Compare the Best Web Hosting Providers

	Free Domain with Plan	Ecommerce Hosting	Cloud Hosting	Email Included with Basic Plan
Bluehost	Yes	Yes	No	No
Hostgator	Yes	No	Yes	No
Hostinger	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
GoDaddy	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Dreamhost	Yes	No	Yes	No
SiteGround	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Namecheap	Yes	No	No	Yes
Hostwinds	No	No	Yes	Yes
GreenGeeks	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Each of the following hosting providers offers a free SSL certificate with a hosting plan and 24/7 support.

Bluehost

Bluehost is built for business owners who want to use a WordPress website thanks to their managed WordPress hosting. The new website builder offers customizable themes and a drag-and-drop interface for easy creation. Users can easily edit their sites on mobile, which is great for when you notice a typo after you’ve already published a change and left the office. It offers 24/7 phone and live chat support. Bluehost will also help you kick off your marketing efforts by providing up to a $150 match for Google Ads.

Why we chose Bluehost

Bluehost offers seamless WordPress integration and the official recommendation from WordPress.org. Users can install WordPress with one click, and automatic updates streamline the web hosting process. Bluehost’s customer support, which includes a 24/7 WordPress expert assistance, proved invaluable, ensuring users receive the help they need promptly.

HostGator

Established in 2002, HostGator offers scalable tools with unlimited bandwidth, so businesses don’t have to learn a new tool as they grow. It offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee with unmetered bandwidth and 24/7 live chat support to keep your website running smoothly for users. Shared hosting, virtual private server hosting, and dedicated hosting make it easy to find a solution that fits your business. And if you have developers, cPanel access gives them the freedom to make backend changes.

Why we chose HostGator

HostGator offers a wide range of hosting plans, from shared to dedicated servers, catering to businesses of all sizes. Its flexible plans, coupled with unmetered bandwidth, allow businesses to sale their operations as they grow. HostGator’s 24/7 customer support and 45-day money back guarantee add an extra layer of assurance, making it a reliable and scalable hosting solution.

Hostinger

Hostinger breaks its pricing plans down by the approximate number of visits your website can handle each month, helping you determine which plan makes the most sense for your business. Email is included with hosting along with an SSL certificate and DDoS protection to keep your website secure. However, the domain isn’t included unless you upgrade from the basic package. Hostinger also offers virtual private servers and WordPress hosting along with 24/7 live chat support.

Why we chose Hostinger

Hostinger was chosen as a leading web hosting provider for its remarkable balance of cost-effectiveness and functionality. With its competitive pricing, Hostinger makes hosting features accessible even to those on a tight budget. Yet, despite its affordability, Hostinger doesn’t skimp on essential features, proving everything from LiteSpeed-powered caching for fast website load times to a user-friendly control panel.

GoDaddy

GoDaddy combines domain purchasing, hosting, and a website builder into a single platform. The business hosting plans work great for e-commerce sites and provide the performance you need to add product photos and videos and know your site will still load quickly. Plus, there are over 75 free WooCommerce extensions available to help you set up your online store quickly and easily. Users can also get WordPress hosting if that’s where they want to build their site, and GoDaddy is one of the few hosting providers with a Windows hosting option.

Why we chose GoDaddy

As a one-stop shop, GoDaddy provides not just hosting, but also domain registration, website building tools, and email marketing capabilities, making it a convenient choice for users looking for an all-in-one solution.

DreamHost

DreamHost has over 20 years of hosting experience and provides a 100% uptime guarantee with its hosting plans. Its shared hosting option is great for beginners, while cloud hosting or VPS hosting plans provide more advanced features to help growing businesses scale. The higher-level plan offers unlimited bandwidth and unlimited websites.

Why we chose DreamHost

DreamHost earns its place due to its flexible payment options and customer-friendly policies. DreamHost offers monthly payment options for those not ready to commit to long-term and backs its services with an industry-leading 97-day money-back guarantee. This, coupled with strong performance, unlimited bandwith and storage, and high-quality customer service, makes DreamHost an attractive choice for those seeking flexibility and assurance in their web hosting provider.

SiteGround

Powered by Google Cloud, SiteGround offers a fast and well-connected network with servers on four continents. Proactive patches and updates keep your website secure and running smoothly with the most up-to-date features. There are even options for WooCommerce and WordPress hosting depending on your business needs. And fully managed hosting plans provide more hands-on maintenance, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business.

We we chose SiteGround

SiteGround stands out for its outstanding customer support. Known for its responsive and knowledgable support team, SiteGround ensures users receive prompt help around the clock. In addition to its top-notch support, SiteGround offers robust preformance, advanced security features, and a suite of tools that cater to both beginners and advanced users. SiteGround’s commitment to customer service, coupled with its comprehensive hosting solutions, makes it a standout choice.

Namecheap

Namecheap includes a free domain name with its web hosting plans, but you’ll have to upgrade past the basic tier if you want a .com domain name instead of something like .site or .online. However, the basic plan does include hosting for up to three websites, while most providers only offer one. The free website builder offers over 200 customizable templates, drag-and-drop functionality, and the ability to import your existing website files and tweak them as necessary. Managed WordPress hosting is also available.

Why we chose Namecheap

Namecheap offers a wide range of domain extensions at competitive prices, along with free domain privacy protection. Additionally, Namecheap’s user-friendly interface and customer support make the process of purchasing and managing domains straightforward, even for beginners. Its commitment to providing affordable, reliable domain services sets Namecheap apart in the market.

Hostwinds

Hostwinds owns all of its servers and systems, rather than renting them, so it retains complete control over system updates and can fix problems quickly. Users can also get VPS hosting. Built-in redundancies ensure that your website will stay live even if a dedicated server goes down, helping Hostwinds stick to its 99.9999% uptime promise. The business hosting plans offer free unlimited email accounts, so you can set up all of your employees with their own addresses.

Why we chose Hostwinds

Hostwinds earns its place for its comprehensive business hosting solutions. Hostwinds offers a range of advanced features, including dedicated IP addresses, poweful SSD storage, and a customizable server environment, all tailored to meet the needs of businesses. Their 99.99% uptime guarantee and around-the-clock customer support provide an additional layer of assurance, making Hostwinds an excellent choice for businesses seeking reliable hosting solutions.

GreenGeeks

GreenGeeks prides itself on being an eco-friendly hosting provider by offering renewable energy to offset the 300% of the power it consumes. The basic plan is great if you’re just starting out, but if you already have an established business, you’ll likely want to upgrade to one of the higher tiers to get unlimited webspace and email addresses. All of the hosting plans come with a free domain registration for the first year and free nightly backups. VPS hosting and WordPress hosting are also available.

Why we chose GreenGeeks

GreenGeeks makes the list for its commitment to eco-friendly practices. GreenGeeks is recognized for its carbon-reducing efforts, as it offsets 300% of the energy used by its customers with renewable energy credits. Beyond its environmental commitments, GreenGeeks delivers in terms of performance, reliability, and customer support. Its commitment to sustainable practices, coupled with its hosting solutions, makes GreenGeeks an outstanding choice for those seeking an eco-friendly web hosting provider.

What Is Website Hosting?

Website hosting is the process of storing website files on a server that publishes the site on the internet for visitors to be able to access it. When a user wants to reach your site, they type the URL into the address bar of their browser, and it connects to the server, bringing up the website. Website hosting is only the file storage, although some providers will also include domain registration and a website builder to simplify the process. If they don’t include it, you’ll have to purchase a domain name before a hosting company will store your website.

Get a custom domain name for as low as $7/year with Google Domains!

Server hardware, bandwidth, and software infrastructure is typically too expensive to own and maintain for individuals and small businesses, so hosting companies offer customers platforms that bundle storage, web services, and more. Then, they charge the website owners a monthly fee to store the files, offsetting the cost of maintenance.

There are a few hosting types users can choose from: dedicated, shared, virtual private server (VPS), or cloud hosting. The type you choose depends on your resource needs and whether you require a private server.

Web Hosting vs. Website Design

While they may seem similar, website hosting and web design are very different, although some hosting providers do offer website builders within their platform. Web hosting is strictly the storing of files after they’ve been created. It’s a subscription-based service where customers pay a monthly fee, and the hosting company provides storage and maintenance. There are also usually service level agreements (SLAs) in place to reimburse the website owner if the website goes down due to server issues.

Web design, on the other hand, is the process of creating the website files that the hosting company will store. It’s something you can do yourself or decide to outsource, depending on your level of design knowledge. Web design can sometimes require coding knowledge, although drag-and-drop builders like Squarespace and Wix have made the process much easier. If you decide to outsource to a web design service, you’ll likely pay a one-time fee once the designer has finished the project, or they may break it up into a couple of installments to make the cost more manageable.

Common Features of Web Hosting Tools

Here are a few of the features you should look for when choosing the best web hosting provider for your business.

Email Hosting

Email hosting is especially important for businesses, so employees can have professional-looking email addresses. Instead of using free domains like @gmail or @outlook, you can get an email address like name@company.com. This adds credibility to your brand when dealing with customers. Look for web hosts that include email hosting options.

Website Builder

Not all website owners will have the coding knowledge to build their website from scratch, and outsourcing can be a huge cost for small businesses and hobbyist websites. Because of this, the best web hosting providers also offer website builders to help you build the website you need in a way they know will be compatible with their servers. Building a website in this way may not have all of the customization options you want, but it’s generally cheaper and easier.

Also read: Top Web Analytics Tools & Software

FTP Access

File transfer protocol (FTP) access is essential for website owners who don’t plan to use the hosting company’s site builder to add pages to their website. With FTP access, web designers can create new web pages using their tool of choice and then upload the files to the hosting company’s server. Business websites will need the flexibility and customization that FTP offers.

Also read: Top 6 FileZilla Alternatives for SFTP Clients

Control Panel

Web hosts should give you the ability to add and remove email addresses, change account passwords, and perform other simple administrative tasks without submitting a support ticket. Going through support can be time-consuming, and depending on your contract, it may cost you extra. The control panel should also work well with your existing IT software to make updates easier.

24/7 Support

Websites don’t wait to go down during business hours, so you need to make sure your hosting provider has 24/7 support. You don’t want to send them an urgent email at 6:00 PM only to get an automated response that someone will respond within 24 business hours. That’s a long time for your website to be broken and a lot of customers you could lose.

Benefits of Website Hosting

Choosing a third-party hosting provider is much better for most businesses than trying to do it in-house. Here are a few of the benefits you can expect to see from the best web hosting services.

Lower Overhead Costs

With third-party web hosts, you don’t have to pay for a whole dedicated server or employ IT specialists to maintain it properly. Instead, you pay a monthly fee that’s easy to budget for. Support and maintenance are also included in the cost of hosting, as are any software or hardware upgrades.

Reliability

The best web hosting companies provide SLAs that guarantee a certain level of uptime. They’ll often put the key performance indicators in their SLAs as well, so you can see how their past performance measures up to your expectations. Service level agreements are also a guarantee for the hosting company’s performance, meaning you’ll likely be reimbursed for extended periods of downtime from a problem on their end.

Security

Shared hosting typically keeps your website separate from the other IT resources your company uses, which is a big plus for securing your business. Websites are public-facing and are often huge targets for bad actors looking to access personally identifiable information. Additionally, hosting providers usually make updates as soon as they become available and invest in better security tools than small businesses could afford on their own.

Choosing the Best Web Hosting Provider

There are thousands of hosting providers to choose from, and narrowing down that list can be a daunting task. To find the best web hosting service for your business, check user reviews and service level agreements to ensure a company has the performance requirements you need. Some providers also offer free hosting trials or money-back guarantees to help you determine if their service is right for you. You should also determine whether you want to design a website using a builder or through code and HTML. This will determine whether you need FTP access and whether a hosting company’s support team will be able to help you.

Read next: What is Enterprise Search Engine Optimization

The post Best Website Hosting Services & Companies appeared first on TechnologyAdvice.

To find the perfect business management system for your company, use our BPM Product Selection Tool. After filling out a short survey about your organization’s needs, you’ll get a customized list of business software that can guide you to a management system that fits your needs. Drilling down on the right business management software solution for your business can make the difference between productivity fails and innovation wins in both the short- and long-term of your business life cycle.

Optimizing your company with business management software

• Best business management tools
• What is business management software?
• Key features of business management solutions
• Business management software streamlines operations

Best business management tools

Use these business management tools to optimize your internal operations.

Odoo, formerly OpenERP, is dedicated to using an open source business model. They function under the concept that no business applications should be priced out of reach, that they should never be considered luxury items. That’s why they developed project management software for everyone. In fact, they created more than 2,000 business applications using this same model. Their designs are simple, effective, and affordable. It is a great option for the small business looking for technology tools that can help optimize task management and grow with them.

Netsuite CRM gives the small business as well as companies of any size a complete 360-degree view of customers in real time. This powerful CRM tool provides the business owner with a continuous stream of data from all points throughout the course of a customer’s interaction and helps deliver an exceptional customer experience from the first steps of lead management to fulfillment and post-sales support. Netsuite CRM comes with marketing automation, sales force automation, and customer service management as part of its core functions.

Salesforce is a customizable customer relationship management (CRM) system that helps businesses of all sizes accelerate sales, automate tasks, and make more informed decisions to grow their businesses faster. Salesforce CRM allows the business owner and sales teams to access real-time client and customer information in one place, plus pull insights from dashboards and reports related to many aspects of your business such as social media and social listening. A small business is a perfect fit for the Salesforce CRM as it offers robust features that can scale along with your business.

Accelo is designed for the small business as well as mid-sized businesses in the professional service sector, providing tools and resources to manage client operations — sales, quotes, projects, tickets, retainers, timesheets, billing, and scheduling. It’s a project management tool that takes advantage of the power of the cloud in offering a complete service operations solution to businesses in the industry. The savvy business owner loves its ability to amp up task management, automate processes and streamline collaboration to increase team productivity, ultimately providing a better client experience.

Scoro is an all-in-one business management software that combines project management with time and team management as well as sales, billing, and professional services automation. It is designed to allow businesses to keep essential tools and capabilities like CRM, billing, task management and reporting in one place rather than have to switch between software. A small business can benefit from exploring Scoro as an option due to its powerful CRM and automation capabilities.

monday.com is a cloud-based Work OS, where teams create workflow apps in minutes to run their processes, projects, and everyday work. Teams shape their workflows and projects, code-free, with a platform that adapts to shifting needs quickly, decreases manual grunt work, and connects teams in a collaborative workspace. monday.com also has apps for both iOS and Android devices so users can stay updated on the go.

QuickBooks Online has become one of the most widely used accounting suites on the market today. The large number of pre-built integrations with both generic and industry-specific systems make QuickBook a natural choice for small-to-medium businesses looking for a software tool to manage all aspects of their accounting and financial management including bookkeeping, invoicing and billing, payroll, etc. Workflow automation tools help you with accounting challenges from the invoice to payroll. QuickBooks Online offers flexibility and scalability that enable it to grow as your business grows, adding functionality as it’s needed.

ProofHub is a web-based project management software built to help teams collaborate, gain visibility to workflow and finish projects faster. Used by nonprofits, universities, freelancers, and large enterprises alike, ProofHub offers five different plans, each scalable to fit the needs of any size business in a variety of industries. ProofHub has divided the project management process into three ideas: make plans, organize work, and deliver on time.

Flokzu, a business process management (BPM) solution, was developed by a team with over 15 years of experience in corporate BPM. Seeing an opportunity to provide businesses a powerful, intuitive, and affordable BPM platform, the Flokzu team launched their eponymous product, hoping to democratize BPM and allow small-to-medium firms to access the many advantages a custom BPM solution can provide.

Atlassian is an Australian software development firm founded in 2002. Developer of the Jira software development project management solution, they offer a wide range of products including their flagship Jira software development project management and tracking software, collaboration software, code hosting and management software, and a large number of tools and add-ons. Jira is a cross-platform issue and bug tracking software with advanced project management capabilities and features with robust plug-in options like the Gantt chart to help with reporting and productivity assessment. Workflow within departments and across departmental boundaries can be easily streamlined with the power of Jira.

ZOHO is an ecosystem that provides large businesses with professional services, infrastructure, support, and security technology tools. ZOHO streamlines complex business processes, helps organizations build strong relationships with customers, and facilitates growth. The sale and marketing suite helps with customer acquisition through message delivery channels like live chat, email, social media, SMS and mobile push notification. ZOHO offers a complete tool that can enhance productivity and collaboration by allowing users to create shared documents and presentations, host online meetings and conferences, and communicate via chat or email. Functions include sales and marketing, productivity and collaboration, integrated customer experience, business analytics, finance and accounting, Human Resources, and a low-code developer platform.

What is business management software?

Business management software is any tool or application that helps a business create, automate, or streamline processes to improve workflows. These platforms usually reduce human error and improve efficiency to reduce operating costs. Business management software encompasses a variety of other tools and platforms, including:

• Project management software
• Customer relationship management (CRM) software
• Accounting tools
• Database software
• Workflow management platforms

Many business management platforms are cloud-based, enabling employees to access necessary tools and data no matter where they are. Additionally, the customer relationship management (CRM) functionality allows businesses to refine and optimize the customer experience; while finding the right accounting software can streamline invoicing and other financials. Business intelligence improves business continuity and productivity.

Enterprise resource planning defined

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is when businesses seek to integrate their core integrated business processes through the use of web-based technology that allows for real time visibility into performance. Organizations can use the ERP to collect, store, manage, and gain insights data from their business performance. An ERP software will include interconnected modules from across the organization from finance to sales to supply chain, giving companies visibility into how the organization’s data fits together.

Small business management software tips

Scoping and selecting the right small business management software takes a bit of forward thinking on the part of a growing business. While budgets are usually tight, it’s important for small business owners to weigh costs and current needs with a nod to the future and how each small business management software choice can (or can’t) grow with your small business. 

Small businesses are, additionally, not always growing companies on this type of trajectory. They can have seasonal fluctuations that also factor into the choice of small business software, creating nuances and challenges unique to their business model.

Key features of business management tools and solutions

Most solutions that fall under the business management category have one or more of the following features.

Project or task management

Project and task management features help businesses track both tasks and projects through different phases, ensuring that they stay on track. Managers can create and assign tasks, and project members can comment on the task and share files to keep everyone in the loop. The platform may offer email and/or mobile application notifications to keep tasks from falling through the cracks.

Process automation

One of the best ways to reduce operating costs is to remove human labor from repetitive tasks. Business management tools often offer some form of process automation, allowing employees to focus on more complex tasks or to spend time improving their role or department. Accounting software that automates invoicing, as well as software that takes care of shift scheduling, and reporting are all examples of processes that can be automated in some way.

Resource management

Some of the most important things a business needs to manage are its resources: its people, assets, and capital. Many business management tools include features that help you manage your resources and ensure you’re not allocating too many to any one thing. Historical data can help you determine how many people you’ll need for specific jobs, while also outlining the assets you’ll need access to. Then, your business management software can properly allocate resources to ensure your team has what they need.

Also read: How to Use Resource Management for Realistic Project Management Deadlines

Collaboration

Most projects and processes aren’t handled solo. Several people need to work together to complete them successfully. Because of this, the right business management tool usually include some form of collaboration, either through instant messaging or file sharing. Team members can use these features to communicate about projects and keep everyone updated on progress and obstacles they run into.

Business management software streamlines operations

Business management software covers a wide range of tools to help businesses streamline their operations and improve efficiency. The type of software you choose will depend on the processes you have in place. For example, if you’re not a product-based business, you won’t need supply chain management software, but you might need CRM or lead management software to improve your sales process or accounting software to optimize your payroll process.

To figure out what you need, take stock of your current processes and then evaluate what’s working well and what isn’t. You may also take an audit of your customer journey and decide to fold a CRM into the mix or other sales processes. If you’re not sure which business management software is best for your company, use our Business Process Management Product Selection Tool.

The post Top Business Management Software Solutions appeared first on TechnologyAdvice.

Construction management software is project management software designed specifically for construction companies to keep your projects organized and on budget. If you’re looking to add a construction management tool to your repertoire, you’ve probably heard of Buildertrend and CoConstruct.

In this article, we’ll compare and contrast the two to help you decide which one is right for your business.

Product overviews

Buildertrend

Buildertrend manages your leads and creates a convenient location to create, compare, and store project bids. It automates part of the contract management tasks and marketing email drips, letting you focus on the actual construction.

The system also integrates with Excel and has a mobile app for managing leads on the go. There are three pricing tiers and special services that can be added onto your package.

CoConstruct

CoConstruct focuses on the coordination, communication, and control within your team. It has various project management and budgeting features all in one place and integrates with QuickBooks to make accounting easier.

Like Buildertrend, CoConstruct also has a mobile app for tracking jobsite activity and progress wherever you are. There are several pricing plans depending on how many projects you have active each month.

Also Read: Best Construction Project Management Software 2023

Budget tools

Staying on budget is arguably one of the most important aspects in a construction project. Automating and streamlining processes increases your margins and decreases your bid to completion time. It’s critical to choose a construction management platform with robust budgeting tools to accomplish this.

Buildertrend

Buildertrend’s budget tools generate invoices, accept online payments, and automatically send reminders based on your assigned due dates to keep payments coming in on time. The payment tools are safe, secure, and allow you to pay subcontractors as well.

Buildertrend makes it easy to compare your estimate with actual costs and track the status of purchase orders and invoices. Employees can clock in and out on the app, so you don’t need to worry about time sheets.

CoConstruct

CoConstruct offers similar budget tools to keep you on track. The system reduces the time it takes to create bids and sends automatic reminders to potential subcontractors to submit their bids.

CoConstruct’s budget system updates as clients make selections about their design and gives you the option to share it with them online. And the system provides the latest projected project costs based on real-time data.

Contact management

Buildertrend

Buildertrend’s contact management tools seek to keep your clients active and engaged throughout the entire process. It provides a customer login for direct access to project details and allows customers to upload and send messages in the platform.

The Buildertrend system lets your clients make decisions on the platform and keeps all of their selections and product warranty information organized in one place. Plus, the CRM feature makes the pre-sales process easier with automated drip campaigns and customizable email templates.

Buildertrend has strong client communication tools as well. The system keeps all of the communications together in one place and keeps your clients on the same page, so you won’t have to mediate between them. Buildertrend can track web, mobile, email, and text conversations with no extra effort on your part.

CoConstruct

CoConstruct places higher emphasis on the sales process with thoughtful, straightforward lead management tools. Set categories and project scores within the system to focus more time on higher-quality leads.

The system also provides a detailed checklist for nurturing your leads. Plus, all of your contact information is one place, so you don’t have to hunt down a phone number or email address. 

Project management & scheduling

Buildertrend

Buildertrend’s project management tools handle organization, time tracking, and team collaboration. View daily logs and create tasks for you, your subcontractors, and clients. You’ll also get notifications to keep you up to date. And the scheduling feature syncs with Google calendar and Outlook and includes a Gantt chart option. 

With the plan markup feature, you can edit plans and blueprints within the system, using touch controls or adding comments with voice-to-text. Furthermore, the system manages the status of your trade partners’ important documents and will automatically notify your subcontractors when their documents are approaching expiration.

CoConstruct

CoConstruct puts all of your to-dos in one list, so it’s easy to manage. Spot recurring issues like late subcontractors and missing issues by using custom flags for future avoidance. The scheduling feature sends automatic reminders to your team to keep them on track and make their workload easier to manage.

The in-software data storage keeps files and photos organized and easy to locate. And, thanks to the mobile app, these files are available on the go, for both viewing and commenting. 360 photo technology is also available to show your clients the entire scope of the project.

Choosing the right system for your business

While both software are consistently at the top of their class for construction management, your business goals will determine which one you ultimately choose.

Buildertrend has great marks for communication and focuses heavily on the production end of construction management. CoConstruct overshadows its competition when it comes to relationship management and focuses more heavily on lead generation. Both systems have a ton of features, which can be helpful but also a possible hindrance while you’re learning the system.

Still can’t decide? Check out some of our other construction project management favorites to see what other options are out there.

The post Buildertrend vs. CoConstruct appeared first on TechnologyAdvice.

• What is partner relationship management software?
• Compare top partner management software
• Key features of PRM tools
• Benefits of partner relationship management software
• Considerations for partner management tools
• Finding the best partner management solution for your business

What is partner relationship management software?

Compare top partner management software

	Partner Incentive Programs	Real-time Chat	Goal Management	Document Management
PartnerStack	Yes	No	No	No
Magentrix	No	Yes	No	Yes
Allbound	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Impartner	No	No	Yes	Yes
Zift Solutions	Yes	No	No	Yes

PartnerStack

Magentrix

Allbound

Impartner

Zift Solutions

Key features of PRM tools

Inventory and rate control

Automated onboarding

Mobile access

Benefits of partner relationship management software

Partner consolidation

Improved communication

Standardized branding and marketing

Considerations for partner management tools

Number of partners

Industry

Budget

Finding the best partner management solution for your business

The post Top Partner Relationship Management Software appeared first on TechnologyAdvice.

Streamline internal communication with collaboration software

• The best collaboration tools
• What is collaboration software?
• Key features of online collaboration software
• Using business collaboration software to improve communication

The best collaboration tools

Slack

ClickUp

Microsoft 365

Google Workspace

Dropbox

Zoom

GoToMeeting

Skype

Zinc

Ryver

What is collaboration software?

Key features of online collaboration software

Instant messaging

File sharing

Video conferencing

Integrations to project management or business management software

Use business collaboration software to improve communication

The post Best Team Collaboration Software appeared first on TechnologyAdvice.

While these tools overlap in some areas, they can also be used in tandem to create a more focused and productive remote work environment. In this article, we’ll compare:

• Team Communication Features
• Project Management Tools
• Contact Management Options

While we’ve compared Basecamp and Microsoft 365, there are other tools out there that promote remote work and collaboration. Use our Collaboration Software Product Selection Tool to get five recommendations that suit your needs best.

Overview

Basecamp is an online project management software that allows teams to easily connect and collaborate from anywhere in the world. Its simple pricing model boasts a flat fee of $99/month for unlimited users, making it an affordable option for any size business. You can share documents, assign tasks, and discuss projects easily across all devices.

Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) is a suite of productivity tools, including web-based versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Costs are user-based, and the suite starts at $5/month per user, which can make it pretty expensive for larger teams. The product offerings include an instant messaging and video conferencing platform for easy team communication, as well as online and offline access to documents.

Team communication features

Basecamp offers an instant messaging platform within the application that allows for both one-to-one direct messaging and group chats. Additionally, you can comment on tasks and files, and there’s even an option to BCC a Basecamp project from your email, so you can save important messages from clients or team members. The Basecamp calendar allows you to set due dates, reminders, and meetings for specific teams or projects with no hassle.

Microsoft 365 includes Microsoft Teams, which features both an instant messaging platform as well as a video conferencing system that hosts up to 250 participants. You can also add email hosting through Outlook, which seamlessly integrates with the rest of the suite and allows you to easily save messages in OneNote. The calendar keeps your team organized and lets you send and manage meeting invitations directly from your email account.

Project management tools

As a project management software, Basecamp makes it easy to create and assign tasks, monitor progress, and meet deadlines. Each project received its own subsite, meaning you can add only team members who actually need access to the project rather than bogging everyone down with irrelevant notifications. And speaking of notifications, Basecamp delivers in-app and email notifications to remind you when due dates are coming up, when you’ve been assigned a new to-do, or when someone tags you, so you’ll never miss something important.

While Microsoft 365 doesn’t boast any project management features, it includes tools that can certainly make tracking projects easier. The document sharing and web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote can allow multiple people to work together on a document without having to constantly download and reupload it. Additionally, discussion boards and brainstorming forums can help your team get the inspiration they need to perform truly outstanding work. However, if project management is a really important aspect of your business, you may want to use Microsoft 365 in addition to Basecamp or another project management tool.

Contact management options

Basecamp doesn’t include a contact management system, which is why some companies use both it and Microsoft 365 together. However, the message boards inside each project make it easy to store contact information and pertinent notes to any client or vendor you might have. The handy search function also makes it easy to find these notes from the home page, so you don’t have to search through all of your different projects.

Microsoft 365 offers contact management through Outlook, allowing you to save clients and vendors as contacts to have regular touch points. Similar to Basecamp, OneNote allows you to easily store notes about your clients and vendors in an organized, easily accessible format. Finally, you can share documents and spreadsheets with clients while securing them with passwords to ensure only those you want to be able to access them can.

The pandemic has accelerated the need for remote collaboration

When companies moved their employees to remote work, it quickly accelerated any plans they may have already had for the ability to work completely remote and created processes where there weren’t any. Many companies already had some infrastructure in place to support this move, but many are now looking to supplement their initial efforts with additional softwares and applications. Basecamp and Microsoft 365 can both help your team better adjust to remote work and continue to be productive from home, even after the pandemic is over.

For more remote management tools, check out our Collaboration Product Selection Tool for recommendations that are tailored to your needs.

The post Basecamp vs. Microsoft 365: Compare Features and Pricing appeared first on TechnologyAdvice.

Organizational communication techniques

Face to face

Tips for implementation

Email conversations

Tips for implementation

Business meetings

Tips for implementation

Social media

Tips for implementation

Instant messaging app

Tips for implementation

Fostering organizational communication

Top Human Resources Software Recommendations

The post Prioritize Your Organizational Communication To Reduce Meeting Fatigue appeared first on TechnologyAdvice.

So to help you get your projects to higher-quality standards, we’ve compiled a list of ways to fold quality management into projects.

How is quality defined?

No matter how good the finished product is, if your customer isn’t satisfied with it, you haven’t done a quality job. In fact, Edwards Deming, an engineer and statistician who was considered by many to be the father of quality management, defines a quality product as one that is:

• Dependable
• Predictable
• Uniform
• Consistent

All, of course, based on the standards set by the client or user. Because of this, we’ll be referring to quality in this article as what your client or audience needs from the project. As a whole, quality includes meeting the requirements, delivering the product on time, and delivering a correct product.

Project quality management, then, includes all of the processes and steps taken to ensure your finished product meets those needs. Keeping the scope of quality tied to the customer makes it easier to achieve the goals you set for the project. And because quality is tied to what the customer wants and needs, you can plan for it ahead of time.

1. Use a Gantt chart

A Gantt chart displays both the different activities that need to be completed during the project and an acceptable time frame for those activities. By using this tool, you can specifically plan out each phase of the project based on the deliverables you need to meet and examine exactly how long each portion should take.

This not only helps in your planning but also helps manage client and stakeholder expectations by giving a more detailed look into the time and scope of the project.

Recommended software

Ganttic is a project management software that offers a Gantt-based approach to scheduling and completing projects. The application is cloud-based and offers a more functional alternative to the limited features found in Excel. The drag-and-drop approach makes it easy to alter the project scope without having to create a whole new chart. Plus, tracking and planning resource usage is simpler.

2. Use a flow chart

Flow charts are used in project management to provide a visual representation of the method you’re going to use during the project. It shows how processes work together and what needs to be completed before you can move onto the next phase of the project.

Flow charts are a great way to find areas in your project that can be optimized for better efficiency. If you’re having trouble determining how to meet a client’s deadline, a flow chart can help identify pieces of the project that are holding you back.

Recommended software

Twproject is a web-based project management software that provides Gantt charts, flow charts, and an Excel-like interface to optimize and streamline projects. Assign tasks, update project details, and set goals in real time. Customers applaud its level of detail, explaining that they can easily keep track of issues while the program itself is simple and easy to use.

3. Use quality management software

Quality management software streamlines processes and organizes data to improve efficiency and provide a better-quality product. Some also offer reporting features so you can spot areas for improvement and keep an eye on important data metrics. Others, like Pilgrim’s SmartSolve, may provide compliance features simpler regulation adherence.

Recommended software

Pilgrim SmartSolve

SmartSolve is Pilgrim’s quality management software, designed to provide better control and visibility for the processes you manage. It’s specifically geared toward life sciences, making it a perfect option for healthcare organizations. The platform offers simplified reporting, easy audit preparation, and electronic signature report. Additionally, the built-in tools make it easy to monitor key processes and analyze and report on quality data.

SmartSolve also offers tools that automate processes to keep you compliant with the GMP, GCP, and GLP standards dictated by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It improves a variety of processes, including audit management, complaint management, supplier quality management, and change management.

TrackVia

As a leading quality management software for manufacturing companies, TrackVia reduces costs and shortens project production cycles. The software is cloud based, offering both mobile and offline capabilities to keep your projects running smoothly. The software is also customizable, so it can be tailored to your business needs and the scope of your project. It also easily integrates with most ERP and CRM tools.

Also Read: The Best ERP for Supply Chain Logistics

TrackVia works best for medium to large manufacturing companies who need end-to-end visibility on their projects and want to shorten timelines.

Ensuring better quality for your projects

Many project managers consider quality management to be one of the most, if not the most, challenging aspects of project management. Quality has different definitions for everyone, and relying on the client or end user to determine what makes a high-quality product can be exceedingly frustrating.

Luckily, there are software and tools available to help you provide top-quality products every time. Check out our Project Management Software Guide to peruse a list of products that will meet your company’s needs.

The post 3 Ways to Plan Quality Management in Projects appeared first on TechnologyAdvice.

There are many great project management software options available, but we’re going to look at two you’ll probably come across early in your search: Basecamp vs. Freedcamp.

So let’s into the details of where they’re similar and where they differ.

Basecamp vs. Freedcamp overview

Basecamp and Freedcamp are both project management tools that provide a productive work environment and foster communication within your team. Each offers features for better collaboration within your organization as well as for providing deliverables to clients.

Basecamp

Basecamp is organized into projects that allow you to assign and track tasks, share ideas, and house files. Change logs are available to see who has edited or uploaded a file or message most recently, as well as see comments for them. The system can be confusing at first since there’s so much information, but the user interface is clean, and it’s easy to jump from project to project.

Also Read: Top 5 Project Management Software & Tools for 2023

Freedcamp

Freedcamp provides a centralized system for project management filled with innovative and intuitive tools and features. It streamlines team communication, task management, and time management to make businesses more efficient in their day-to-day operations. Plus, there’s a free tier, making it perfect for even the smallest businesses.

Basecamp vs. Freedcamp: Pricing

Basecamp

Basecamp offers its customers three different plans, each with their own flat fee:

• Team: $99/mo.
• Business: $199/mo.
• Unlimited: $299/mo.

Its Team plan works for up to 10 users, with 2 TB of storage and every Basecamp feature. The Business plan sticks to the 10-user limit and 2 TB of storage, but you get unlimited client access for the bump in price. And the Unlimited plan offers unlimited users, unlimited client access, and an increased 5 TB of storage.

Unfortunately, there is no free plan, but if you want to give it a try, Basecamp does offer a generous 30-day free trial.

Heads-up: Basecamp’s offering a discount
	At the time of writing, Basecamp is offering $100 off its Unlimited plan, bringing the price down to $199 per month instead of its usual $299 per month.

Freedcamp

Freedcamp also offers multiple different pricing tiers:

• Free: $0
• Pro: $2.49/user/mo.
• Business: $8.99/user/mo.
• Enterprise: $19.99/user/mo.

Its most popular is the free option. With this selection, you get access to time and task management, up to 10 MB file size limit, and a password manager along with a few other features.

The Minimalist tier grants access to everything in the free tier but offers a 25 MB file size limit, the ability to create tasks or upload files through email, and integration with Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.

The Business tier provides everything available from the Minimalist tier with the adjustment of a 100 MB file size limit, Google shared drives, project templates, data snapshots, and reports.

Finally, the Enterprise tier provides everything within the other pricing tiers but offers a 250 MB file size limit, white labeling, faster support, and two-factor authentication.

Internal features

Basecamp features an instant messaging platform that makes team communication easy. You can create and assign tasks, keep up with progress, and view and respond to comments to keep things flowing smoothly. The message boards and file sharing spaces keep important information neatly organized and searchable.

Freedcamp offers Gantt charts and kanban boards to keep tasks organized and on track. The software facilitates team discussion to keep communication clear and moving in the right direction. You can also split tasks into smaller subtasks, so if there’s a holdup somewhere, it’s easy to see where the block is.

Client-facing features

Not only can Basecamp and Freedcamp make it easier to manage your internal projects, you can also walk clients through project progress as well.

With Basecamp, you can add your clients as users with the Business and Unlimited plans and only add them to projects they’re involved with. Unfortunately, they’ll have as much access to that project as any of your employees, so they may add, remove, or change things without your knowledge. You’re also unable to white label the system, so everyone will know what you’re using.

With Freedcamp, you do have the option to white label the software, so clients will feel like they’re logging onto their own personal dashboard. It also offers read-only guest access, so you can keep everything consistent on your end. Freedcamp allows you to differentiate between private and public tasks, so your clients can only see what you want them to.

Keep everyone on task

No matter which tool you decide on, project management software can be a big help in keeping your entire team on track. Basecamp’s flat pricing and intuitive user interface make it perfect for large teams who need to work on many projects simultaneously.

Alternatively, Freedcamp has pricing tiers that both small and large companies can benefit from it without breaking the bank. It’s also a good option for companies whose clients need to have a more hands-on approach.

Need more help on choosing the right project management software for your business? Our Project Management Software Guide lists some of the top software in the current market.

The post Basecamp vs. Freedcamp appeared first on TechnologyAdvice.

What Is Microsoft Dynamics ERP?

What are the Benefits of Microsoft Dynamics ERP?

Better Insights

Faster Time to Value

Quicker Adaptation to Change

Key Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP Features

Pre-Built Applications

Customizable Dashboards and Reports

Real-Time Analytics

Choosing the Right Microsoft Dynamics ERP Solution for Your Business

Top ERP Software Recommendations

The post Microsoft Dynamics ERP Solutions: A Simplified Breakdown appeared first on TechnologyAdvice.