Hongkiat https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/author/eoinwiley/ Tech and Design Tips Wed, 14 Aug 2024 11:46:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 1070734 AI-driven UPDF Editor – Your Ultimate PDF Companion https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/updf-ai-review/ Tue, 30 Jul 2024 13:00:17 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=72430 PDF tools are crucial for effective document management, offering features for editing, annotating, securing, and compressing PDF files. UPDF Editor stands out as an AI-driven all-in-one PDF editor, recently upgraded with advanced AI technology to provide a variety of exciting new features. In this article, I’ll walk you through the key features of UPDF and…

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PDF tools are crucial for effective document management, offering features for editing, annotating, securing, and compressing PDF files. UPDF Editor stands out as an AI-driven all-in-one PDF editor, recently upgraded with advanced AI technology to provide a variety of exciting new features.

UPDF editor interface

In this article, I’ll walk you through the key features of UPDF and show you how its AI-powered tools can enhance your daily workflow.

UPDF supports desktop PCs, Macs, and mobile devices like iPhones and iPads.

UPDF for Windows UPDF for Mac

UPDF Features Overview

Before we get into the AI-driven features, let’s take a closer look at what UPDF can do.

UPDF features overview
  • Edit PDF: Easily modify text, images, watermarks, links, and backgrounds, offering a seamless editing experience similar to a Word document.
  • Read PDF: Open and read PDF files with adjustable settings to enhance your reading efficiency, supported by AI on both desktop and mobile platforms.
  • UPDF Cloud: Manage your PDFs more efficiently with cloud-based storage, accessible across various devices to boost productivity.
  • Annotate & Markup PDF: Employ a variety of tools to annotate and markup PDFs for better collaboration and feedback.
  • Convert PDFs: Swiftly convert PDF documents into other formats like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and images.
  • OCR PDF: Extract text from scanned documents and images in 38 languages, making them searchable and editable.
  • Organize PDF: Manipulate PDF pages by adding, deleting, rotating, replacing, extracting, splitting, cropping, and reordering them as needed.
  • Batch PDF Processing: Streamline repetitive tasks such as printing, creating, converting, combining, and encrypting PDFs to enhance efficiency.
  • Protect PDF: Enhance the security of your PDFs by adding passwords, redacting content, embedding watermarks, and utilizing security features.
  • Compress PDF: Reduce PDF file sizes with a single click, making them easier to share.
  • Create, Fill, and Sign PDF Forms: Design, fill, and digitally sign PDF forms, supporting a secure and paperless workflow.

UPDF AI

UPDF AI, powered by GPT-4, offers tools that help streamline your document management tasks. It’s designed to make your workflow smoother by providing features like document summarizing, text translating, and more.

UPDF AI features
Translate

Translate PDF content into multiple languages accurately. Simply highlight the text, right-click, and navigate to UPDF AI > Translate > [Choose Language].

Translate feature

You can also save translations as sticky notes for easy reference.

Save as sticky note
Summarize

Quickly summarize lengthy documents to capture the main points. Highlight the text you want to summarize, right-click, and choose UPDF AI > Summarize. It’s pretty useful for reviewing large volumes of information efficiently.

Summarize content
Explain

Clarify complex terms or sections within your PDFs. Just highlight the part you need explained, and UPDF AI will provide a straightforward explanation, making it easier to understand dense or technical documents.

Explain feature
AI Chat

The AI Chat feature allows you to converse with an AI about your PDFs, ask questions, and get assistance with analysis. This is particularly helpful for complex or detailed documents that require deeper understanding.

AI Chat feature

UPDF AI Web

If you like the features of the UPDF app, you’ll be glad to know there’s also a web version called UPDF AI Web.

Just like the app, this online tool is your all-in-one AI assistant for PDFs. Powered by GPT-4, this online version llets you do everything from summarizing and translating to asking questions and chatting with AI, just like you would on the app.

Web version interface

And since everything is done in the cloud, if you’re using the app, you’ll find all your PDF files and previous interactions with the AI on the web version too, once you log into your account.

Web version login

Conclusion

UPDF Editor is a great tool for handling all your PDF needs. It offers easy PDF editing, smooth reading modes, handy cloud storage, comprehensive annotation tools, and advanced OCR features, making your work with PDFs more efficient and straightforward.

The AI-driven capabilities, like summarizing documents, translating text, and interactive chat, provide an extra level of convenience that can save you time and effort.

Right now, you can get UPDF Editor at a special discount. Click here to take advantage of this offer and upgrade to the premium version. This is a great opportunity to enhance your PDF management experience, so don’t miss out!

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Top 10 No-Code Platforms for Businesses (Updated) https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/no-code-platforms/ Mon, 20 May 2024 13:00:38 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=67386 Build apps effortlessly using top no-code platforms, no coding skills required.

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No-code is a software development approach that allows non-programmers to create applications using visual interfaces and drag-and-drop elements, aiming to democratize software development.

No-code platforms provide pre-built components and a visual interface for users to assemble and configure these components to create an application. These platforms often include tools for automating business processes, integrating with other software, and managing data.

In this post, we’ll explore the top 10 no-code platforms of 2023, providing details on their key features, pricing plans, and suitability for different user profiles. Both free and paid options will be discussed to help you make an informed decision that fits your business needs and budget.

Best No-code Platforms:

Platform Name Free Plan? Cheapest Plan Suitable For Feature/Description
Landbot.io Yes Free Plan Startups, SMEs, Enterprise No-code chatbot for seamless conversations.
Softr Yes Free Plan Individuals, Entrepreneurs, SMBs, Agencies Easy advanced app builder.
Backendless Yes Backendless Cloud (Free to start) Individuals, Small Businesses, Medium to Large Enterprises Accelerates mobile app development.
Webflow No Business Plan ($39/mo billed yearly) High-traffic Marketing Sites No-code website builder for startups.
Nintex No Pro Plan (Starting at $25,000 USD/year) Small to Large Businesses, Enterprise Manages business processes with integrations.
Kintone No Standard Plan ($24/user/month) Small to Medium Businesses No-code platform for teamwork.
Adalo Yes Free Plan Individuals, Entrepreneurs, Small to Medium Businesses Best for mobile app creation.
Appy Pie Yes Free Plan Individuals, Entrepreneurs, Small Businesses Best for web app development.
Bubble Yes Free Plan Individuals, Entrepreneurs, Small to Medium Businesses Top free no-code tool.
Microsoft Power Apps No Power Apps per app plan ($10/user/app/month) Individuals, Small to Medium Businesses, Enterprise Rapid app development suite.

1. Landbot.io

Landbot io

Landbot.io is a powerful no-code chatbot platform that allows businesses to create conversational experiences for their customers. It is designed to be intuitive and fun to use, enabling you to build a wide variety of chatbots and deploy them across different platforms.

Key Features:
  • Website Chatbot: Engage your website visitors naturally through conversations, capture attention in real-time, build stronger relationships, and achieve higher conversion rates.
  • WhatsApp Automation: Create conversational marketing campaigns, engage existing customers, and provide excellent customer service all inside WhatsApp.
  • API & SDK: Use Landbot to deploy chatbots in your own apps and channels with their comprehensive API and SDK.
  • Chatbot Platform: Build sophisticated conversational experiences for web and mobile using their visual chatbot builder and templates. No coding required.
Pricing:

Landbot.io offers multiple plans to suit different needs:

  • Sandbox (Free): This plan is free forever and is designed for individuals trying to test things out on a chatbot. It includes 100 chats per month and basic features like basic flow operations, variables, limited integrations, and basic powerups.
  • Starter ($39/month): This plan is for individuals and small businesses. It includes 500 chats per month, extra chats at $10/500 chats, and extra seat at $10/month. It includes everything in Sandbox plus upgraded flow operations, conditional logic, more custom code, basic integrations, and essential powerups.
  • Pro ($99/month): This plan is for midsize businesses, agencies, and growing startups. It includes 2500 chats per month, extra chats at $10/500 chats, and extra seat at $20/month. It includes everything in Starter plus advanced flow operations, lead scoring, more custom branding, essential integrations, advanced powerups, and live chat support.
  • Business (Starting at $300/month): This plan is for large businesses looking for a custom plan. It includes priority support, custom chats, and seats. It includes everything in Pro plus priority support, dedicated success manager, team training, custom documentation review, and more.

2. Softr

Softr

Softr is a no-code platform that allows you to build software without needing developers. It’s designed to be fast and easy to use, allowing you to turn your Airtable or Google Sheets into modern business tools.

Key Features:
  • Client Portals: You can create custom-branded and secure client portals for self-service.
  • Internal Tools: Softr allows non-developers to build internal tools to power their business processes and workflows.
  • Community Hubs: You can easily create a hub for your community to share resources, special perks, job board, a directory of members, and more.
  • Building Blocks: Softr offers prebuilt and functional blocks like lists, charts, forms, tables, and calendars. You can put together your app in a few minutes with drag and drop without developers.
  • Data Integration: You can connect to any of your data sources whether it lives in Airtable, Google Sheets, or anywhere else with REST APIs.
  • Granular Permissions: You can easily define permissions and access levels to ensure only the right users view and edit the right information from your app.
Pricing:

Softr offers multiple plans to suit different needs:

  • Free: This plan is for individuals building passion projects. It includes 5 internal and 100 external app users, essential blocks, 5 workspace collaborators, and 1 custom domain.
  • Basic ($49/month): This plan is for entrepreneurs building new products. It includes 10 internal and 1000 external app users, custom CSS/JS, embed Softr apps, and the option to buy extra custom domains.
  • Professional ($139/month): This plan is for SMB and agencies building portals and internal tools. It includes 50 internal and 5000 external app users, charts, calendar, inbox, kanban, 10 workspace collaborators, and removes Softr branding.
  • Business ($269/month): This plan is for teams building advanced custom apps. It includes 100 internal and 10000 external app users, timeline, org chart, 15 workspace collaborators, downloadable mobile apps (PWA), and more.
  • Enterprise: This plan is for larger companies that want extra volume, security, and support. It includes everything in the Business plan plus SSO for app users, security audit, dedicated success manager, team training, and custom invoicing.

3. Backendless

Backendless

Backendless is a no-code application development platform designed to streamline and accelerate the mobile application development process. It provides a complete visual app builder that makes apps intuitive to develop and easy to manage.

Key Features:
  • User Management: Backendless provides user authentication and authorization in one central place. It supports multiple authentication options including social login, session control, and concurrent login rules.
  • Realtime Apps: Backendless supports real-time database changes, delivering updates to your app as they happen.
  • API Management: Backendless allows you to develop, deploy, and manage highly scalable API services.
  • UI Builder: Backendless includes a codeless visual frontend builder with components and blueprints.
  • Push Notifications: Backendless supports sending customizable and targeted push notifications.
Pricing:

Backendless offers multiple plans to suit different needs:

  • Backendless Cloud (Free to start): This plan is designed for individuals and small businesses. It allows you to start building your app on the free plan where you can experience all the features of the platform. When you’re ready to scale up, you can easily upgrade to one of their affordable paid plans to meet your server resource and database capability needs.
  • Backendless Pro (Pricing varies): This plan is designed for medium to large enterprises and established businesses. It allows you to install an instance of the Backendless platform anywhere, such as a developer’s computer, private data center, or public cloud. It has no functional limitations and can easily scale to handle very high transactional volume.
  • Managed Backendless (Pricing varies): This plan offers a dedicated cluster running the Backendless platform which is staged exclusively for your app/company. The service is fully managed, monitored 24×7 to ensure its smooth and reliable operation.

4. Webflow

Webflow

Webflow is a no-code website builder that allows you to build websites with the full power of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in a visual canvas. It is used by more than 1,700,000 designers and teams to create, collaborate on, and scale beautiful websites.

Key Features:
  • Visual App Development: Webflow provides a complete visual app builder that makes apps intuitive to build and easy to manage without writing any code.
  • CMS Preview: You can design your website around any type of content your site needs.
  • Ecommerce Preview: Webflow allows you to build an online store that sets your brand apart.
  • Memberships Preview: You can grow your audience with logins and gated content.
  • Interactions Preview: Webflow enables you to craft immersive experiences with interactions and animations.
Pricing:

Webflow offers multiple plans to suit different needs:

  • Business Plan ($39/mo billed yearly): This plan is best for a high-traffic marketing site. It includes a custom domain, 10,000 CMS items, 2,500 monthly form submissions, 400 GB bandwidth, and 10 content editors.

5. Nintex

Nintex

Nintex is a powerful intelligent process automation and workflow software platform that helps businesses transform their operations. It is trusted by over 10,000 brands and offers a range of features to streamline and automate business processes.

Key Features:
  • Process Discovery: Identify processes for automation and optimization.
  • Process Manager: Document, map, and manage every process in your organization.
  • Automation Cloud: Cloudbased apps to connect people, process, and data.
  • Intelligent Forms: Digital forms for displaying or capturing data.
  • Robotic Process Automation (RPA): Automate manual, repetitive tasks with RPA.
  • DocGen for Salesforce: Automate the lifecycle of documents in Salesforce.
  • eSign: Approve and sign documents digitally.
  • Insights: Gain visibility and insight into your automated processes.
Pricing:

Nintex offers multiple plans to suit different needs:

  • Pro Plan (Starting at $25,000 USD/year): This plan is best for getting started with your first automation project. It includes unlimited users, unlimited workflows, 2000 document generations, forms, mobile app, premium connectors, analytics, eSign standard, and 8×5 support.
  • Premium Plan (Starting at $50,000 USD/year): This plan is best for department-wide automation solutions. It includes unlimited users, unlimited workflows, 10,000 document generations, forms, mobile app, premium connectors, on-premises data, analytics, eSign enterprise, 24×5 support, and professional services.
  • Custom Plan: This plan offers organization-wide automation solutions to tackle sophisticated business challenges. The pricing is personalized and you would need to get a quote. It includes unlimited users, unlimited workflows, customized document generations, forms, mobile app, premium connectors, on-premises data, analytics, eSign enterprise, 24×5 support, and professional services.

6. Kintone

Kintone

Kintone is a customizable workplace platform that allows you to manage your team’s data, tasks, and communication in one central place. It is trusted by over 25,000 companies worldwide and provides a range of features to streamline and automate business processes.

Key Features:
  • Centralize and Organize Your Work: Kintone lets you track and share your tasks and data for effortless collaboration. Whether it’s sales leads, customer quotes, or an employee database, you can use Kintone to track whatever data is critical for your team in one central place.
  • Unify Your Data and Conversations: Kintone lets you communicate alongside your data so that you can easily refer back to it later. This means no more hunting through your inbox or chat messages for the information and files you need.
  • Simplify and Customize Your Workflows: Kintone lets you organize your processes and tasks into intuitive workflows with automated reminders, approvals, and task handoffs. This means you can spend less time managing your work and more time focusing on what really matters.
  • Access Data Anytime, Anywhere: View, edit, and manage your data from any internet-connected device or desktop so your team can collaborate effectively without missing a beat.
Pricing:

Kintone offers a simple and transparent pricing model:

  • Standard Plan ($24/user/month): This plan includes all of Kintone’s features. You can use Kintone for just one of your team’s workflows or set up a custom workspace to manage all your team’s data and collaboration. The minimum is 5 users ($120/month), and you can pay per additional user. Both monthly and annual contracts are available.

7. Adalo

Adalo

Adalo is a no-code platform that allows you to build custom responsive apps for web and mobile devices. It is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, enabling you to create apps without any coding knowledge.

Key Features:
  • Custom Responsive Web Apps: With Adalo, you can build your app once and publish it anywhere, to any device, desktop, tablet, or mobile.
  • Xano Integration: Adalo and Xano have teamed up to provide an easy way to integrate your Xano database and users collection with your Adalo apps.
  • Web Publishing Control: Make changes, publish live, and continue making changes all without disrupting your end users.
  • Geolocation: Build powerful location-driven apps with Adalo. Their geolocation features enable apps to access device location, calculate distances, search for addresses, and much more.
  • Component Marketplace: Discover free and premium prebuilt components to enhance your app with audio/video players, smart design components, payment tools, prebuilt charts, and much more.
Pricing:

Adalo offers multiple plans to suit different needs:

  • Free Plan: This plan is a simple start for everyone. It includes 200 records per app, 1,000 monthly app actions, 1 app editor, and unlimited screens.
  • Starter Plan ($45/month): This plan is for founders and entrepreneurs. It includes 1 published app, 10,000 monthly app actions, 1 app editor, custom fonts, custom domain, and the ability to publish to the web.
  • Professional Plan ($65/month): This plan is for small to medium businesses. It includes 2 published apps, 30,000 monthly app actions, 5 app editors, custom integrations, design versions, geolocation, and the ability to publish to app stores.
  • Team Plan ($200/month): This plan is for freelancers and agencies. It includes 5 published apps, 100,000 monthly app actions, 10 app editors, priority support, and Xano integration.
  • Business Plan ($250/month): This plan is for enterprise organizations. It includes 10 published apps, 1 million monthly app actions, unlimited app editors, and special add-on pricing.

8. Appy Pie

Appy Pie

Appy Pie is a no-code platform that empowers you to create powerful web and mobile applications and automate workflows without any coding. It is designed to be easy, quick, and affordable, making it a popular choice for many businesses and individuals.

Key Features:
  • Drag-and-Drop Functionality: Appy Pie’s no-code platform offers a drag-and-drop interface that allows you to unify and simplify all your data into a single source.
  • Seamless Integrations: Appy Pie breaks all barriers and boundaries when it comes to no-code, offering you seamless integrations with other data sources and even applications.
  • Workflow Automation Platform: Appy Pie’s no-code workflow automation platform lets you create efficient integrations to build meaningful workflows. You can create as many integrations as you need to create a workflow unique to your business needs.
  • Business Process Automation Software: Appy Pie’s business process automation software includes helpdesk, live chat, and chatbot builder. The helpdesk software helps you manage customer requests and tickets, live chat allows you to provide live support to your customers, and using the chatbot builder, you can manage all of your customer queries and improve customer satisfaction.
Pricing:

Appy Pie offers multiple plans to suit different needs:

  • Free Plan: This plan allows you to create a basic app for free.
  • Basic Plan ($18/month): This plan includes removal of Appy Pie branding, 5000 app downloads, and 200 push notifications.
  • Gold Plan ($36/month): This plan includes everything in the Basic plan plus unlimited app downloads and 4000 push notifications.
  • Platinum Plan ($60/month): This plan includes everything in the Gold plan plus priority publishing, premium support, and 6000 push notifications.

9. Bubble.io

Bubble io

Bubble is a no-code platform that lets you create interactive, multi-user apps for desktop and mobile web browsers. Its design is both powerful and flexible, making it possible for you to build a site akin to Facebook or Airbnb without any coding knowledge.

Key Features:
  • Visual App Development: Bubble provides a visual app builder that lets you create interactive, multi-user apps for desktop and mobile web browsers.
  • Design Freedom: Bubble offers total design freedom without any knowledge of HTML or CSS. You can create mobile-friendly layouts and dynamic content for a polished product.
  • Robust Infrastructure: Bubble handles deployment and hosting for you. There are no hard limits on the number of users, volume of traffic, or data storage.
  • Successful Companies Use Bubble: Bubble is trusted by innovative companies worldwide and has helped them raise millions in venture funding.
Pricing:

Bubble offers multiple plans to suit different needs:

  • Free Plan: This plan is great for learning how to use Bubble. It includes development version, API connector, component library, app editor, 1k workload units/month, and hours of server logs.
  • Starter Plan ($29/month): This plan is great for launching your app and testing. It includes everything in the Free plan plus live app, custom domain, recurring workflows, basic version control, 2k workload units/month, and days of server logs.
  • Growth Plan ($129/month): This plan is great for growing your user base. It includes everything in the Starter plan plus app editors, premium version control, two-factor authentication, custom branches, 10k workload units/month, and days of server logs.
  • Team Plan ($529/month): This plan is great for scaling your team and business. It includes everything in the Growth plan plus app editors, sub apps, custom branches, 40k workload units/month, and days of server logs.
  • Custom Plan: This plan is great for enterprise-level security and scale. It includes everything in the Team plan plus custom workload units, choice of hosting location, customizable server, enhanced security, dedicated support team, and pay by invoice or ACH.

10. Microsoft Power Apps

Microsoft Power Apps

Microsoft Power Apps is a no-code platform that allows you to build custom business applications without writing code. It is part of Microsoft’s Power Platform and is designed to be easy to use while providing powerful features.

Key Features:
  • Visual App Development: Power Apps provides a visual app builder that lets you create interactive, multi-user apps for desktop and mobile web browsers.
  • AI-Assisted Development: Power Apps uses AI to assist in the development process, making it easier to build complex applications.
  • Prebuilt Components: Power Apps includes a variety of prebuilt components that you can use to build your applications, reducing the amount of work you need to do.
  • Integration with Microsoft Products: Power Apps integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products, including Office 365, Dynamics 365, and Azure, allowing you to leverage these tools in your applications.
  • Data Connectivity: Power Apps can connect to hundreds of data sources using a library of connectors and Microsoft Dataverse, providing a single source of truth for your data.
Pricing:

Microsoft Power Apps offers multiple plans to suit different needs:

  • Power Apps per user plan ($40/user/month): This plan allows individual users to run applications for a specific business scenario in a single environment based on the full capabilities of Power Apps.
  • Power Apps per app plan ($10/user/app/month): This plan allows individual users to run applications (2 apps and a single portal) for a specific business scenario based on core capabilities of Power Apps.

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Top 5 Monday.com Apps for a Better Workflow https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/mondaycom-apps-better-workflow/ Thu, 02 May 2024 10:00:47 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=71806 Running a business involves managing tasks, projects, and collaboration, and Monday.com has been a game-changer in this space. Its easy-to-use interface and customizable workflows make it a favorite tool for teams globally. What truly sets Monday.com apart is its seamless integration with various apps, elevating its functionality. In this article, we’ll explore the top apps…

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Running a business involves managing tasks, projects, and collaboration, and Monday.com has been a game-changer in this space. Its easy-to-use interface and customizable workflows make it a favorite tool for teams globally. What truly sets Monday.com apart is its seamless integration with various apps, elevating its functionality.

In this article, we’ll explore the top apps that can supercharge your workflow, ensuring smoother collaboration and more efficient project management for your team.

Issue Sync – Sync for Jira Cloud

Issue Sync - Sync for Jira Cloud

“Issue Sync” is an app made by Deviniti Sp. z o.o. that helps teams using both Jira Cloud and Monday.com work better together.

Here’s what it does:

  • Two-way sync: It keeps Jira and Monday.com updated with each other’s changes, ensuring both platforms have the latest information.
  • Mapping: It links items between the two platforms, connecting projects in Jira to boards on Monday.com, and issues in Jira to items on Monday.com.
  • Copying issues: You can copy existing issues from Jira to Monday.com.
  • Multiple syncs: You can set up multiple syncs to run simultaneously.

This Monday.com app is particularly useful for:

  • Companies working with different partners: It keeps everyone on the same page, even if one company uses Jira and the other uses Monday.com.
  • Organizations with different teams: It helps teams that use Monday.com stay updated on what’s happening in the main Jira.

Mermaid Charts and Diagrams

Mermaid Charts and Diagrams

Created by weweave UG, this app makes it easy to create diagrams and charts directly on your boards, items, and workdocs.

Here’s what it offers:

  • Text to diagram: It turns textual descriptions into various types of diagrams and charts, which can be added to boards, items, or workdocs.
  • Variety of diagrams: You can create flow charts, sequence diagrams, class diagrams, state diagrams, entity relationship diagrams, gantt diagrams, pie charts, git graphs, user journeys, mindmaps, timelines, C4 diagrams, quadrant charts, requirement, and Sankey diagrams.
  • Validation and preview: The app offers syntax validation, error highlighting, and a live preview of your diagrams.
  • Icons and themes: It includes Font Awesome icons and supports Monday.com themes for a cohesive look.
  • Templates: Pre-made templates make it easier to define different diagrams.

TeamBoard – Resource Planning

TeamBoard - Resource Planning

“TeamBoard – Resource Planning” by DevSamurai is an all-in-one solution that optimizes team productivity and resource allocation for project management. This app integrates seamlessly with Monday.com, offering a comprehensive platform for project and functional managers to manage resources effectively.

The app helps visualize team workloads and make informed decisions, ensuring balanced distribution and successful project execution. Its intuitive drag-and-drop functionality makes resource planning accessible to users of all technical levels, simplifying resource allocation and project management.

Here are some of its key features:

  • Resource Scheduler: This feature lets you see and allocate your team’s resources, helping both managers and team members understand workloads and make informed decisions.
  • Capacity Scheme & Holiday Calendar: You can integrate working capacity schemes and holiday calendars into your planning, allowing for precise scheduling and resource allocation.
  • Time Tracking & Timesheets: Track project timelines and manage timesheet approvals efficiently, ensuring accurate monitoring of project hours.
  • Dashboard & Reports: The app provides a customizable dashboard and interactive time reports, allowing you to monitor project progress and resource use easily.
  • Recurring Tasks: This feature helps create and plan recurring tasks, making project management simpler and saving time.

Copilot: ChatGPT 4

Copilot: ChatGPT 4

“Copilot: ChatGPT 4 for Monday.com” is an app by Get Report LLC that integrates OpenAI’s GPT-4 into the Monday.com platform.

Here’s what it does:

  • Unified billing and privacy: It offers seamless billing and enhanced data privacy.
  • Brainstorming: Helps generate ideas for projects and initiatives.
  • Team communication: Facilitates group discussions, streamlining communication within teams.
  • Summarizing: Summarizes documents, long chats, or even source code.
  • Generating documents: Creates documents or requirements based on prompts provided by users.
  • Code assistance: Helps debug, understand, and improve code.
  • Problem-solving: Provides alternative solutions or approaches to enhance problem-solving capabilities.
  • Knowledge sharing: Supports collaboration and knowledge sharing within the organization.
  • Writing assistance: Assists in creating and editing written content, such as reports or presentations.
  • Guidance: Offers guidance on best practices, industry trends, and relevant research.

The app provides a 14-day trial, allowing you to explore its features and how it enhances your work on Monday.com.

DocuGen

DocuGen

“DocuGen” by DocuGen Inc is a top-rated document generation app that seamlessly integrates with Monday.com, making it easy to create professional documents from your boards. Key features include:

  • Wide range of documents: Users can generate various documents, including proposals, invoices, receipts, legal documents, HR documents, and more, directly from their Monday.com boards.
  • Custom templates: The app uses your custom document templates, ensuring documents are branded and tailored to your needs.
  • Automatic data pull: DocuGen pulls information from Monday.com boards to generate documents efficiently and accurately.
  • Simplifies document creation: The app streamlines and simplifies the document creation process, making it accessible and efficient for all users.

DocuGen offers a convenient and comprehensive solution for generating a variety of documents from Monday.com boards, helping to enhance productivity and consistency.

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5 Best CRM Tools with Facebook Messenger Integration https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/crm-facebook-messenger-integration/ Tue, 09 Apr 2024 10:00:50 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=67948 The best CRM tools that sync with Facebook Messenger, enhancing your business communication.

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Businesses need to stay connected with their customers in the most efficient way possible, and one way to achieve this is by integrating customer relationship management (CRM) tools with widely-used chat tools, like Facebook Messenger. This article will serve as your guide to understanding this integration better. We will delve into five CRM tools, discussing their unique features, how they integrate with Facebook Messenger, and their pricing structures.

CRM tools and Facebook Messenger
Screenshot: PipeDrive

Whether you’re a small business owner trying to manage customer interactions, a marketer aiming to generate leads, or simply someone interested in the digital communication landscape, this is for you. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview that will help you make informed decisions about using CRM tools with Facebook Messenger. Let’s get started.

Overview:

PipeDrive PipeDrive: Links Facebook Messenger conversations to PipeDrive contacts, deals, and leads is easy. See details ↓

Starts at $14/user/mth.

Try for free

SalesForce Salesforce: Unify customer profiles for deeper connections, enhancing efficiency and conversion rates. See details ↓

Visit site for pricing.

Try for free

Kommo Kommo: Great when it comes to lead generation.. See details ↓

Starts at $15/user/mth.

Try for free

ChatSilo ChatSilo: Create Messenger funnels in minutes. See details ↓

Starts at $29/mth.

Try for free

Hubspot HubSpot CRM: Ability to create a chatbot for the Facebook Business page.. See details ↓

Visit site for pricing. Has free plan.

Try for free

1. PipeDrive

PipeDrive CRM

PipeDrive is a CRM tool that is specifically designed with a sales focus. It offers an integration with Facebook Messenger, which is a platform where many people spend a significant amount of their time. This integration provides a direct and conversational way for individuals to take action, making it a highly effective tool for businesses.

One of the key features of PipeDrive’s integration with Facebook Messenger is the ability to unify all conversations. This means that all your interactions on Facebook Messenger can be brought together in PipeDrive, making them both accessible and shareable. This feature allows for a seamless flow of communication and ensures that no important messages are missed.

Another significant feature is the ease with which Facebook Messenger conversations can be linked with PipeDrive contacts, deals, and leads. This feature is designed to boost productivity and manage communications with your leads and clients on Facebook Messenger more effectively. It simplifies the process of keeping track of various conversations and ensures that all relevant information is readily available.

PipeDrive also allows you to select the app extension visibility for your connection with Facebook Messenger. You can choose between private visibility settings, where only the user who installed the app can see and reply to Facebook Messenger conversations in the Messaging Inbox and link them to contacts, leads, or deals in PipeDrive, and shared visibility settings, where any user in the company account can do the same. This flexibility allows you to customize the integration to best suit your business needs.

Learn more about: Pipedrive Integration with Facebook Messenger.

PipeDrive’s Price:

As for the pricing, PipeDrive offers various pricing plans. You are encouraged to visit their pricing page for more detailed information. They also offer a free 14-day trial with no credit card required.

Visit PipeDrive

2. Salesforce

SalesForce CRM

As one of the world’s largest CRM platform, Salesforce has made a significant stride in integrating Facebook Messenger into its system. This integration aims to provide businesses with unified customer profiles, fostering better in-depth connections and creating a customer-centric environment.

The integration of Salesforce and Facebook Messenger offers businesses a unified view of their customer profiles. This feature allows for better in-depth connections, providing a comprehensive understanding of each customer’s journey. It creates a customer-centric environment where consumers can freely navigate their shopping journey, whether on social media or any other platforms they decide to switch to halfway through.

One of the key benefits of this integration is its ability to shorten sales cycles. By leveraging instant messaging, businesses can close deals faster, thereby increasing efficiency. Furthermore, the integration can boost conversions, particularly from customers who prefer to use Facebook Messenger for their interactions.

Salesforce CRM goes a step further by using tools like Facebook lead ads, click-to-messenger ads, and comment auto-replies to strengthen the customer database. This feature not only enhances the quality of the customer database but also streamlines the cross-channel customer experience.

Related: How to integrate Facebook lead ads data with Salesforce

In terms of work efficiency, the integration boosts productivity with a two-way sync of Salesforce contacts, leads, and opportunities. This feature ensures that all customer data is up-to-date and easily accessible. Moreover, with the Salesforce lead stage positioned right next to the chatbox, the integration significantly upgrades the quality of customer service.

To integrate Salesforce with Facebook Messenger, certain requirements need to be met. These include having a Salesforce account with API access, a Facebook account, a Facebook Business Page, and admin access to the Facebook page. This ensures a seamless and effective integration process.

Learn how to: Set Up Facebook Messenger in Salesforce Service Cloud.

Salesforce’s Price:

Salesforce offers various pricing plans for different business needs. However, the specific pricing details are not directly listed on their website. You are encouraged to contact their sales team or visit their pricing page for more detailed information.

They also offer a free trial with no software to install and no credit card required.

Visit Salesforce

3. Kommo

Kommo CRM

Kommo, previously known as amoCRM, has carved a niche for itself as a conversational sales tool specifically tailored for small businesses. It holds the distinction of being the world’s first Sales CRM based on Messenger, offering a suite of custom-tailored messenger features and automations. These features are designed to enhance your communication with customers, making Kommo a powerful tool in your CRM arsenal.

One of the standout features of Kommo is its lead generation capability. Whenever a new person sends you a message on Facebook, they are automatically added to your pipeline as an incoming lead. All you need to do is approve, and their lead profile is created instantly. This seamless process ensures you never miss out on potential customers.

Kommo also boasts a built-in chat feature within the lead profile. This means you can continue your Facebook conversation without ever having to leave Kommo. Every interaction is logged and visible in the profile’s feed, providing you with a comprehensive communication history at a glance.

Another innovative feature is the Salesbot. With Kommo, you can create the perfect Salesbot companion and integrate it with Facebook Messenger. The Salesbot takes over the conversation, saving your team valuable time and enhancing communication efficiency. It can even be equipped with AI responses that understand the intention behind questions and provide appropriate responses, including invoicing.

The integration of Facebook Messenger is built-in and designed by the Kommo team, ensuring a smooth and efficient process. Setting it up is as simple as navigating to the digital pipeline in the incoming leads column, scrolling down to the chats block, and clicking the connect button. With Kommo, integrating your CRM with Facebook Messenger is a breeze.

Learn more about: Kommo’s integration with Facebook Messenger.

Kommo’s Price:

Kommo offers three pricing plans:

  • Base: For small businesses that want to boost sales quickly. It includes a unified inbox, unlimited sales pipelines, task management, and more. It costs $15 USD per user/month.
  • Advanced: For growing companies that want to automate their work. It includes everything in the Base plan plus no-code Salesbot, pipeline automation. It costs $25 USD per user/month.
  • Enterprise: For larger businesses that keep up with a lot of leads. It includes everything in the Advanced plan plus an increased client database, advanced client profiles. It costs $45 USD per user/month.

You can try Kommo free for 14 days with no credit card required. For more detailed information, you can visit their pricing page.

Visit Kommo

4. ChatSilo

ChatSilo CRM

ChatSilo is a compact CRM tool designed specifically for Facebook Messenger. Its primary goal is to assist you in nurturing leads, managing projects, keeping track of crucial conversations, building strong relationships, following up with potential clients, and ultimately, achieving your sales objectives.

One of the key features of ChatSilo is its tagging (a.k.a labelling) system. This system, combined with canned responses, message templates, notes, reminders, and Google calendar integration, helps you organize and follow up with potential Facebook Messenger leads without getting lost in the sea of chats. It’s a comprehensive feature that streamlines your communication and ensures you never miss an opportunity.

Another powerful feature of ChatSilo is its bulk-messaging capability. By using the Chrome extension, you can send mass messages to all tagged contacts or friends on Facebook Messenger. You have the flexibility to set a limit on the number of messages to send at a particular time or the interval between messages. Plus, you can randomize the message content to maintain a natural and personalized feel.

The reminder system in ChatSilo is another feature that stands out. It uses both a browser reminder system and Google Calendar event notifications to keep you updated on when to follow up with your prospects. This ensures you never miss a crucial follow-up and helps maintain a consistent engagement with your leads.

Finally, ChatSilo provides the ability to export tagged contacts. With just a click of a button, you can export your tagged contacts into a Google Sheet. The sheet will contain the contacts’ first and last names, their profile URL, and the tag. This feature makes it easy to manage and analyze your contact data, providing valuable insights for your business.

ChatSilo’s Price:

ChatSilo offers a simple pricing plan at $29 per month. This includes unlimited custom tags, unlimited tag colors, unlimited notes, support for Facebook Marketplace and Facebook Page, unlimited follow-up reminders, unlimited message templates, Google Calendar integration, lifetime automatic updates, access to ChatSilo web app, and more.

They also offer a 7-day free trial. For more detailed information, you can visit their pricing page.

Visit ChatSilo

5. HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM stands as a comprehensive tool in the realm of customer relationship management. Its unique offering is the integration with Facebook Messenger, which empowers businesses to cultivate a Messenger experience directly on their Facebook Business page. This feature enables businesses to manage these interactions seamlessly from their Conversations inbox, creating a unified platform for customer engagement.

The features of HubSpot CRM are designed to optimize customer interactions and streamline communication processes. One standout feature is the Shared Inbox. This function allows businesses to manage interactions from their Conversations inbox, just as they would with live chat or email. This consolidation of communication channels enhances efficiency and ensures a consistent approach to customer engagement.

Another key feature of HubSpot CRM is Conversation Intelligence. This allows everyone, from Marketing to Sales and Service teams, to have a full context of conversations. By providing a comprehensive view of customer interactions, businesses can deliver more personalized and effective communication, enhancing customer relationships.

HubSpot CRM also offers the ability to create a chatbot for your Facebook Business Page. These automated response systems provide instant assistance to customers, improving response times and customer satisfaction.

Related: How to Create a HubSpot Chatbot

Lastly, the Integration feature connects the popular messaging app to HubSpot, offering businesses unified customer profiles for better in-depth connections. This integration enhances customer understanding, enabling businesses to deliver more personalized and effective communication.

Read more on: HubSpot-Facebook Messenger integration.

HubSpot’s Price:

HubSpot offers the following:

  • Starter CRM Suite that includes Marketing Hub Starter (with 1000 marketing contacts),
  • Sales Hub Starter (with 2 paid users),
  • CMS Hub Starter, and
  • Operations Hub Starter.

The pricing starts at $50 per month, but there’s a special offer for new customers at $30 per month if you commit annually. For more detailed information, you can visit their pricing page.

Visit HubSpot CRM

5 Best CRM with WhatsApp Integration

5 Best CRM with WhatsApp Integration

Discover top 5 CRM tools with seamless WhatsApp integration for efficient customer service and outreach. Read more

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5 Affordable CRM Tools for Businesses (2024) https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/affortable-crm-tools/ Thu, 07 Mar 2024 15:00:33 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=67266 Here's a list of budget-friendly CRM tools for your business that won't break the bank.

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Let’s face it, finding the right Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool can feel like a daunting task. In a world brimming with options, how do you pick one that’s both effective and doesn’t make your wallet weep? CRM tools are the backbone of any business that wants to streamline its operations and build stronger connections with customers.

That’s why we’ve put together a guide spotlighting five affordable CRM solutions that pack a punch without punching a hole in your budget. These gems offer a range of features to fit various needs without costing an arm and a leg.

Whether you’re running a cozy little startup or steering a larger company in need of hefty features, our curated selection caters to every type of business. From small business owners looking for an easy peasy setup to enterprises on the lookout for substantial capabilities, this guide aims to clear the fog and help you navigate the CRM maze with confidence.

Overview:
#1 Zendesk Zendesk offers a free 14-day trial. Price starts at $19 per user per month. Qualified startups may use it for free, for 6 months.
#2 Zoho CRM Zoho CRM offers a free plan for up to 3 users. They also offer a 15-day free trial for their paid plans. Paid plans starts at $24 per user per month.
#3 Salesforce Salesforce offers a free trial for 30 days. Price starts at $25 per user per month.
#4 Insightly CRM Insightly offers a free 14-day trial. Price starts at $29 per user per month.
#5 Vtiger CRM Its "Vtiger Free Cloud CRM" is free forever. Vtiger offers a 15-day free trial. Paid plan starts at $30 per user per month.

1. Zendesk

A Top Pick for Data Visualization

Zendesk CRM

If you’re on the lookout for a CRM that makes understanding your data a breeze, Zendesk should be on your radar. Its knack for simplifying data with intuitive visualization tools has won it fans among those looking to stretch their CRM budget further.

Main Features:
  • Data Visualization: Dive deep into your business metrics with Zendesk’s Team Plan, which offers everything from customizable dashboards to detailed reports on deals, leads, and more, helping you make sense of your data effortlessly.
  • Contact Management: Keep your contacts in check with powerful management tools. Whether it’s importing data or exporting it for further analysis, Zendesk has got you covered.
  • Marketing Tools: From crafting the perfect email with its design editor to automating your marketing workflow and keeping tabs on visitor activities, Zendesk equips you with the tools to elevate your marketing game.
Cost Information:
  • Got a startup? Zendesk rolls out the red carpet with a six-month free trial just for you.
  • Team Plan pricing starts at a manageable $19 per user per month, with no cap on users and 2GB of storage each.

Zendesk’s Team Plan is chock-full of features but keep in mind that it might not cover all bases, especially if you’re looking for the most advanced marketing and customer service tools.

Learn more about Zendesk

2. Zoho CRM

A Comprehensive Solution for Businesses

Zoho CRM

Part of Zoho’s impressive lineup of SaaS tools, Zoho CRM really stands out. It’s loaded with features that hold their own against big names like Salesforce, making it a fantastic choice for businesses big and small.

Key Features:
  • AI-Powered Analytics: Zoho CRM comes equipped with Zia, an AI-driven analytics engine that identifies sales trends and anomalies, offering valuable insights for your business.
  • Customizable Interface: With Canvas, a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, you can tailor the CRM interface to meet your specific needs.
  • Smooth Integration: If you are already a user of Zoho’s other products, incorporating Zoho CRM into your existing workflow is hassle-free.
  • Gamification: The platform also includes gamification features to motivate your sales team and enhance performance.
Cost Overview:
  • The pricing for Zoho CRM starts at $24 per user per month, when billed annually.

While Zoho CRM packs a punch with its features, it’s worth noting there’s a bit of a learning curve. And just a heads up, the most advanced features are reserved for the higher-tier plans.

Learn more about Zoho CRM

3. Salesforce

A Leader in Comprehensive CRM Solutions

Salesforce CRM

When it comes to CRM, Salesforce is pretty much the gold standard, especially for businesses that are a bit larger and looking for something robust. Its comprehensive toolkit, ease of integration, and the ability to customize pretty much anything makes it a favorite.

Key Features:
  • All-in-One Functionality: Salesforce provides a holistic CRM solution, featuring a user-friendly design, customizable options, and robust reporting tools.
  • Smooth Integration: Its core offering, the Sales Cloud, can easily integrate with other Salesforce modules like Marketing Cloud for email automation and Einstein Analytics for AI-driven business insights.
  • Customization Flexibility: Salesforce enables advanced workflow automations and approvals, allowing businesses to fine-tune their operational processes. Sales teams can assign specific members to individual deals.
  • Data Reporting and Forecasting: The enterprise plans offer sophisticated reporting and predictive analytics, app development, full sandbox environments, and external system integrations through web services APIs.
Cost Overview:
  • The pricing for Salesforce starts at $25 per user per month.
  • Be aware that Salesforce’s upper-tier plans can become costly, especially as pricing is per user.

While there’s no forever-free option, Salesforce does roll out the red carpet with a 30-day free trial that asks for neither credit card details nor software installation.

Learn more about Salesforce

4. Insightly

Streamlined CRM for Growing Businesses

Insightly CRM

Designed with growth in mind, Insightly CRM helps businesses flourish by streamlining customer relationship management, cutting down on manual tasks, boosting efficiency, and driving up profits.

Key Features:
  • Optimized Customer Pipeline: Insightly specializes in creating a robust customer relationship pipeline for your business.
  • Flexible Selling: With Insightly, you can manage sales activities from any location and on any device, offering unparalleled flexibility.
  • Data-Driven Sales: The CRM tool offers real-time insights into your sales processes, enabling informed decision-making.
  • Project Management: Insightly ensures timely and seamless project delivery through its effective project management tools.
  • Smooth Integration: Insightly integrates smoothly with the applications you use daily, boosting productivity and operational efficiency.
  • Automated Workflows: The platform enables you to model and automate various business processes, reducing manual workload and increasing overall efficiency.
Cost Overview:
  • Plus Plan: Priced at $29 per user per month.
  • Professional Plan: Priced at $40 per user per month.
  • Enterprise Plan: Priced at $99 per user per month.

Each plan is tailored to fit different sizes and needs, with specifics on records, storage, and emails available on Insightly’s site.

Learn more about Insightly

5. Vtiger

All-in-One CRM for Comprehensive Business Management

Vtiger CRM

Imagine a tool that handles everything from managing your contacts to automating your marketing, all while keeping your team connected. That’s Vtiger CRM for you, offering a suite that’s as comprehensive as it gets.

Key Features:
  • Comprehensive Contact Management: Features like engagement scoring, custom lists, tagging, and optimal times for contact are included.
  • End-to-End Sales Management: Vtiger supports multiple pipelines and currencies, and offers features such as sales forecasting, sentiment tracking, and automated lead assignment.
  • Streamlined Support Operations: Includes functionalities like knowledge base, case assignments, and a dedicated customer portal.
  • Automated Marketing: Includes capabilities for email campaigns, auto-responders, and robust tracking metrics.
  • Vast Integration Options: Compatible with numerous platforms like Google Suite, Office 365, QuickBooks, and various digital signing and payment systems.
Cost Overview:
  • Free Tier: Allows up to 10 users and 3000 records. Includes basic features for contact and sales management.
  • Professional Plan: Priced at $30 per user/month (annual billing) or $42 per user/month (monthly billing). No user or record limits. Includes advanced features.
  • Enterprise Plan: Priced at $42 per user/month (annual billing) or $58 per user/month (monthly billing). No user or record limits. Includes all features of Professional plus additional advanced features.

Learn more about Vtiger

More on CRM Tools

Looking to dive deeper into the CRM universe? Check out these hand-picked resources for more insights:

These resources are packed with unique insights to guide your decision on the perfect CRM system that aligns with your needs.


Conclusion

Finding the right CRM tool involves more than just watching the price tag. It’s about discovering a system that supports your business’s growth effectively. With options like Zendesk, Zoho, Salesforce, Insightly, and Vtiger on the table, each brings its own set of features suited for various needs and budgets.

So, whether you’re all about customization, keen on AI-driven analytics, or looking for easy project management, there’s a budget-friendly CRM solution waiting for you.

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Monday.com vs. Slack for Team Collaboration https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/slack-vs-monday/ Wed, 21 Feb 2024 10:00:21 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=71290 Choosing the right collaboration tool can significantly impact your team’s efficiency in the modern work environment, particularly with the increase in remote work. Slack and Monday.com stand out as leading contenders, offering unique features to streamline workflows and enhance team collaboration. Explore our easy-to-understand comparison of Slack and Monday.com to find the perfect solution for…

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Choosing the right collaboration tool can significantly impact your team’s efficiency in the modern work environment, particularly with the increase in remote work. Slack and Monday.com stand out as leading contenders, offering unique features to streamline workflows and enhance team collaboration.

Slack vs Monday.com

Explore our easy-to-understand comparison of Slack and Monday.com to find the perfect solution for boosting your team’s productivity and communication.

But first, let’s take a look into what both tools do.

What’s Monday.com?

monday com

Monday.com, on the other hand, is a project management tool that excels in task management, project tracking, and collaboration. It offers customizable workflows, a visually intuitive interface, and comprehensive features that cater to managing complex projects.

Monday.com is designed to keep teams aligned, track progress, and drive projects to completion effectively.

Visit Monday.com

And What’s Slack?

slack

Slack revolutionized team communication since its inception, offering a robust platform for instant messaging, file sharing, and integration with numerous third-party applications.

Designed with a focus on reducing email clutter, Slack facilitates real-time messaging across teams and groups, making it an ideal solution for dynamic and fast-moving teams.

Visit Slack

User Interface and Experience

Slack

The user interface of Slack is centered around chat rooms (channels) and direct messages, promoting ease of communication within and across teams. Its interface is intuitive, allowing users to easily navigate between conversations, shared files, and integrated tools.

slack interface
Monday.com

Monday.com provides a more visual experience with its color-coded boards and customizable dashboards, which offer a quick overview of project statuses, task assignments, and deadlines. Its interface is designed to manage tasks and projects efficiently, making it easy for users to collaborate and update their work progress.

monday interface

Communication Features

Slack

Slack is fundamentally designed as a communication hub, where its features shine brightest. The platform allows for the creation of various channels that can be dedicated to specific projects, topics, or team discussions, making it easy for users to navigate and participate in relevant conversations.

These channels can be either public for anyone in the team to join or private for selected members, ensuring flexibility in handling sensitive information. Beyond text-based messaging, Slack supports voice and video calls directly within the app, including screen sharing capabilities, which are essential for remote teams or when detailed discussions are necessary.

Furthermore, Slack’s powerful search functionality makes finding past conversations, files, and decisions straightforward, enhancing the overall efficiency of team communication.

slack communication
Monday.com

In contrast, Monday.com integrates communication features as part of its broader project and task management framework. Each task or project board within Monday.com allows for commenting, where team members can discuss details, share updates, and ask questions directly related to specific tasks.

This contextual communication ensures that all discussions are directly tied to work items, minimizing the risk of important details getting lost or overlooked.

While Monday.com may not offer the same depth of instant messaging or real-time conversation features as Slack, it provides a structured environment where communication is closely linked with project milestones and deliverables, facilitating focused and productive team interactions.

monday communication

Task and Project Management

Slack

Slack, primarily a communication platform, enhances task management through integrations with third-party applications. It allows teams to stay connected and communicate in real-time about ongoing tasks and projects, albeit indirectly managing them through other integrated tools like Asana, Trello, or Jira.

This setup enables users to receive notifications and updates within Slack, facilitating a centralized communication hub that complements task management.

Monday.com

On the other hand, Monday.com is engineered as a comprehensive project management tool, purpose-built to streamline the planning, tracking, and execution of projects. It offers a highly visual and customizable interface where tasks can be organized into boards, making it easy for teams to visualize project flow, assign responsibilities, set deadlines, and track progress.

Monday.com’s strength lies in its ability to directly manage tasks and projects within the platform, offering detailed insight into each project phase, resource allocation, and deadline adherence.

It incorporates advanced features such as automation, time tracking, and reporting, providing teams with the tools needed to manage projects efficiently from inception to completion, all within a single ecosystem.

Integration Capabilities

Slack

Slack shines as a communication hub, offering an expansive array of integrations with over 2,000 third-party applications ranging from productivity and project management tools to customer support and developer tools.

This wide selection enables teams to streamline their workflows, by bringing notifications and actions from other services directly into Slack, thereby minimizing the need to switch between apps and keeping all pertinent information in one place.

slack integration
Monday.com

Monday.com’s integration capabilities are tailored to boost its project management prowess. It supports seamless connections with popular tools such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft Teams, and many more, allowing for an efficient flow of information and resources across platforms.

These integrations facilitate automated workflows, where actions in one app can trigger updates in Monday.com, ensuring that project tracking is up-to-date and reflective of real-time changes.

This interconnected ecosystem empowers teams to customize their project management environment fully, enhancing productivity and ensuring that all team members have access to the tools they need within a unified interface.

monday integration

Their Pricing and Subscription Options

Slack

Slack provides a range of plans, from a free tier with basic features to various paid options suitable for different team sizes and needs. Pricing is user-based, offering flexibility for growing teams.

The paid plans include:

  • Pro Plan: $7.25/month
  • Business+ Plan: $12.50/month

For a detailed overview of Slack’s pricing, check out this page.

slack pricing

Visit Slack

Monday.com

Similarly, Monday.com offers multiple pricing tiers, ranging from a free plan to enterprise solutions, designed to meet diverse team requirements. Its cost structure depends on user count and feature access, with a free trial for newcomers.

The available paid plans are:

  • Basic: $9 per user/month
  • Standard: $12 per user/month
  • Pro: $19 per user/month

Both platforms aim to accommodate various team dynamics and operational scales, providing flexibility and scalability for users.

monday pricing

Visit Monday.com

Slack or Monday.com?

The choice between Slack and Monday.com largely hinges on your team’s core requirements. For teams prioritizing instant messaging and seamless integration with various tools, Slack stands out as the go-to option.

Conversely, Monday.com excels in offering an extensive suite for project management, including detailed task tracking and strategic planning capabilities, making it ideal for those focusing on project oversight.

Final Thoughts

Both Slack and Monday.com bring to the table robust features that significantly boost team productivity and foster collaboration. Choosing the right platform should align with your team’s specific needs, operational workflow, and project nature.

By weighing the advantages and potential drawbacks of each, you can identify the solution that most effectively propels your team towards its objectives.

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Is Monday.com Right for Your Team? https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/monday-com-for-team/ Mon, 19 Feb 2024 10:00:11 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=71284 Looking for the right tools to make work easier, help your team work together better, and keep everything running smoothly is super important. Among all the choices out there, Monday.com is a standout because it’s a really flexible platform that’s made to meet a bunch of different needs that organizations might have. This post is…

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Looking for the right tools to make work easier, help your team work together better, and keep everything running smoothly is super important. Among all the choices out there, Monday.com is a standout because it’s a really flexible platform that’s made to meet a bunch of different needs that organizations might have.

This post is going to walk you through what Monday.com can do, what makes it special, and who uses it, to help you figure out if it’s the right pick for what your team needs to tackle.

Whether you’re just starting out or you’re part of a huge global company, seeing how Monday.com fits different kinds of project management tasks is crucial for boosting how much you get done and how well everyone works together.

Let’s look into what Monday.com offers and see if it matches what you’re looking for in a project management tool, and how it stacks up against other options out there.

What is Monday.com?

Let’s take a moment to explore what Monday.com is all about, especially if you’re not familiar with it yet. Think of it as not just a tool for managing projects but as a whole platform designed to pull your team closer together to plan, brainstorm, collaborate, and get things done more smoothly.

monday(dot)com

At its heart, Monday.com is user-friendly, making it easy for everyone to get on board, whether you’re a tech expert or not so much into project management tools. It’s built to work with all the popular ways of managing projects, so it feels comfortable for a wide range of users.

What really makes monday.com shine is its flexibility in showing your projects. Whether you like organizing your work with kanban boards, seeing the big picture with Gantt charts, or mapping out timelines, there’s something for everyone. Plus, it takes the hassle out of repetitive tasks with automation, lets you connect with loads of other apps and services, and even lets you tweak things here and there to suit exactly what your team or project needs.

Try Monday.com for Free

Who Can Benefit from Using Monday.com?

Monday.com works for all sorts of teams, big or small, and across different industries. Whether you’re part of a small tech startup, a big company, a creative agency, or even a non-profit, this platform can be tailored to fit your specific needs. It’s great for organizing complicated projects, planning marketing efforts, or keeping track of software development, thanks to its flexible features.

Small businesses find it easy to use and love that they can add more tools as they grow. Bigger organizations rely on its powerful features to manage complex tasks and coordinate large teams all over the world. Schools and non-profits enjoy working together on it because it’s affordable and designed to encourage teamwork.

The best part is, Monday.com isn’t just for one type of job or industry. Whether you work in construction, media, healthcare, or retail, you can customize its boards, use its ready-made templates, and set up automatic tasks to help your team get more done and communicate better.

Key Problems Monday.com Solves

When it comes to managing projects, teams everywhere run into a bunch of problems, like having a hard time talking to each other or missing deadlines. Monday.com helps fix these issues by making it easier for everyone to work together and keep projects moving smoothly. It tackles the big problem of information getting stuck in one place.

With Monday.com, the whole team can see project updates, files, and messages all in one spot, which stops the mix-up that happens when you’re using lots of different ways to communicate.

Task Management and Progress Tracking

Another thing people often struggle with is keeping track of what needs to be done and making sure tasks are handled right. Monday.com has these cool boards you can change however you need, so you can see exactly what’s going on with your project and what everyone should be doing.

monday project management

This is super helpful whether you’re working on something small or you’re in charge of lots of different areas. It makes sure everyone knows their tasks and deadlines without feeling like it’s too much.

Streamlining with Automation

Monday.com makes a lot of the boring, repeat stuff happen on its own. It can send out reminders, update statuses, and assign tasks without you having to do it every time. This means less chance of messing up and more time to work on the big-picture stuff.

monday automation

So, basically, Monday.com makes managing projects a whole lot easier and helps teams do their best work without getting bogged down. Learn more about automations with Monday.com.

Monday.com vs. Other Project Management Tools

When picking a tool to manage your projects, it’s smart to look at all your choices. People often compare Monday.com with others like Trello, Asana, and Slack because each one has its own special features. Let’s break it down in a simple way to help you figure out what’s best for you.

Trello
trello

Trello is all about using kanban boards to keep track of tasks, but Monday.com gives you more options. You can view your projects in different ways, like kanban, Gantt charts, or calendars. This means it’s great for all kinds of projects, whether they’re big, small, or somewhere in between, not just for simple to-do lists.

Asana
asana

Monday.com is often liked for being easy to jump into and start using right away, compared to Asana. While Asana is a powerhouse for organizing projects in detail and is great for team work, Monday.com is seen as easier to learn and has a fun interface that keeps everyone involved and moving forward.

Slack
slack

Slack is mainly for chatting with your team, not managing projects from start to finish. But, it’s super useful for talking in real time and is often used with other project management tools. Monday.com works well with Slack, so you can chat easily and keep your projects organized in one place. This combo means you get the best of chatting with Slack and project tracking with Monday.com.

One of the cool things about Monday.com is how it makes your life easier by automating a lot of the repetitive tasks. This means less time spent on manual updates and chasing people for follow-ups. While other tools like Asana and Trello also have automation features, Monday.com does it in a way that’s really easy to get the hang of, allowing you to tailor it to exactly how your team works.

When it comes to how much it costs, Monday.com is pretty competitive. They don’t have a free version like Trello and Asana, but their basic plan is packed with features that are perfect for small to medium-sized teams, offering a lot of bang for your buck.

Deciding which tool to use really comes down to what your team needs, how much you’re willing to spend, and how simple or complex you want the tool to be. Each option has its own strengths, but if you’re on the hunt for a do-it-all project management tool that’s easy to use, Monday.com is definitely worth considering.

Getting Started with Monday.com

Getting started with Monday.com is like embarking on a new adventure where organization and efficiency are your travel companions. It’s designed to be user-friendly, so you don’t need to be a tech wizard to navigate its colorful and intuitive interface. Here’s a simple guide to help you set sail smoothly.

Step 1: Sign Up and Explore

First things first, head over to the Monday.com website and sign up for an account. You can start with a free trial to get a taste of what’s on offer. No credit card details are required upfront, which is nice because it lets you explore without any strings attached. Just enter your email, and you’re in.

Step 2: Setting Up Your Workspace

Once logged in, Monday.com will guide you through a brief setup process. You’ll be asked a few questions about what you plan to manage – whether it’s tasks, projects, or your team. These questions aren’t just for fun; they help tailor the experience to your needs.

manage workspace
Step 3: Create Your First Board

Think of a board as your project’s home base. It’s where all your tasks will live. Creating one is straightforward: just click on the “Add” button and give your board a name that reflects the project or workflow you’re managing. You can choose from a variety of templates or start from scratch.

Step 4: Add Tasks and Assign Team Members

Now, the fun part begins. Add tasks to your board, describe them, set deadlines, and assign them to your team members. Each task can be customized with status labels, priority levels, and more. If you’re flying solo on a project, this step helps you keep track of your own responsibilities.

assign task monday
Step 5: Collaborate and Track Progress

With tasks assigned and deadlines set, you and your team can start working. Monday.com offers various views (like Kanban, calendar, and timeline) to see how your project is progressing. Plus, the communication features allow for easy collaboration right within the platform.

track task progress

And that’s it! You’re now ready to make Monday.com work for you. It’s all about experimenting and finding what setup best suits your workflow. Don’t be afraid to tweak and adjust as you go along – the goal is to make your life easier, after all.

Conclusion

Monday.com is much more than a simple tool – it’s a complete platform that makes managing projects and working together easier. It’s great for all kinds of teams and projects because it’s flexible and can help improve how productive and organized you are. Although it’s full of features for managing projects in detail, what really makes it stand out is how well it can adjust to different kinds of work settings.

Whether Monday.com is the right choice for you depends on what your team needs and how you work together. It has a lot to offer, but the best way to see if it’s a good fit is to try it out for yourself.

Try Monday.com for Free

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5 Best Monday.com Templates for Content Production https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/mondaycom-templates-content-production/ Wed, 14 Feb 2024 13:00:29 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=68309 Five handpicked Monday.com templates, designed specifically for content creators, to manage content production processes.

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As a monday.com user, you can make your daily tasks much easier with the help of its many templates. The platform offers a wide range of templates that can be tailored to suit any type of business, industry, or team.

monday.com boasts a large collection of ready-to-use yet fully adjustable templates. When you need to set up a new board in your account, you can choose from these templates. Whether you’re looking for a board that is specific to your industry or a general one that can simplify your work, there’s likely a template that will meet your requirements.

How Monday.com Can Revolutionize Your Freelance Business

How Monday.com Can Revolutionize Your Freelance Business

Explore how Monday.com can boost your freelance productivity with task management, time tracking, and more. Read more

In this article, we’re going to look at five top monday.com templates specifically designed for managing content production processes. Utilizing these templates can boost your productivity and enhance the management of your content creation workflows.

How to Add and Use Monday.com Templates

In order to insert a pre-made template into your Monday.com account, you need to first set up an account and create a workspace. This is a simple guide explaining the process of adding a template to your Monday.com account.

  1. Sign in to your account.
  2. You’ll first need a workspace. If you currently don’t have one, click on the triple-dot icon under ‘My Work‘, then select ‘Add new workspace.
  3. add new workspace

  4. Give your workspace a name, and then click ‘Add workspace.
  5. add workspace

  6. In the workspace, click ‘Add from template.
  7. add from template

  8. In the Template Center, search for the required template, then click ‘Use Template.
  9. use template

Best Templates for Content Production

Now, let’s explore some of the best templates that you can leverage for projects related to content production.

1. "Creative Processes"

Monday Creative Processes template

This template is designed to facilitate efficient tracking of tasks, projects, and the progress of your team through a visually appealing and intuitive interface. Leverage the Kanban View for a comprehensive, bird’s eye perspective of your team’s ongoing advancement, or engage with the Calendar View to ensure punctual oversight of crucial deadlines.

The Files View in this template offers an integrated repository for your digital assets, fostering a central and streamlined storage solution. To further enhance your project management capabilities, there’s also a built-in reminder feature that ensures timely publication by providing proactive alerts as the deadline approaches.

This template can integrate with OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, Gmail, Google Calendar.

Get Started View Template

2. "Digital Asset Management"

Monday Digital Asset Management template

This template allows you to keep all your digital files together in Monday.com’s easy-to-use, cloud-based media library. Quickly find and use the assets you need, keep everything tidy, and share them instantly with your team.

This template integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Adobe Creative Cloud, Gmail, and Box.

Get Started View Template

3. "’Content Calendar"

Monday Content Calendar template

One of the standout features of the Content Calendar template is its built-in reminder and notification system, which makes missed deadlines a thing of the past. Thanks to these automatic prompts, your team’s collaboration and content publishing punctuality will likely see a significant boost.

But that’s not all. This template revolutionizes content organization by compiling all your necessary details into a single, easy-to-access location, thanks to its adaptable forms. Imagine having a bird’s-eye view of your entire content pipeline in a sleek calendar format.

Additionally, it enables you to efficiently delegate tasks to your writers, designers, editors, and other vital team members. With the Interactive Content Planner, strategic planning becomes less of a complex jigsaw puzzle and more of an enjoyable, productive process.

This template integrates with Dropbox, Google Drive, Adobe Creative Cloud, OneDrive, and Google Calendar.

Get Started View Template

4. "Content Planning"

Monday Content Planning template

Imagine having all the details of your content strategy at your fingertips. The Content Planning yemplate allows you to monitor each facet of your content planning process, ensuring that you bring forth your top-notch work. It offers an easy-to-use, visual platform where you can generate ideas, evaluate drafts, and schedule future content.

This template integrates with OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Trello, Slack.

Get Started View Template

5. "Social Media Planner"

Monday Social Media Planner template

Prepare to streamline your social media planning process through the utilization of this template. This template allows for the creation, planning, and design of all your social media content, thereby enhancing productivity and operational efficiency. It is strategically organized by platform, publication date, and status, providing an aesthetically pleasing workspace that alleviates the complexity associated with managing your future social media content.

This template integrates with Facebook Ads, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Adobe Creative Cloud, Box, and Dropbox.

Get Started View Template

Related posts:

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Pipedrive vs. Salesmate: Which CRM to Use in 2024 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/pipedrive-vs-salesmate/ Tue, 06 Feb 2024 13:00:21 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=71202 Choosing the right CRM platform can make or break your sales success. Amidst a sea of options, Pipedrive and Salesmate emerge as frontrunners for businesses eager to streamline their sales processes, boost efficiency, and cultivate deeper customer relationships. In our previous exploration of Pipedrive vs. HubSpot, we unpacked the nuances of choosing a CRM that…

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Choosing the right CRM platform can make or break your sales success. Amidst a sea of options, Pipedrive and Salesmate emerge as frontrunners for businesses eager to streamline their sales processes, boost efficiency, and cultivate deeper customer relationships. In our previous exploration of Pipedrive vs. HubSpot, we unpacked the nuances of choosing a CRM that aligns with specific business needs.

Building on that foundation, this blog post offers a detailed comparison of Pipedrive and Salesmate. We’ll dissect their user interfaces, automation capabilities, integrations, pipeline management, and pricing to give you a clear picture of what each platform brings to the table. Whether you’re aiming to optimize your sales funnel, automate mundane tasks, or gain actionable insights into your sales performance, understanding the intricacies of these leading CRM solutions is key.

Without further ado, let’s explore the specifics to help you choose the CRM that’s right for you.

What is Pipedrive

Pipedrive stands out as a sales CRM and pipeline management tool designed for efficiency and ease of use. It acts like a visual assistant for your sales process, offering a minimalist drag-and-drop interface that simplifies the management of deals.

This platform is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses, offering features such as customizable pipeline stages, contact management, automated lead generation, and analytics to streamline sales tasks and enhance productivity. With Pipedrive, managing sales becomes straightforward, allowing teams to concentrate on closing deals and nurturing customer relationships.

pipedrive CRM
Pipedrive Features:
  • Navigating Your Sales Journey: Pipedrive offers a visual representation of the sales pipeline, allowing users to easily track the progress of deals. This feature simplifies understanding where each deal is in the sales process and what actions need to be taken next, helping to avoid confusion and ensure that opportunities are not missed.

  • Streamlined Sales Automation: Pipedrive automates repetitive tasks within the sales process through customizable workflows. Users can set up specific triggers that automatically initiate actions, reducing manual work and helping to keep the sales pipeline moving smoothly.

  • Data-Driven Insights and Analytics: The software provides detailed analytics and reporting tools that offer insights into sales performance. Users can analyze trends, track progress, and identify areas for improvement, supporting informed decision-making and strategy optimization.

  • Round-the-Clock Lead Capture Bot: Pipedrive includes a chatbot that engages website visitors at any hour, aiming to capture leads even when human representatives are unavailable. This automated assistant helps in collecting information from potential customers, ensuring that no opportunity slips through the cracks due to timing.

  • Centralized Contact Hub: This feature acts as a comprehensive database for storing and organizing all customer information and interactions. It enables users to access a complete history of communications with each contact, making it easier to maintain relationships and follow up effectively.

  • Seamless Email Sync: The platform integrates email communication with the sales management process, allowing users to track emails related to deals and contacts directly within the system. This feature ensures that all correspondence is organized and easily accessible, helping to keep sales efforts coordinated.

  • Lead Generation Turbocharge: With this add-on, Pipedrive enhances its lead generation capabilities by providing access to a vast database of potential leads. It’s designed to help users find and connect with high-quality prospects more efficiently, aiming to increase the chances of conversion.

Try Pipedrive

What is Salesmate

Salesmate takes CRM functionality to the next level, catering to teams of all sizes with its smart, mobile-first design. It simplifies sales process automation and customization, enabling more time for customer engagement. Features like sales automation, custom modules, pipeline templates, and custom layouts help declutter and organize information, making sales management more intuitive.

Salesmate CRM

Here’s a more detailed view at its features.

Salesmate Features:
  • Automating the Sales Process: Salesmate automates the routine tasks that often bog down sales teams. By setting up sequences for emails and follow-ups, it ensures that communication with prospects remains consistent and personalized, freeing up time for sales reps to focus on more strategic activities.
  • Tailored CRM Experience: This feature allows users to tailor the CRM to their specific needs. Whether tracking leads, managing customer subscriptions, or overseeing partner relationships, Salesmate’s custom modules provide a flexible framework. This adaptability ensures that every piece of vital information is organized and accessible.
  • Insightful Dashboard Widgets: Salesmate’s dashboard is equipped with prebuilt widgets that provide key sales insights at a glance. These widgets help users monitor team performance, track essential metrics, and pinpoint areas needing improvement. It’s designed to offer a quick overview of sales health without delving into detailed reports.
  • Adaptable Sales Pipelines: Salesmate offers customizable pipeline templates, enabling users to quickly adapt the CRM to fit various sales processes. This flexibility allows for the creation of multiple pipelines, catering to different aspects of business operations, ensuring that each team can work efficiently with processes that match their workflow.
  • Personalized Interface Design: With Salesmate, users can declutter their workspace by creating custom layouts. This feature allows for a personalized CRM experience, ensuring that each team member sees only the information relevant to them. It simplifies navigation and enhances focus on the tasks that matter.

Try Salesmate

Pipedrive vs. Salesmate: Features Compared

Here’s a comparison of their key features to help you decide which platform best fits your business needs.

User Interface (UI):
  • Pipedrive: Offers a user-friendly interface with a clean and minimal aesthetic, focusing on simplicity and ease of use. The platform emphasizes visual sales pipeline management, making it easy for users to navigate and manage deals.
  • Salesmate: Provides a more modern and feature-rich interface, potentially offering more for power users but may require a steeper learning curve due to its wider range of features and customization options.
Automation:
  • Pipedrive: Features robust automation capabilities with a rule-based workflow management system, allowing for powerful and flexible automation of sales processes.
  • Salesmate: Emphasizes automation in communication, with advanced features for email automation and built-in calling, though it may offer less extensive automation capabilities compared to Pipedrive.
Integrations:
  • Pipedrive: Boasts over 400 native integrations, facilitating seamless connectivity with a wide range of third-party apps and tools for enhanced functionality.
  • Salesmate: Offers 40+ native integrations, focusing on essential tools for sales and customer relationship management, with a more limited range compared to Pipedrive.
Pipeline Management:
  • Pipedrive: Provides a flexible, drag-and-drop pipeline view with customizable stages and deal details, emphasizing efficient deal progression and personalized interactions.
  • Salesmate: Also offers a flexible, drag-and-drop pipeline view but allows for more detailed customization of the pipeline structure, including custom fields and conditional steps.
Team Collaboration:
  • Pipedrive: Focuses on individual task management, with features for deal ownership and responsibility assignment, supporting basic team communication.
  • Salesmate: Prioritizes team collaboration, featuring internal messaging, collaborative deal notes, and role-based task assignments to enhance teamwork within the platform.
Communication:
  • Pipedrive: Integrates with various communication channels for comprehensive customer engagement.
  • Salesmate: Allows direct communication with leads and customers through built-in calling functionalities, reducing the need for external communication tools.
Analytics and Reporting:
  • Pipedrive: Offers visually appealing reports and dashboards for monitoring pipeline performance, with detailed analytics available for sales and customer data.
  • Salesmate: Provides customizable dashboards and real-time insights within the pipeline, highlighting areas for improvement and offering detailed analytics for sales performance.
Artificial Intelligence:
  • Pipedrive: Includes an optional AI assistant, LeadBooster, for tasks like lead scoring and email personalization, enhancing automation capabilities at an additional cost.
  • Salesmate: Does not have notable AI features built-in but supports integration with external AI tools to provide similar functionalities.
Feature Pipedrive Salesmate
User Interface Simple and user-friendly. Feature-rich, modern.
Automation Extensive, rule-based. Email and call focused.
Integrations 400+ native apps. 40+ native apps.
Pipeline Management Customizable, drag-and-drop. Highly customizable.
Team Collaboration Individual-focused. Team-focused.
Communication Multi-channel. Built-in calling.
Analytics Detailed, visual reports. Real-time, customizable.
AI Features AI assistant available. External AI integration.
  Pipedrive Salesmate

Pipedrive vs. Salesmate: Price Compared

Pipedrive offers a range of plans starting from $11.90 per user per month, making it accessible for small businesses or startups looking for a basic CRM solution. On the other hand, Salesmate’s entry-level plan starts at $29 per user per month, targeting businesses that may need more advanced features from the get-go.

Here’s a table to help you quickly understand the different pricing tiers offered by each CRM platform.

Plan Pipedrive Pricing (per user/month) Salesmate Pricing (per user/month)
Entry-Level $14 (Essential) $29 (Basic)
Mid-Level $29 (Advanced) $49 (Pro)
High-Level $49 (Professional) $79 (Business)
Top-Level $99 (Enterprise) Custom (Enterprise)

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, choosing between Pipedrive and Salesmate boils down to what your business needs most. If you’re looking for a straightforward, efficient CRM with strong pipeline management and automation, Pipedrive offers a user-friendly and cost-effective solution. Meanwhile, Salesmate stands out for businesses seeking a modern, feature-rich platform with a focus on sales process automation and team collaboration.

Both platforms bring distinct strengths to the table, from Pipedrive’s ease of use and comprehensive integrations to Salesmate’s advanced customization and communication tools. Ultimately, the decision should align with your sales strategy, team size, and the level of customization you need.

Whether you lean towards Pipedrive’s streamlined functionality or Salesmate’s robust feature set, each CRM promises to enhance your sales efficiency and help deepen customer relationships.

The post Pipedrive vs. Salesmate: Which CRM to Use in 2024 appeared first on Hongkiat.

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Streamline Project Workflow with ClickUp’s Free Plan https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/clickup-free-plan/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 07:00:37 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=70772 Staying organized and efficient is crucial for success. Whether you’re working on massive projects or simply trying to manage your personal tasks, having the right tools can make all the difference. That’s where project management tools like ClickUp come in. Unlike most other similar tools, it comes with a free plan that allows you to…

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Staying organized and efficient is crucial for success. Whether you’re working on massive projects or simply trying to manage your personal tasks, having the right tools can make all the difference. That’s where project management tools like ClickUp come in. Unlike most other similar tools, it comes with a free plan that allows you to try it for free to streamline your workflow and, overall, boost your productivity.

ClickUp Free Plan

In this article, we’ll explore the key features of ClickUp’s free plan and how you can make the most of them to unlock your full potential.

Try ClickUp for Free

Understanding ClickUp’s Free Plan

Before going into the specifics, let’s take a moment to understand what ClickUp’s free plan entails.

Unlike many other project management tools, ClickUp offers a free plan that doesn’t compromise on functionality. While its paid plans, of course, offer even more advanced features, the free plan is already ideal for individuals and small teams looking to test out all the essential features to improve their workflow, and there’s no need to break the bank.

ClickUp Free Plan Overview
ClickUp’s free plan

Try ClickUp for Free

Key Features

ClickUp’s free plan comes packed with a wide range of features, and one of the standout features is the ability to create unlimited tasks and set due dates, ensuring you never miss a deadline.

In addition to task management, ClickUp’s free plan allows you to collaborate with up to five team members, which is sufficient for an individual or a small team.

This also comes with the ability to assign tasks, leave comments, and track progress.

Furthermore, ClickUp’s free plan offers the option to set reminders for important tasks. This feature helps you stay on top of your deadlines and ensures that no task slips through the cracks.

Whether it’s a deadline for a client project or a personal goal, ClickUp’s reminders keep you accountable and help you stay focused.

Getting Started

Getting started with ClickUp’s free plan is quick and easy. Simply head to the ClickUp website, sign up for an account, and you’ll be up and running in no time.

Once you’re logged in, you’ll be greeted with a clean and intuitive interface that’s easy to navigate.

ClickUp's Clean Interface
ClickUp’s home after logged in.

ClickUp’s user-friendly design ensures that even beginners can start managing their tasks and projects with ease. The dashboard provides a clear overview of your tasks, deadlines, and progress, allowing you to stay organized and focused.

ClickUp's Dashboard Overview
ClickUp’s dashboard page

Whether you prefer reading through step-by-step guides or watching informative videos, ClickUp has you covered. ClickUp provides detailed documentation or even video tutorials to get beginners started and up and running. These resources cover everything from basic task management to advanced features.

Additionally, ClickUp also offers a self-help Help Center and a customer support team, which are pretty responsive. So if you ever encounter any issues or have questions about the platform, getting help is just a few clicks away.

Streamlining Workflow with ClickUp

Now that you have some understanding of ClickUp’s free plan, let’s explore how this powerful tool can help you streamline your workflow. Whether you’re using it to manage personal tasks or collaborating with a team, ClickUp offers versatile solutions.

Organizing Your Tasks

One of the key aspects of effective workflow management is organizing your tasks in a way that makes sense to you. ClickUp allows you to create custom task lists and folders, giving you the flexibility to structure your projects exactly how you want them.

Custom Task Creation in ClickUp
Creating task in ClickUp

With the ability to create unlimited spaces, you can easily separate different areas of your life or work and keep everything neatly organized.

Adding New Space in ClickUp
Adding new Space in ClickUp

Additionally, ClickUp’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it a breeze to reorder tasks and update their status. You can also add tags, assignees, and due dates to ensure that everyone involved has a clear understanding of the tasks at hand.

More: Creating a form with ClickUp

Collaborating with Your Team

Effective collaboration is always essential for any successful project. With ClickUp’s free plan, you can seamlessly collaborate with up to five team members.

It allows you to assign tasks to specific team members, track their progress in real time, and leave comments and attach files directly within tasks, eliminating the need for lengthy email chains. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and working towards a common goal.

Inviting Team Member to ClickUp
Inviting new team member to ClickUp

Maximizing Productivity with ClickUp

Now, let’s take a look at how you can maximize your productivity within the boundary of a free plan. ClickUp offers a range of time management and task prioritization features that can help you stay focused and accomplish more.

Related: 40+ ClickUp Keyboard Shortcuts

Utilizing ClickUp’s Time Management Tools

Time management is key when it comes to productivity. With ClickUp’s free plan, you can take advantage of features like time tracking and task dependencies to make the most of your available time. By tracking time spent on each task, you can gain valuable insights into your productivity and identify areas where you can improve.

Time Tracking Feature in ClickUp
Tracking tasks in ClickUp

Additionally, there’s a Chrome extension available that allows you to track time, create tasks, bookmark websites, and collect notes and screenshots while browsing with Chrome.

Task dependencies, on the other hand, allow you to create task sequences and ensure that dependencies are met before moving on to the next task. This feature helps you stay organized and ensures that you’re working on the right tasks at the right time.

Prioritizing Tasks with ClickUp’s Features

In a world full of distractions, even when we think we are truly capable of focusing on one task at a time, it’s essential to prioritize your tasks effectively. ClickUp offers several features that can help you prioritize your tasks and stay focused on what matters most. From custom task statuses to priority levels, you can easily identify and tackle the most important tasks first.

Task Statuses and Priorities in ClickUp

ClickUp also allows you to create task templates, allowing you to save time when working on repetitive projects. Simply create a template for recurring tasks and use it as a starting point for similar projects. This feature helps you stay organized and ensures that you never miss any critical steps.

Related: ClickUp Templates for Creative and Web Design

Migrating to ClickUp from Other Tools

Last but not least, if you are already an existing user of another project management tool but are considering porting over your data, transferring your data from an existing tool to ClickUp can be quite a breeze. ClickUp offers import tools (and it’s free) that allow you to import data from Trello, Asana, Wrike, and many other popular tools.

With just a few clicks, you can bring all your existing projects and tasks into ClickUp and continue where you left off. Check out this page to learn more about importing from other platforms to ClickUp.

Try ClickUp for Free

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10 Tools to Remove Image Background Online – Best of https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/remove-image-background-online/ Wed, 22 Nov 2023 13:01:31 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=66902 Discover top 10 AI-powered tools for effortless online image background removal. Save time and achieve professional results with this guide.

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Are you still manually removing image backgrounds using Photoshop or other photo editing tools? Well, you shouldn’t be, at least not anymore. In this blog post, we have compiled a list of the 10 best online tools to Remove backgrounds effortlessly.

These image background-removing tools, with the assistance of AI, are designed to make your life easier, save you time, and help you achieve professional-looking results.

Whether you are a graphic designer, a social media manager, or just someone looking to enhance your images, these online tools will undoubtedly come in handy. Let’s check them out.

Our Testing Process

We put every image background removal tool on our list through a thorough test. For our tests, we used two different kinds of images:

  • Image 1: a simple one (an ice cream cone against a plain background) and,
  • Image 2: a more complex one (a girl wearing a red dress with a detailed background).
Image 1
Image 1
Image 1
Image 2

Click on “Image 1” or “Image 2” in the “See results for:” section at the bottom of each tool’s description.

HitPaw Online Background Remover

HitPaw Online Background Remover

HitPaw Online Background Remover allows users to edit images after removing the background. It offers various functionalities, such as adding different color backgrounds, using pre-designed background templates, or even incorporating photos into the design. Users can also resize the image to meet their needs, ensuring a perfect end result.

A key feature of this tool is the ability to preview the image outcome after the background removal. This allows users to make any necessary adjustments before finalizing their design. However, it is important to note that downloading the edited image requires a paid plan.

Price:

The paid plan offers competitive pricing, starting at just $2.57 per day. Subscribing to the paid plan unlocks additional benefits, such as watermark removal, batch processing for multiple images, and unlimited access to high-definition exports.

See results for: Image 1 Image 2

Remove background with HitPaw

Fotor’s Bg Remover

Fotor's Bg Remover

With “Bg Remover,” you can remove the background from an image and replace it with a different color or a new photo to enhance its appearance. This feature allows you to create visually appealing and customized images tailored to your specific needs.

To ensure the background removal process is successful and meets your expectations, a convenient “compare” button is provided. This feature allows you to quickly view a side-by-side comparison of the original image and the edited version with the background removed.

One of the great features of this tool is its ability to handle multiple image uploads simultaneously. This batch upload functionality saves time and effort by allowing you to process several images at once, streamlining your workflow and increasing efficiency.

If you wish to download a preview version of the edited image, you can do so without signing in. This preview version will be available in a 500×500 resolution. However, if you require a high-definition version of the image in 2000×2000 resolution, signing in is necessary.

Price:

Signing up for an account is completely free, allowing you to access high-quality edited images at no additional cost.

See results for: Image 1 Image 2

Remove background with Fotor

Zyro’s AI Background Remover

Zyro's AI Background Remover

The simplicity of Zyro’s AI Background Remover is one of its most appealing features, as it does not include any complicated functions or additional features. It is designed to provide users with a hassle-free experience when removing the background from an image.

All you need to do is drag and drop the image into the designated area, and the tool will handle the rest. Once the background has been successfully removed, you can easily download the final result by clicking the “Download Image” button. The entire process is straightforward and user-friendly.

Price:

Zyro’s AI Background Remover is free.

See results for: Image 1 Image 2

Remove background with Zyro

Background Remover by Icons8

Icons8' Background Remover

The Icons8 background remover features a user-friendly interface, allowing you to effortlessly remove backgrounds from images with a single click. It supports the bulk upload of up to 500 images simultaneously, accommodating formats like JPG, PNG, and WebP. Simply upload your photo to the background remover, and let the AI do the rest. This tool can be used without creating an account, offering free background removal for up to three images.

Price:

For more extensive needs, consider upgrading to one of three paid plans. The Prepaid package is priced at $0.20 per image. The Limited subscription plan, at $9, allows for up to 100 images per month. Alternatively, the Unlimited subscription, at $99, offers unlimited image background removals.

See results for: Image 1 Image 2

Remove background with Icons8

VanceAI Background Remover

VanceAI Background Remover

VanceAI’s Background Remover is an easy-to-use tool. To start, drag your chosen image onto the page and click the “Start to process” button. Shortly after, the processed image with the background removed will appear on the right side of the screen.

Price:

With a free account, users receive 3 credits to try out the tool. Downloading a processed image costs 2 credits. To learn more about how credits work, visit this page.

See results for: Image 1 Image 2

Remove background with VanceAI

AVC.AI

AVC.AI

To remove an image background with Avc.AI, first, sign up for a free account. The free account provides you with 12 credits, and each background removal costs 1 credit. Once your account is set up, upload the image you want to edit, choose the “RemoveBG” option, and click the “Start Processing” button.

In addition to background removal, this tool offers features such as noise removal, image upscaling, and colorization. You can select any or all of these options before clicking the “Start Processing” button to customize your image processing experience.

After processing, download the high-quality image by clicking the “Download in high quality” button. Note that processed photos will remain in your account for 72 hours before being deleted from the server.

Price:

Starts at $9.95/month for 100 credits.

See results for: Image 1 Image 2

Remove background with AVC.AI

Claid.AI

Claid.AI

To use Claid.AI’s image background removal tool, you must first sign up for an account. Upon successful registration, you will receive 50 credits to explore the tool’s features and capabilities.

One of the main advantages of this tool is its AI-powered technology, which allows for seamless background removal and additional customization options. After removing the background, you can easily resize the image, add a solid background color, or choose from a variety of pre-designed templates.

Furthermore, the AI component lets users enter descriptions or prompts, which the system uses to generate a custom background tailored to their specific needs. Once you have made your selections, simply click “Generate” to obtain the finished result.

Price:

Plans starts at $19/month.

See results for: Image 1 Image 2

Remove background with Claid.AI

Cutout.pro

Cutout.pro

To remove the background using Cutout.pro, simply drag and drop an image or paste the URL of any online image. The tool will efficiently process the image, displaying the original and resulting images side by side for easy comparison.

One unique feature of this tool is the ability to add a custom background color to the processed image, allowing users to personalize their images according to their preferences.

Downloading the processed image is free and does not require signing up for an account. However, the free version of the image is limited to a size of 500×500 pixels.

For users who require a high-definition version of the processed image, a 2000×2000 resolution is available. To access this feature, you must sign up for an account and use one credit.

Price

A free account includes five free credits to get started. For more information on the credit system and its pricing, click here.

See results for: Image 1 Image 2

Remove background with Cutout.pro

DeepImage

DeepImage

To use DeepImage for background removal, you must first sign up for an account. Once registered, you can easily upload images by either dragging and dropping them or importing them from Google Drive. The tool offers various image editing features, including background removal, upscaling, enhancing facial details, sharpening, and noise reduction.

Please note that processed images with removed backgrounds will have a watermark. To remove this watermark, you need to subscribe to one of the available paid plans.

Price:

DeepImages comes with free trial. Paid plans starts at $7.50/month for 100 credits.

See results for: Image 1 Image 2

Remove background with DeepImage

Erase.bg

Erase.bg

Erase.bg can process images up to 5000×500 pixels. To use it, simply drag and drop a single image. Once the processing is complete, you’ll be directed to a results page showing a comparison of the original image and the version with the background removed.

A magnifier tool is provided to help you examine the results more closely. If you’re satisfied with the outcome, click on “Download Original Size” to obtain the processed image.

Price:

Erase.bg is free to use, and there’s no need to sign up for an account.

See results for: Image 1 Image 2

Remove background with Erase.bg

Removal.ai

Removal.ai

With Remove.ai, once the image is uploaded, you will see a side-by-side comparison in two tabs, displaying the before and after results. This helps you easily visualize the enhancements made to your image.

You can download a free preview image with dimensions of 800×800 pixels without signing up for an account. However, if you want a high-quality image measuring 2000×2000 pixels, you need to create an account.

By signing up for a free account, you can download one high-resolution image for free.

Price:

Paid plans start at $5.99/month for 40 images.

See results for: Image 1 Image 2

Remove background with Removal.ai

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How to Integrate Zoho Voice with Zoho Desk for Your Business https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/integrate-zoho-voice-zoho-desk/ Thu, 16 Nov 2023 15:01:00 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=60049 Combining Zoho Voice with Zoho Desk lets you handle both call and contact center tasks in one place. This integration brings features that boost efficiency, cut costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. Once you experience these benefits, you’ll likely not want to look for other solutions. In this article, I’ll guide you through the steps to…

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Combining Zoho Voice with Zoho Desk lets you handle both call and contact center tasks in one place. This integration brings features that boost efficiency, cut costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. Once you experience these benefits, you’ll likely not want to look for other solutions.

In this article, I’ll guide you through the steps to link Zoho Voice with Zoho Desk, helping your online business thrive.

But first, for those who are unfamiliar with Zoho Voice and Zoho Desk, let’s give you an idea of what these tools do.

What’s Zoho Desk?

Zoho Desk is a cloud-based platform for customer support that helps you connect with your customers through various channels like email, phone, live chat, and social media.

It provides a range of tools to help manage and grow your business, including CRM, project management, team collaboration, and eCommerce capabilities.

Zoho Desk is a key part of Zoho One, a collection of business apps designed for small businesses. It simplifies managing customer interactions and includes project and employee management features.

Zoho Desk Interface

Automated workflows in Zoho Desk boost your productivity by bringing all customer requests into a single inbox, regardless of how they contact you.

Users can tailor Zoho Desk by changing tab names, adding departments, customizing email templates, setting business hours, and adding help folders. It can also integrate with your existing systems.

Price of Zoho Desk:

Zoho Desk is free for up to 3 agents, and its paid plans start at $10.30, varying based on the selected plan. Here’s a more detailed list:

  • Free: $0 (up to 3 agents)
  • Standard: $10.30/agent/month
  • Professional: $18.02/agent/month
  • Enterprise: $30.89/agent/month

Try Zoho Desk

What’s Zoho Voice?

Zoho Voice, on the other hand, is a cloud-based system for web and phone communication offering multiple lines, extensions, call recording, automated attendants, and IVR. It’s an effective tool for enhancing your business’s productivity, especially when mobile.

Zoho Voice enables you to make calls using your computer or mobile device via an internet connection. It uses Zoho’s cloud-based PBX (Private Branch Exchange) technology to power these capabilities.

Zoho Voice Interface

With Zoho Voice, you can easily integrate your CRM and helpdesk systems with your phone system to make communication more efficient. It allows you to set up processes for when agents are unavailable, ensuring that customers are not left waiting.

This system also includes options for directing calls to voicemail, allowing for quicker responses and improved customer service efficiency.

Price of Zoho Voice:

Zoho Voice offers a free starting option, with plans beginning at $100 per month.

  • Free: $0
  • Team: $100/month
  • Office: $300/month
  • Corporate: $1000/month

Try Zoho Voice

How to Integrate Zoho Voice with Zoho Desk?

Having learned about Zoho Voice and Zoho Desk, let’s explore how to combine them for an effective customer support system.

  1. Start by logging in to your Zoho Voice account.
  2. After logging in, you’ll need to select an editor. You have two options:
  3. Editor Options in Zoho Voice

    Business Phone – Ideal for startups and sales teams. Features include CRM and Desk integrations, simple IVRs, call queues, call transfers, recording, CDRs, etc.

    Enterprise Telephony – Suitable for SMBs, sales, and support teams. Offers advanced CRM and Desk integrations, live call monitoring, complex IVRs, custom greetings, set business hours, and more.

  4. After choosing your editor, you’ll be directed to the main dashboard of Zoho Voice. Here, click on the Integrations tab in the left-hand menu.
  5. Zoho Voice Main Dashboard
  6. In the next step, you’ll see a list of Zoho integrations. Select Zoho Desk from this list.
  7. Selecting Zoho Desk Integration
  8. On the Integration page, take a moment to read the Zdialer Introduction, which explains the benefits of integrating Zoho Voice with Zoho Desk. Click Next after reading.
  9. Zdialer Introduction Page
  10. Finally, import your sales and support agents into Zoho Voice and add them as users. This step allows Zoho Voice to access your contacts.

Benefits of Integrating Zoho Voice with Zoho Desk

  • Identify callers quickly with Zoho Desk’s caller information in screen pop-ups.
  • Make and receive calls right from Zoho Desk using ZDialer.
  • Easily call numbers in Zoho Desk with the click-to-call feature.
  • Effortlessly add Zoho Desk agents as Zoho Voice users in large numbers.
  • Automatically record all calls made with your numbers.
  • Conveniently handle calls in Zoho Desk using ZDialer.

Conclusion

Zoho Voice is a dynamic phone system that enhances your business’s productivity. When integrated with Zoho Desk, it forms a comprehensive customer support system. This integration lets you handle calls, whether you’re at your desk or on the move, and includes features like easy call transfers and recording.

By adopting these three business communication tools, you’ll enhance communication and streamline operations for greater efficiency. Consider incorporating these tools into your business strategy today.

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Smartsheet vs. Google Sheets: A Comparative Analysis https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/google-sheets-vs-smartsheet/ Tue, 14 Nov 2023 13:01:13 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=67256 Smartsheet or Google Sheets? Check out our comprehensive comparison to find the best data management solution for your business needs.

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In today’s data-driven world, the importance of efficient and effective data management tools cannot be overstated. Two such tools that have gained significant popularity among businesses and individuals alike are Google Sheets and Smartsheet. Both offer a unique set of features, and while they may seem similar at first glance, they cater to different needs and use cases.

This article aims to provide a comprehensive comparison of these two platforms, highlighting their features, strengths, and potential applications. Whether you’re a project manager seeking better workflow control, a data analyst in need of powerful computational capabilities, or simply someone looking to make sense of personal data, this comparison will help you understand which tool might be the right fit for you.

How to Automatically Update Smartsheet from Google Sheets

How to Automatically Update Smartsheet from Google Sheets

Step-by-step guide on how to automate data updates from Google Sheets to Smartsheet for easy sharing and use. Read more

Smartsheet

Smartsheet

Delving into the world of Smartsheet, we explore a tool that goes beyond traditional spreadsheet functions, positioning itself as a comprehensive project management and collaboration solution.

Let’s check out some of its unique features to understand why it stands out in the realm of data management and project execution.

  • Project Management – Smartsheet offers a range of project management tools, including Gantt charts, dependencies, sub-tasks, and critical path visibility. These features help manage complex projects and track progress effectively.
  • Smartsheet project management
  • Collaboration – Like Google Sheets, Smartsheet offers real-time collaboration. Multiple team members can work on the same sheet simultaneously. Features like comments, proofing, and row sharing enhance collaboration further.
  • Smartsheet collaboration
  • Grid View – This is a traditional spreadsheet-style view, which can be used for tasks such as budgeting, project planning, and task tracking.
  • Smartsheet grid view
  • Card View – This provides a visual, card-based view of tasks, which can be beneficial for workflows like agile project management, sales pipeline tracking, and customer relationship management (CRM).
  • Gantt View – Gantt charts are used to visualize a project schedule. Tasks can be linked together to show dependencies.
  • Smartsheet gantt view
  • Calendar View – This view allows users to see any set of tasks that have start and end dates on a calendar.
  • Smartsheet calendar view
  • Forms – Smartsheet forms are a way to collect and capture data that automatically populates in a sheet. These can be used for surveys, data collection, and more.
  • Smartsheet form
  • Automation & Workflows – Smartsheet allows for automated workflows, such as automated update requests, approval requests, and alerts. This can save time and reduce manual work. For example, see How to Automatically Update Smartsheet from Google Sheets.
  • Smartsheet automation
  • Reporting & Dashboards – Smartsheet offers powerful reporting capabilities, allowing users to create summary reports across multiple sheets. Dashboards provide real-time visibility into work status, so everyone knows what’s happening.
  • Integration – Smartsheet can integrate with a variety of other tools, including Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Salesforce, and more, allowing for a seamless work experience.
  • Security & Administration – With features like user management, group management, and access controls, administrators can manage and secure data effectively.
  • Mobile Access – Smartsheet has a mobile app for iOS and Android, enabling users to access their sheets, reports, and dashboards on the go.

Try Smartsheet

Google Sheets

Google Sheets

In the realm of cloud-based spreadsheet tools, Google Sheets has established itself as a major player. Known for its real-time collaboration capabilities and deep integration within the Google Workspace ecosystem, this tool goes far beyond basic data entry and calculation.

Read also: 5 Best Alternatives to Google Sheets

Here are some Google Sheets features you should know:

  • Spreadsheet Basics – Google Sheets provides fundamental spreadsheet functionalities including data entry, cell formatting, and mathematical calculations through built-in formulas.
  • Real-Time Collaboration – Multiple users can work on the same Google Sheet simultaneously, seeing each other’s changes in real time. This is a key feature for teams working collaboratively on data analysis or content creation.
  • Google Sheets collaboration
  • Commenting and Revision History – Users can add comments to specific cells for others to see and respond to. Google Sheets also keeps a complete history of changes made to the document, allowing users to see who made changes and to revert back to previous versions if necessary.
  • Formulas and Functions – Google Sheets supports a wide variety of formulas and functions, from basic mathematical operations to more complex functions like VLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH, and array formulas.
  • Google Sheets functions
  • Data Analysis Tools – Google Sheets includes tools for data sorting, filtering, and validation. It also supports pivot tables, which are powerful for summarizing and analyzing large data sets.
  • Google Sheets data analysis
  • Data Visualization – Users can create a variety of charts and graphs in Google Sheets, including line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, scatter plots, bar codes, and more. There are also options to customize the appearance of these visualizations.
  • Google Sheets data visualization
  • Scripting and Automation – With Google Apps Script, users can write scripts to automate tasks, create custom functions, and build web applications. For example, a script could automatically send emails based on the contents of a spreadsheet.
  • Integration with Google Workspace – Google Sheets integrates seamlessly with other Google Workspace tools, such as Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Forms. This integration allows for easy sharing and collaboration across these tools.
  • Add-ons and Extensions – Google Sheets supports a variety of add-ons and extensions, which can provide additional functionality such as mail merge, advanced data analysis, and integration with other software.
  • Import and Export Capabilities – Google Sheets can import and export in a variety of formats, including Excel (.xlsx), OpenDocument (.ods), CSV, and PDF. This flexibility makes it easy to work with data from different sources and to share your work with others.

Try Google Sheets

Conclusion

In conclusion, both Google Sheets and Smartsheet offer robust features that can significantly enhance your data management and collaborative workflows.

Google Sheets shines as a powerful, free-to-use tool for data manipulation and analysis, particularly for those already within the Google Workspace ecosystem.

On the other hand, Smartsheet stands out as a comprehensive project management solution, with advanced features like Gantt charts, automation, and robust reporting capabilities. Ultimately, the choice between Google Sheets and Smartsheet will depend on your specific needs, budget, and the nature of your projects. Regardless of which tool you choose, both are capable of transforming the way you work with data and collaborate with your team.

Remember, the digital tools landscape is ever-evolving, so it’s crucial to stay updated on the latest features and improvements these platforms introduce. Happy data handling!

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5 Best CRM with WhatsApp Integration https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/crm-whatsapp-integration/ Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:01:21 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=67003 Discover top 5 CRM tools with seamless WhatsApp integration for efficient customer service and outreach.

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In the era of seamless connectivity, businesses are constantly looking for ways to integrate their communication channels for more efficient customer interaction. One platform that has transformed the way businesses communicate is WhatsApp, with its global reach and user-friendly interface.

Integrating this powerful messaging app with your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool can greatly enhance your customer service and outreach. But which CRM platforms offer the best WhatsApp integration?

In this post, we’ll guide you through the top 5 CRM tools that seamlessly connect with WhatsApp, enabling you to manage customer interactions more effectively and leverage the power of unified communication. Let’s explore these solutions to help you make a more informed choice.

Overview:
Zendesk Allows integration of WhatsApp social messaging channels, enabling agents to manage various channels within a single ticket interface for faster and more personalized service. More info.
Zoho CRM Enhances customer interactions and offers extensions like Ultra WABA for bulk messaging and automated workflows for consistent communication. More info.
Freshsales Features Freshchat for customer service via WhatsApp, allowing management of messages from multiple WhatsApp numbers, bot-based decision trees, and timely notifications with rich media. More info.
Salesforce Enhance customer engagement, sales, and support, allowing businesses to connect directly within conversations and deliver tailored customer service using real-time data. More info.
Hubspot Integrates with WhatsApp Business accounts, offering a shared inbox for all WhatsApp messages, automated messaging, and visibility into all WhatsApp conversations within the CRM. More info.

1. Zendesk

Zendesk WhatApp integration

Zendesk provides a comprehensive customer support solution through its Zendesk Agent Workspace, which enables users to integrate WhatsApp social messaging channels into the platform. This allows agents to efficiently work across various Zendesk channels within a single ticket interface, addressing customer issues using the most suitable channels without being restricted to the initial contact channel.

By activating this feature, administrators enable agents to manage Support, Messaging, Chat, and Talk conversations within the same ticket. This eliminates the need for agents to switch between different dashboards to view and track customer issues. Instead, they have a complete, customer-centric view of their work, empowering them to deliver faster, better, and more personalized service. Moreover, when configured, agents can receive and respond to social messages and web messages, further enhancing their ability to effectively address customer concerns.

Related: How to add WhatsApp channels to Zendesk Agent Workspace

Visit Zendesk

2. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM WhatsApp integration

Integrating WhatsApp Business with Zoho CRM greatly enhances customer interactions and streamlines communication. By connecting these two platforms, businesses can send messages directly from their CRM account, leading to improved customer engagement and more efficient interactions.

To achieve this integration, businesses need a Facebook Business Manager account, a verified WhatsApp business, and a registered phone number to access the WhatsApp Business API. Zoho’s marketplace offers various extensions that can further enhance the capabilities of the WhatsApp-Zoho CRM integration.

One such extension is Ultra WABA, which allows users to send WhatsApp messages to multiple contacts at once using Zoho CRM filters. This feature saves time and effort when reaching out to a large number of customers.

Another useful extension is “WhatsApp API integration for Zoho CRM by WATI.io” This extension enables businesses to set up Zoho CRM workflows to send automated WhatsApp messages based on specific criteria. This automation ensures that important messages are sent promptly and consistently, ultimately improving overall communication efficiency.

Related: How to integrate WhatsApp Business with Zoho CRM.

Visit Zoho CRM

3. Freshsales

Freshsales WhatsApp integration

Last but not least, we have Freshsales. Created by Freshworks, it is an advanced sales CRM designed to assist sellers in closing deals more efficiently and swiftly. One of its notable features is Freshchat, which allows businesses to deliver outstanding customer service through WhatsApp.

By integrating with your preferred third-party tools, Freshsales enables you to manage messages from multiple WhatsApp numbers, collaborate with your team remotely, and access comprehensive customer information.

With Freshsales, you can also easily create and implement complex decision trees on WhatsApp using their no-code bot builder. This helps your team concentrate on more significant tasks as the bots handle repetitive questions by providing instant and precise responses.

Also, Freshsales can automatically send timely notifications using template messages, which can contain images, videos, and documents to offer more context and improve communication.

However, the WhatsApp Business integration is only available on the Pro and Enterprise plans.

Learn more about Freshsales’ integration with WhatsApp.

Visit Freshsales

4. Salesforce

Salesforce WhatsApp inetegration

Salesforce has, since 2022, introduced a new way to enhance customer engagement, accelerate sales, and improve customer support outcomes through its “Marketing Cloud” and “Service” tools.

By integrating with WhatsApp, businesses can now harness the power of messaging to sell, market, and support their customers directly within a conversation. This integration allows brands to connect with customers in a quick, straightforward, and personalized manner, making it easier to address inquiries, offer assistance, and promote and sell products.

A key feature of this integration is the ability to deliver customized and conversational customer service using real-time data. This enables businesses to impress and satisfy their customers by providing tailored experiences that meet their unique needs. Moreover, this integration helps businesses scale operations efficiently through automation. By utilizing AI-powered chatbots, companies can quickly resolve issues, automate common inquiries, and streamline business processes.

Furthermore, integrating WhatsApp with Salesforce simplifies operations by consolidating digital channels and voice onto a single platform. This unification ensures that businesses can manage all customer interactions, whether through messaging, voice calls, or other digital channels, in a more organized and efficient manner.

Related: How to create a WhatsApp Channel in Salesforce Service Cloud.

Visit Salesforce

5. Hubspot

HubSpot WhatsApp integration

Hubspot’s CRM platform integrates seamlessly with WhatsApp Business accounts, providing a user-friendly and efficient way to engage with customers. This connection allows for effortless communication, conversation monitoring, and relationship building with customers. Businesses can send welcome messages, automate abandoned cart reminders, and even send targeted messages based on customer purchases.

One of the key benefits of integrating Hubspot with WhatsApp is the ability to manage all your WhatsApp messages in a shared inbox. This streamlines communication, making it easier for businesses to stay organized and responsive. Hubspot’s platform also helps target customers with automated messages, ensuring they stay engaged and informed. By delivering tailored content, businesses can nurture leads and improve customer satisfaction.

Moreover, Hubspot enables you to view all WhatsApp conversations within the CRM platform. This visibility provides valuable insights into customer interactions with your brand, allowing for data-driven decisions to enhance your marketing strategy.

Learn more about Hubspot + WhatsApp Integration.

Visit Hubspot

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5 Best Free ChatGPT Alternatives (2023) https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/chatgpt-alternatives/ Tue, 08 Aug 2023 13:01:25 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=68568 Looking for a budget-friendly AI writing tool? We've got you covered.

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ChatGPT is a popular AI platform used by many, but its advanced features, known as ChatGPT Plus, come with a price tag of $20 per month. Not everyone is willing or able to pay that much for ChatGPT tools. Are you hesitant to spend $20 monthly on ChatGPT Plus? Are you looking for more budget-friendly AI writing tools? If so, this post is for you.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the top 5 alternatives to ChatGPT. These Ai writing tools offer similar quality and performance but at a lower cost. Whether you’re trying to save money on ChatGPT tools or just exploring other possibilities, these alternatives might be just what you’re looking for.

HIX.AI

HIX.AI

Powered by GPT-3.5/4 and enhanced with up-to-date internet data, HIX Chat by HIX.AI is a versatile and cost-effective alternative to ChatGPT. Unlike ChatGPT, which relies on data up to 2021, HIX Chat offers web access and can provide accurate answers to questions using current information from reliable online sources.

HIX Chat also has additional features, such as the ability to upload a PDF for discussion or to summarize the content of a YouTube video or webpage. You can even have a conversation with the chatbot about these summaries.

Access to HIX Chat is convenient, with options like a no-login-required portal, a user dashboard, and a Chrome extension. Once the extension is installed, you can interact with HIX Chat through a sidebar or simply type // to engage with the chatbot on Google Docs and social media platforms.

You can try HIX Chat for free, as HIX.AI offers a free plan with a 3,000-word limit for GPT-3.5. They also offer three subscription plans, ranging from $19.99 to $99.99 per month (billed annually), which come with varying word limits for GPT-3.5/4 and other advanced features like a long-form AI article writer and plagiarism checker.

Visit HIX Chat Chrome

Huggingchat

Huggingchat

Huggingchat, developed by Hugging Face, is one of the top alternatives to ChatGPT. As an open-source tool, it shares many similarities with ChatGPT, especially in its text generation capabilities. It can create summaries, essays, letters, and answer a wide variety of questions.

What makes Huggingchat unique is its connection to the Open Assistant bot. This project is part of the Large-Scale Artificial Open Network (LAION), falling under the German Non-Profit organization responsible for Stable Diffusion.

While Huggingchat is free to use, it does require users to sign up and log in with a Hugging Face account. This process ensures a more personalized and tailored experience for each individual user.

Visit Huggingchat

Poe

Poe

To start using Poe, you need to sign up and log in. This is free, but you’ll need a valid phone number. Once you’re in, you can chat with many different bots, including famous ones like ChatGPT, GPT-4, Claude-2-100k, and thousands of unique user-created bots.

If you want more from Poe, you can subscribe for $199.99/year or $19.99/month. With a subscription, you can chat with specialized bots, send and receive lots of messages, use powerful models, get quicker responses, send longer messages and bigger files, and be part of the Poe community. Plus, Poe is available on both iOS and Android.

Visit Poe iOS Android Mac

Wnr

Wnr

Wnr is a platform that empowers users to create, share, and build prompts utilizing the advanced capabilities of GPT-4. Within the “templates” section of Wnr, users can find a plethora of pre-made templates crafted by the community. These templates cater to various needs and applications.

For instance, there’s an “Ask me to do anything” template that closely resembles the functionality of ChatGPT. If you’re looking to write a blog article, the “Article” template might be your go-to choice. Fitness enthusiasts can benefit from the “Workout plan generator” template, designed to assist in creating personalized workout plans.

While Wnr offers these features free of charge, users are required to sign up for an account to access them.

Visit Wnr

Monica

Monica

Monica is another noteworthy alternative to ChatGPT, designed to function as a Chrome extension and act as your AI co-pilot.

Powered by GPT-4, Monica integrates seamlessly with your Chrome browser, making it accessible wherever you browse the internet. Whether you need assistance with complex questions, reading articles, conducting searches, or even composing emails, Monica is there to help.

Beyond these functions, it offers the ability to write, translate, summarize, paraphrase, explain, or reply to any text, including professional code and industry-specific knowledge, all without the need to log into your ChatGPT (OpenAI) account. Performance-wise, Monica runs at a speed comparable to ChatGPT Plus. While you can use Monica for free, it is limited to 30 queries per day. For those seeking more, there’s a subscription plan starting at $8.3 per month, providing 2500 queries, 30 GPT-4 queries, the ability to generate 200 images per month, and other exclusive perks.

Visit Monica Chrome

Perplexity.ai

Perplexity.ai

Perplexity.ai is like your personal AI research assistant, designed with a conversational interface that’s contextually aware and capable of personalizing its responses to learn your interests and preferences over time.

Unlike other systems that rely on pre-trained data, Perplexity utilizes real-time web searches to provide the most up-to-date information from the internet. This ensures that answers to queries are always current. One standout feature of Perplexity is the Focus mode, which allows users to fine-tune their searches by narrowing down sources for more targeted and relevant results.

Available on both Android and iOS, Perplexity offers a Pro subscription starting at $20 per month or $200 per year. Subscribers enjoy benefits such as increased usage of Copilot (a personal search assistant), access to GPT-4, unlimited file uploads, and more.

Visit Perplexity.ai

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