Comprehensive software reviews to make better IT decisions




Application Maintenance & Development
A great relationship with your software provider delivers both value and immediate results. These key tips will help you make the best of your partnership.
Traditional accounting practices are tailor made for waterfall project management. Organizations that have transitioned to the use of standing product teams using Agile and DevOps need to transform their accounting practices as well or they will leave valuable capital expenditure dollars on the table.
IBM is changing the terms of its ubiquitous Passport Advantage agreement to remove entitled discounts on over 5,000 on-premises software products, resulting in an immediate price increase for IBM Software & Support (S&S) across its vast customer landscape.
This note walks through the process of determining whether Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) is right for your organization and, if it is, how to choose a right-sized CPaaS solution.
Thinking about choosing a new software vendor but don't know where to start? Narrow down your shortlist by focusing on software that has received an Info-Tech Research Group award. New data from SoftwareReviews shows that organizations reported higher satisfaction when they switched to software that had received an Info-Tech award.
Lean IX and Apptio have partnered to produce an integrated solution that better informs the strategic decision-making process with improved visibility into an application’s total cost of ownership and alignment to business capabilities.
Data & Analytics
This note highlights the top three trends to watch for in the 2021 UCaaS market.
On October 6, 2020, Cisco introduced a slew of updates for Webex software and hardware, coming October and early November. This briefing predominantly featured the release of Webex Room Navigator with of IoT technology, which seeks to reduce COVID-19 spread and optimize office footprint.
On September 1, 2020, Info-Tech briefed with Cisco about current and upcoming features of its Unified Webex app for September. Significant changes include the introduction of Cisco Webex Classrooms and the Webex Control Hub, with notable updates also coming to Webex for Education, Webex Meetings, and Webex Teams.
On September 4, 2020, Info-Tech briefed with Zoho about current and upcoming features of Zoho Workplace, a global enterprise collaboration platform. Organizations, especially SMBs, that want to look outside of Microsoft’s and Google’s office productivity suite duopoly should consider shortlisting Zoho Workplace as a viable option.
Enterprise Connect 2020 Digital Conference & Expo featured a wide variety of sessions on communications and collaboration for enterprise. Thomas Randall reports on Nemertes’ latest research. Nemertes studied the impact of team collaboration software on the enterprise and the need for a rationalized collaboration toolset.
Enterprise Connect 2020 Digital Conference & Expo featured a wide variety of sessions on communications and collaboration for enterprise. Thomas Randall reports on Cisco’s new solutions for remote work and a safe return to the office.
Finance & Administration
IBM is changing the terms of its ubiquitous Passport Advantage agreement to remove entitled discounts on over 5,000 on-premises software products, resulting in an immediate price increase for IBM Software & Support (S&S) across its vast customer landscape.
Thinking about choosing a new software vendor but don't know where to start? Narrow down your shortlist by focusing on software that has received an Info-Tech Research Group award. New data from SoftwareReviews shows that organizations reported higher satisfaction when they switched to software that had received an Info-Tech award.
With lots of functionality being provisioned/deployed at the tenant level, Microsoft is happy to sit back for now, watch, and start auditing in the future.
Firstline worker licenses can be a cost-effective licensing vehicle but could reduce your discount tier or disqualify you from an Enterprise Agreement.
The impact of COVID-19, as it became a global pandemic in Q1 of 2020, has affected user sentiment toward software during a growing period of fear, uncertainty, and doubt. To analyze the impact, SoftwareReviews compared Satisfaction (willingness to recommend to a peer), ability to deliver Business Value (fair cost to value), and Likeliness to Renew prior to March 10 and post March 10.
Configuring online learning can take time and resources not all organizations have, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. D2L is assisting with this through a Quick Start Care Package to help organizations rapidly transition to online learning.
Human Resources
IBM is changing the terms of its ubiquitous Passport Advantage agreement to remove entitled discounts on over 5,000 on-premises software products, resulting in an immediate price increase for IBM Software & Support (S&S) across its vast customer landscape.
Thinking about choosing a new software vendor but don't know where to start? Narrow down your shortlist by focusing on software that has received an Info-Tech Research Group award. New data from SoftwareReviews shows that organizations reported higher satisfaction when they switched to software that had received an Info-Tech award.
With lots of functionality being provisioned/deployed at the tenant level, Microsoft is happy to sit back for now, watch, and start auditing in the future.
Firstline worker licenses can be a cost-effective licensing vehicle but could reduce your discount tier or disqualify you from an Enterprise Agreement.
The impact of COVID-19, as it became a global pandemic in Q1 of 2020, has affected user sentiment toward software during a growing period of fear, uncertainty, and doubt. To analyze the impact, SoftwareReviews compared Satisfaction (willingness to recommend to a peer), ability to deliver Business Value (fair cost to value), and Likeliness to Renew prior to March 10 and post March 10.
Configuring online learning can take time and resources not all organizations have, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. D2L is assisting with this through a Quick Start Care Package to help organizations rapidly transition to online learning.
IT Infrastructure & Operations
In the market for software? Learn why it's important to have multiple vendors at the negotiation table.
The growth of AI and workflow automation is crucial to the success of any digital transformation strategy. Learn how DRYiCE's iAutomate can help provide "zero-touch" automation.
On November 17, 2020, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (ALE) released its Q3 report. While ALE saw increased revenue for its cloud solutions (especially for its UCaaS offering Rainbow), the overall picture was dampened by further global lockdowns and summer breaks.
On October 29, 2020, Verizon briefed on BlueJeans’ product vision and direction. This note outlines the new and upcoming features that users can expect from BlueJeans for the rest of 2020 and into 2021. However, with the table stakes margin for features rapidly increasing in the web conferencing marketspace, BlueJeans’ new features are less a way to stand out from the crowd and more as a necessity to keep up.
On November 5, 2020, Cisco briefed on its upcoming virtual legislative session tool Webex Legislate. With a range of features that governing bodies around the globe have desired throughout the extent of the pandemic, Webex Legislate surely becomes the must-have tool for conducting virtual and hybrid sessions – especially if an agency is already leveraging Cisco products.
In this note, I interviewed Himadri Das, head of automation at TietoEVRY. Areas that were covered include important things businesses should consider for implementing AI-based solutions, the maturity level should their practices have, the possible risks of adopting AI, and areas of AIOps that need more improvement.
IT Security & Risk
The recent Schrems II invalidation of the EU-US Privacy Shield has added a layer of difficulty for organizations that operate across borders, as they now require additional contractual clauses and measures in place to ensure data can transfer freely. Privacy program management vendor Proteus-Cyber offers a streamlined solution with the release of its Transfer Impact Assessment tool.
Chronicle, Alphabet’s enterprise security company, expands its North American partner base with Herjavec Group, its first Canadian partner. Herjavec Group is the first service provider in Canada to be certified in, and provide access to, Chronicle’s security intelligence products.
By exploiting a five-year-old configuration error, a hacker was able to access Amazon’s S3 cloud storage buckets on which Twilio’s code was loaded. As a result, customers were able to unknowingly download the modified code for twenty-four hours.
Qualys VMDR and Ivanti have announced a new partnership dedicated to improving the detection and patching of vulnerabilities. Announced July 30, the Qualys and Ivanti Partnership have already gone live as an integrated component of the VMDR solution.
Microsoft recently previewed the specific features to tackle data security and risk management for end users with Microsoft Endpoint Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and Double Key Encryption. The reason for the launch? The increasing shift towards a remote work environment and a need to mitigate the accompanying risks.
IBM is changing the terms of its ubiquitous Passport Advantage agreement to remove entitled discounts on over 5,000 on-premises software products, resulting in an immediate price increase for IBM Software & Support (S&S) across its vast customer landscape.
Marketing
How can software marketing and sales teams win in 2021? Learn how emotions affect software buying habits and how to build better customer relationships.
A great relationship with your software provider delivers both value and immediate results. These key tips will help you make the best of your partnership.
On November 17, 2020, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (ALE) released its Q3 report. While ALE saw increased revenue for its cloud solutions (especially for its UCaaS offering Rainbow), the overall picture was dampened by further global lockdowns and summer breaks.
On October 29, 2020, Verizon briefed on BlueJeans’ product vision and direction. This note outlines the new and upcoming features that users can expect from BlueJeans for the rest of 2020 and into 2021. However, with the table stakes margin for features rapidly increasing in the web conferencing marketspace, BlueJeans’ new features are less a way to stand out from the crowd and more as a necessity to keep up.
On November 5, 2020, Cisco briefed on its upcoming virtual legislative session tool Webex Legislate. With a range of features that governing bodies around the globe have desired throughout the extent of the pandemic, Webex Legislate surely becomes the must-have tool for conducting virtual and hybrid sessions – especially if an agency is already leveraging Cisco products.
On September 1, 2020, Info-Tech briefed with Cisco about current and upcoming features of its Unified Webex app for September. Significant changes include the introduction of Cisco Webex Classrooms and the Webex Control Hub, with notable updates also coming to Webex for Education, Webex Meetings, and Webex Teams.
Project Management
On November 17, 2020, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (ALE) released its Q3 report. While ALE saw increased revenue for its cloud solutions (especially for its UCaaS offering Rainbow), the overall picture was dampened by further global lockdowns and summer breaks.
On October 29, 2020, Verizon briefed on BlueJeans’ product vision and direction. This note outlines the new and upcoming features that users can expect from BlueJeans for the rest of 2020 and into 2021. However, with the table stakes margin for features rapidly increasing in the web conferencing marketspace, BlueJeans’ new features are less a way to stand out from the crowd and more as a necessity to keep up.
On November 5, 2020, Cisco briefed on its upcoming virtual legislative session tool Webex Legislate. With a range of features that governing bodies around the globe have desired throughout the extent of the pandemic, Webex Legislate surely becomes the must-have tool for conducting virtual and hybrid sessions – especially if an agency is already leveraging Cisco products.
On September 1, 2020, Info-Tech briefed with Cisco about current and upcoming features of its Unified Webex app for September. Significant changes include the introduction of Cisco Webex Classrooms and the Webex Control Hub, with notable updates also coming to Webex for Education, Webex Meetings, and Webex Teams.
On September 4, 2020, Info-Tech briefed with Zoho about current and upcoming features of Zoho Workplace, a global enterprise collaboration platform. Organizations, especially SMBs, that want to look outside of Microsoft’s and Google’s office productivity suite duopoly should consider shortlisting Zoho Workplace as a viable option.
Enterprise Connect’s virtual conference and expo for 2020 featured a wide variety of sessions on communications and collaboration for the enterprise. In this fourteenth note of fourteen, I report on Recon Research’s latest study on how COVID-19 has cemented web conferencing as the future of the workplace.
Sales & Customer Service
A great relationship with your software provider delivers both value and immediate results. These key tips will help you make the best of your partnership.
On November 17, 2020, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (ALE) released its Q3 report. While ALE saw increased revenue for its cloud solutions (especially for its UCaaS offering Rainbow), the overall picture was dampened by further global lockdowns and summer breaks.
On October 29, 2020, Verizon briefed on BlueJeans’ product vision and direction. This note outlines the new and upcoming features that users can expect from BlueJeans for the rest of 2020 and into 2021. However, with the table stakes margin for features rapidly increasing in the web conferencing marketspace, BlueJeans’ new features are less a way to stand out from the crowd and more as a necessity to keep up.
On November 5, 2020, Cisco briefed on its upcoming virtual legislative session tool Webex Legislate. With a range of features that governing bodies around the globe have desired throughout the extent of the pandemic, Webex Legislate surely becomes the must-have tool for conducting virtual and hybrid sessions – especially if an agency is already leveraging Cisco products.
On October 21, 2020, Avaya briefed its OneCloud CCaaS solution. OneCloud CCaaS provides an omnichannel experience with market-leading capabilities. If one’s organization is already embedded in the Avaya ecosystem, then OneCloud CCaaS ought to be leveraged if contact center functionality is sought.
On October 23, 2020, Verizon briefed its Contact Center Hub for SMBs. Launched October 1, Contact Center Hub is a hosted cloud service aimed at providing an easy-to-use multi-channel contact center solution for small- and mid-sized organizations. For SMBs that do not have a large customer base and only require the basics, consider shortlisting Verizon’s Contact Center Hub – especially if Verizon’s solutions are already being used in the organization.
Sales Management
Thinking about choosing a new software vendor but don't know where to start? Narrow down your shortlist by focusing on software that has received an Info-Tech Research Group award. New data from SoftwareReviews shows that organizations reported higher satisfaction when they switched to software that had received an Info-Tech award.
The impact of COVID-19, as it became a global pandemic in Q1 of 2020, has affected user sentiment toward software during a growing period of fear, uncertainty, and doubt. To analyze the impact, SoftwareReviews compared Satisfaction (willingness to recommend to a peer), ability to deliver Business Value (fair cost to value), and Likeliness to Renew prior to March 10 and post March 10.
An enterprise application selection or implementation has most likely been heavily impacted by COVID-19. Do not hit the brakes; stopping and restarting projects increases the risk of failure. Slow down or speed up? Which is the right strategy for your organization?
The math did not add up for SAP to sunset license support for legacy ECC/Business Suite 7 clients, as we predicted. I’ve fielded numerous calls asking, “Will SAP hold firm on its 2025 end-of-support date?" We finally have SAP’s answer: a resounding “NO.”
SAP customers seeking to move to S/4HANA must navigate four distinct license models, each tied to a separate deployment model (perpetual license, subscription via HEC, S/4HANA Cloud Single-Tenant, or S/4HANA Public Cloud). This note explores the license characteristics and commercial options available when choosing to procure perpetual licenses for S/4HANA.
SAP’s native-cloud play through S/4HANA dangled the hopes of a simplified license structure to SAP customers. Instead, SAP customers now must navigate four distinct license models, each tied to a separate deployment model.
Time & Attendance
Transparency, explainability, and trust are pressing topics in AI/ML today. While much has been written about why these are important and what organizations should do, no tools to help implement these principles have existed – until now.
In the market for software? Learn why it's important to have multiple vendors at the negotiation table.
The growth of AI and workflow automation is crucial to the success of any digital transformation strategy. Learn how DRYiCE's iAutomate can help provide "zero-touch" automation.
This note highlights the top three trends to watch for in the 2021 UCaaS market.
How can software marketing and sales teams win in 2021? Learn how emotions affect software buying habits and how to build better customer relationships.
A great relationship with your software provider delivers both value and immediate results. These key tips will help you make the best of your partnership.
Web Content Management
The emergence and growth of Rainforest QA has shone a different light in a market that is dominated by big-name players like HP and IBM. Rainforest streamlines test design and management and expands test coverage through its extensive tester network.