Podcasts about smbs

Send us a textAI-native ERP systems are rapidly reshaping the enterprise software landscape by challenging long-standing assumptions about how ERPs are selected, implemented, and evolved over time. As AI becomes embedded directly into configuration, development, and daily workflows, practices once viewed as risky—such as extensive customization, rapid iteration, or even building ERP capabilities in-house—are becoming increasingly viable. Rising commercial software costs are further forcing executives to revisit the traditional buy-versus-build calculus, particularly as AI-first platforms promise faster deployments, more adaptable architectures, and experiences tailored to specific operating models. However, the category remains early, raising critical questions around governance, scalability, reliability, and long-term support. In this context, Everest ERP's AI-first approach offers a practical lens into how AI-native architectures can accelerate time-to-value while redefining what buyers, implementers, and business leaders should expect from ERP systems over the next decade.In this episode, Sam Gupta hosts Sandeep Chopra, co-CEO, Everest, to discuss how AI  impacts ERP strategy for companies.Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/your-erp-strategy-is-about-to-break-ai-is-rewriting-the-playbook/Questions for Panelists?

Send us a textA mix of product launches, acquisitions, funding rounds, and legal developments illustrates how enterprise software vendors are simultaneously accelerating innovation while navigating increasing market and regulatory complexity. Salesforce's updates to Marketing Cloud Next and Agentforce 3, alongside new capabilities from Cordial and SAP, point to a continued push toward AI-driven engagement, automation, and cloud-native commerce experiences. Strategic acquisitions by Accenture and SYSPRO reinforce the importance of deep industry and manufacturing expertise embedded within digital transformation platforms, while Unit4's ERPx release on Azure and Campfire's Series A funding highlight momentum behind modern, AI-first ERP architectures. At the same time, antitrust scrutiny involving SAP and investor investigations such as the Lamb Weston case underscore the growing governance, compliance, and risk considerations shaping the enterprise technology landscape. Collectively, these developments reflect a market evolving on multiple fronts—technological, structural, and regulatory—at the same time.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds, including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendor. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj8yp0QFWSoQuestions for Panelists?

Did you know AI has an official "hallucination rate?" Do you know why most AI engines have female voices? Are you aware AI isn't really your friend? Join Corey & Gordon for an entertaining episode that not only puts AI in perspective, but also has AI spitting out some practical advice for media companies. Funny and intriguing, as always. Stay in the loop with all things Borrell when you join our Research Alert Lists. As always, thank you for listening. If you like the episode, leave us a review!  Want to join the conversation? Share your comments at borrellassociates.com/podcast.

Send us a textPublic sector organizations operate under a fundamentally different set of constraints and expectations than their private-sector counterparts, making CRM selection a strategic decision rather than a purely technical one. Before reviewing our Top 10 Public Sector CRMs in 2025, it is important to align on how success is defined in this environment, where accountability, transparency, and service continuity often take precedence over revenue growth or pipeline velocity. Government agencies, municipalities, and public institutions must support complex case management, constituent engagement, regulatory compliance, and multi-year programs, frequently within rigid budget cycles and procurement frameworks. As a result, public sector CRMs must prioritize governance, data security, accessibility, and long-term adaptability, rather than simply replicating commercial sales or marketing use cases.In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top 10 Public Sector CRMs in 2025. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these Public Sector CRMs. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each CRM system.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rk74lc0LbYRead: https://www.elevatiq.com/post/top-non-profit-crms/Questions for Panelists?

You're gonna love this episode. No joke, someone needs to make a series about Sean. He constantly bets on himself and has an incredible story. Podcast Nuggies From biomedical engineer to investor: moved to Memphis, flipped ~1,500 houses, syndicated ~800 units. Transitioned back to Utah; year-plus search with multiple failed LOIs, then bought PSI Tops (countertops/cabinets) in late 2024 (~$800k EBITDA, 35 employees, included real estate/SBA). DON'T be afraid of being the backup buyer!   Join the How to Buy a Business Cohort - Jan 2026 https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/ Sourcing List:https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/source   SMBs are the biggest target for cyber attacks. Protect your business with Inzo Technologies.Check out....www.inzotechnologies.com, I-N-Z-O, or email Nick directly at nick@inzotechnologies.com.   Guest Name:  Sean Tagge   Additional guest information https://www.linkedin.com/in/seantagge/ acornea.com

Andrea Hill is the President of Hill Management Group and a leading voice in helping small businesses adopt AI in practical, profitable ways. With decades of experience guiding companies through digital transformation, she works at the intersection of strategy, technology, and human-centered leadership. Andrea helps entrepreneurs cut through the hype, use AI to strengthen; not replace their teams, and build systems that drive real operational impact. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. Small businesses win with AI when they use it to automate back-office work not just generate marketing content. 2. AI enhances human teams by improving insight and decision-making, not by replacing people. 3. The next frontier of competitiveness is clean, organized data. AI is only as strong as the systems behind it. Empowering small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) for a stronger, more profitable future through business growth solutions - Hill Management Group Sponsors HighLevel - The ultimate all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, and agencies. Learn more at HighLevelFire.com. Freedom Circle - A powerful community of entrepreneurs led by JLD. Are you ready to go from idea to income in 90-days? Visit Freedom-Circle.com to learn more.

As we end another fantastic year of Pauper Commander, the crew -- nay, the entire PDH community -- celebrates the best and worst that Magic: The Gathering has brought our fair format this year. SocialsSupport the show HEREEmail the show HEREFollow the show HEREWatch the SMBS stream HERE

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In this episode, we explore how purpose, sustainability, and strategy come together to help companies deliver good business done better.Our guest is Blair French, Chief Growth Officer at LMNO, a B Corp-certified creative and marketing consultancy. With over fifteen years in branding and strategy, Blair shares how purpose-aligned decision-making strengthens impact, performance, and long-term value.Key HighlightsGood Growth Priorities: Blair explains how SMBs should invest for resilience and why brand, people, and sustainability fuel long term value. A Personal Catalyst: How climate impact close to home shaped Blair's mission to support people and the planet through business. Sustainability for Advantage: Why purpose and profit coexist and how sustainability boosts competitiveness and operations. The LMNO Framework: How strategy, creativity, and impact consulting help clients meet rising expectations and measure results. The B Corp Standard: What achieving B Corp and Net Zero status means for LMNO's leadership and long-term vision.Special Thanks to Our Partners:RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.htmlUPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWAGoogle: https://www.google.ca/A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspxFor more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Send us a textA wave of funding announcements, acquisitions, and product launches highlights how quickly AI, data, and customer engagement technologies are converging across the enterprise. Significant financings for PhysicsX, Vultr, and Vellum signal strong investor confidence in platforms that support AI-native workloads, applied intelligence, and modern infrastructure, while Capgemini's acquisition of WNS underscores growing demand for large-scale, technology-enabled business transformation services. On the customer and marketing side, deeper integrations and feature expansions from CallMiner, Hightouch, Insight7, Jasper, Oktopost, and Salesforce reflect a shift toward real-time intelligence, personalization, and content automation embedded directly into core CRM and contact center ecosystems. Collectively, these developments suggest the market is moving beyond point solutions toward tightly integrated platforms that combine data, AI, and execution at enterprise scale.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKJ7uZQ3sRAQuestions for Panelists?

How is AI reshaping channel go-to-market strategies—especially for SMBs?  Demand Generation Manager for Channext and producer/host of the Partnerships Unraveled Podcast, Efe Senel shares how successful channel communities are built on trust, reputation, and deep partner understanding. Key Highlights: Efe's unconventional journey from music into technology. Common mistakes in scaling partner ecosystems include distance, lack of connection, and trust erosion. Channext's approach to “channel pull and end-user push” with their channel marketing automation platform. Lessons learned from podcasting (surpassed 200 episodes), mentorship, and building reputation-first channel strategies. Follow Efe on LinkedIn, follow the Partnerships Unraveled Podcast program and visit Channext.com to learn more about their partner marketing platform, and how embedding AI into channel programs, balancing automation with human connection, and scaling partnerships is a perfect mix for success.   Timestamps: Importance of Trust & Connection 7:20 AI & Strategy 10:15 Marketing for Partners 25:01  

Send us a textHigher education institutions operate in an environment where academic mission, financial sustainability, and long-term stakeholder relationships must coexist—placing unique demands on enterprise systems. Before reviewing our Top Higher Education CRM Systems in 2025, it is essential to clarify how CRM success is defined in this context, where engagement extends far beyond traditional recruitment or advancement functions. Universities must manage complex, multi-decade relationships with prospective students, current learners, alumni, donors, faculty, research partners, and governing bodies, often across decentralized colleges and departments. As a result, higher education CRMs must emphasize lifecycle visibility, data governance, cross-functional coordination, and compliance, rather than narrowly focusing on transactional interactions or short-term conversion metrics.In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top 10 Higher Education CRMs in 2025. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these Higher Education CRMs. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each CRM system.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suOIiIoZDFARead: https://www.elevatiq.com/post/top-non-profit-crms/Questions for Panelists?

Show Notes: Isa D'Elia, co-founder of GoalBridge, an AI startup in stealth mode opens the conversation with a brief overview of her background, mentioning she was at Amazon for five years and her co-founder, Vedant, was a software engineer at a financial institution in India. The Origin Story of GoalBridge Isa met her business partner in Berkeley Haas Business school. Through many discussions, they identified a problem in the consulting industry where consultants spent too much time on admin and manual work. They saw an opportunity to use AI to automate these tasks, leading to the creation of GoalBridge. Isa describes how they started working on GoalBridge, entering accelerators, and doing pivots. GoalBridge Iterations They found a design partner who needed a solution to discover their work within SharePoint, Google Drive, CRM, and email. GoalBridge's first iteration was a search AI agent that taps into various platforms to understand the context of engagements. The tool is called "building the brain of a firm" and has been tested with clients, leading to the development of additional agents. Isa introduces the first agent they built, a proposal building agent, which focuses on storyboarding proposals. Dealing with Non-billable Work Streams Consultants often complain about the tediousness of writing proposals, which are non-billable work streams. The agent helps create cohesive stories for proposals by using information from various sources and allowing iterations. They have a roadmap of additional agents to help consultants focus on strategy work rather than manual tasks. GoalBridge's Ideal Customer Profile When asked about the ideal customer profile for GoalBridge, Isa confirms they are targeting SMBs and tier two consulting firms, as larger firms have the resources to build their own tools. Currently, they have signed letters of intent with larger firms, indicating interest in their solution. The tool is designed to help consultants tap into strategy more effectively by automating manual tasks. Goalbridge's Access to Data The conversation turns to the limitations of GoalBridge in terms of access to data. Isa explains that the tool only accesses data that the user has access to, such as their email and specific folders in Google Drive or SharePoint. The tool acts as an AI agent that can quickly scan and understand the context of the data the user has access to. She talks about the challenges of accessing data that is not organized in SharePoint or Google Drive, such as emails. AI Agent that Writes Case Studies and Compendiums Isa introduces the project closeout agent, which helps partners extract and share information, write case studies and compendiums for projects. The agent anonymizes data and creates a cohesive story from various sources, including emails. This agent addresses the issue of knowledge management being left to good intentions and helps capture project context. The closeout agent can also be used for older projects. Demonstrating GoalBridge Isa shows the tool's interface, which includes a project creation feature, a chat dialog box for queries, and a files tab for uploading documents.   The tool can tap into various platforms like SharePoint, Google Drive, and CRM systems, with current integrations for HubSpot and Salesforce. They talk about the tool's ability to find examples of old projects and provide feedback on proposals. Isa explains the limitations of GoalBridge in terms of access to data. The tool only accesses data that the user has access to, such as their email and specific folders in Google Drive or SharePoint. The tool acts as an AI agent that can quickly scan and understand the context of the data the user has access to. She also talks about the challenges of accessing data that is not organized in SharePoint or Google Drive, such as emails. Primary Use Cases for GoalBridge Isa outlines the primary use cases for GoalBridge, including partners finding examples of old projects, engagement managers leveraging formatting, and associates copying slides. They discuss the potential for the tool to create PowerPoint presentations and provide feedback on them. Isa mentions future agents in the roadmap, such as a case study writing agent and a pricing strategy agent. The tool is designed to help consultants at all levels by automating manual tasks and improving the quality of their work. Security Concerns and Data Privacy On the issue of security and data privacy when giving external firms access to sensitive data, Isa explains that they have a separate server hosting client data, ensuring it is secure and not accessible by other clients. They are working on SOC 2 certification to further assure clients of their security measures. The tool does not train on client data, ensuring IP is protected and not used for other purposes. When it comes to pricing, Isa mentions their willingness to discuss pricing on a case-by-case basis. Timestamps: 00:02: GoalBridge AI Startup Introduction 02:19: Development and Initial Success of GoalBridge 03:36: Proposal Building Agent and Future Plans 05:59: Target Market and Ideal Customer Profile 09:20:Privacy and Access Limitations 11:25: Project Closeout Agent and Additional Use Cases 15:58: Demonstration of GoalBridge Tool 21:57: Primary Use Cases and Future Agents 22:55: Security and Data Privacy Links: Website: www.GoalBridge.ai Email: isa@GoalBridge.ai   This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-629-isa-deila-co-founder-of-goalbridge/ Unleashed is produced by Umbrex, which has a mission of connecting independent management consultants with one another, creating opportunities for members to meet, build relationships, and share lessons learned. Learn more at www.umbrex.com. *AI generated timestamps and show notes.    

The episode reviews the outcomes of predictions made for 2025, highlighting the evolving role of automation and AI in Managed Service Providers (MSPs). Key findings indicate that while generative AI has improved data accessibility, it has not fully resolved existing reporting issues related to data quality and governance. Additionally, the anticipated widespread adoption of autonomous IT systems among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) has not materialized, as many still rely on traditional remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools. The episode emphasizes that AI governance and advisory services have become central to modern MSP offerings.Further analysis reveals that while AI-driven legal services gained traction, MSPs have not widely adopted these as packaged offerings. Instead, they have focused on AI compliance and regulatory advisory services. The discussion also touches on the mixed results of fraud prevention becoming a standard service, with significant growth in some sectors but uneven adoption across the board. The episode concludes with a scorecard of predictions, noting a few clear successes in AI governance and readiness consulting, while highlighting a notable miss regarding decentralized MSP models.Looking ahead to 2026, the episode presents several predictions that reflect the increasing importance of automation in IT services. It suggests that MSPs whose revenue models still depend heavily on human labor will face pressure to adapt, as automation becomes the primary driver of service scalability. The discussion also raises concerns about accountability in automation, predicting that individuals may be held responsible for failures in automated systems, emphasizing the need for robust governance frameworks.The implications for MSPs and IT service leaders are significant. As automation becomes the production system for IT services, providers must focus on governance, risk management, and advisory roles to differentiate themselves in a competitive landscape. The episode underscores the necessity for MSPs to evolve their service offerings and business models to align with these trends, ensuring they remain relevant and capable of delivering value in an increasingly automated environment.

Five-time CFO Rick Smith has led finance at companies including inVentiv Health Communications, Exos, Parchment, Solera Health before founding Bonfire advisory. He is also the author o fDemystifying the Role of the CFO in Venture and Growth Stage Companies, a no-nonsense approach to the topic. Reviews for the book include: “This book is a must-read if you want to understand how to scale a company as a CFO” and “Should be required reading for CEOs and PE people along with CFOs.” In this episode Smith provides his take on being a CFO and his long background in FP&A, providing insights on: The path from FP&A to CFO (without a CPA) Why I like being CFO at SMBs (sub $50m) Being a dreamer, artist and buildingFP&A  Audits vs QOEs  The unspoken challenges working with PE firms FP&A and M&A – what you need to know  Link to the book: Demystifying the Role of the CFO in Venture and Growth Stage Companies

Dr. Mark Grether, SVP & General Manager, PayPal, unpacks how PayPal is reshaping commerce media by leveraging its transaction graph across 30 million merchants and 400 million consumers at Marketecture Live. From democratizing retail media for SMBs to monetizing Venmo's social feed and enabling agentic commerce with trusted payments, this conversation explores why PayPal sits at the center of advertising, AI, and the future of buying online. Takeaways PayPal's transaction graph spans 30 million merchants and 400 million consumers, giving it a horizontal view that powers audience targeting, market share insights, and closed-loop measurement. The new SMB Ads Manager unifies demand and supply so smaller merchants can both buy previously unreachable audiences and monetize their own site traffic. Venmo's social feed and Gen Z heavy user base create high demand, upper funnel ad inventory tied to real spending behavior and cultural signals like emoji usage. Honey contributes large-scale intent and catalog visibility, letting PayPal connect discovery to checkout and measure impact even for off-site channels like CTV. In agentic commerce, PayPal aims to be the trust and payments layer that reduces friction while humans still make emotional final decisions. Chapters 00:00 PayPal Today: Scale, Brands, and the Transaction Graph 01:09 Retail Media Fragmentation and the SMB Challenge 01:53 PayPal Ads: On-Site, Off-Site, and Storefront Ads 03:57 Ads Manager: Unifying Demand and Monetizing SMB Eyeballs 06:37 Open Commerce: Relevance and Brand Safety at Scale 08:24 Venmo Ads: Social, Gen Z, and Upper-Funnel Moments 10:36 Honey: Intent Signals, Catalog Data, and Targeting 12:15 Closed-Loop Measurement and CTV Attribution 16:14 Agentic Commerce: Trust, Payments, and In-Flow Checkout 24:04 Five-Year Outlook: What Changes and What Doesn't Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we take a hard look at how AI is being integrated into cybersecurity—and where the narrative often diverges from reality. The discussion spans offensive and defensive use cases, the structural challenges facing SMBs, and why open-source cyber threat intelligence (CTI) remains a critical foundation despite aggressive vendor marketing.We also explore the economic pressures shaping today's security market, including broken pricing models, unrealistic expectations placed on small teams, and the growing gap between compliance optics and real risk reduction. The episode concludes with a forward-looking discussion on applied machine learning, mathematical modeling, and how these approaches can meaningfully support incident responders in the field.Practical applications of AI in cybersecurity operationsOffensive vs. defensive AI tradeoffsThe SMB security gap and market failureOpen-source CTI as a force multiplierPricing models and market distortionApplied ML and mathematics for real-world incident responseProduct direction and long-term vision00:00 — Introduction and company overview38:10 — Pricing models, market dynamics, and systemic issues39:26 — Future plans, roadmap, and strategic vision52:00 — AI in offensive and defensive cybersecurity operations58:54 — Open-source CTI and applied AI capabilitiesKey Topics CoveredChapters

Ben, a London-based platform using AI to help global enterprises manage employee benefits, has raised $27.5m o accelerate its product roadmap and strengthen its go-to-market capabilities to meet the growing demand. https://hrtechfeed.com/employee-benefits-platform-raises-27m/ AUSTIN, Texas — Indeed Flex, the online marketplace for flexible and temporary work, today announced its entry into eight new markets in the U.S. The company's expansion will enable employers to rapidly fill roles and boost operational efficiency, while empowering job seekers with comprehensive benefits and greater control over their work lives. https://hrtechfeed.com/indeed-flex-launches-8-new-u-s-markets/ UKG Inc., a leading global AI platform unifying HR, pay, and workforce management, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Inova Payroll, a U.S.-based human capital management (HCM) and payroll services provider for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). The acquisition, which is subject to customary closing conditions, will enable UKG to directly provide the SMB market segment with innovative outsourced HR support and full benefits brokerage services. https://hrtechfeed.com/ukg-acquires-payroll-company/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textRecent announcements across enterprise software, AI platforms, and services point to an accelerating convergence of intelligence, automation, and scale. Product expansions from Deltek, CallMiner, and Hightouch reflect a push to embed advanced analytics, personalization, and contextual intelligence directly into operational systems, while launches from Intellistack and Kognitos highlight growing demand for no-code and neurosymbolic approaches that reduce dependence on scarce technical talent. Strategic transactions such as IFS acquiring TheLoops and Capgemini acquiring WNS signal a broader shift toward end-to-end, AI-enabled business transformation that blends software, services, and domain expertise. At the same time, substantial funding rounds for PhysicsX, Vellum, and Vultr underscore continued investor confidence in platforms that support AI-native workloads, from applied engineering intelligence to workflow orchestration and cloud infrastructure. Collectively, these moves suggest the market is moving beyond experimentation toward integrated, production-grade AI capabilities embedded across the enterprise stack.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NufAeaJoPwIQuestions for Panelists?

Aytekin is the founder and CEO of JotForm, one of the most widely used no-code automation platforms in the world, serving more than 35 million users across education, healthcare, nonprofits, and small businesses. He's also the author of the Wall Street Journal and Publisher's Weekly bestselling book Automate Your Busy Work,00:00 – IntroductionFounder mindset, automation philosophy, and the future of work00:01 – Why Automate Your Busy Work Was Ahead of Its TimeNo-code, automation thinking before the AI boom01:09 – Building JotForm Before the AI Hype Cycle20 years of bootstrapping, slow growth, and real product-market fit02:29 – Forms as the Gateway to AutomationHow education, nonprofits, healthcare, and SMBs really work03:49 – From Forms to Workflows, Approvals, PDFs, and E-SignaturesDesigning automation for people without developers04:21 – Solo Founder Reality: Doing HR, Legal, Support, and Product AloneThe hidden cognitive cost of running everything yourself04:51 – Competing with Google Forms as a Bootstrapped FounderWhy automation and delegation became survival tools05:58 – Email Automation as Cognitive ReliefHow prioritization systems reduce stress and decision fatigue07:41 – Applying Automation Internally: Teams, CI/CD, and TestingWhy automation makes teams safer, not riskier08:10 – Designing Products Around How People Actually WorkFrom tools to systems thinking09:17 – Writing, Teaching, and Sharing Automation PrinciplesFrom Medium and Forbes to a bestselling book10:48 – Discovering the AI Revolution After Publishing the BookAutomation philosophy vs AI productivity tools11:16 – “People Aren't Overworked — They're Over-Busy”The psychology of modern work and burnout12:28 – Embodying Automation Principles Inside the CompanyScaling without chaos12:48 – Email Prioritization Systems That Actually WorkHow to design inboxes for executives and founders14:20 – Gmail Filters, Labels, and Decision AutomationSimple systems over complex tools16:59 – Automation as Stress Reduction, Not SpeedWhy missing important work causes burnout19:21 – Continuous Deployment and First-Day Code CommitsHow automation builds trust and confidence at scale21:12 – Why Automation Shouldn't Be FearedRisk reduction through systems22:08 – Internal Automation Lessons from JotForm's Engineering Culture23:01 – Future of Work: Policy, Strategy, and AIWEF, global work, and structural change24:32 – Does AI Kill Jobs or Create Better Ones?A real company case study25:02 – Deploying AI Support Without Laying Off EmployeesHow JotForm handled AI responsibly27:09 – Human-in-the-Loop AI SystemsWhy oversight matters more than hype28:19 – Training AI Through Documentation and FeedbackHow resolution rates improved from 25% to 75%31:01 – Improving AI Through Better Knowledge SystemsDocumentation as infrastructure32:36 – New Roles Created by AI AdoptionFrom support agents to AI evaluators33:29 – Multilingual AI Support at Global ScaleWhy AI enables inclusion, not just efficiency35:09 – Why JotForm Didn't Get AcquiredIndependence, focus, and long-term thinking39:29 – Focused Work, Fewer Hours, Higher LeverageRedefining productivity at scale41:06 – Evolution of JotForm Into a Full Automation PlatformFrom forms to AI agents and integrations42:09 – AI Agents Demo Discussion and Key TakeawaysReal use cases, real ROI46:18 – User Research at Massive ScaleLearning from 35 million users48:03 – Omnichannel AI Agents: Web, Instagram, Gmail, SalesforceTraining once, deploying everywhere49:35 – The Future of AI Agents as Digital EmployeesOne system, many touchpoints50:14 – Advice for Young Developers and FoundersHow to compete in the AI era50:49 – Growth Mindset Through Every Tech RevolutionFrom PCs to the internet to AI52:10 – Why This Is the Best Time to Be YoungOpportunities created by AI and no-code tools53:38 – Closing Reflections on Building, Learning, and PurposeA long-term view of work and life

Learn why email automation delivers exceptional ROI and how small businesses can use personalization, segmentation, and automated workflows to save time and drive growth in 2026. Discover the metrics that matter and strategies you can implement today. Find out more at https://cobaltkeys.com Cobalt Keys LLC City: Las Vegas Address: 220 Emerald Vista Way #670, Website: https://cobaltkeys.com/

Send us a textSelecting the right CRM in the K-12 education sector is less about sales enablement and more about orchestrating complex, long-lived relationships across an entire educational community. Before we present our Top K-12 Education CRMs in 2025, it is important to align on what success looks like in this context—where the “customer” spans students, parents, teachers, administrators, district leadership, and external partners, each with distinct engagement cycles and data needs. K-12 organizations require platforms that can manage enrollment journeys, communications, compliance, and support interactions over many years, often under strict regulatory and budgetary constraints. As a result, CRM selection in this space prioritizes governance, data integrity, and lifecycle visibility over traditional pipeline management or revenue optimization.In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top 10 K-12 Education CRMs in 2025. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these K-12 Education CRMs. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each CRM system.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIIesikgPkoRead: https://www.elevatiq.com/post/top-non-profit-crms/Questions for Panelists?

https://zecamedia.com/AI summaries and zero-click results are reshaping how customers evaluate businesses. Discover how search behavior is shifting and what helps SMBs stay visible. Zeca Media City: New York Address: 1178 Broadway Website: https://zecamedia.com/

If you've been looking for a way to hit or exceed your annual quota, qualify for President's Club, or simply earn a bigger paycheck or bonus, focusing on helping business owners reduce their tax burden by investing in your product, service or software in the final weeks of the year can give you the edge you need get more sales closed. Business Owners are Motivated to Reduce Taxes In the United States there are millions of SMBs and the vast majority of these businesses are what we call pass-through organizations for tax purposes. This means that the owners or partners in these businesses report the profits on their personal tax filings. Unlike big companies, small companies don't have the luxury of rolling profits over to the next year. So whatever they made this year, they have to pay taxes on. As the calendar winds down business owners are often motivated to invest in products, services, and software solutions in order to reduce taxable income. In other words, if a business has shown strong profits throughout the year, its owners might be keen to spend some of that money on improving their operations, expanding their capabilities, or streamlining their processes—right now—rather than hand over a large chunk of their profits to Uncle Sam come tax season. Business Owners Hate Paying Taxes To understand why this year-end period is so critical, let's get into the mindset of a small or medium-sized business owner. Unlike large enterprises with multiple departments and complex accounting strategies, SMB owners are often personally invested in the company's financial results because those results are essentially their income. It's how they pay their mortgage and put food on the table. For this reason, they watch their revenue and expenses closely. As the year comes to an end, they're looking at their bottom line and thinking about the upcoming tax bill. For many of these business owners, profit is a double-edged sword. Don't get me wrong, they want to make a profit. But at some point, too much profit triggers a much higher tax bill. If there is one thing I know about small and medium sized business owners its that they hate taxes. They are always looking for ways to legally minimize their tax liability. One easy and productive way to do this is to make fully or partially depreciable investments in the business before December 31st. That could mean buying new equipment, software, training packages, or services that will not only improve the business long-term but also reduce taxable income for the current year. An Urgent Need to Spend As a salesperson, the key takeaway here is that your prospects have a natural, time-bound incentive to spend. If you can position your product or service as the right investment at the right time, you might find it easier to close those deals that seemed just out of reach during the rest of the year. And by the way, if you are dealing with decision-makers who are pushing off decisions to next year, this is a great way to get past that objection. Framing Your Business Case I want to be clear though that most businesses are not going to spend money for the sake of spending money. Savvy business owners want to reduce taxes and do the right thing for their company. Therefore, you can't just be transactional. You still must follow the sales process and build a bridge to the value of tax savings AND business improvement when making your business case. It's all about framing your product or service as a strategic investment rather than a mere expense. For example: If you sell software tools that improve operational efficiency, make the case for how your solution will help them save on labor costs, reduce errors, and streamline workflows. If you're selling advertising, highlight how a year-end launch of a new campaign will lead to immediate results that set the stage for a strong Q1. If you sell capital equipment walk them through how the new equipment will make them more productive and help them expand their business in the new year. The key is to connect the value of your offering directly to the timing. Consider messaging like: “This is an opportune moment to upgrade your systems, so you'll enter the new year with a competitive edge and potentially lower your tax liabilities this season.” “By getting your campaign locked in before the year closes, you can reap immediate tax benefits while ensuring your advertising starts generating leads in January when you need them the most.” If we get the equipment ordered now it will be delivered in Q1 giving you plenty of time to get a high ROI next year. When you can tie the ROI of your product to both tangible improvements and the financial perks of year-end spending, the business case becomes much more compelling and you will sell more. Tailor Your Approach While the end-of-year tax incentive is a common denominator, not every SMB is identical. Some might be profitable but cash-constrained, while others have capital burning a hole in their pockets. Some may be in sectors that had a booming year, while others are just recovering from a difficult market. The more you understand the unique challenges and goals of each prospect you're targeting, the better you can tailor your approach. Before you pick up the phone, walk through their door, or send an email, do some research. Check out their recent announcements, whether they're hiring or expanding. Look into trends in their industry. Understanding these nuances will help you fine-tune your messaging. If you know a business is tight on cash, emphasize flexible payment plans or financing options. If the business is flush with profit, reinforce the immediate tax advantage and the strategic value of reinvesting those funds. Empathy and relevance are your allies here. Show that you understand their position and that your solution aligns perfectly with their current goals. That personal touch, combined with the natural urgency of year-end, is a powerful recipe for closing the deal. Lead With Urgency: Clear, Direct, Compelling I don't want to sweep under the rug how important timing and urgency are with this tactic. While you don't want to be completely transactional, you do want to be direct. As we approach the end of the year, many SMB owners have a long to-do list: Finalizing paperwork, inventory checks, reviewing vendor contracts, preparing for holiday promotions, and on and on. They're busy. They have limited time to spend on sales pitches. This means your outreach needs to be respectful of their schedule and also clear, direct, and compelling. Say right away: “I'm reaching out before the year ends because I have a solution that can help you maximize your tax benefits this year and help you grow your business next year." Being direct and to the point respects their time and sets the context immediately. If you need more help with direct and to-the-point messaging, grab your copy of my book Fanatical Prospecting and review Because Statements. It's crucial that you create and maintain a sense of urgency. Not the aggressive, pushy kind, but a natural urgency rooted in a real calendar event: The year-end. The clock is ticking, and if they don't make their purchase by December 31st, they miss out on the potential tax advantages. This deadline isn't artificial—it's a reality. Use it to frame your conversations. Urgency helps prospects prioritize your offer over other distractions in their busy schedule. Handling Objections You might encounter objections like: “We're too busy to consider new solutions right now,” or “We don't have enough budget.” In these cases, it's wise to highlight the cost-saving and tax benefits again. Stress that investing now can actually put them in a better position financially. Remind them that waiting until next year could mean missing out on an opportunity to reduce this year's taxable income. If time is an issue, propose a quick and efficient implementation plan. Show them that you can be agile and help them integrate the solution without massive downtime. If budget is a concern, consider promotions, discounts, or favorable financing terms. Sometimes, offering a small year-end incentive can tip the scales in your favor. The Five Keys to Selling More to SMBs at the End of the Year SMBs have a natural incentive to invest before year-end: They want to reduce their taxable income and set themselves up for a strong next year. Frame your product as a strategic investment: Highlight the value, ROI, and tax benefits that come with a year-end purchase. Avoid being transactional: Follow the sales process and position yourself as a partner who can help them navigate this critical period. Tailor your approach to each SMB's situation: Research their needs and adjust your prospecting message accordingly, showing empathy and relevance. Create urgency with a real deadline: The calendar itself is your ally; emphasize that the benefits come from acting before December 31st. Here's the deal though. Do not wait. Start this process now. The low-hanging fruit is out there but it will rot on the vine if you fail to pick before the sand runs out of the hourglass this year. Check out the BRAND NEW Jeb Blount Ultimate Sales Success Box Set. It's the perfect gift for the sales professional in your life!

Josh Ho is the Founder and CEO of Referral Rock, a bootstrapped referral marketing platform serving SMBs that rely on multi-step, relationship-driven sales. Starting in 2015 as a solo developer consulting on the side, Josh built the first version himself, validated demand quickly, and landed early customers by doing demos and hands-on support.  Referral Rock has grown to roughly 500 customers, 20 team members, and about $3M in annual revenue. The company scaled through strong inbound SEO, founder-led sales, and a high-touch onboarding model for B2B businesses that value referrals. Over the years, the product expanded too broadly, creating UX and complexity challenges that later required a deliberate refocusing on core use cases.  Today, Referral Rock is profitable, founder-owned, and steady at its current revenue plateau as Josh rethinks pricing, packaging, product simplicity, and ICP focus. He shares practical lessons on avoiding over-complexity, hiring from what you've already figured out, returning to first principles, and treating plateaus as puzzles to solve rather than signs of failure. Key Takeaways Charge Early, Not Late – His first startup delayed monetization; Referral Rock asked for payment within days of launching an MVP. Pricing For Segments– Good-better-best failed for SMBs with wildly different referral economics; switching to two specific lanes solved misalignment. Do the Job First – Hiring worked only after Josh personally figured out support, sales, or marketing enough to define the role clearly. Plateaus Aren't Failure – Post-COVID shifts and SEO changes slowed growth, but Josh treats plateaus as system puzzles, not existential threats. Profit Equals Freedom – With no investors and steady profitability, he optimizes for enjoyable work, long-term optionality, and building at his own pace. Quote from Josh Ho, Founder and CEO of Referral Rock "For me, a plateau or a pivot is a puzzle to be solved. Any time you try to build something, you hope to just keep hitting accelerators and different serendipitously find those things. But I've learned through my life, the most part, there are things that work only for a certain duration, right.  "For me, it comes back to how I think about the business and. my innate goals for the business which, are different from most founders. When I'm talking to another founder is, they'll ask me what my exit strategy is. And my answer is usually, Well, I don't really have one. That's not how I think about the business. It's a very clear. "I enjoy my work and that's my North Star. Am I having fun? Do I enjoy this work? And I also continuously reinvent myself and my role to fit those changes.. There might be a job I had to do that I don't enjoy, but then I'll do that until it's no longer like the limiting step and then hire someone to backfill for myself." Links Josh Ho on LinkedIn Referra lRock on LinkedIn Referral Rock website Podcast Sponsor – Designli This podcast is sponsored by Designli, a digital product studio that helps entrepreneurs and startups turn their software ideas into reality. From strategy and design to full-scale development, Designli guides you through every step of building custom web and mobile apps. Learn more at designli.co/practical. The Practical Founders Podcast Tune into the Practical Founders Podcast for weekly in-depth interviews with founders who have built valuable software companies without big funding. Subscribe to the Practical Founders Podcast using your favorite podcast app or view on our YouTube channel. Get the weekly Practical Founders newsletter and podcast updates at practicalfounders.com. Practical Founders CEO Peer Groups Be part of a committed and confidential group of practical founders creating valuable software companies without big VC funding.  A Practical Founders Peer Group is a committed and confidential group of founders/CEOs who want to help you succeed on your terms. Each Practical Founders Peer Group is personally curated and moderated by Greg Head.

Kat and Ian are FRESH off of an AI training, but first we obviously have a couple detours: Kat's dad's fear of the government (he's okay); Oura ring might be selling our data (they still haven't); and the ocean (Ian's not about it.) After we cover the hard hitting news, Kat and Ian recap their AI training and (surprisingly) drop a little knowledge. Check out 11:06 for tips on how to structure prompts into your GPT and 13:51 for notes on creating parameters for responses. And finally, Ian educates Kat on the actual name of Cisco's AI Tool (yikes) 16:08. Learn more about Cisco's AI solutions for SMBs: www.cisco.com/c/en_uk/solutions/…mall-business.html

AI may be reshaping the enterprise world — but what about small and mid-sized businesses? In this episode of Today in Tech, host Keith Shaw speaks with Ed Keisling, Chief AI Officer at Progress Software, about the unique challenges and opportunities SMBs face when adopting AI. From limited budgets and data hurdles to the pitfalls of agentic hype and governance gaps, Ed explains how smaller companies can succeed by starting small, prioritizing outcomes, and enabling employees. Topics Covered: AI strategy differences: Enterprises vs SMBs Common mistakes SMBs make with AI Build vs. buy: Choosing the right AI tools Risk management, governance & explainability Realistic use cases and quick wins Agentic AI and the road ahead

AI adoption among business leaders is facing significant skepticism, as a recent survey by Workato and Harvard Business Review revealed that only 6% of over 600 tech leaders expressed full confidence in AI agents managing essential processes. Despite this lack of trust, 86% of respondents indicated plans to invest more in AI technology over the next two years. Key challenges hindering widespread adoption include cybersecurity concerns, data quality issues, and the readiness of business processes for automation. This situation highlights a critical gap between the desire for AI integration and the actual trust in its capabilities.Further research published in the journal Science indicates that chatbots can significantly influence users' beliefs and opinions, raising governance concerns. The study, which involved nearly 77,000 adults in the UK, found that the persuasiveness of chatbots is influenced more by their post-training modifications and the density of information provided than by the size of the model. Additionally, an experiment by SAP revealed a bias against AI in consulting, where consultants rated AI-generated work lower than that produced by junior interns, despite both outputs being equally accurate. This suggests that psychological factors, rather than technical limitations, are a primary barrier to AI acceptance.The episode also discusses the introduction of a new location tracking feature in Microsoft Teams, which aims to facilitate collaboration in hybrid work environments but raises privacy concerns. A survey indicated that one-third of companies are using monitoring software, which can negatively impact employee morale. Furthermore, Coalition, a cybersecurity insurer, has begun offering coverage for incidents involving deepfakes, reflecting a shift in the risk landscape as synthetic media becomes more prevalent in cybercrime.For Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and IT service leaders, these developments underscore the importance of focusing on trust, governance, and process design rather than merely implementing AI tools. As younger leaders demand personalized AI solutions, MSPs must adapt to this shift by enhancing their documentation and identifying predictable workflows suitable for automation. The evolving landscape of AI and cybersecurity risks necessitates that MSPs position themselves as trusted advisors, guiding clients through the complexities of technology adoption and risk management. Four things to know today00:00 New Research Reveals AI's Trust Gap: Low Confidence, High Influence, Professional Bias, and Rising Expectations From Younger Leaders05:53 Teams' New Location Tracking Highlights Tension Between Hybrid Coordination and Workplace Surveillance Risks07:57 Deepfake Coverage Enters Cyber Insurance as Insurers Signal Rising Human-Trust Risk for SMBs and MSPs10:17 iFixit's FixBot Highlights the Coming Divide Between Organized MSPs and Those Unready for AI-Driven Support This is the Business of Tech.    Supported by:  https://saasalerts.com/mspradio/ 

Send us a textRecent product launches, acquisitions, and funding announcements underscore how rapidly enterprise software and AI platforms are evolving across both horizontal and vertical use cases. Vendors such as Orbit Analytics, Deltek, and Advantive are extending core operational solutions with deeper analytics, compliance, and decision-support capabilities, while companies like Pipefy, Aquant, Kognitos, and Intellistack are pushing AI further into everyday workflows through agents, retrieval-augmented conversations, neurosymbolic reasoning, and no-code automation. Strategic moves like IFS acquiring TheLoops highlight growing demand for AI-driven operational intelligence embedded directly into ERP ecosystems, rather than bolted on at the edges. At the same time, significant growth financings for PhysicsX and Vultr signal continued investor confidence in infrastructure and applied-AI platforms that can support increasingly compute-intensive, industry-specific use cases. Together, these developments point to a market shifting from experimental AI features toward scaled, production-ready capabilities tightly integrated with core enterprise systems.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds, including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendor. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw7jW3wPtFQQuestions for Panelists?

Brad Thompson from MediaGo, a Baidu Company, joins AdTechGod on the AdTechGod Podcast to break down how SMB advertisers are using performance DSPs as a bridge from walled gardens into open web programmatic. Brad shares his path from agency work to platforms like AOL and MediaMath, why simplifying programmatic is essential for growth, how he uses LinkedIn and X differently to build partnerships, and what 2026 may look like as AI reshapes ad ops and optimization. The episode closes with Brad's view that AdCP can steer the industry back toward strong messaging and smart media choices, not just data-driven outcomes. Takeaways SMB marketers know Amazon, Meta, and TikTok well, but many need a simpler on-ramp to open web programmatic, creating a clear role for performance DSPs. AI will most improve optimization and creative workflows, while ad ops shifts through fewer manual tasks and slower net new hiring. LinkedIn works best for personal marketing and steady industry updates, while X is better for real-time discussion and learning. Strong relationships are still the edge in sales and BD because people handle the messy moments that tech cannot. AdCP is a major 2026 opportunity that can refocus digital advertising on message and media quality. Chapters 00:00 Brad's background and why he chose ad tech. 03:55 How MediaGo brings SMBs from walled gardens into programmatic. 05:00 Social selling in practice, LinkedIn versus X. 12:15 2026 outlook, AI reality versus hype, and job impact. 20:40 Why AdCP could be the biggest growth lever next year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Originally uploaded August 29th. Chris Holman welcomes Michelle Carley, CEO & Founder Big E-Z Bookkeeping, Livonia, MI. "Can you share the journey from your initial work in a factory to developing your own bookkeeping system? What pivotal moments led you to create a DIY accounting solution?" "Throughout your decades of experience, what are some of the most common financial management challenges that you've seen small businesses face, and how does your software address these specifically?" "With many small business owners lacking formal accounting training, how does your software simplify the bookkeeping process to make financial management more accessible?" "Tell me about your monthly Zoom guidance sessions. How do these interactions enhance the user experience and success with the software?" "Could you discuss some of the common mistakes you've seen in bookkeeping and how your system helps prevent these errors?" "In an era where collaboration and cost-efficiency are more important than ever for small businesses, how does your Google Sheets-based system facilitate these needs?" » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/ Michelle adds; Visit our website at bigez.com She's a guest the MBN team met at the SBAM Summit and Kalamazoo event. Big E-Z - Accounting Software Systems for Small Businesses, Nonprofits, Join our Free Ask the Expert - DIY Accounting Software webinar - the third Wednesday of each month at 2:30 p.m. EST. Streamline Your Bookkeeping–it's E-Z! Join us on a journey that helps you mas bigez.com To learn more about our software sign up for a free 14-day trial with custom set-up or get our forever-free invoicing tool. Let's get your business finances on track together!

Send us a textInnovation districts sit at the intersection of real estate, research, community building, and economic development—making them fundamentally different from most commercial enterprises. Unlike traditional organizations with a single revenue engine or operating model, innovation districts are ecosystems designed to orchestrate universities, startups, investors, public agencies, and anchor institutions within a shared physical and digital footprint. Their success depends less on transactional efficiency and more on their ability to foster collaboration, attract talent, manage long-term stakeholder relationships, and translate research and entrepreneurship into measurable economic impact. This multi-stakeholder, mission-driven structure creates unique governance, funding, and operational complexities that require purpose-built strategies rather than off-the-shelf commercial playbooks.In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top 10 CRMs for Innovation Districts in 2025. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these CRMs for Innovation Districts. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each CRM system.Video: https://youtu.be/eBYRIZZ1zJoRead: https://www.elevatiq.com/post/top-non-profit-crms/Questions for Panelists?

Welcome to Freedom In Five Minutes! The brutal truth nobody's talking about: AI won't replace you... but a competitor using it absolutely will. And that gap? It's widening right now in December 2025. In this episode, Kevin from the Pro Sulum team breaks down the latest industry research showing why small and medium-sized businesses are perfectly positioned to dominate with AI—yet most are frozen in analysis paralysis while their competitors race ahead.

Visual search remains underutilized by 73% of small businesses despite growing consumer adoption. Helen Pollitt from iStock brings enterprise-level visual content strategy expertise, having guided thousands of SMBs through digital transformation initiatives that increased organic visibility by measurable percentages. The discussion covers integrated content framework strategies that treat visual assets as core SEO components rather than secondary elements, and tactical approaches for small businesses to gain competitive advantages over larger enterprises through strategic visual search optimization.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Visual search optimization remains underutilized by 73% of small businesses despite growing consumer adoption. Helen Pollitt from iStock, who leads visual content strategy for Getty Images' stock platform serving over 1.5 million creative professionals, shares proven frameworks for integrating visual elements into comprehensive content strategies. The discussion covers location-based schema implementation for AI-generated imagery, unified content approach methodologies that eliminate silos between written and visual assets, and tactical opportunities for SMBs to gain competitive advantage in visual search before larger enterprises mobilize their resources.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our conversation with  Dan Jaenicke, Director of B2B Strategy for MacPaw, starts out with how CleanMyMac for Business is evolving to serve SMB and enterprise customers. Dan discusses patch and policy management, security and compliance challenges, fast deployment with tools like Jamf, preserving a friendly Mac-native interface, and how customer feedback and a new Mac admin survey are shaping the future of the product.  This edition of MacVoices is brought to you by the MacVoices Dispatch, our weekly newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on any and all MacVoices-related information. Subscribe today and don't miss a thing. Show Notes: Chapters: [0:00] Setting the stage: MacPaw, B2B strategy, and enterprise focus[0:30] Introducing Dan Jänicke and his new role in B2B marketing[2:00] Launch of CleanMyMac business and early customer feedback[2:55] Consumer vs. B2B pain points and why enterprises are different[3:32] Fleet visibility, device health, and compliance needs at scale[6:01] Patch management as a key differentiator in the business product[7:22] Roadmap for group policies and staged rollouts for IT admins[8:44] Security expectations in enterprise environments[10:07] Fragmented policies across roles, departments, and access levels[11:55] Moving from SMB and mid-market into true enterprise capabilities[15:17] Competing with MDMs by focusing on simplicity and differentiation[17:21] Logistics of deploying to 1,000 devices and Jamf integration[20:08] Why quick, hours-level rollout is a competitive advantage[22:05] Complexity vs. usability in security and compliance tools[22:46] Preserving CleanMyMac's visual design and enjoyable UX for admins[24:08] Balancing simplicity with the depth enterprises demand[26:44] Design philosophy: making maintenance pleasant, not painful[27:53] Rising cyberattacks on SMBs and why every business is a target[29:05] Using Moonlock, patching, and good practices to reduce attack surface[31:07] Hidden costs of breaches for smaller organizations[33:24] Listening to customers and iterating the product weekly[33:38] Upcoming Mac admin survey and why MacPaw wants feedback[36:06] Being part of the Apple community, not just marketing to it[37:04] Closing thoughts, invitation to contact Dan, and future ambitions[38:02] Outro, support options, and how to stay connected Links: CleanMyMac CleanMyMac Business Guests: Dan Jaenicke is a seasoned Product Leader with over a decade of experience solving user challenges, leading global and local teams, and partnering with executive leadership to build impactful B2B and B2C SaaS products.  He has driven initiatives behind products launched in more than 125 countries, reaching over 50 million active users and 45,000+ paying businesses, and generating hundreds of millions in revenue.  Before joining MacPaw, Dan served as Director of Product Management at GoodRx. As MacPaw's Director of B2B Product Strategy, he now leads solutions such as CleanMyMac Business, driving innovation and growth across the company's business offerings. Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon     http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:     http://macvoices.com      Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner     http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:     https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes     Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

Our conversation with  Dan Jaenicke, Director of B2B Strategy for MacPaw, starts out with how CleanMyMac for Business is evolving to serve SMB and enterprise customers. Dan discusses patch and policy management, security and compliance challenges, fast deployment with tools like Jamf, preserving a friendly Mac-native interface, and how customer feedback and a new Mac admin survey are shaping the future of the product.  This edition of MacVoices is brought to you by the MacVoices Dispatch, our weekly newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on any and all MacVoices-related information. Subscribe today and don't miss a thing. Show Notes: Chapters: [0:00] Setting the stage: MacPaw, B2B strategy, and enterprise focus [0:30] Introducing Dan Jänicke and his new role in B2B marketing [2:00] Launch of CleanMyMac business and early customer feedback [2:55] Consumer vs. B2B pain points and why enterprises are different [3:32] Fleet visibility, device health, and compliance needs at scale [6:01] Patch management as a key differentiator in the business product [7:22] Roadmap for group policies and staged rollouts for IT admins [8:44] Security expectations in enterprise environments [10:07] Fragmented policies across roles, departments, and access levels [11:55] Moving from SMB and mid-market into true enterprise capabilities [15:17] Competing with MDMs by focusing on simplicity and differentiation [17:21] Logistics of deploying to 1,000 devices and Jamf integration [20:08] Why quick, hours-level rollout is a competitive advantage [22:05] Complexity vs. usability in security and compliance tools [22:46] Preserving CleanMyMac's visual design and enjoyable UX for admins [24:08] Balancing simplicity with the depth enterprises demand [26:44] Design philosophy: making maintenance pleasant, not painful [27:53] Rising cyberattacks on SMBs and why every business is a target [29:05] Using Moonlock, patching, and good practices to reduce attack surface [31:07] Hidden costs of breaches for smaller organizations [33:24] Listening to customers and iterating the product weekly [33:38] Upcoming Mac admin survey and why MacPaw wants feedback [36:06] Being part of the Apple community, not just marketing to it [37:04] Closing thoughts, invitation to contact Dan, and future ambitions [38:02] Outro, support options, and how to stay connected Links: CleanMyMac CleanMyMac Business Guests: Dan Jaenicke is a seasoned Product Leader with over a decade of experience solving user challenges, leading global and local teams, and partnering with executive leadership to build impactful B2B and B2C SaaS products.  He has driven initiatives behind products launched in more than 125 countries, reaching over 50 million active users and 45,000+ paying businesses, and generating hundreds of millions in revenue.  Before joining MacPaw, Dan served as Director of Product Management at GoodRx. As MacPaw's Director of B2B Product Strategy, he now leads solutions such as CleanMyMac Business, driving innovation and growth across the company's business offerings. Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon      http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:      http://macvoices.com      Twitter:      http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner      http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:      https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:      https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:      https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes      Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

Send us a textManufacturing ERP systems may appear similar on the surface, but their differences become stark once you look underneath—especially for industries where precision, engineering complexity, and compliance cannot be compromised. While many vendors promote similar modules, only specialized ERPs are architected to handle the rigorous demands of electronics, wire harness, and other engineering-intensive sectors. This webinar will unpack why industry-specific systems consistently outperform generic, one-size-fits-all ERPs, showing how they enhance traceability, strengthen real-time visibility, and seamlessly connect quoting, ordering, production, inventory, quality, and shipping into a unified operational flow. We'll explore how features like dynamic scheduling, embedded revision and configuration control, automated quality enforcement, and real-time WIP and material visibility are purpose-built—not bolted on—to support complex manufacturing. By the end, you'll clearly see how the right specialized ERP can improve accuracy, reduce errors, accelerate throughput, and ultimately drive profitability in high-stakes production environments.In this episode, Sam Gupta hosts Tanner Rogers, Director of Sales, Cetec ERP, to discuss the ultimate ERP playbook for Electronics & Wire Harness companies.Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/the-ultimate-erp-playbook-for-electronics-manufacturing/Questions for Panelists?

Peter Jones, who heads up Revenue at Premion, returns to Insider Interviews (see Ep 38) to educate us on the shifts in local TV advertising in a streaming-first world -- and how small businesses can compete with national brands, with greater access to sports inventory, and why measurement actually matters! Learn what "context" really means for advertisers (spoiler: consumers don't experience media in silos), how the collapse of some Regional Sports Networks has created opportunities for local advertisers, and why "smart curation" is more than an industry buzzword. But it's not just the small business that needs to adapt: it's agencies and brands, too. Peter breaks down what full-funnel capabilities now available to SMBs—from maxing out brand awareness across Premion's 210 DMAs, to measurable sales transactions, tapping 1st and 3rd party data.  And, as we gear up for playoff sports, he reminds us how technology has leveled the playing field and that local advertisers can get in the game, too! So, sports puns are pervasive in Episode 44 since part of our conversation is about Premion's new(ish) programmatic options to enable more inventory for all in live sports. Talk about a “game changer...!” Understand how local car dealerships and furniture stores can now leverage the same targeting, data, and attribution tools that Fortune 500 companies use, all while reaching their specific communities with precision. But for everyone, it's key to understand the importance of creative in driving outcomes, and omnichannel strategies (because yes, we're all scrolling during halftime), and why advertisers need to embrace data-driven decisions over personal platform preferences. "The first thing to realize is that big tech has leveled the playing field for local advertisers..." Whether you're a media buyer, agency leader, or local business owner trying to navigate the CTV landscape, this conversation delivers practical guidance on inventory, data, and measurement—the three pillars every advertiser should evaluate when choosing a CTV partner. Bottom line? The local advertising opportunity in streaming TV has never been bigger—but only for those willing to adapt, measure outcomes over impressions, and follow consumers wherever they are. Key Highlights [01:15] CTV's double-digit growth, challenges and opportunities for advertisers [02:14] What Premion does – Nine years of helping local advertisers navigate CTV [03:33] Leveling the playing field – Educating SMBs on using the same tools as national brands [05:25] Challenges and Strategies for Outcomes in Omnichannel Advertising [08:26] Tools and tactics – First-party data, pixels, attribution, and what SMBs need to track [10:48] The role of creative – Sequential messaging, AI tools, and "message to market match" [12:52] How Premion's programmatic access to sports inventory is opening doors for local advertisers [15:39] Smart Curation Explained and Full Funnel Options in 200+ markets [20:22] The dynamic nature of live sports – Why planning can be tricky but opportunity is massive [21:45] What to look for in a CTV partner – Hint: Inventory, data, measurement (plus the TAG seal of approval!) [23:41] Emerging Trends and AI in Advertising Connect with Peter Jones and Premion Connect with E.B. Moss and Insider Interviews: With Media & Marketing Experts            LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mossappeal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insiderinterviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsiderInterviewsPodcast/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@insiderinterviews If you enjoyed this episode, follow Insider Interviews, share with another smart business leader, and leave a comment on @Apple or @Spotify… or a tip in my jar!: https://buymeacoffee.com/mossappeal! 

OpenAds CEO and co-founder Steven Liss joins Eric Franchi and Joe Zappa to share which AI plays are likely to endure, how SMBs, brands, and agencies are reacting to the company's AI-native ad platform pitch, what brilliant questions VCs are asking adtech founders these days, and how OpenAds is using AI to run a more efficient startup. Plus, Steven tells the guys what the adtech equivalents of fracking and Tinder are.

Send us a textThis week's enterprise technology updates highlight major movements across ERP support, AI automation, testing, analytics, and workflow orchestration. Rimini Street extended support for all SAP ECC 6.0 and S/4HANA releases through 2040, offering long-term stability for organizations navigating SAP's transition timeline. Zencoder launched Zentester, an AI-powered end-to-end testing agent designed to transform vibe coding into enterprise-grade engineering, while Acorn secured $12.3 million in Series A funding to accelerate its growth. Algolia introduced its MCP Server to empower developers, and Aravo enhanced its Evaluate Engine with new features to strengthen risk and compliance workflows. Avetta rolled out upgrades to the Avetta One platform, and Orbit Analytics expanded its GL Sense solution with new capabilities. Pipefy launched AI agents tailored for HR teams, Advantive released a new version of its statistical process control solution, and Aquant detailed its retrieval-augmented conversation technology—together showcasing how AI, automation, and modernization continue reshaping every layer of the enterprise software ecosystem.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06EUjRBLHDAQuestions for Panelists?

SMBs need integrated visual and written content strategies equally. Helen Pollitt, content strategist at iStock with expertise in visual content optimization for enterprise brands, argues against separating visual and written content approaches. She advocates for holistic content strategy frameworks that break down traditional barriers between written, visual, and video content, emphasizing audience-intent matching over format-specific optimization tactics.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Many small and mid-size businesses breathe a sigh of relief once they earn a compliance certification, but the work doesn't stop there. Certifications like SOC 2, ISO, or CMMC aren't one-time milestones. They're ongoing commitments that require fresh evidence, updated controls, and regular monitoring.In this episode, Marie Joseph, Manager of Compliance Advisory at Trava, breaks down the reality of maintaining compliance over time. She discusses why frameworks evolve and how managed compliance services can take the stress off your team's plate. Plus, she shares common mistakes businesses make during recertification and how to stay audit ready all year long.Key takeaways:How compliance frameworks evolve and why it mattersCommon mistakes companies make before audits and how to avoid themHow managed compliance services free up your team's time One of the top tips Marie shared in this episode for staying proactive and organized with compliance is using a Compliance Calendar. You can download a free copy today—based on the same calendar Marie uses every day to manage SOC 2, ISO 27001, CMMC, NIST, and other frameworks: https://travasecurity.com/pod-compliance-calendarEpisode highlights:(00:00) Compliance:  What happens after you get certified?(02:32) Framework changes and renewals(05:17) Why compliance is never “done”(09:14) The audit mistake SMBs make most oftenConnect with the host:Jara Rowe's LinkedIn - @jararoweConnect with the guest:Marie Joseph's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-joseph-a81394143/ Connect with Trava:Website - www.travasecurity.comBlog - www.travasecurity.com/learn-with-trava/blogLinkedIn - @travasecurityYouTube - @travasecurity

Send us a textWhen evaluating the top 10 large-company CRMs in 2025, it's essential to ground the discussion in how we define this segment: organizations with more than 5,000 employees and over $1 billion in annual revenue, representing the true enterprise tier. Unlike startups, small businesses, or even mid-sized firms, large enterprises operate with global scale, complex geographic footprints, and deeply layered organizational structures that demand far more from their CRM systems. Their priorities include advanced territory and quota management, multi-layered sales and service planning, global data consolidation, and strict compliance with regulations across multiple jurisdictions. As a result, CRMs designed for this tier aren't simply expanded versions of mid-market solutions—they are built with entirely different architectural assumptions, offering deeper configurability, stronger governance controls, more sophisticated integration frameworks, and data models engineered to support highly interconnected business units operating across regions, languages, currencies, and regulatory environments.In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top 10 Large Non-Profit CRMs in 2025. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these Large Non-Profit CRMs. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each CRM system.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFtzoHQiqfgRead: https://www.elevatiq.com/post/top-non-profit-crms/Questions for Panelists?

Small and mid-sized businesses struggle to balance visual and written content optimization strategies. Helen Pollitt from iStock brings enterprise-level visual content expertise, having developed scalable optimization frameworks for one of the world's largest stock photography platforms. The discussion covers holistic content strategy integration that breaks down traditional barriers between written, visual, and video optimization, plus audience-intent matching frameworks that help SMBs determine optimal content formats for specific search scenarios.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, Frank Sohn sits down with Suren Reddy, founder of Cloudely, for a deep dive into where Configure-Price-Quote (CPQ) is heading—especially inside the Salesforce ecosystem. If you're evaluating Salesforce CPQ, or wondering what Revenue Cloud Advanced really changes, this conversation is for you. Suren breaks down Salesforce Revenue Cloud Advanced (RCA) and Revenue Cloud Billing (RCB) in practical terms: why Salesforce is positioning them as the next-gen replacement for traditional CPQ, what's new in product, pricing, and catalog architecture, and how quote-to-cash is becoming a single, unified revenue platform. He shares real implementation expectations too—why RCA projects are now trending closer to 4–8 months due to expanded analysis and design, and how that tradeoff can pay off in fewer downstream touchpoints and stronger ROI. The discussion also explores the fast-moving AI layer around CPQ. Suren explains Salesforce's move toward multi-agent workflows through Agentforce, the role of Model Context Protocol (MCP) as an open standard for secure tool/data interaction, and what "Agentforce Vibes" (agentic development) could mean for accelerating CPQ and revenue applications. You'll hear a concrete AI use case he's seeing today: the Margin Optimization Agent, designed to recommend profitable product bundles while improving customer outcomes. Finally, Suren shares what he's hearing from customers about the Conga/PROS acquisition, why many are re-evaluating their CPQ options, and what demand signals he expects to rebound in 2026. Plus, a look at Cloudely's growth in India and emerging verticals like dairy, cement, and textiles. Tune in for a grounded, forward-looking CPQ conversation packed with Salesforce Revenue Cloud insights, AI realism, and customer-driven market perspective. Subscribe to the CPQ Podcast for more interviews on CPQ software, quote-to-cash, pricing, and revenue transformation.

Patrick Dichter is such a fun guest and entrepreneur to have on. His wealth of knowledge is so valuable. You will not be disappointed in this episode. Podcast Nuggies: Grew Apple Tree from ~$1.2M rev / ~$330k SDE to ~$4.5M in 4 years—non-CPA owner. Pipeline: ~500 cold emails → ~20 calls → 6 LOIs → 1 close; personalize & call now. Target "professional services" (non-licensed) so non-CPA ownership works. Structures: SBA + cash + seller notes; two fully seller-financed; carve-out was best. Lessons: first deal is hardest; change management is tough; precision matters.   Join the How to Buy a Business Cohort  https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/   SMBs are the biggest target for cyber attacks.  Protect your business with Inzo Technologies. Check out....www.inzotechnologies.com, I-N-Z-O, or email Nick directly at nick@inzotechnologies.com.     Appletree Business Services - https://appletreebusiness.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pdichter Inspired or Acquired -https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inspired-or-acquired/id1741345654

Send us a textThe aerospace and defense industry operates in one of the most demanding environments, where compliance, traceability, and precision are non-negotiable—yet many manufacturers still rely on generic ERPs that were never built for aviation. As a result, they pour millions into customizations just to meet basic FAA, DoD, and OEM requirements, only to end up with fragile systems that struggle under the weight of cert linkage, serial and lot tracking, shelf-life controls, and calibration traceability. In this webinar, we'll break down the “Aerospace ERP Gap,” exposing the risks and costs of forcing generic ERPs into aerospace use cases, including the all-too-common “$2M customization trap.” You'll see how industry-built ERP platforms close this gap with out-of-the-box capabilities for MRO, manufacturing, and defense contractors—delivering compliance-ready workflows, integrated configuration management, and real-time visibility across every aircraft, tool, and certificate. Ultimately, these purpose-built solutions help organizations move from reactive and fragmented to unified and intelligent, without blowing budgets or stretching implementation timelines.In this episode, Sam Gupta hosts Ralph Merhi, CEO, ERP.aero, to discuss the inside of the aerospace ERP gap, the $2M cost of getting it wrong.Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/erp-aero-overview-webinar/Questions for Panelists?

Send us a textThis week brought a surge of AI-driven innovation across CX, martech, enterprise software, and development tooling. Treasure Data introduced five new AI suites aimed at elevating customer experiences, while Uniphore unveiled a suite of AI marketing agents and Zeta Global provided more details on its Zeta Answers platform—each reinforcing the rapid expansion of AI across customer engagement. In the enterprise and ERP ecosystem, Accenture launched its Distiller agentic AI framework, Precisely rolled out AI-driven automation for SAP ERP, and Rimini Street extended support for all SAP ECC 6.0 and S/4HANA releases through 2040, signaling major momentum in long-term ERP modernization and support. On the engineering and DevOps front, Zencoder debuted Zentester, an AI-powered end-to-end testing agent designed to turn vibe coding into enterprise-grade engineering. Meanwhile, Acorn secured $12.3 million in Series A funding to accelerate its growth, Algolia released its MCP Server to enhance developer productivity, and Aravo expanded its Evaluate Engine with new features—collectively highlighting how AI, automation, and modernization continue reshaping every layer of the enterprise technology stack.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrKYmqgnWMgQuestions for Panelists?

Send us a textWhen evaluating the top 10 mid-sized CRMs in 2025, it's important to anchor the discussion in how we define the mid-sized market: organizations with roughly 100 to 5,000 employees and annual revenues from about $100 million to $1 billion. While some vendors might loosely label this range as enterprise, its operational profile aligns more closely with a true mid-sized segment—complex enough to require mature workflows, multi-layer security, and structured organizational planning, yet not burdened by the extreme global compliance, multinational consolidation, or governance demands seen in large enterprises. This tier sits squarely between the lightweight needs of startups and small businesses and the heavy global operational requirements of enterprise firms. As a result, CRM systems built for mid-sized organizations strike a deliberate balance: they offer richer data models, stronger automation, and more advanced capabilities than systems targeted at smaller businesses, without introducing the excessive overhead or architectural rigidity common in enterprise-focused platforms.In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top 10 Mid-Sized Non-Profit CRMs in 2025. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these Mid-Sized Non-Profit CRMs. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each CRM system.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLnUew0p7iURead: https://www.elevatiq.com/post/top-non-profit-crms/Questions for Panelists?

Is the increasing investment in marketing by SMBs a sign of growth and optimism, or is it masking a deeper struggle with confidence and effectiveness? Agility requires not only adapting to the rapid pace of technological change but also understanding the core challenges faced by your customers, like SMBs struggling to measure marketing ROI. It also demands a willingness to simplify complex tools and processes, empowering businesses to achieve more with less. Today, we're going to talk about the evolving landscape of marketing for small and medium-sized businesses, the challenges they face, and how B2B marketers can become essential partners in their success. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome Frank Vella, CEO at Constant Contact. About Frank Vella I am the CEO of Constant Contact, a comprehensive digital and ecommerce marketing platform that makes it simple and effective for a business to market or sell their idea in today's complex online marketing world. We strive to anticipate our customers' needs and provide them with the tools and support they need to improve their businesses. Because when they succeed, we succeed.Prior to joining Constant Contact, I built best-in-class operations at various sized tech firms across the globe, including top-tier companies like Microsoft, GE Capital, HP Enterprise and Xerox. I have led companies through growth, transformation and successful exits while remaining focused on building a terrific culture and keeping a company's product and presence ahead of the crowd. I'm a proud Canadian expat now living in New York City, and in my free time I enjoy traveling with my family. Frank Vella on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-vella/ Resources Constant Contact: https://www.constantcontact.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/ Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company