indexes. JavaScript developers will also have an easy time working with MongoDB as it has a robust API with nodeJS. Limitations Although […]

Hyper-V and VMware Exsi are both server virtualization software designed to reduce the need for physical systems. Both solutions allow for server partitioning, so users can create multiple virtual servers that can each run multiple instances of different operating systems. Both VMware Exsi and Hyper-V are very popular with mid-sized businesses. VMware Exsi tends to be more popular with larger enterprises, perhaps due to its excellent stability and compatibility with other VMware software. Hyper-V is more popular with smaller businesses, likely due to its lower costs and simple migrations. Features Hyper-V and VMware Exsi both offer the essential server virtualization features, but they also each have some standout features that set them apart. Hyper-V allows for quick deployments. Users can get new virtual servers set up in mere minutes. Quick server deployment may be important for organizations that will need to set up new servers often or have a limited amount of staff to handle all server deployment. Hyper-V also offers strong security features with the windows software it is packaged in with, Windows Active Directory. Lastly, it is effortless to create snapshot backups using Hyper-V, allowing new users to minimize data loss when mistakes are made. VMware Exsi offers […]

QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and Freshbooks are both accounting software designed to handle financial data, invoicing, and reporting. Both solutions are popular with small businesses, though some mid-sized businesses also use Freshbooks. Features Both QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and Freshbooks provide essential accounting features such, but both solutions also have some standout features. Quickbooks for Mac includes robust accounting features, such as inventory management, budgeting, and purchase orders. Additionally, Quickbooks for Mac has a mobile app that offers access to accounting reports and customer information in addition to invoicing capabilities. Lastly, Quickbooks for Mac includes remote access features that allow users to access reports and invoices when out of the office. Freshbooks has an easy to use interface, which makes it possible for non-technical staff to create invoices, accept payments, and view reports. Additionally, Freshbooks also includes high-quality customer support. Support is provided in all pricing tiers and includes phone support with minimal wait times. Limitations Though Quickbooks for Mac and Freshbooks both offer essential accounting features, they also both have a few limitations. Quickbooks for Mac updates less often than its Windows counterpart, meaning that organizations using the Mac version may be missing cutting edge features. Additionally, Quickbooks for […]

Oracle VM Virtualbox and VMware Exsi are both server virtualization software designed to reduce the need for physical systems. Both solutions accomplish this by partitioning servers into multiple virtual servers that can run multiple instances of operating systems. Oracle VM Virtualbox is a popular choice for smaller businesses, possibly due to its lower cost for small numbers of users. Larger enterprises are more likely to use VMware Exsi, likely due to its high stability and compatibility with other vSphere software. Features Both Oracle VM Virtualbox and VMware Exsi include essential server virtualization features, but they also have some standout features that set them apart. Oracle VM Virtualbox is compatible with a wide variety of operating systems and can be installed on almost any computer. This compatibility with most computers means that installation and implementation are usually quick and seamless. Oracle VM Virtualbox also offers unlimited virtual machine snapshots. Unlimited snapshots allow for easy backup and recovery to important rollback points. VMware Exsi includes vMotion, which allows for the transfer of virtual servers. Compared to other server virtualization software, VMware Exsi boasts high stability with infrequent crashes, so data loss due to virtual machine error is rare. Lastly, VMware Exsi integrates […]

Apache Kafka and RabbitMQ are both message queue software designed to enable applications to communicate with each other asynchronously. Though Apache Kafka works as a streaming platform that performs messaging tasks, both it and RabbitMQ function as traditional message queue software. Both RabbitMQ and Apache Kafka are more popular with mid-sized to large organizations. Larger enterprises use Apache Kafka is slightly more often, while mid-sized businesses prefer RabbitMQ. Features Though Apache Kafka and RabbitMQ are both robust message queue tools, they each offer a few standout features that set them apart from one another. Apache Kafka performs well with large amounts of data, transferring messages quickly, even in high volumes. This high performance makes Apache Kafka a good choice for organizations with many messages in the queue, perhaps due to batch consumers that may not be connected to the message queue at all times. Apache Kafka is also very scalable, increasing performance for extreme workloads can be as simple as running it on additional nodes. RabbitMQ offers many client libraries for languages like Python, PHP, JavaScript, and more. This multitude of client libraries makes it easy for most businesses to start using RabbitMQ without compatibility issues. RabbitMQ supports complex routing, […]

Mailchimp and Constant Contact are email marketing solutions designed to allow businesses to create and automate email marketing campaigns. Both include features such as email templates, form creation, and email analytics. Both Mailchimp and Constant Contact are popular with small and mid-sized businesses, likely due to their flexible pricing plans that scale based on an organization’s email volume. Features Mailchimp and Constant Contact both include essential email marketing features, but they also both have some standout features that set them apart from each other. Mailchimp offers a wide variety of automation features for email campaigns and email sequences. Users can easily set up automation rules to save time. Mailchimp also provides robust customization options for form and email template creation, including custom fields and branding. Lastly, Mailchimp offers detailed reporting and analytics features, including geographical tracking and social media reporting. Users can also use Mailchimp’s analytics tools to compare their organization’s analytics with industry averages. Constant Contact offers a large volume of email templates, allowing users to create most emails with minimal customization. Additionally, Constant Contact includes a spam testing feature so that users can ensure their emails are unlikely to end up in the recipient’s spam folder. The spam […]

MySQL and MariaDB are both open-source database software that allow for the storage and querying of data. Though MariaDB is a fork of MySQL, its features have diverged from the source over time. MariaDB is a popular choice for open-source companies, while more commercial enterprises are more likely to use MySQL. Businesses of varying sizes use both database solutions. Features Though MariaDB and MySQL initially had the same set of features, over time, they have developed standout features that set them apart from each other. MariaDB provides key management features out of the box at all price points through an AWS plugin. Additionally, Maria DB updates more frequently than MySQL, meaning bug fixes release more often than MySQL. Though Maria DB and MySQL both offer GPLv2 community licenses, Maria DB provides more features as part of its community offering. MySQL supports JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) files, allowing for easy access to any data within JSON documents. Native support for JSON may improve efficiency for organizations with many JSON files. MySQL also provides an improved authentication plugin compared to Maria DB’s default plugin, improving security. Lastly, MySQL offers a robust shell that supports SQL editing as well as JavaScript and Python […]

QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and QuickBooks Online are both accounting software designed to handle financial data, invoicing, and reporting. Both solutions are popular with small businesses, though QuickBooks online is also used by many mid-sized companies. QuickBooks Online is a popular choice for businesses looking for a cloud-based accounting solution. In contrast, organizations wanting to use a desktop application prefer QuickBooks Desktop for Mac. Features Both QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and QuickBooks Online provide essential accounting features such, but both solutions also have some standout features. QuickBooks Desktop for Mac includes a simple user interface that is familiar for Mac users and simple to learn for Windows users. Additionally, data is easy to convert from windows accounting software to QuickBooks Desktop for Mac. Almost all features available on QuickBooks Windows software is also available on the Mac version. QuickBooks online offers robust remote access features, allowing accounting teams to access records and data easily. Additionally, QuickBooks Online includes flexible administration tools that enable simple setup for user roles and permissions. Lastly, QuickBooks online can update and generate reports on the fly as data is added, ensuring that reports are always up to date. Limitations Though QuickBooks Desktop for Mac and […]

Microsoft Power BI and Tableau are both business intelligence (BI) tools designed to allow users to query data and create visualizations. Microsoft Power BI is more popular with smaller businesses, while larger enterprises are more likely to use Tableau. Microsoft Power BI offers ease of use and affordability, making it a useful tool for smaller teams with less technical staff. Tableau offers robust data cleaning and transformation features that allow for the creation of quick and detailed visualizations by a technical user. Features Microsoft Power BI and Tableau both offer standard business intelligence software features, but they also both have a few features that set them apart from each other. Microsoft Power BI can easily integrate with other Microsoft technologies, such as Azure and Excel. Businesses already using Microsoft’s suite of technology will find Microsoft Power BI easy to integrate with existing systems. Additionally, Microsoft Power BI is easy to use for non-technical staff. Querying with Microsoft Power BI uses natural language rather than a query language like SQL. Additionally, visualizations can easily be created using Microsoft Power BI’s drag and drop interface. Tableau provides advanced data transformation tools that can be leveraged by more experienced data analysts. A technical […]

1password and LastPass for Business are password management solutions that companies use to make sure employees have secure passwords that will not become compromised. Businesses of different sizes use both password management solutions. 1Password has features to protect user passwords while traveling off-network, so businesses where work involves travel often use 1Password. In contrast, LastPass for Business includes features to change passwords and fill in login information on websites automatically. As a result, businesses where users have many passwords can take advantage of LastPass for business’ automation tools to save time. Features Both 1Password and LastPass for Business provide key password management features such as password generation and autofill. In addition to the core features, both password management solutions also have some standout features. 1Password does security checks on every website that users visit. This feature, called “watchtower” helps to ensure that passwords aren’t compromised and warns users if they should change their password. 1Password also features a travel mode to protect sensitive passwords when using other networks. Users can select essential passwords, and when they leave the network, the passwords are removed until they return. LastPass for Business offers reliable automation tools that fill in the login information for […]

ADP Workforce Now and Workday HCM are HR Management solutions designed to create a single source of data and a single user experience for employees. ADP Workforce is more popular with mid-sized companies while Workday HCM is preferred by larger enterprises. Features ADP Workforce Now and Workday HCM both include the basic features one can expect from HR management tools, but they also have a few standout features. ADP Workforce offers strong customer support and online resources for customer success. It also offers strong self-service tools for employees. Workday HCM has a great user interface, strong workflow management, and a simple onboarding process. Limitations In addition to their strengths, ADP Workforce Now and Workday HCM have some limitations that may be important to some businesses. ADP Workforce Now has a dated interface, particularly on its search functionalities. Additionally, ADP Workforce Now communicates downtime through a social media esque program rather than by directly contacting users. Workday HCM requires paid add-ons for some features such as storing tax forms. Some users also cite performance issues with Workday HCM’s self-service system. Pricing ADP Workforce Now’s pricing is dependent on the business. Quotes are available from the vendor. Workday HCM starts at $100.00 […]

Docusign and Adobe Sign are electronic signature software options designed to work for businesses of any size. Abode Sign is more popular with large organizations that utilize other Adobe products while Docusign is more popular with small businesses. Features Docusign and Adobe Sign both provide the basic features of electronic signature software but there are a few standout features that set them apart. Docusign includes document generation tools, strong mobile support, and offers many third party integrations. Adobe Sign integrates with Adobe’s suite of document management software to allow for end-to-end document management. Limitations Docusign and Adobe sign also both have a few key limitations that are important to consider. Docusign places a limit on the number of users for most of their plans, and often receives poor feedback regarding slow or insufficient customer support. It is also difficult to alter Docusign documents after their creation. Adobe Sign has limited integrations outside of the Adobe suite and uses a difficult to use Android application for mobile users. Pricing Docusign offers two tiers of pricing for businesses. Their standard tier is $24.99 per month per user, and allows up to three users. Their business plan is $39.99 per user per month […]

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform built to streamline internal communication. It integrates tightly with Office 365, making it a natural choice for organizations already invested in Microsoft’s ecosystem. Teams integrates file sharing, chat, and meeting capabilities, positioning itself as a hub for workplace collaboration. Zoom, by contrast, began as a tool focused exclusively on high-quality video conferencing. It has now expanded to include collaboration features and messaging, but its reputation still rests on delivering seamless video meetings with minimal setup for both employees and external participants. Many businesses use both platforms. Teams for persistent chat, document collaboration, and Office 365 integrations, and Zoom is for reliable, user-friendly web conferencing. Teams is most common among mid-sized and large enterprises, largely because it’s bundled with Office 365 subscriptions. Zoom enjoys popularity across businesses of all sizes thanks to its ease of use, low barrier to entry, and widespread recognition as a go-to video meeting solution. Features Microsoft Teams Teams extends beyond chat and conferencing by leveraging deep integration with Office 365. Users can co-edit Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio files directly within the platform, making collaboration seamless. Recent enhancements have strengthened its video conferencing capabilities, including: Expanded participant capacity Improved browser-based […]

PfSense and Untangle NG are competing firewall solutions with options for SMBs, remote workers and home offices, as well as larger campuses, designed to help users manage and protect their networks against attacks (e.g. phishing, malware). PfSense software is available through an open source Community Edition, or the pfSense Plus licensed edition. These can be bundled with relatively low priced Netgate pfSense security gateway appliances, priced and oriented around the needs of small to medium sized businesses and branch offices. Untangle, also catering to small businesses, offers a collection of NG Firewall Apps to give users custom, a la carte protection, that provides the user just what his small businesses needs, without undue cost and bloat. Untangle also offers their z series appliances that come pre-loaded with NG Firewall, packaged and ready for small businesses. There is also a higher tier edition for corporate campuses and data centers. Features PfSense and Untangle NG Firewall support core network security features such as spam or GeoIP blocking, VPN functionality, WAN balancing, etc. but users describe a few standout features that distinguish them from each other, though bear in mind these are similar entry level network security options, equally well regarded. PfSense has […]

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration tool used by businesses for internal communication. Teamviewer is a screen sharing technology often used for technical support that also contains collaboration features. Features Microsoft Teams and Teamviewer both include key features that make them top choices. Microsoft Teams includes text and video chat functionality, as well as file sharing and individual screen sharing. It also integrates with Microsoft Office software. Teamviewer provides multiple screen sharing and file sharing capabilities. Teamviewer also includes custom branding and clipboard syncing. Limitations Microsoft Teams and Teamviewer both have limitations that are important to consider. Microsoft Teams lacks multiple screen share, and loses some utility for businesses that don’t use Microsoft Office. Teamviewer is a resource intensive program that has a limit on the number of devices an account can manage. Pricing TeamViewer offers 3 tiers of pricing. The single-user plan allows one user to manage up to 200 devices for $49.00/month. The multi-user plan allows multiple users to manage a total of 300 devices for $99.00/month. Lastly, the corporate plan allows multiple users to manage up to 500 devices for $199.00/month. Microsoft Teams is included in Office 365, which has three tiers of pricing. The cheapest option is […]

1Password and Keeper are password management solutions used by companies to ensure employees are using secure passwords and that their passwords aren’t compromised, to apply role-based controls and to enforce stricter access standards for teams or employees if desired (e.g. 2FA), and also to help enterprises ensure account data (and therefore data accessible through these accounts) is not accessible to rogue entities. These particular password solutions also include security intelligence, in the form of Password1’s domain breach reporting, and Keeper’s dark web monitoring service, Breachwatch. Both solutions are popular with companies of all sizes, though they both tend to be deployed more at smaller companies. Features 1Password and Keeper provide basic password management features such as password generation and storage, and have greatly overlapping feature sets. In addition to commonalities and overall similar ratings, they do each have a few standout features users have called attention to, that distinguish one from the other. 1Password users enjoy the core password generation and auto-fill functionality, noting that the tool is customizable to generate passwords that meet a company’s security policies.Users also enjoy multiple separate vaults for personal and business use, transferable vaults, and easily administered access control to vaults. 1Password also features […]

Pluralsight and LinkedIn Learning are eLearning content providers. Businesses use Pluralsight and LinkedIn Learning to train their staff on new concepts or skills. Individuals, on the other hand, use the platforms to improve their hireability, enhance their current job skills, or even pivot careers entirely. LinkedIn Learning covers a wide variety of subjects, while Pluralsight is designed for in-depth technical learning. Both platforms are primarily used by large enterprises, likely because businesses with more employees can gain more value from a company-wide learning platform. Features Pluralsight and LinkedIn Learning both offer a wide variety of courses, but they distinguish themselves with their content types and extra features. Pluralsight focuses on in-depth technical courses for developers, offering deep dives into specific programming languages, data analysis libraries, and IT operations tools. It also includes one-on-one training with experts to supplement the video courses. Practice exams help users prepare for certification tests, and interactive courses give users in-app coding tasks with immediate feedback. Recent additions to the platform include a streamlined getting started experience for new users and administrative tools that help managers set group goals and see learning progress for their teams. LinkedIn Learning’s standout feature is its diversity of topics. It […]

PfSense is a powerful firewall software solution, while Ubiquiti Networks Unifi is WiFi hotspot software. Though they specialize in different niches, Ubiquiti Networks Unifi also offers security features, while PfSense can be used as a wireless solution. PfSense is an open source software that is either deployed through the cloud or on a network box. In order to use it to handle WiFi, it must be deployed through a box. PfSense is completely customizable and can utilize many different wireless cards. This makes PfSense a good choice for companies with specific needs and the technological know-how to make a network box that suits those needs. Ubiquiti Networks Unifi offers WiFi and security as separate pieces of hardware that can integrate with each other. Ubiquiti Networks Unifi is a good choice for a company that doesn’t need significant customization or lacks the technical staff to manage a customized network box. Features PfSense offers strong firewall and security features while Ubiquiti Networks Unifi offers strong WiFi support features. Both solutions have a few standout features that set them apart from other choices. PfSense is open source, so there is a lot of guidance and documentation for it online, this also means it […]

Datadog markets itself as an IT infrastructure management tool, while Splunk Enterprise is security information and event management software. Despite this, both pieces of software are designed to collect large amounts of data produced by business applications. This data can then be used for data visualization and analysis. Datadog and Splunk Enterprise are both favored by mid-sized companies and large enterprises. Datadog is slightly more popular with mid-sized businesses while Splunk is more popular with larger enterprises. Mid-sized companies likely appreciate Datadog’s high level of customization while larger businesses enjoy Splunk’s robust logging features. Features Datadog and Splunk Enterprise both offer strong data capture and analysis features. Because they specialize in slightly different markets, however, they have a few standout features that set them apart. Datadog offers a high level of customization for its users. It has a flexible API and custom dashboards that are easier to engage with compared to the competition. Datadog is also a lightweight piece of software that doesn’t place heavy demands on servers. Splunk Enterprise provides robust logging capabilities. Users can create custom rules and search logs using the software’s query language. Splunk Enterprise also offers a variety of online training documents written both by […]