Is your team looking for new technology ideas? Our latest selection of technology ideas and options feature six leading tech vendors that span a range of industries and needs, from delivery and operations to ERP, and from spend and procurement to data. Our latest blog looks at AvePoint, Zip, Glow Technologies, Firstup, IFS, and Riverbed.
AvePoint
Who are AvePoint?
AvePoint is a global software company specializing in data management solutions for Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Teams, and other cloud platforms. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, AvePoint serves over 17,000 customers worldwide, including businesses, educational institutions, and government agencies. The company focuses on enabling organizations to manage, migrate, and protect their cloud data, ensuring compliance and data governance in digital collaboration environments. AvePoint is a publicly traded company, listed on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol AVPT, and is recognized as a leading provider of SaaS solutions for enterprise collaboration.
What do AvePoint do?
AvePoint provides a comprehensive suite of software solutions designed to optimize the management and protection of cloud data, primarily within Microsoft 365 and related platforms. Its core offerings include data migration, backup, governance, and compliance tools, helping organizations seamlessly transition from on-premises systems to cloud environments while maintaining data integrity and security. AvePoint’s solutions enable IT administrators to automate data backup and recovery, enforce compliance policies, and streamline the management of content and user permissions across platforms like SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive.
AvePoint’s cloud-based solutions are designed to support organizations with complex regulatory requirements, offering advanced data governance and retention capabilities that ensure compliance with global data privacy regulations. The company also offers tools for managing multi-cloud environments, enabling seamless collaboration and secure sharing across teams and organizations. With its focus on simplifying IT management and enhancing productivity, AvePoint supports businesses in leveraging the full potential of Microsoft 365 while safeguarding their critical data assets.
Learn more about AvePoint
Zip
Who are Zip?
Zip is an enterprise procurement and spend management platform that streamlines the process of purchasing goods and services within organizations. Founded in 2020 and based in San Francisco, California, Zip aims to simplify and automate the procurement lifecycle, offering a solution that enhances visibility and control over enterprise spend. Zip's platform is designed to provide a unified experience for procurement, finance, and operational teams, enabling them to collaborate effectively on purchasing decisions. Despite being a relatively new entrant, Zip has gained traction with companies seeking more efficient procurement processes.
What do Zip do?
Zip provides a cloud-based procurement and spend management platform that centralizes the process of requesting, approving, and tracking purchases within organizations. The platform is designed to handle procurement requests from end to end, starting with request submission, going through the approval workflow, and culminating in purchase order issuance. Zip’s software helps businesses streamline their procurement operations by integrating with existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and other financial tools, ensuring seamless data flow and real-time visibility into purchasing activities.
One of Zip's key features is its customizable approval workflows, allowing organizations to tailor processes to their specific procurement needs. This flexibility reduces bottlenecks and ensures compliance with internal policies. Additionally, Zip provides detailed reporting and analytics, giving procurement and finance teams insights into spending patterns and supplier performance. By offering a user-friendly platform with automation and integrations, Zip helps organizations optimize their procurement processes, reduce unnecessary spend, and improve operational efficiency across departments.
Find out more about Zip
Riverbed
Who are Riverbed
Riverbed Technology is an American IT company specializing in network performance management, WAN optimization, and digital experience monitoring solutions. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Riverbed helps organizations enhance the performance and visibility of their network infrastructures. The company serves a global client base, including enterprises across industries such as financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and government. Riverbed’s solutions are designed to improve application performance, data transmission efficiency, and end-user experience across both traditional and cloud-based environments.
What do Riverbed do?
Riverbed provides a range of IT infrastructure solutions that focus on optimizing network performance and delivering actionable insights into digital experiences. One of its flagship products, Riverbed SteelHead, offers WAN optimization technology that accelerates the delivery of applications over wide-area networks (WANs), reducing latency and improving data transfer speeds for distributed workforces. This is particularly important for companies that rely on cloud services or have remote offices needing fast and reliable network performance.
Riverbed’s portfolio also includes SteelCentral, a suite of digital experience management tools designed to monitor and analyze network traffic, application performance, and end-user experience. These tools enable IT teams to quickly diagnose and resolve network issues, ensuring minimal downtime and improved productivity. The company’s solutions extend to cloud networking, offering visibility and optimization for hybrid and multi-cloud environments, allowing enterprises to manage both on-premise and cloud-based resources efficiently.
Through its integrated approach to performance management and optimization, Riverbed helps organizations improve their operational efficiency, reduce IT costs, and deliver superior user experiences across diverse and complex network environments.
Find out more about Riverbed.
Glow
Who are Glow Technology?
Glow Technology is a delivery management platform focused on optimizing logistics and enhancing customer experience. Developed by the Posten Bring Group, Glow integrates tools for route planning, real-time tracking, and branded customer communication. Key features include automated dispatch, a user-friendly driver app, and a customer portal that offers live shipment updates. Glow is designed to improve efficiency in logistics operations, reduce costs, and enhance the recipient experience, while also offering sustainability features like route optimization to lower carbon emissions.
Find out more about Glow Technology.
IFS
Who are IFS?
IFS (Industrial and Financial Systems) is a global enterprise software company founded in 1983 in Linköping, Sweden. Known for its robust solutions in enterprise resource planning (ERP), enterprise asset management (EAM), and field service management (FSM), IFS serves industries that rely on complex asset management, including aerospace, defense, energy, utilities, and manufacturing. The company has a strong presence across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, providing its clients with scalable and flexible solutions tailored to specific industry needs. IFS is recognized for its customer-centric approach and continuous innovation through its cloud-based offerings.
What do IFS do?
IFS provides a suite of enterprise software solutions that focus on helping companies optimize their operations across asset-intensive industries. Its core offering is IFS Cloud, a comprehensive platform that integrates ERP, EAM, and FSM into a single solution. The ERP component addresses key business functions such as finance, supply chain, and human capital management. EAM is designed to optimize the lifecycle and performance of physical assets, helping organizations in industries like aerospace and energy reduce downtime and maintenance costs. Meanwhile, the FSM solution supports companies in managing complex field service operations by offering real-time scheduling, inventory management, and mobile solutions for technicians.
IFS stands out for its modular and flexible architecture, enabling businesses to adapt to changing operational needs. With its cloud-based infrastructure, IFS allows for seamless upgrades, scalability, and global collaboration, ensuring that companies can stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market. The company’s focus on industry-specific solutions gives it a strong foothold in sectors where operational efficiency and asset management are critical.
Find out more about IFS.
Firstup
Who are Firstup?
Firstup is a technology company that provides an intelligent communication platform designed to improve the employee experience within organizations. Founded with the goal of transforming workplace communication, Firstup connects global workforces, particularly focusing on reaching deskless workers who often remain disconnected. The company supports enterprises by delivering personalized and data-driven communications throughout the employee journey, from onboarding to retirement. Firstup is used by leading global brands such as Amazon, BBC, and Toyota to enhance employee engagement and streamline internal communication efforts.
What do Firstup do?
Firstup offers a platform that helps organizations engage with employees by delivering personalized, omnichannel communication campaigns. The platform uses real-time data to provide insights into workforce engagement, allowing businesses to measure the effectiveness of their internal communication efforts. This helps organizations proactively address employee needs, improve retention, and support inclusion.
Key features of Firstup include mobile-friendly communication tools, intranet integration, and seamless collaboration with platforms like Microsoft 365. It is particularly beneficial for companies with large, dispersed workforces, as it provides tools to unify communication and reduce digital noise, ensuring that employees receive relevant, timely messages. The platform also allows companies to segment their workforce and tailor messages based on various factors such as job role or location, enabling more targeted and effective communication.
Through these capabilities, Firstup empowers HR, communications, and executive teams to foster stronger connections with employees, improve productivity, and create a more engaged workforce
Find out more about Firstup.
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Want to find new enterprise technology for your department or business? Why not take a look at our Technology Matchmaker Service where we bring the world's best tech businesses to present how they can help you?
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