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When teams use different tools, someone has to keep data consistent. In a one-way sync, changes flow from a source system to a destination. The source stays authoritative, and the destination just receives updates. Bidirectional sync works differently. Changes flow in both directions. When data is updated in System A, it’s automatically updated in System B. When someone modifies System B, the change flows back to System A. The distinction matters because modern organizations rarely have a single source of truth for everyone. Engineering works in Jira. Product management works in roadmap tools. Customer success works in CRMs. Each team needs access to shared information, and each team needs to contribute updates. One-way sync forces you to pick a winner. Bidirectional sync lets multiple systems participate as equals. The technology enables a workflow pattern that wasn’t practical before: genuine tool autonomy. Teams choose the tools that fit their work, and integration handles the data consistency that would otherwise require manual copying, meetings, or a mandate to standardize on a single platform. How bidirectional sync works At its core, bidirectional sync monitors changes in connected systems and propagates those changes to keep data aligned. The process involves several components working together. Change detection identifies when data has been modified. This can happen through polling at intervals, webhook subscriptions for real-time notification, or event streams that capture every modification. Timestamp management tracks when changes occurred. When both systems modify the same record, timestamps help determine which change is more recent. Field mapping defines how data in one system corresponds to data in another. A Jira ticket’s “status” field might map to an Asana task’s “progress” field, with values translated between them. Conflict resolution handles cases where both systems change the same data. Without clear rules, bidirectional sync can create data corruption or infinite update loops. ComponentWhat It DoesWhy It MattersChange detectionIdentifies modified recordsDetermines what needs to syncTimestamp managementTracks modification timesResolves “which change wins”Field mappingTranslates data between schemasConnects different data structuresConflict resolutionHandles simultaneous editsPrevents data corruptionSync direction rulesControls which fields sync which wayEnables field-level authority The sophistication of these components determines whether a sync solution can handle real-world complexity. Simple sync tools might track changes but lack granular conflict resolution. Enterprise platforms handle field-level control over which direction updates flow, so you can define that priority comes from the roadmap tool while status comes from the engineering tracker. One-way sync vs bidirectional sync Understanding when each approach makes sense requires examining what each does well. One-way sync works when you have a clear source of truth and other systems just need to reflect that data. A reporting database that receives data from production systems benefits from one-way sync. The production systems are authoritative, and the reporting database shouldn’t send changes back. Bidirectional sync works when multiple systems need to both receive and contribute updates. When product managers update priorities in their roadmap tool while engineers update status in Jira, both changes matter. Neither system should be read-only. AspectOne-Way SyncBidirectional SyncData flowSource to destination onlyBoth directionsAuthoritySingle source of truthMultiple contributorsComplexityLowerHigherConflict riskNoneRequires managementBest forBackups, reporting, data warehousesCollaboration across tools One-way sync is simpler to implement and maintain. There’s no possibility of conflicts because only one system can make changes. But that simplicity comes with a limitation: if the destination system’s users need to modify data, they can’t. Their changes would get overwritten on the next sync. The practical question is whether your workflow requires mutual contribution. If the answer is yes, you need bidirectional sync regardless of the additional complexity. Many organizations start with one-way sync thinking it will suffice, then discover that users in the destination system need to make changes. At that point, they either switch to bidirectional sync or accept that certain changes won’t propagate. The first option costs implementation effort upfront. The second option costs ongoing manual work and data inconsistency. Challenges of implementing bidirectional sync Bidirectional sync introduces challenges that don’t exist with one-way data flow. Conflict resolution is the primary challenge. When both systems modify the same record between sync cycles, the sync process must decide which change to keep. Common approaches include: Last write wins: The most recent change takes precedence Field-level merging: Different fields can have different winners Manual review: Conflicts get flagged for human resolution Source-specific rules: Certain fields always defer to specific systems None of these approaches is perfect. Last write wins can lose important changes. Manual review creates bottlenecks. The right choice depends on your data and how critical perfect accuracy is. Schema differences create mapping complexity. Systems rarely store data the same way. One tool might use dropdown statuses while another uses freeform text. One might require fields that the other considers optional. Mapping these differences requires transformation logic that can break when either system updates. API rate limits constrain sync frequency. Most SaaS tools limit how many API calls you can make per minute or hour. High-frequency bidirectional sync can exceed those limits, forcing you to choose between real-time updates and staying within quotas. Sync loops pose data integrity risks. A poorly implemented bidirectional sync can create infinite loops: System A updates, triggering a sync to System B, which triggers a sync back to System A, and so on. Well-designed sync solutions include loop detection and change origin tracking, but simpler approaches can create cascading updates that corrupt data or exhaust API limits. ChallengeRisk LevelMitigationConflict resolutionHighClear rules for which source wins per fieldSchema mappingMediumField-level configuration with transformationAPI rate limitsMediumEvent-driven sync with retry logicSync loopsHighLoop detection and change origin trackingNetwork reliabilityMediumRetry mechanisms with idempotent operations These challenges explain why many organizations settle for manual processes or one-way sync even when bidirectional would serve them better. The overhead of building and maintaining custom bidirectional sync often exceeds the benefit. When to use bidirectional sync Certain scenarios strongly benefit from bidirectional sync. Cross-functional collaboration with tool autonomy. When engineering works in Jira and product works in Asana, bidirectional sync keeps priorities and status aligned without forcing either team to change tools. Teams can connect tools like Asana and Jira so product updates the roadmap, engineering sees the change. Engineering updates ticket status, product sees progress without checking a separate system. Customer data across sales and service. CRM data matters to both sales and customer success teams, but they might work in different tools. Bidirectional sync ensures that a phone number updated by support also updates in the sales CRM, and account notes from sales appear in support’s view. Project handoffs between departments. When work moves from planning to execution to delivery, each phase might use different tools optimized for that work. Bidirectional sync maintains context as work flows through the organization. Multi-entity organizations. Companies with multiple subsidiaries, acquired businesses, or partner networks often have different tools in different units. Bidirectional sync enables collaboration without forced standardization. ScenarioWhy Bidirectional HelpsEngineering + ProductBoth update shared data in preferred toolsSales + ServiceCustomer records stay consistentPlanning + ExecutionContext travels with workMulti-entity orgsCollaboration without tool mandates The common thread is multiple teams legitimately contributing updates to shared information. If updates only need to flow one direction, one-way sync is simpler. If both sides need to contribute, bidirectional is the only approach that actually works. The test for whether you need bidirectional sync: Ask whether users in each system make changes that the other system needs to see. If the answer is yes for both directions, one-way sync will leave you with stale data on one side. The friction of that stale data often exceeds the complexity of implementing proper bidirectional sync. Choosing a bidirectional sync solution The build-versus-buy decision for bidirectional sync typically favors buying. Custom sync implementations require ongoing maintenance as APIs change, handling edge cases that multiply over time, and monitoring infrastructure to catch failures before data diverges. Key capabilities to evaluate: Does the solution support true bidirectional sync out of the box, or does it require building two separate one-way flows? Some automation platforms can technically do bidirectional sync, but the implementation requires multiple triggers and careful orchestration to avoid conflicts. Does it offer field-level control over sync direction? The ability to specify that priority always comes from the roadmap while status always comes from engineering provides flexibility that blanket bidirectional rules don’t. How does it handle conflicts? Look for clear conflict resolution logic, preferably configurable per your workflow needs. Does it sync historical data or only new items? If you’re connecting systems that already contain data, you need initial synchronization of existing records, not just ongoing sync of new changes. What monitoring and alerting exists? Bidirectional sync failures can cause data to drift silently. Visibility into sync health matters for ongoing reliability. For work management tools where teams collaborate across platforms like Jira, Asana, and monday.com, platforms designed for two-way sync between work management tools handle the complexity of bidirectional updates, field mapping, and conflict resolution without custom development. Bidirectional sync and the future of work Organizations increasingly accept that tool standardization isn’t realistic. Teams choose tools that fit their work, and that choice deserves respect. The question isn’t how to force everyone into the same platform. It’s how to make diverse tool environments function as a coherent system. Bidirectional sync is the technical foundation for that coherence. When data flows freely between tools, teams gain autonomy without losing visibility. Product managers see engineering progress in their roadmap tool. Engineers see updated priorities in their tracker. Customer success sees sales context in their platform. No one copies and pastes. No one works with stale data. The technology exists to make multi-tool environments work as well as single-tool environments. The question is whether organizations invest in that integration or continue absorbing the hidden costs of manual data management. For teams ready to enable genuine collaboration across tools, two-way sync platforms provide the bidirectional data flow that makes tool autonomy practical. View the full article

Search behavior is no longer just people typing keywords into Google. It’s people asking questions and, in some cases, outsourcing their thinking to LLMs. As Google evolves from a traditional search engine into a more question-and-answer machine, businesses need a robust, time-tested way to respond to customer questions. AI changes how people research and compare options. Tasks that once felt painful and time-consuming are now easy. But there’s a catch. The machine only knows what it can find about you. If you want visibility across the widest possible range of questions, you need to understand your customers’ wants, needs, and concerns in depth. That’s where the “they ask, you answer” framework comes in. It helps businesses identify and create the many questions and answers prospective customers already have in mind. Always useful, it’s a practical, actionable way forward in the age of AI. An answer-first content strategy and why it matters now “They Ask, You Answer” (TAYA) is a book by Marcus Sheridan. (I strongly recommend you read it.) The concept is simple: buyers have questions, and businesses should answer them honestly, clearly, and publicly — especially the ones sales teams avoid. No dodging. No “contact us for a quote.” No “it depends” – sorry, SEO folks. TAYA isn’t just an inbound marketing strategy. It’s a practical way to map a customer-facing content strategy with an E-E-A-T mindset. The framework centers on five core content categories: Pricing and cost. Problems. Versus and comparisons. Reviews. Best in class. These categories align with the moments when a buyer is seeking the best solution, reducing risk, and making a decision. More of those moments now happen inside AI environments — on your smartphone, your PC, in apps like ChatGPT or Gemini, or anywhere else AI shows up, which at this point is nearly everywhere. At their core, these are question-and-answer machines. You ask. The machine answers. That’s why the TAYA process fits so well. The modern web is chaotic. Finding what you need can be exhausting — dodging ads, navigating layers of SERP features, and avoiding pop-ups on the site you finally click. AI is gaining ground because it feels better. Easier. Faster. Cleaner. Less chaos. More order. Your customers search everywhere. Make sure your brand shows up. The SEO toolkit you know, plus the AI visibility data you need. Start Free Trial Get started with Turning E-E-A-T into a practical content strategy You could argue we already have a north star for content creation in E-E-A-T. But have you ever tried to build a content strategy around it? Great in principle, harder in practice. They ask, you answer puts an E-E-A-T-focused content strategy on rails: Pricing supports trust, experience, and expertise. Problems show experience and trust. Versus content builds authority and expertise. Reviews build experience and trust. Best-in-class content builds authority and trust. E-E-A-T can be difficult to target because there are many ways to build trust, show experience, and demonstrate authority. TAYA maps those signals across multiple areas within each category, helping you build a comprehensive database of people-first content that AI readily surfaces. Dig deeper: How to build an effective content strategy for 2026 How to integrate TAYA with traditional SEO research The skills and tools we use as SEOs already put us in a strong position for the AI era. They can help us build an integrated SEO, PPC, and AI strategy. The action plan: Google Search Console: Go to Google Search Console > Performance. Filter queries by question modifiers such as who, what, why, how, and cost. These are your raw TAYA topics. Google Business Profile: Review keywords and queries in your Google Business Profile for additional ideas. The semantic map: Use AnswerThePublic or Also Asked. Look for secondary questions. If you’re writing about cost, you’ll often see related concerns such as financing or hidden fees. The competitor gap: Use Semrush or Ahrefs Keyword Gap tools. Don’t focus on what competitors rank for. Look for “how-to” and “versus” keywords where they have no meaningful content. That’s your land grab. Method marketing: Immerse yourself in the mindset of your ideal customer and start searching. What comes up? What does AI say? What’s missing? Tools like the Value Proposition Canvas and SCAMPER can help you evaluate these angles in structured ways. Often, you won’t go wrong by simply searching for your own products and services. AI tools and search results will surface a wide range of questions, answers, and perspectives that can feed directly into your AI and SEO content strategy. Also consider the internal sources available to you: Sales calls and sales teams. Live chat transcripts. Emails. Customer service tickets. Proposal feedback. Complaints. All of this helps you understand the question landscape. From there, you can begin organizing those insights within the five TAYA categories. TAYA and your AI-era content marketing strategy The framework centers on five core categories, reinterpreted for an answer-driven environment where Google, Gemini, and ChatGPT-like systems anticipate user needs. For each, here’s what it is, why it matters now, and examples to get you started. 1. Pricing and cost: Why we must talk about money Buyers want cost clarity early. Businesses avoid it because “it depends.” Both are true, but only one is useful. AI systems will readily summarize typical costs, using someone else’s numbers if you don’t publish your own. If you fail to provide a credible range with context, you’re effectively handing the narrative to competitors, directories, or a generic blog with a stock photo handshake. How to do it Publish ranges, not unrealistic single prices. Explain what drives costs up or down. Include example packages, such as good, better, and best. Be explicit about what’s included and excluded. Add country-specific variables where relevant, such as tax or VAT in the UK. Content examples How much does [service] cost in the UK? Include price ranges and what influences them. X vs. Y pricing: what you get at each level. The hidden costs of [solution] and how to avoid them. Budget checklist: what to prepare before you buy [product or service]. One of the most cited examples in the TAYA world is Yale Appliance. The company embraced transparent, buyer-focused content and saw inbound become its largest sales channel, alongside significant reported growth. The takeaway isn’t “go sell fridges.” It’s to answer money questions more clearly and honestly than anyone else. Do that, and you build trust at scale. 2. Problems: Turning problems into strengths This category focuses on being honest about drawbacks, limitations, risks, and who a product or service isn’t for. You have to think beyond pure SEO or GEO. A core communication strategy is taking a perceived weakness, such as being a small business, and reframing it as a strength, like a more personalized approach. Own the areas that could be seen as problems. Present them clearly and constructively so customers understand the trade-offs and context. The answer layer aims to provide balanced guidance. Pages that focus only on benefits read like marketing. Pages that acknowledge trade-offs read like advice. People can spot spin quickly. Be direct. Own your limitations. When you do, credibility increases. How to do it Create problem-and-solution guides. Include “avoid if …” sections. Address common failure modes and misuses. Be explicit about prerequisites, such as budget, timeline, skill, or access. Content examples The biggest problems with [solution] and how to mitigate them. Is [product or service] worth it? When it’s a great choice and when it isn’t. Common mistakes when buying or implementing [solution]. What can go wrong with [approach] and how to reduce risk. This is where your “experience” in E-E-A-T becomes tangible. “We’ve seen this go wrong when …” carries far more weight than “we’re passionate about excellence.” Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. 3. Versus and comparisons People rely on comparisons to reduce cognitive load. They want clarity. What’s the difference? Comparison queries are ideal for answer engines because they lend themselves to structured summaries, tables, and recommendations. If you don’t publish the clearest comparison, you won’t be the source used to generate the clearest answer. How to do it Compare by use case, not just features. Use a consistent framework, such as price, setup, outcomes, risks, and who it suits. Include clear guidance, such as “If you’re X, choose Y.” Content examples X vs. Y: which is better for [specific scenario]? In-house vs. outsourced for [service]: cost, risk, and results. Tool A vs. Tool B vs. Tool C: an honest comparison for UK teams. Alternatives to [popular option]: when to choose each. SEO bonus: These pieces tend to earn links because they’re genuinely useful and because many competitors hesitate to name alternatives directly. Dig deeper: Chunk, cite, clarify, build: A content framework for AI search 4. Reviews, case studies, and credibility This isn’t about asking for a five-star review. It’s about creating review-style content that helps buyers evaluate their options. AI summaries often rely on review-style pages because they’re structured around evaluation. But generic affiliate reviews can be, at best, inconsistent in sincerity. Your advantage is first-hand experience and contextual truth. How to do it Review your own services honestly, including what clients value and where they struggle. Review the tools you use with clear pros and cons. Publish “what we’d choose and why” for different buyer types. Content examples Is [solution] worth it? Our honest take after implementing it for X clients. Best [category] tools for [persona], including limitations. The top questions to ask before choosing a [provider]. What good looks like: a checklist to evaluate [service]. If you want to be cited in AI answers, you have to sound like a source, not an ad. 5. Best in class – and the courage to recommend others Sheridan’s view, and it’s a bold one, is that you should sometimes publish “best in class” recommendations even when the best option isn’t you. That’s how trust is built. The answer layer rewards utility. If your page genuinely helps users choose well, it becomes the kind of resource systems are more likely to reference. How to do it Build “best for” lists based on clear criteria, not hype. Explain how you evaluated the options. Include scenarios where each option wins or loses. Content examples Best [solutions] for [use case] in 2026, including criteria and picks. Best [service] providers for [industry] and what to look for. Best budget, best premium, best for speed, best for compliance. If I were buying this today: the decision framework I’d use. The goal is for your brand to become a trusted educator, not just a vendor. See the complete picture of your search visibility. Track, optimize, and win in Google and AI search from one platform. Start Free Trial Get started with TAYA as the playbook for answer-first visibility Strategic content marketing in the age of AI centers on middle-of-the-funnel content, where AI helps prospects make informed decisions. The content you publish and organize on your website remains the foundation, and SEO remains the backbone of AI visibility. When leveraged effectively, TAYA is a powerful way to map what you should be addressing and to build a content strategy that ensures you’re represented across the AI landscape. In practice, that means building an editorial program where: Every piece begins with a real buyer question. The five core categories prioritize decision-stage content, not just awareness content. Traditional SEO research validates language and demand. Content is written to satisfy both the human, through clarity and confidence, and the machine, through structure, specificity, evidence, and balanced trade-offs. This shift also changes how success is measured. In classic SEO, the win was rank, click, convert. In the AI era, the win is often be the source, earn trust, be chosen, with or without the click. If your content is the clearest, most in-depth, most honest, and most experience-backed explanation available for the questions buyers are already asking, then whether someone discovers it through Google, Gemini, ChatGPT, or elsewhere, you’ve built something durable. Which is what strong SEO has always been about. The window has changed. The principles haven’t. Dig deeper: Mentions, citations, and clicks: Your 2026 content strategy View the full article

As Big Tech faces criticism for the environmental impact of artificial intelligence, companies have said the technology will actually help solve climate change. But those claims often lack scientific evidence, a new report finds. And when touting the climate benefits of AI, tech companies conflate “traditional AI” with the more environmentally harmful generative AI, a form of “bait-and-switch” that amounts to greenwashing. The report, commissioned by a group of environmental organizations including Beyond Fossil Fuels, Friends of the Earth, and Stand.earth, analyzed 154 statements from tech companies, including those from Google and Microsoft, which purported that AI will have a “net climate benefit.” Most of those comments relate to “traditional” AI, the analysis found, which has a smaller environmental footprint than the generative AI tools that are spurring a boom in data centers. Tech companies, however, tend to lump these technologies together, the report says, blurring the differences and presenting the climate benefits and environmental harms as a “package deal.” But whether those climate benefits are real is also unclear. Only 26% of those statements cite published academic papers, the research found, and 36% don’t cite any evidence at all. Of the remaining statements, 29% cited corporate publications—the majority of which did not include peer-reviewed or published academic work—and 8% cited media, NGOs, or unpublished academic papers. Questionable AI evidence The rapid expansion of AI has come under fire for its potential environmental harms. Reports on generative AI’s climate impact vary, but the tech has been linked to intense energy and water use. Tech companies have justified their AI expansion by pointing to AI’s climate benefits. One of the most widespread claims is that AI could help mitigate 5% to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Google has repeated that statistic, including in its 2024 environmental report. That figure, however, comes from a 2021 blog post by consulting firm BCG which attributes it to the firm’s own “experience with clients.” “This questionable extrapolation of massive global climate benefits justified on seemingly anecdotal evidence was the first clear instance of what has become a longer-term trend of overstating the climate benefits of AI,” the report reads. In reality, the International Energy Agency (IEA) projects total data center consumption, driven by AI, will double by 2030—and Bloomberg New Energy Finance estimates that this increase will grow total global power sector emissions by 10% over the coming decade. In another example, Google’s 2025 environmental report said that rooftop solar power installations assisted by an AI mapping tool would “help enable partners to reduce around 6 million metric tons of lifetime GHG emissions.” Google also said that figure would be “around 6,000 times greater” than the service’s operation in 2024. But the Beyond Fossil Fuels report says that Google’s footnotes reveal that the 6 million figure is an estimate of the total emissions avoided by rooftop solar because they produce low-emissions energy, not the additional reductions from the AI mapping tool. This detail could “create the impression,” the report notes, that the climate benefits are attributed to the AI tool. In response to a request for comment, a Google spokesperson told Fast Company that it stood by its methodology, “which is grounded in the best available science. And we are transparent in sharing the principles and methodology that guide it.” (That methodology does not mention AI.) Microsoft, also cited in the report, declined to comment. What even counts as ‘AI’? To many, any mention of “AI” has become synonymous with generative AI—examples of which include large language models like Claude, ChatGPT, and Copilot, and image or video generating services like Midjourney and Sora. But not all AI is “generative.” Traditional AI, an umbrella term that covers subsets like machine learning, has been powering all sorts of technology for years, from search engines and recommendation algorithms to medical imaging. Generative AI consumes more energy and is associated with more emissions than traditional AI. When tech companies talk about AI’s climate benefits, though, they can conflate the two terms, or position them like a “package deal.” Most AI climate benefits will come from traditional AI, the report found. In its analysis, the researchers said that “at no point” did they “uncover examples in which consumer generative systems were leading to a material, verifiable, and substantial level of emissions reductions.” So climate benefit claims are attributed to traditional AI, but the majority of energy consumption comes from generative AI. The surge in data center demand is largely driven by the exploding demand for generative AI. Those data centers are also directly spurring more natural gas in the U.S. The confusion between these terms matters, the report says, because it amounts to a “bait-and-switch” type of greenwashing: Tech companies are justifying their data center expansion by touting AI’s climate benefits, though most of those data centers “will not be processing climate-beneficial computation on their servers. “Big Tech’s AI hype is distracting users from the rapid and dangerous expansion of giant, energy and water-intensive data centers, while the tech industry’s huge energy demands are throwing the fossil fuel industry a lifeline,” Jill McArdle, international corporate campaigner from Beyond Fossil Fuels, said in a statement. “There is simply no evidence that AI will help the climate more than it will harm it,” she added. “We cannot bet the climate on these baseless claims.” View the full article

Shares of Fiverr International Ltd. (NYSE: FVRR) are dropping significantly this morning after the freelance marketplace platform reported its Q4 2025 financial results. While the company reported modest revenue growth, its 2026 outlook sent the stock plunging, even as Fiverr executives put a positive spin on the impact of artificial intelligence on its business. Here’s what you need to know. Revenue increases, but outlook sends investors fleeing On Wednesday morning, Fiverr reported its fourth-quarter 2025 results. And those results, for the most part, were mixed. The company saw modest growth in total revenue, which rose to $107.2 million in the quarter—a 3.4% increase from a year earlier. Its revenue actuals fall on the lower end of the $104.3 million to $112.3 million range that the company had projected. However, once you get past the modest revenue growth, you see that Fiverr disappointed on many other key metrics. For example, its marketplace revenue for the quarter was $71.5 million, which was 2.7% lower than the same quarter a year earlier. Perhaps more worrying, and looking out across its entire fiscal 2025, Fiverr reported that its annual active buyers as of December 31 totaled 3.1 million. That’s down from 3.6 million annual active buyers a year earlier—a decline of half a million buyers, or 13.6% year over year. Interestingly, though, this 13.6% decline in the number of annual active buyers was offset to a large degree by an increase of 13.3% in annual spend per buyer. For the 2025 fiscal year, Fiverr says that the average annual buyer spent $342 compared to the average of $302 they spent in the previous year. What this suggests is that while there were fewer buyers in 2025, they spent more on average than they did in 2024. Yet this mixed bag of results isn’t what seems to have sunk Fiverr’s stock price this morning. Instead, the main catalyst for Fiverr’s stock price decline seems to be its 2026 guidance. For its current Q1 2026, the company says it expects to make between $100 million and $108 million. That would represent a decline of anywhere from 7% to a modest increase of 1%. And for all of fiscal 2026, the company says it expects to make between $380 million and $420 million in revenue, which would represent a decline of anywhere between 12% and 3%. As noted by investing.com, analysts had been expecting Q1 2026 guidance to be around $112.26 million and full-year 2026 guidance to be around $456.80 million. When these expectations weren’t met, the stock sank. Fiverr shares are currently down nearly 21% in premarket trading as of the time of this writing. AI uncertainty abounds Of course, the elephant in the room for Fiverr investors is artificial intelligence. For over a decade and a half, businesses have turned to Fiverr to source freelancers who could help them carry out projects, from design to coding. But in recent years, those same businesses have begun embracing AI tools for many of those tasks. This has led many investors (and freelancers who sell services on Fiverr) to ponder the platform’s future in a world where AI tools are increasingly commonplace. Fiverr itself didn’t say if the rise of these AI tools were the reason for its declining Q1 marketplace revenue, but the company did touch on the topic of AI, attempting to put a somewhat positive spin on it. Address the topic, Fiverr CEO Micha Kaufman said that is was “clear that we are living through a significant shift in AI adoption,” but he argued that this AI adoption would make humans “more essential, not less.” “By moving toward an agentic economy, where AI helps navigate complexity, we are ensuring that we remain the bridge between businesses and the most exceptional human talent,” Kaufman argued. “With our expansive global talent network, outcome based hiring model, and depth of proprietary data, Fiverr has a unique right to win in this new age of AI.” Whether or not AI actually has a positive impact on Fiverr’s marketplace remains to be seen. It will likely be one of the main points of focus for Fiverr investors in 2026. FVRR has had a horrible 2026 so far As of the time of this writing, FVRR stock is down nearly 21% in premarket trading to $10.79 per share. As of yesterday, the company’s stock price had already fallen more than 33% for the year to $13.10. Unfortunately, looking back further doesn’t help the company’s position. Over the past year, FVRR shares have lost more than 60% of their value as of yesterday’s close. Last May, the stock was trading at over $33 per share at one point. During the same 12-month period, the New York Stock Exchange composite index has risen by nearly 6%. View the full article

A points program is a structured rewards system that allows you to earn points primarily through purchases. Each dollar spent typically translates into a set number of points, which you can later redeem for discounts or exclusive items. These programs usually require you to create an account to track your points, and they often include guidelines on how long your points last and how you can use them. Comprehending the mechanics behind these programs can improve your shopping experience considerably. Key Takeaways A points program is a rewards system that encourages customer engagement through earning points from purchases and referrals. Customers earn points at predetermined rates, commonly 1 point per $1 spent, for various activities. Points can be redeemed for discounts, exclusive products, or other rewards, enhancing customer loyalty. Successful programs, like Starbucks Rewards, significantly boost customer spending and retention. Clear policies on point expiration and redemption options are essential for effective program management. What Is a Loyalty Points Program? A loyalty points program is a rewards system designed to encourage customer engagement by allowing you to earn points through various actions, such as making purchases or referring friends. These points act as virtual currency, which you can redeem for discounts, free products, or exclusive perks once you reach a specified threshold. Typically, you’ll need to create an account to track your earned points, making it easier to monitor your progress. Loyalty points programs come in different structures, including flat-rate, tiered, and gamified models, each aimed at incentivizing distinct customer behaviors and engagement levels. Successful programs can greatly boost customer retention and satisfaction; studies show that 78% of consumers prefer brands offering loyalty rewards. Major retailers like Starbucks and Target effectively utilize loyalty points programs, with Starbucks Rewards accounting for over 50% of U.S. store sales in 2023, illustrating the program’s potential impact on revenue. How Loyalty Points Programs Function Loyalty points programs operate by assigning points to customers based on specific actions, primarily purchases and referrals. When you participate in a loyalty program, you typically earn points at a predetermined rate, like one point for every dollar spent. Furthermore, points can be awarded for various engagement activities, which encourages you to interact more with the brand. You can redeem the points you accumulate for rewards, discounts, or exclusive products once you reach a certain threshold, enhancing the value of your loyalty. Effective loyalty programs guarantee seamless integration between earning and redeeming processes, making it easy for you to track your points and rewards. Clear policies regarding point expiration, redemption options, and the visibility of your point balance are vital for maintaining satisfaction and encouraging your ongoing engagement with the program. Benefits of Loyalty Points Programs Many businesses find that implementing a points program offers significant benefits, particularly in improving customer retention and boosting revenue. Loyalty points programs can increase customer retention by 5–10 times, making them a cost-effective alternative to acquiring new customers. Customers enrolled in these programs tend to spend 12–18% more annually compared to non-members, directly contributing to higher overall revenue. Furthermore, members who actively redeem rewards typically spend 3.1 times more than those who don’t engage with the rewards system. In addition, these programs improve customer satisfaction by providing personalized rewards and exclusive deals, which strengthen emotional connections with your brand. You can also gain valuable insights into customer purchasing habits through data collected from loyalty programs, allowing for customized marketing strategies that resonate with your audience. Incorporating features like credit card points can further incentivize spending, making your loyalty program even more attractive. Examples of Successful Points-Based Programs Successful points-based programs have emerged as effective tools for enhancing customer loyalty and driving sales across various industries. Here are some notable examples: Starbucks Rewards: Members earn 1 Star for every $1 spent, redeemable for free items starting at just 25 Stars, greatly contributing to over 50% of U.S. store revenue in 2023. Target Circle: With over 100 million members, this points program allows customers to earn 1% back on purchases, along with exclusive deals and personalized savings that can be combined with Target RedCard benefits. Gap Good Rewards: This program integrates across multiple brands, offering 1 point per $1 spent, with 100 points equating to a $1 reward, plus exclusive benefits for higher-tier members. Adidas adiClub: Members earn 10 points for every €1 spent and for engaging in app activities, revealing tier-based benefits and exclusive access to limited-edition products. How to Create a Points-Based Loyalty Program Creating a points-based loyalty program can greatly improve customer engagement and retention if you approach it with a clear strategy. Start by defining measurable objectives, like increasing customer retention or average order value, to guide your program’s structure and rewards. Next, select a technology platform that integrates seamlessly with your eCommerce system to manage point accumulation and redemption efficiently. Establish clear earning and redemption rules, such as awarding 1 point per $1 spent, and guarantee the redemption threshold is achievable to motivate participation. Design an engaging customer interface, including a mobile-friendly dashboard, so members can easily track their points and rewards status. Finally, promote the program through targeted marketing strategies, such as email campaigns and social media, to encourage customers to sign up for the loyalty program and maintain ongoing interest in its benefits. Following these steps will help you create a successful points-based loyalty program. Frequently Asked Questions How Does the Points Program Work? A points program allows you to earn points through specific actions like purchases or referrals. You typically earn a point for every dollar spent, and special promotions can offer bonus points. Once you reach a set threshold, you can redeem points for discounts or products. Many programs have tiered structures, providing faster point accumulation as you engage more. Seamless tracking and redemption improve your experience and promote loyalty. How Much Is 5000 Points Worth in Dollars? The value of 5000 points varies depending on the loyalty program’s structure. Typically, if 100 points equal $1, then 5000 points would be worth about $50. Nevertheless, you should check the specific program rules, as some may have minimum redemption thresholds or different point values based on tier levels. Furthermore, the value can fluctuate based on the type of rewards offered, so comprehending your options is vital for maximizing your points. How Do Points Programs Make Money? Points programs generate revenue by encouraging customer loyalty and repeat purchases. When you join a program, you typically spend more, which boosts overall sales for the business. These programs provide valuable insights into your shopping habits, helping companies tailor their marketing strategies. By partnering with other brands, they can improve rewards, attracting even more customers. In the end, retaining existing customers is less costly than acquiring new ones, making these programs financially beneficial for businesses. What Is an Example of a Point Based Program? One notable example of a points-based program is Starbucks Rewards. In this program, you earn 1 Star for every $1 spent, and once you accumulate 25 Stars, you can redeem them for free items. This model not just incentivizes repeat purchases but additionally greatly contributes to the brand’s revenue, highlighting how effective points programs can be in nurturing customer loyalty and driving sales. Other brands, like Target and Adidas, utilize similar structures. Conclusion In conclusion, a points program is an effective way for businesses to cultivate customer loyalty by rewarding purchases and engagement. By allowing customers to earn points that can be redeemed for various benefits, these programs not merely incentivize repeat business but additionally improve customer satisfaction. Implementing a well-structured points-based loyalty program can greatly contribute to a brand’s success, encouraging ongoing relationships with customers as well as providing them valuable rewards for their loyalty. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Is a Points Program and How Does It Work?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Eufy FamiLock S3 Max is a deadbolt, a 2K video doorbell, and a small indoor monitor in one device. Right now it’s $279.98 on Amazon, down from $399.99, which price trackers list as its lowest price to date. Eufy FamiLock S3 Max $279.98 at Amazon $399.99 Save $120.01 Get Deal Get Deal $279.98 at Amazon $399.99 Save $120.01 PCMag gave it an “excellent” rating and named it the best smart lock of 2025 (for more options, check out this roundup). While that context helps justify the cost, it’s still a premium buy—you’re paying for convenience and consolidation. Instead of installing a separate lock, doorbell camera, and indoor display, this wraps all three into one setup with local storage. In practice, that means fewer gadgets around your door and fewer apps to juggle. The exterior panel of this IP65-rated smart lock houses a 2K HDR camera with a wide 180-degree view, so packages left at the edge of the frame are less likely to get cut off. At night, infrared kicks in automatically. The keypad stays dark until you tap it, then lights up clearly enough to use, and the palm vein scanner works quickly and consistently, which makes it more practical than fingerprint readers, which can struggle in bad weather. If you prefer traditional access, you can still fall back on a physical key, a passcode, the mobile app, or voice control through Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, or Google Assistant. Also, there’s a four-inch 1080p screen on the interior unit that shows a live view of whoever is outside, essentially replacing a peephole. That's helpful in homes that never had one, or for anyone who prefers not to pull out their phone every time the bell rings. Power comes from a 15,000mAh rechargeable battery rated for up to five months, with four AA batteries as backup. It fits standard doors and installs like a typical smart lock, though the hardware is larger than most. As for its integrations and storage, it supports Matter, the cross-platform smart home standard, so you are not locked into one ecosystem. That said, it does not support IFTTT, which limits more niche automations. Video is stored locally on 15.5GB of built-in memory, which avoids a monthly fee, and it can expand up to 16TB through Eufy’s HomeBase 3 (sold separately). Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $158.00 (List Price $179.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $329.00 (List Price $349.00) Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant — $329.00 (List Price $429.00) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $29.99 (List Price $49.99) Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones — $229.00 (List Price $349.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 64GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet (Silver) — $159.99 (List Price $219.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Soaking in a warm bath can be relaxing, but nothing beats the soothing convenience of a hot shower. Like everything else in your house, your shower will start to show its age long before it stops being useful, leaving you to have a functional but uninspiring experience every day. If you can afford to remodel, that’s not a huge problem. But if you’re stuck with a shower that’s lost its shine and you can’t afford to tear it out and start over, there are a lot of affordable, easy ways to upgrade your shower with just a few purchases and minimal effort. Spruce up tiles with this shower-safe paintIf your shower tiles are in good shape but make you sad every time you step in there, you don’t have to rip them out and find a contractor to replace them—just paint them. Using a specific shower-safe product like Rust-Oleum’s Tub and Tile Refinishing Kit, you can make your shower into a fresh, bright space in just a few hours. You’ll need to scrub the shower pretty thoroughly, protect any surfaces you don’t want to paint, and make sure the bathroom is well-ventilated before you get started, but otherwise it’s as easy as painting a wall, and the results can be shockingly good. Add a towel warmer to make your daily shower feel more like a spaIf you’ve never experienced a towel warmer, then I am about to change your life for the better: Stepping out of a shower and wrapping yourself in a warm towel is one of those simple pleasures that can start your day off right. You don’t need to hang anything on the wall or wire-in some fancy towel rack. A freestanding towel warming box like this looks great and keeps those towels (as well as robes, blankets, or even pajamas) at the comfiest temperature possible. It’ll make your daily shower feel more like a spa trip. SereneLife Luxury Rectangle Towel Warmer - Spa & Bathroom Heater with Custom Fragrance, Auto Shut-Off, Fits 2 large Towels, Blankets, Bathrobes, PJ's - Perfect Gift for Him & Her (Natural Wood) $109.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $109.99 at Amazon Install corner shelves to your shower stall to organize bottlesIf your shower is storage-poor and you’ve got a collection of gross shampoo and soap bottles on the floor, investing in some corner shelves is an easy way to get organized. You have several options, from metal shelves that fit into the grout lines between tiles to adhesive shelves that simply stick to your walls. Whichever one you choose, you’ll instantly make your shower look neater and feel more coherent. Increase storage with a hanging or free-standing shower caddyIf you need storage but adding shelves isn’t possible or practical, a shower caddy is a good solution. A lot of old-school shower caddies are kind of unsightly, especially once they start to rust, or become gunked up with soap scum and mold. An attractive teak caddy that hangs from the showerhead is a nicely upgraded option, though. If you prefer a freestanding option, this unit from Yamazaki is good-looking, simple, and affordable. Upgrade your showerhead to something more luxuriousIt seems obvious once you think about it: The most crucial aspect of your shower experience is the showerhead itself. Few things are worse than a weak water stream in your morning shower, so if your showerhead has seen better days, swapping it out for a fresh one is an instant (and easy) upgrade. And if you’re going to swap it out, why not go for a spa-like showerhead like this one from Moen that comes with a detachable handheld hose, or perhaps a rainfall showerhead for a luxurious upgrade. Midanya Round Rainfall Shower Head High Pressure Stainless Steel Waterfall Large Rain Shower Head Ultra Thin Design,Oil Rubbed Bronze 12 Inch $44.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $44.99 at Amazon Add a water-resistant shower benchSeating in the shower is a subtle luxury, but once you have a bench in there, you’ll wonder how you lived without one. Not only does a water-resistant teak bench look great, it makes it easier and safer to scrub your legs and feet or shave your legs. It also makes it possible to just turn up the hot water and sit for a few minutes, basking in the heat. Install a sound system into your showerWe often treat showers as chores we have to race through before we tackle our day, but a shower can be a retreat, a few minutes of peace that rejuvenate and motivate. One way to make that happen is to upgrade your shower with a waterproof speaker like this one so you can play some music while you shower. For a more streamlined look, you could consider a showerhead with a built-in speaker so you can enjoy your playlist without cluttering up your shower space. Swap your regular shower curtain rod for a curved rodIf your shower has a curtain, one of the most impactful upgrades is also the cheapest: a curved curtain rod. This does require some basic DIY skills to install, but it’s well worth it: Curved rods hold the curtain out away from you while you shower, ensuring that a slimy curtain never wraps itself around you. It also makes the shower feel larger because you’re not hemmed in as much. Add wall-mounted soap dispensers to your showerNothing makes a shower look less attractive than a collection of scuzzy plastic shampoo, conditioner, and body wash bottles crammed into a niche. An easy upgrade win is to get those bottles off the floor and out of the niche by hanging them on the wall in neat, efficient dispensers. The Squeezi is a cheap and easy solution: It slides over the shampoo or soap bottle, then affixes to the wall via good old-fashioned suction, so you don’t need to refill dispensers constantly. If you want a more elegant, hotel-like look, this no-drill dispenser is just the ticket. View the full article

With more than two decades in SEO, I’ve lived through every major disruption the industry has faced — from stuffing meta keywords to rank on AltaVista to Google reshaping search, to mobile-first indexing, and now AI. What feels different today is the speed of change and the emotional weight it carries. I see growing pressure across teams, even among seasoned professionals who have weathered every major shift before this one. Many have a legitimate concern: If AI can do this faster, where do I fit in? That’s not a technical question. It’s a human one. That uncertainty affects morale and adoption. Productivity slows. Experimentation stalls. Teams either overuse AI without judgment or avoid it altogether. The real leadership challenge is about building confidence, capability, and trust in AI-assisted teams. 4 tips for building AI confidence in SEO teams Building real confidence in AI within an SEO team isn’t about deploying new tools. It’s about shifting the culture. The most effective SEO teams aren’t the ones adopting the most tools. They use AI intentionally and with discipline. They automate data pulls, summarize research, and cluster keywords. This allows teams to focus on strategy, storytelling, and stakeholder alignment. Technology adoption is largely cultural, as Harvard Business School has noted. Tools alone don’t drive change. Trust does. That insight applies directly to SEO teams navigating AI today. Below are four strategies for building AI confidence in your teams through clarity, participation, and shared ownership, not pressure or hype. 1. Earn trust by involving the team in AI tool selection and workflow design A practical way to strengthen trust is to move from top-down implementation to shared ownership. People trust what they help create. When AI is imposed on a team, resistance increases. Inviting people into evaluation and workflow design makes AI feel less intimidating and more empowering. Bringing teams in early also surfaces real-world insight into where AI reduces friction or introduces new risks. Effective leaders: Invite teams to test tools and share feedback. Run small experiments before scaling adoption. Communicate clearly about what you’re adopting, what you’re rejecting, and why. When teams feel included, they’re more willing to experiment. They learn and stretch into new capabilities. That openness fuels growth and innovation. Dig deeper: Why SEO teams need to ask ‘should we use AI?’ not just ‘can we?’ 2. Meet people where they are – not where you want them to be AI capability varies widely across SEO teams. Some practitioners experiment daily. Others feel overwhelmed or skeptical, often because they’ve seen past automation trends come and go. Leaders who strengthen confidence understand that capability develops at different speeds. They create environments that encourage curiosity, where uncertainty is normal, and learning happens continuously, not just when it’s mandated. That means: Normalizing different comfort levels. Creating psychological safety around “I don’t know yet.” Avoiding shame or over-celebration of early adopters. Offering multiple learning paths. Recognizing different starting points makes progress feel achievable rather than threatening. Your customers search everywhere. Make sure your brand shows up. The SEO toolkit you know, plus the AI visibility data you need. Start Free Trial Get started with 3. Celebrate wins and highlight champions Confidence grows through visible success. When someone uses AI to cut a task from hours to minutes, it’s more than a productivity gain. It proves AI can support real work without replacing human judgment. Effective teams: Share clear examples of AI improving quality and efficiency. Highlight internal champions who can mentor others. Create space for demos and knowledge sharing. Reinforce a culture of experimentation, not judgment. My agency formed AI focus groups with members from across the organization. One group focused on integrating AI into project management, with representatives from SEO, operations, and leadership. That shared ownership made adoption more successful. Teams weren’t just implementing AI; they were shaping how it fit into real workflows. The result was stronger buy-in, better collaboration, and greater confidence across the team. Each group shared its successes and lessons. This built awareness of what worked and why. Momentum builds when teams see their peers using AI responsibly and effectively. Dig deeper: The future of SEO teams is human-led and agent-powered 4. Frame AI as a collaborative partner, not a replacement Fear of replacement is real. Ignoring it doesn’t make it disappear. Teams need explicit clarity about where human expertise still matters. Reframing AI as a partner means emphasizing: AI handles volume. Humans handle nuance. AI accelerates analysis. Humans interpret meaning. AI drafts. Humans validate, refine and contextualize. AI scales output. Humans build trust and influence. AI can help with execution, but it can’t replace strategic instincts, contextual judgment, or cross-functional leadership. Those are the skills that ultimately move performance forward. Why experience still matters in AI-driven SEO AI has lowered the barrier to entry for many SEO tasks. With effective prompts, almost anyone can generate keyword lists, outlines, or summaries. With that accessibility, we see many short-lived tactics and recycled “quick wins.” Anyone who’s been in SEO long enough has seen this cycle before. The tactics change. The fundamentals don’t. This is where experience becomes the differentiator. AI can generate outputs, not accountability AI can produce content and analyze data, but it doesn’t own outcomes. It doesn’t carry responsibility for brand reputation, compliance, or long-term performance. SEO professionals remain accountable for: Deciding what to exclude from publication. Assessing technical, reputational, and compliance risks. Weighing long-term consequences against short-term gains. AI executes. Humans decide. That distinction matters more than ever. Pattern recognition is learned, not automated AI excels at surfacing patterns. It struggles to explain why they matter or whether they apply in a specific context. Experienced SEOs bring a depth of understanding that AI can’t replicate. Their historical background helps them distinguish true shifts from industry noise. Few industries have seen as many tactics rise and fall as SEO. Experience enables strategic thinking beyond what worked before and helps avoid repeating tactics that once succeeded but later failed. AI suggests possibilities. Experience evaluates relevance. Professional integrity remains a differentiator In high-visibility search environments, mistakes scale quickly. AI can produce inaccuracies and hallucinations. These errors can put brands at risk of losing trust and facing compliance issues. Teams with strong professional SEO foundations: Validate AI output instead of assuming correctness. Prioritize accuracy over speed. Maintain ethical SEO standards. Protect brand voice and credibility. Integrity isn’t automated. It’s practiced. In a high-speed AI environment, that discipline matters even more. Dig deeper: How to build and lead a successful remote SEO team Growing the SEO profession in an AI era AI is accelerating SEO execution. As routine tasks become automated, the SEO professional’s role shifts to strategic oversight. Time once spent on manual analysis can be redirected to interpreting user intent, shaping search strategy, guiding stakeholders, and assessing risk. This makes fundamentals more important. Teams still need sound judgment, technical expertise, and accountability. AI can support execution, but professionals remain responsible for decisions, quality, and long-term performance. Developing the next generation of SEOs requires more than proficiency with tools. It requires teaching: When to rely on AI. When to challenge it. How to apply experience and context to its output. View the full article

Google has finally fully rolled out the Google Search Console AI-powered configuration tool. Google wrote on LinkedIn, "The Search Console's new AI-powered configuration is now available to everyone! Have you already tried it?"View the full article

Move SEO upstream into leadership decisions to safeguard visibility, enforce standards, and scale sustainable search performance. The post Enterprise SEO Operating Models That Scale In 2026 And Beyond appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

The future looks green for Mike’s Red Tacos. The San Diego-based taco restaurant currently has only two locations, but it has caught the attention of the restaurant investors who made Dave’s Hot Chicken a scorching success. This week, the restaurant announced that it has secured franchise development agreements for more than 200 new locations around the country. Mike’s Red Tacos was founded as a food truck in 2021 by Mike Touma, followed by a brick-and-mortar location in 2022. The brand is gaining a fast-growing following on social media following—and now it’s primed for nationwide expansion. Fast casual with a taco twist Mike’s Red Tacos specializes in Birria—a traditional, slow-cooked Mexican stew dish that’s typically made from beef, lamb, or goat—which has exploded in popularity in recent years, largely due to social media trends. It can now be found, in various forms, on menus at numerous Mexican chains, including Taco Bell, Del Taco, and others. Mike’s Red Tacos is receiving support from early-stage investors and advisors Bill Phelps and Andrew Feghali. Phelps is executive chairman of Dave’s Hot Chicken, cofounder of Wetzel’s Pretzels, and a founding investor in Blaze Pizza. He tells Fast Company that very few restaurants catch his eye, but Mike’s ticked all the boxes. “I love entrepreneur-started businesses, and guys that have figured things out,” Phelps says. “The product is just amazing. It’s so good, it’s like a breakthrough within a category.” He adds that in the strata of Mexican chains, Mike’s sits in the fast-casual lane, closer to a chain like Chipotle, rather than a fast-food chain like Taco Bell. “We’ve learned over the years how to do the model for a fast-casual rollout in the franchise world, so we were able to put a team together very quickly of people we worked with before.” “There’s a lot of competition” Phelps says that he first walked into a Mike’s Red Tacos around a year ago, and immediately saw the potential. That’s a relatively rare occurrence. “It’s been once every five years we see something that looks really great and then we go for it,” Phelps says. “We like founder-created businesses that have incredible quality, but don’t know how to scale them—that’s what we bring to the party. We make a deal that is a great for the founder and for us (investors).” He knows success isn’t guaranteed, of course. “You need to leave your ego at the door,” he says. “There’s a lot of competition. A lot of work to do. You need to work your ass off.” A lot of that work will fall on Vincent Montanelli, a seasoned industry executive, who was named the company’s president. Previously, he held various leadership roles at Wetzel’s Pretzel’s. All told, the 200 or so Mike’s Red Tacos locations will be spread across 25 markets around the country, including Seattle, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Austin, Dallas, Chicago, Miami, Boston, and other locations around Southern California. The first new location is expected to open in San Diego in March, with a new, corporate-run location opening in Pasadena later this spring. View the full article

Earlier this month, we covered Google testing what we called contextual overlay link cards in AI Overviews and AI Mode. Well, Google officially began rolling them out yesterday, and they are more like hover-over pop-up link cards.View the full article

Google Ads may be automatically enabling paused keywords in your advertising accounts. I am waiting for a statement from Google on this but there are reports that this is being done through the low activity system bulk changes.View the full article

Party’s new ‘shadow chancellor’ is seeking to present a more conservative economic policy platform View the full article

Google Ads is now showing in the "When and where ads showed" report, the ability to see PMax, Performance Max, reporting. So you can see the placement, type, network and impressions you are getting from your PMax campaigns.View the full article

Google is losing one of its main sources of information for its Knowledge Graph, the CIA World Factbook. This was a reference resource produced by the Central Intelligence Agency between 1962 and 2026 with almanac-style information about the countries of the world.View the full article

Corey duBrowa spent much of his career advising some of the world’s most scrutinized leaders—from Marc Benioff at Salesforce to Sundar Pichai at Google. Now, as CEO of global communications firm Burson, he’s helping executives navigate a charged marketplace shaped by AI disruption, ICE activity, and nonstop reputational risk. He explains why reputation remains one of the most powerful (and most misunderstood) assets in business, and how leaders should decide whether, when, and how to speak up. This is an abridged transcript of an interview from Rapid Response, hosted by former Fast Company editor-in-chief Robert Safian. From the team behind the Masters of Scalepodcast, Rapid Response features candid conversations with today’s top business leaders navigating real-time challenges. Subscribe to Rapid Response wherever you get your podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode. You and I have talked privately in recent months about how hard it is in this environment for brands and leaders to figure out what to say, where the risks are, and where the opportunities are when so much seems like it’s up in the air. Is that what you’re hearing from your clients? They’re asking, looking, or trying to find that clarity? 100%, Bob. We’re in year two of The President’s second presidency. And so, there’s renewed protectionism. Certainly, tariffs are one aspect of this. Deregulation, the America First Trade Policy. And so, helping companies to navigate these shifting priorities, and be thinking about global trade, and, frankly, regulatory uncertainty, that’s one thing. There’s been a global shift to the right. There’s a conservative resurgence across Japan, France, Germany, U.K., to name but a few. Helping clients to be able to navigate that volatility, that societal polarization that everybody is dealing with. . . . We, in this country, because we pay attention to our own news, we’ll be focused on things like Minnesota, but you could also point to Iran, Gen Z-led protests across Asia, budget protests in Bulgaria, which were huge, and probably not on most people’s radar here. So, guiding clients through social listening and activist engagement, and brand neutrality. How do you stand for things without necessarily putting yourself in the line of fire? Like, that’s a thing. There’s the global AI governance race. There’s competing rules about how to shape AI’s futures. It was so fascinating, to me, to watch Google, of all companies, a company that has never really lacked for resources, go into the bond market, and raise more than $30 billion worth of 100-year debt. That’s a whole new thing. Yes. Because AI is expensive. And so, how that’s governed and the way that investments work in that world is a whole separate thing. There’s erosion of trust in traditional media. The Washington Post, you and I both have friends at The Post. Yes. A third of their staff is gone . . . at the same time that only 28% of U.S. adults trust mainstream media. . . . This was the Gallup poll that came out last year. That number was in the 70s in the ’70s—72% in 1972. Even the entities that are financially solvent, people have very strong feelings about. Absolutely. And what we’re observing more and more, Bob, I, certainly, saw it at Davos, and I saw it again with the Super Bowl, 4 in 10 U.S. adults, according to that same Gallup poll, get their news from digital influencers. And I’m not saying influencers are fake news at all. Many of them, frankly, come from the world of traditional media. But the fact that the trust is so upside down now where you have fewer than one in three Americans saying they trust traditional media forms, you realize that company-owned media channels and storytelling are becoming more important than they ever have been. Clients have to navigate all of this at the same time that they’re thinking about things like the erosion of institutional credibility, their own institutions, not necessarily conferring confidence in the AI. For all the advantages that it has, it actually amplifies mis and disinformation at scale. I think there’s a lot for clients to wrap their heads around, and that’s the job that we have is helping them to navigate a very confusing, and, frankly, pretty fragmented landscape. As you go through all of these disruptions and changes, in some ways, it’s a great time to be in the business you’re in, because you’re needed more, and the stakes have never been higher. But at the same time, the pressure’s also never been higher. Right? There is more that is at risk based on the way you communicate than it ever has been before. That’s totally true. For 15 years as a client, I had boards and C-suites asking me like, “Hey, if this thing goes really sideways, what does it cost us?” Or, “If this thing goes really well, this initiative, what’s the upside for us?” And so, we, at Davos, launched a study that proves that corporate reputation actually has quantifiable value, that companies with strong reputations realized almost 5%, 4.78% unexpected additional shareholder returns creating a reputation economy that’s worth almost $7 trillion. The stakes are a lot higher. We knew they were a lot higher, but now we can actually affix a value to those stakes. What defines a strong reputation in this environment? For years, I think we have been told, or it was received wisdom that there was this binary relationship of trust. Like, to be trusted or not trusted. And what I always knew is that reputation was actually comprised of different things. There’s a lab within the University of Oxford that helped us to develop this model. It takes into account eight different levers that comprise modern reputation. Citizenship, the degree of good that a company may or may not do in the world, but also creativity. How creative are your solutions? Governance, the structures and policies and integrity that help the company to be managed. Innovation, how forward-thinking are you? What new technologies or ideas are you putting forth? Leadership, how you manage at scale, the way that you navigate things. Performance, the financial results. Products, the quality, reliability, and perception of your products. And maybe more importantly, although I’m not sure it gets the play that it should, workplace. The culture, the well-being of your employees, the way that you manage talent. So, if you think about how companies manage these eight levers, it’s pretty bespoke. Right? Like, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all model. . . . Like, the way Starbucks would have thought about these eight levers would be pretty profoundly different than the way that Google would think about those eight levers. The lens of this research was around financial impact. But do business leaders have responsibility to think beyond just financial impact? Is there a connection between reputation and courage? Every company has the opportunity, and, frankly, responsibility to think about among these eight levers how they show up. Right? It’s your citizenship, how creative or innovative you are, the products or services you put out in the marketplace. You, as a company, have to determine what is your unique value that you can offer in that space, and the extent to which you really choose to pull that lever hard or don’t pull that lever hard. Because citizenship is one of these eight levers, I think all companies have both an opportunity to think about that, and also some risks attached to that. They have to think about, Are we picking a side? A political side. Or, Are we doing something that may really please our employees, but for our customer base it may be a different thing? This gets into the whole realm of stakeholder management, the way you start to think about how the actions that you take . . . Because you only really get to communicate, Bob, after you’ve taken action. Your actions give you the hall pass to communicate, and those actions . . . sure, they can very well be related to things like corporate citizenship out in the world, but you have to be mindful of the way that people are receiving things. The way that we did things at Starbucks back in the mid 2010s, in a different political environment with a different administration, would be received I suspect in a very different way in this administration, in this year of our Lord 2026, compared to what we did then. Choosing to do exactly the same things. And you might not necessarily choose to do them the same way, because of that environment. Exactly. Or you might choose to communicate about them in a different way. Context matters. Right? I think you have to start thinking about things like context and the actions in that context before you’re thinking about message. The message is almost the last thing that you’re thinking about. View the full article

Ukrainian president says US will monitor future truce, but he sees no breakthrough on political issues View the full article

There is a bug impacting a number of Google AdSense publishers where the anchor and vignette ads won't close for users. This has been an issue since February 13th and Google is reportedly working on a fix for the issue.View the full article

If you’re tuning in to the Milan Cortina Olympics, you may be one of many spectators who’s suddenly invested in the sport of curling. You’re in good company: Swedish designer Gustaf Westman, best known for his chunky homeware, has become so fascinated by the event that he used it as inspiration for his latest design. Curling centers on an object called a “curling stone.” Using its gooseneck handle, competitors slide the round, 44-pound stone down an ice shuffleboard toward a target zone. Westman’s “curling bowl,” which he debuted on Instagram on February 10, reimagines the object as a snack bowl. The stone’s handle has been cleverly converted into the perfect slot for a glass of wine, or whatever beverage suits the moment, while its round base has been repurposed into a vessel for chips, crackers, and popcorn. The bowl is not listed for sale on Westman’s website at the time of this writing. Iconic Olympics-related objects like the ceremonial torch, cauldron, and medals may receive the most attention at the Games, but Westman’s new bowl gives the curling stone the flowers it’s owed. Designing the “curling bowl” Before Westman reimagined the curling stone as a receptacle for popcorn and charcuterie, it was already one of the most interesting pieces of sports gear at the Winter Olympics. Since 2006, every single stone that’s been thrown at the Games has been manufactured at one factory on the Scottish island of Ailsa Craig. That’s because the island’s microgranite is formed by fast-cooling magma, which makes it ultra dense and hard—perfectly suited for slamming into other curling stones at speed. Every stone is shaped, weighted, and polished to enable it to slide across the ice like butter, essentially making each a very precisely engineered work of art. Like his other designs (see Westman’s whimsical collection for Ikea and puzzle-inspired shelf, for example), the bowl is pleasantly chunky, rounded, and colorful. In place of the stone’s usual handle is a two-pronged appendage that allows a beverage to hover directly over a spot for snacks. Overall, the bowl leans more toward artistic than performance-driven, but it does take after the real thing in one key way: It can slide. In a video posted to his Instagram, Westman tested out his design at what appears to be a local rink, sending it shooting down the ice with potato chips, wine, and several bunches of grapes on board. At home, spectators might use this function to pass hors d’oeuvres down the table while enjoying the Games. “I love being present and commenting on the time we are living in with my design,” Westman told Dezeen. “I also think humor has a big place in design—this is a great example of that for me.” View the full article

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Conflict resolution is crucial in any organization, as it helps maintain a productive work environment. Various methods exist, such as mediation, arbitration, and negotiation, each suited to different situations. Comprehending these techniques, along with the importance of active listening and clear communication, can greatly improve your approach to conflicts. By exploring these strategies, you’ll discover how to effectively address disputes and cultivate a culture of respect and trust among team members. What are the best practices you can implement? Key Takeaways Utilize active listening techniques to cultivate empathy and ensure all parties feel heard during conflict discussions. Promote clear communication by using “I statements” to express concerns without placing blame, fostering a constructive dialogue. Implement collaborative approaches that focus on win-win outcomes, encouraging open communication and innovative solutions among team members. Acknowledge and address emotional grievances to strengthen relationships and enhance understanding during conflict resolution. Foster a culture of respect and trust by maintaining transparency and encouraging professional development in conflict resolution skills. Understanding the Importance of Conflict Resolution Conflict resolution is a vital component of any workplace, as conflicts naturally emerge from the diverse backgrounds and personalities of employees. Addressing these disputes quickly is important to prevent missed deadlines and resentment, which can lead to significant financial losses. American businesses lose about $359 billion annually because of unresolved conflicts, highlighting the significance of effective dispute resolution methods. Utilizing alternative dispute resolution examples, such as mediation and arbitration, can help teams navigate conflicts more efficiently. Implementing a structured conflict resolution model encourages a healthier work environment, promoting employee well-being and enhancing overall company performance. Studies reveal that 53% of employees avoid “toxic” situations, resulting in an average loss of over seven workdays and costing organizations approximately $7,500 per employee. By prioritizing conflict resolution strategies, you’ll not just support ethical treatment and fairness but further contribute to a more productive workplace atmosphere. The Role of Leaders in Conflict Management Addressing disputes effectively isn’t merely about having the right strategies in place; it similarly heavily relies on the leaders within an organization. Leaders play an essential role in conflict management by utilizing various dispute resolution techniques and guiding employees through their disputes. By promoting ethical treatment and fairness, they guarantee a balanced approach between support and accountability. Comprehending alternative conflict resolution methods, such as those from the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model, allows you as a leader to select the most appropriate strategy based on the situation’s assertiveness and cooperativeness. This not only improves employee well-being but additionally cultivates a culture of trust and collaboration. A commitment to ethical practices can greatly reduce the costly consequences of unresolved conflicts, which amount to $359 billion annually for American businesses. In the end, knowing what’s ADR in business helps leaders facilitate productive dialogues and maintain a safe work environment. Strategies for Effective Conflict Resolution To effectively resolve conflicts, you need to understand different conflict styles, which can greatly impact outcomes. Leadership plays a crucial role in guiding teams through disputes, nurturing an environment that encourages collaboration and mutual respect. Understanding Conflict Styles Comprehending conflict styles is vital for managing disagreements effectively, and the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model provides a framework to help you identify your approach. It identifies five distinct styles: Avoiding, Competing, Accommodating, Compromising, and Collaborating. Each style varies in assertiveness and cooperativeness, depending on the situation’s demands. For instance, competing is high in assertiveness but low in cooperativeness, making it useful in emergencies, whereas collaborating seeks win-win solutions, enhancing relationships. When considering alternative means of dispute resolution, it’s fundamental to understand what’re four options for alternative dispute resolution. Applying the right conflict style can greatly improve resolution outcomes, benefiting both employee well-being and overall organizational health through effective alternative conflict resolution strategies. Role of Leadership As conflicts are an inevitable part of any workplace, effective leadership plays a crucial role in guiding and resolving these disputes. Leaders must address personal conflicts and assist employees in resolving theirs to maintain a safe and productive environment. Utilizing the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model, you can identify how many methods there are to conflict resolution, applying strategies like collaborating or compromising based on the situation. Open communication cultivates trust and reduces misunderstandings. Support balanced with accountability promotes fairness among team members. Effective resolution improves employee well-being, benefiting the organization financially. Building Collaborative Environments Creating collaborative environments is essential for effective conflict resolution in any workplace. By identifying shared goals among team members, you can reduce divisive attitudes and cultivate a cooperative atmosphere. This approach improves conflict resolution outcomes considerably. Encourage open communication and mutual comprehension to clarify misunderstandings, making it easier to navigate conflicts and reach consensus. Implementing the collaborating strategy from the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model prioritizes personal goals and relationships, encouraging stronger team dynamics. Moreover, promoting a culture of respect and inclusivity diminishes feelings of suspicion and bias, which often underlie conflicts. Finally, engaging in joint problem-solving sessions allows all parties to contribute to solutions, building trust and improving relationships, making future conflicts easier to manage and resolve. Active Listening as a Key Skill Active listening is crucial for cultivating empathy in conflict resolution, as it helps you comprehend others’ perspectives and emotions. To listen effectively, you can use techniques like maintaining eye contact, nodding, and summarizing what the speaker has said to guarantee comprehension. Importance of Empathy Empathy plays a crucial role in effective conflict resolution, and active listening stands out as a key skill in this process. When you actively listen, you not only hear the words but also pick up on non-verbal cues that reveal deeper emotions and intentions. This comprehension can greatly improve resolution outcomes. Research shows that when individuals feel heard, they’re 4.6 times more likely to be empowered in their work, leading to better team dynamics and productivity. By implementing techniques like summarizing and reflecting, you validate feelings and nurture collaboration. Active listening builds trust and open communication. Feeling acknowledged reduces workplace conflict. Empathetic engagement leads to improved performance. Techniques for Effective Listening Effective listening is essential for resolving conflicts, as it allows you to fully engage with the speaker and comprehend their perspective. By practicing active listening, you can greatly improve communication and reduce misunderstandings. Key techniques include maintaining eye contact, using verbal affirmations like “I see” or “I get it,” and summarizing the speaker’s points to confirm grasp. Listening without interruption enables the speaker to express their feelings, addressing deeper emotional issues. Technique Description Benefits Eye Contact Maintain direct eye contact throughout the conversation Builds trust Verbal Affirmations Use phrases to acknowledge comprehension Encourages openness Summarization Restate what’s been said to confirm grasp Reduces miscommunication The Power of Clear Communication When conflicts arise, clear communication becomes a potent tool for resolution. It’s fundamental to articulate issues without resorting to personal attacks, which cultivates a more constructive dialogue. Using “I statements” can considerably reduce defensiveness; for example, saying “I feel concerned” rather than “You never meet deadlines” promotes comprehension. Active listening is another critical aspect, allowing each party to express their perspective fully, important for finding common ground. To improve your conflict resolution efforts, consider these points: Establish a private setting for discussions to maintain respect and focus. Use direct but considerate language to reduce misunderstandings. Engage in active listening to guarantee both parties feel heard. Collaborating for Win-Win Outcomes Collaboration in conflict resolution not just improves relationships but furthermore prioritizes the goals of all parties involved, leading to mutually beneficial outcomes. This win-win approach is especially effective in complex situations that require input from multiple stakeholders. By encouraging open communication, you promote a deeper exploration of issues, which can result in innovative solutions that satisfy everyone involved. When you engage in collaboration, you not only improve employee well-being and morale but also contribute to a more cohesive and productive work environment. This improvement can eventually benefit your organization’s financial health by reducing costs tied to unresolved conflicts. Leaders play a significant role in this process, guiding teams to navigate disputes with a focus on common interests and collective problem-solving. By promoting collaboration, you create an atmosphere of mutual respect and shared success, making it easier to address conflicts effectively and constructively. Negotiation Techniques to Resolve Disputes When you’re maneuvering a dispute, employing effective negotiation techniques can make all the difference. Key strategies, such as using “I statements” to voice your concerns, help create a collaborative environment where both parties feel heard. Furthermore, perfecting communication techniques improves your ability to reach a mutually beneficial agreement, streamlining the resolution process. Key Negotiation Strategies Effective negotiation strategies are crucial for resolving disputes and promoting positive relationships between parties. Engaging in open communication allows everyone to express their needs without falling into adversarial tactics. Here’s how you can improve your negotiation outcomes: Use “I statements” to express concerns and prevent misinterpretations. Incorporate active listening techniques to encourage collaboration and comprehension. Follow a structured process, including acknowledging the conflict and brainstorming solutions. Effective Communication Techniques Communication plays a pivotal role in successful negotiation, as it establishes a foundation for comprehension between parties. To improve dialogue, use direct yet considerate language, which helps avoid confusion. Employ “I statements,” like “I feel concerned when deadlines slip,” to keep discussions focused on issues rather than personal attacks. This approach promotes constructive dialogue. Moreover, actively listen and practice emotional intelligence to acknowledge each other’s perspectives. This encourages a collaborative environment. It’s crucial to hold resolution-focused conversations in private settings, allowing uninterrupted expression of viewpoints. This space encourages mutual expression of needs, aiming for outcomes that feel fair to all involved, rather than prioritizing one party’s victory over another. Effective communication is key to successful conflict resolution. Addressing Emotional Grievances in Conflict Addressing emotional grievances in conflict often requires delving deeper than the immediate issues at hand, as unresolved feelings can greatly impact relationships and hinder effective resolutions. Conflicts over financial matters, for instance, often conceal deeper emotional concerns such as feelings of disrespect or being overlooked. By focusing on these underlying issues, you’re more likely to find effective resolutions that prevent recurring disputes. To facilitate this process, consider the following: Acknowledge feelings of being undervalued or dismissed. Engage in open communication to express emotional concerns. Identify shared goals to encourage collaboration. Listening and acknowledging these emotional grievances can strengthen relationships and promote comprehension. Taking the time to explore deeper emotional issues, rather than rushing to resolve conflicts, can lead to creative and mutually beneficial solutions. This approach not only addresses the symptoms but additionally the root causes of conflict, paving the way for healthier interactions in the future. Fostering a Culture of Respect and Trust Creating a culture of respect and trust within an organization is crucial for nurturing a productive work environment. When you cultivate this culture, you can greatly reduce the $359 billion annual losses faced by American businesses because of unresolved conflicts. Encouraging open communication and active listening helps prevent misunderstandings, which often lead to conflicts, promoting collaboration. By implementing the collaborating strategy from the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model, you empower employees to work together toward win-win solutions, enhancing trust and strengthening relationships. A commitment to fairness in conflict resolution is fundamental. Maintaining transparency and recognizing employees’ rights builds trust, encouraging a positive workplace culture. Moreover, providing professional development opportunities that focus on leadership and conflict resolution skills equips employees to navigate disputes effectively. This empowerment cultivates an environment of mutual respect, crucial for a thriving organization and beneficial for everyone involved. Developing a Structured Approach to Conflict Resolution A structured approach to conflict resolution is essential for effectively managing disputes within an organization. Start by recognizing the conflict, then set a resolution-focused conversation where everyone can express their viewpoints without interruption. Utilize the five strategies from the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model—Avoiding, Competing, Accommodating, Compromising, and Collaborating—to tailor your approach based on personal goals and relationships. Acknowledge the issue to build trust. Encourage brainstorming for diverse solutions. Agree on responsibilities to promote accountability. Effective conflict resolution hinges on active listening and emotional intelligence, allowing you to understand differing perspectives. Implementing a step-by-step process can lead to more satisfactory outcomes. Remember, as a leader, your role is significant; promote open dialogue, maintain neutrality, and encourage a culture of respect to guide your team through conflicts. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 5 Main Conflict Resolution Strategies? The five main conflict resolution strategies are Avoiding, Competing, Accommodating, Compromising, and Collaborating. Avoiding neglects both personal goals and relationships, often leading to unresolved issues. Competing prioritizes personal goals, suitable for urgent decisions but can harm trust. Accommodating focuses on relationships by yielding to others’ needs, potentially stifling innovation. Compromising seeks a middle ground, whereas Collaborating aims for win-win solutions, satisfying both parties’ goals and enhancing relationships, making it the most effective approach. What Are the Methods of Conflict Resolution? You can resolve conflicts through various methods, each suited for different situations. Negotiation allows parties to communicate directly for a mutual agreement. Mediation involves a neutral third party facilitating dialogue. Arbitration submits disputes to an arbitrator for a binding decision. Avoidance works for low-stakes issues, whereas collaboration is best for complex problems, promoting win-win outcomes. Compromise requires both parties to make concessions, balancing goals and relationships for an acceptable resolution. What Is the Most Effective Method for Solving Conflicts? The most effective method for solving conflicts is collaboration. This approach guarantees both parties’ goals are acknowledged, encouraging a win-win outcome. By prioritizing open communication and actively listening, you can address underlying issues and strengthen relationships. Utilizing “I statements” during discussions can clarify your perspective without assigning blame. As different strategies exist, collaboration typically yields the best long-term results, enhancing trust and reducing the likelihood of future conflicts. What Are the 5 C’s of Conflict Resolution? The 5 C’s of conflict resolution are Communication, Cooperation, Compromise, Creativity, and Commitment. You must communicate openly to express your views and listen actively. Cooperation involves working together to achieve shared goals. When you compromise, both parties make concessions to find common ground. Creativity encourages exploring innovative solutions that may not be obvious. Finally, commitment guarantees you’re dedicated to resolving the conflict and maintaining relationships, making the process more effective and constructive. Conclusion In summary, effective conflict resolution is essential for maintaining a productive work environment. By comprehending various strategies, such as active listening, clear communication, and negotiation techniques, you can navigate disputes more effectively. Addressing emotional grievances and cultivating a culture of respect improves collaboration within teams. Leaders play a significant role in implementing structured approaches to conflict management, ensuring that conflicts are resolved constructively. In the end, these strategies contribute to improved relationships and overall organizational performance. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "Many Effective Methods for Conflict Resolution" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Conflict resolution is crucial in any organization, as it helps maintain a productive work environment. Various methods exist, such as mediation, arbitration, and negotiation, each suited to different situations. Comprehending these techniques, along with the importance of active listening and clear communication, can greatly improve your approach to conflicts. By exploring these strategies, you’ll discover how to effectively address disputes and cultivate a culture of respect and trust among team members. What are the best practices you can implement? Key Takeaways Utilize active listening techniques to cultivate empathy and ensure all parties feel heard during conflict discussions. Promote clear communication by using “I statements” to express concerns without placing blame, fostering a constructive dialogue. Implement collaborative approaches that focus on win-win outcomes, encouraging open communication and innovative solutions among team members. Acknowledge and address emotional grievances to strengthen relationships and enhance understanding during conflict resolution. Foster a culture of respect and trust by maintaining transparency and encouraging professional development in conflict resolution skills. Understanding the Importance of Conflict Resolution Conflict resolution is a vital component of any workplace, as conflicts naturally emerge from the diverse backgrounds and personalities of employees. Addressing these disputes quickly is important to prevent missed deadlines and resentment, which can lead to significant financial losses. American businesses lose about $359 billion annually because of unresolved conflicts, highlighting the significance of effective dispute resolution methods. Utilizing alternative dispute resolution examples, such as mediation and arbitration, can help teams navigate conflicts more efficiently. Implementing a structured conflict resolution model encourages a healthier work environment, promoting employee well-being and enhancing overall company performance. Studies reveal that 53% of employees avoid “toxic” situations, resulting in an average loss of over seven workdays and costing organizations approximately $7,500 per employee. By prioritizing conflict resolution strategies, you’ll not just support ethical treatment and fairness but further contribute to a more productive workplace atmosphere. The Role of Leaders in Conflict Management Addressing disputes effectively isn’t merely about having the right strategies in place; it similarly heavily relies on the leaders within an organization. Leaders play an essential role in conflict management by utilizing various dispute resolution techniques and guiding employees through their disputes. By promoting ethical treatment and fairness, they guarantee a balanced approach between support and accountability. Comprehending alternative conflict resolution methods, such as those from the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model, allows you as a leader to select the most appropriate strategy based on the situation’s assertiveness and cooperativeness. This not only improves employee well-being but additionally cultivates a culture of trust and collaboration. A commitment to ethical practices can greatly reduce the costly consequences of unresolved conflicts, which amount to $359 billion annually for American businesses. In the end, knowing what’s ADR in business helps leaders facilitate productive dialogues and maintain a safe work environment. Strategies for Effective Conflict Resolution To effectively resolve conflicts, you need to understand different conflict styles, which can greatly impact outcomes. Leadership plays a crucial role in guiding teams through disputes, nurturing an environment that encourages collaboration and mutual respect. Understanding Conflict Styles Comprehending conflict styles is vital for managing disagreements effectively, and the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model provides a framework to help you identify your approach. It identifies five distinct styles: Avoiding, Competing, Accommodating, Compromising, and Collaborating. Each style varies in assertiveness and cooperativeness, depending on the situation’s demands. For instance, competing is high in assertiveness but low in cooperativeness, making it useful in emergencies, whereas collaborating seeks win-win solutions, enhancing relationships. When considering alternative means of dispute resolution, it’s fundamental to understand what’re four options for alternative dispute resolution. Applying the right conflict style can greatly improve resolution outcomes, benefiting both employee well-being and overall organizational health through effective alternative conflict resolution strategies. Role of Leadership As conflicts are an inevitable part of any workplace, effective leadership plays a crucial role in guiding and resolving these disputes. Leaders must address personal conflicts and assist employees in resolving theirs to maintain a safe and productive environment. Utilizing the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model, you can identify how many methods there are to conflict resolution, applying strategies like collaborating or compromising based on the situation. Open communication cultivates trust and reduces misunderstandings. Support balanced with accountability promotes fairness among team members. Effective resolution improves employee well-being, benefiting the organization financially. Building Collaborative Environments Creating collaborative environments is essential for effective conflict resolution in any workplace. By identifying shared goals among team members, you can reduce divisive attitudes and cultivate a cooperative atmosphere. This approach improves conflict resolution outcomes considerably. Encourage open communication and mutual comprehension to clarify misunderstandings, making it easier to navigate conflicts and reach consensus. Implementing the collaborating strategy from the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model prioritizes personal goals and relationships, encouraging stronger team dynamics. Moreover, promoting a culture of respect and inclusivity diminishes feelings of suspicion and bias, which often underlie conflicts. Finally, engaging in joint problem-solving sessions allows all parties to contribute to solutions, building trust and improving relationships, making future conflicts easier to manage and resolve. Active Listening as a Key Skill Active listening is crucial for cultivating empathy in conflict resolution, as it helps you comprehend others’ perspectives and emotions. To listen effectively, you can use techniques like maintaining eye contact, nodding, and summarizing what the speaker has said to guarantee comprehension. Importance of Empathy Empathy plays a crucial role in effective conflict resolution, and active listening stands out as a key skill in this process. When you actively listen, you not only hear the words but also pick up on non-verbal cues that reveal deeper emotions and intentions. This comprehension can greatly improve resolution outcomes. Research shows that when individuals feel heard, they’re 4.6 times more likely to be empowered in their work, leading to better team dynamics and productivity. By implementing techniques like summarizing and reflecting, you validate feelings and nurture collaboration. Active listening builds trust and open communication. Feeling acknowledged reduces workplace conflict. Empathetic engagement leads to improved performance. Techniques for Effective Listening Effective listening is essential for resolving conflicts, as it allows you to fully engage with the speaker and comprehend their perspective. By practicing active listening, you can greatly improve communication and reduce misunderstandings. Key techniques include maintaining eye contact, using verbal affirmations like “I see” or “I get it,” and summarizing the speaker’s points to confirm grasp. Listening without interruption enables the speaker to express their feelings, addressing deeper emotional issues. Technique Description Benefits Eye Contact Maintain direct eye contact throughout the conversation Builds trust Verbal Affirmations Use phrases to acknowledge comprehension Encourages openness Summarization Restate what’s been said to confirm grasp Reduces miscommunication The Power of Clear Communication When conflicts arise, clear communication becomes a potent tool for resolution. It’s fundamental to articulate issues without resorting to personal attacks, which cultivates a more constructive dialogue. Using “I statements” can considerably reduce defensiveness; for example, saying “I feel concerned” rather than “You never meet deadlines” promotes comprehension. Active listening is another critical aspect, allowing each party to express their perspective fully, important for finding common ground. To improve your conflict resolution efforts, consider these points: Establish a private setting for discussions to maintain respect and focus. Use direct but considerate language to reduce misunderstandings. Engage in active listening to guarantee both parties feel heard. Collaborating for Win-Win Outcomes Collaboration in conflict resolution not just improves relationships but furthermore prioritizes the goals of all parties involved, leading to mutually beneficial outcomes. This win-win approach is especially effective in complex situations that require input from multiple stakeholders. By encouraging open communication, you promote a deeper exploration of issues, which can result in innovative solutions that satisfy everyone involved. When you engage in collaboration, you not only improve employee well-being and morale but also contribute to a more cohesive and productive work environment. This improvement can eventually benefit your organization’s financial health by reducing costs tied to unresolved conflicts. Leaders play a significant role in this process, guiding teams to navigate disputes with a focus on common interests and collective problem-solving. By promoting collaboration, you create an atmosphere of mutual respect and shared success, making it easier to address conflicts effectively and constructively. Negotiation Techniques to Resolve Disputes When you’re maneuvering a dispute, employing effective negotiation techniques can make all the difference. Key strategies, such as using “I statements” to voice your concerns, help create a collaborative environment where both parties feel heard. Furthermore, perfecting communication techniques improves your ability to reach a mutually beneficial agreement, streamlining the resolution process. Key Negotiation Strategies Effective negotiation strategies are crucial for resolving disputes and promoting positive relationships between parties. Engaging in open communication allows everyone to express their needs without falling into adversarial tactics. Here’s how you can improve your negotiation outcomes: Use “I statements” to express concerns and prevent misinterpretations. Incorporate active listening techniques to encourage collaboration and comprehension. Follow a structured process, including acknowledging the conflict and brainstorming solutions. Effective Communication Techniques Communication plays a pivotal role in successful negotiation, as it establishes a foundation for comprehension between parties. To improve dialogue, use direct yet considerate language, which helps avoid confusion. Employ “I statements,” like “I feel concerned when deadlines slip,” to keep discussions focused on issues rather than personal attacks. This approach promotes constructive dialogue. Moreover, actively listen and practice emotional intelligence to acknowledge each other’s perspectives. This encourages a collaborative environment. It’s crucial to hold resolution-focused conversations in private settings, allowing uninterrupted expression of viewpoints. This space encourages mutual expression of needs, aiming for outcomes that feel fair to all involved, rather than prioritizing one party’s victory over another. Effective communication is key to successful conflict resolution. Addressing Emotional Grievances in Conflict Addressing emotional grievances in conflict often requires delving deeper than the immediate issues at hand, as unresolved feelings can greatly impact relationships and hinder effective resolutions. Conflicts over financial matters, for instance, often conceal deeper emotional concerns such as feelings of disrespect or being overlooked. By focusing on these underlying issues, you’re more likely to find effective resolutions that prevent recurring disputes. To facilitate this process, consider the following: Acknowledge feelings of being undervalued or dismissed. Engage in open communication to express emotional concerns. Identify shared goals to encourage collaboration. Listening and acknowledging these emotional grievances can strengthen relationships and promote comprehension. Taking the time to explore deeper emotional issues, rather than rushing to resolve conflicts, can lead to creative and mutually beneficial solutions. This approach not only addresses the symptoms but additionally the root causes of conflict, paving the way for healthier interactions in the future. Fostering a Culture of Respect and Trust Creating a culture of respect and trust within an organization is crucial for nurturing a productive work environment. When you cultivate this culture, you can greatly reduce the $359 billion annual losses faced by American businesses because of unresolved conflicts. Encouraging open communication and active listening helps prevent misunderstandings, which often lead to conflicts, promoting collaboration. By implementing the collaborating strategy from the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model, you empower employees to work together toward win-win solutions, enhancing trust and strengthening relationships. A commitment to fairness in conflict resolution is fundamental. Maintaining transparency and recognizing employees’ rights builds trust, encouraging a positive workplace culture. Moreover, providing professional development opportunities that focus on leadership and conflict resolution skills equips employees to navigate disputes effectively. This empowerment cultivates an environment of mutual respect, crucial for a thriving organization and beneficial for everyone involved. Developing a Structured Approach to Conflict Resolution A structured approach to conflict resolution is essential for effectively managing disputes within an organization. Start by recognizing the conflict, then set a resolution-focused conversation where everyone can express their viewpoints without interruption. Utilize the five strategies from the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model—Avoiding, Competing, Accommodating, Compromising, and Collaborating—to tailor your approach based on personal goals and relationships. Acknowledge the issue to build trust. Encourage brainstorming for diverse solutions. Agree on responsibilities to promote accountability. Effective conflict resolution hinges on active listening and emotional intelligence, allowing you to understand differing perspectives. Implementing a step-by-step process can lead to more satisfactory outcomes. Remember, as a leader, your role is significant; promote open dialogue, maintain neutrality, and encourage a culture of respect to guide your team through conflicts. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 5 Main Conflict Resolution Strategies? The five main conflict resolution strategies are Avoiding, Competing, Accommodating, Compromising, and Collaborating. Avoiding neglects both personal goals and relationships, often leading to unresolved issues. Competing prioritizes personal goals, suitable for urgent decisions but can harm trust. Accommodating focuses on relationships by yielding to others’ needs, potentially stifling innovation. Compromising seeks a middle ground, whereas Collaborating aims for win-win solutions, satisfying both parties’ goals and enhancing relationships, making it the most effective approach. What Are the Methods of Conflict Resolution? You can resolve conflicts through various methods, each suited for different situations. Negotiation allows parties to communicate directly for a mutual agreement. Mediation involves a neutral third party facilitating dialogue. Arbitration submits disputes to an arbitrator for a binding decision. Avoidance works for low-stakes issues, whereas collaboration is best for complex problems, promoting win-win outcomes. Compromise requires both parties to make concessions, balancing goals and relationships for an acceptable resolution. What Is the Most Effective Method for Solving Conflicts? The most effective method for solving conflicts is collaboration. This approach guarantees both parties’ goals are acknowledged, encouraging a win-win outcome. By prioritizing open communication and actively listening, you can address underlying issues and strengthen relationships. Utilizing “I statements” during discussions can clarify your perspective without assigning blame. As different strategies exist, collaboration typically yields the best long-term results, enhancing trust and reducing the likelihood of future conflicts. What Are the 5 C’s of Conflict Resolution? The 5 C’s of conflict resolution are Communication, Cooperation, Compromise, Creativity, and Commitment. You must communicate openly to express your views and listen actively. Cooperation involves working together to achieve shared goals. When you compromise, both parties make concessions to find common ground. Creativity encourages exploring innovative solutions that may not be obvious. Finally, commitment guarantees you’re dedicated to resolving the conflict and maintaining relationships, making the process more effective and constructive. Conclusion In summary, effective conflict resolution is essential for maintaining a productive work environment. By comprehending various strategies, such as active listening, clear communication, and negotiation techniques, you can navigate disputes more effectively. Addressing emotional grievances and cultivating a culture of respect improves collaboration within teams. Leaders play a significant role in implementing structured approaches to conflict management, ensuring that conflicts are resolved constructively. In the end, these strategies contribute to improved relationships and overall organizational performance. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "Many Effective Methods for Conflict Resolution" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Zoho is marking its 30th anniversary with a milestone meant to signal stability in a fast-changing software market: the company says it has surpassed one million paying customers and 150 million users globally, following what it describes as 32% year-over-year customer growth and 20% revenue growth in 2025. For small business owners juggling rising costs, staffing constraints, and more complex operations, the announcement reinforces a familiar question: does it make more sense to run on a connected suite of tools—or to stitch together specialized apps and hope the integrations hold? Zoho Corporation—whose portfolio includes Zoho, ManageEngine, Qntrl, and TrainerCentral—positioned its growth as evidence that businesses of all sizes continue to look for “powerful, scalable, and affordable solutions,” especially from vendors that can consolidate workflows across departments. The company shared a short milestone page with additional context here: Zoho Corporation one million customers milestone. Zoho’s leadership used the anniversary to underscore its business model and product philosophy. “Being bootstrapped, private, and built entirely in-house makes Zoho an outlier among competitors,” says Sridhar Vembu, Co-founder and Chief Scientist, Zoho Corporation. “But vendors don’t need our help, businesses do, which is why delivering customer value has, for 30 years, been Zoho Corporation’s North Star. Before any innovation, strategy, or guiding principle becomes a product, pivot, or policy, it must first affirm the question, ‘Will this help businesses?’ We are incredibly grateful that companies around the world have responded so positively to our customer-first approach over the past three decades, and will continue to meet the evolving needs of businesses with powerful, scalable, and affordable solutions.” For small businesses, vendor claims about “customer-first” tend to land only if owners see tangible results: smoother sales pipelines, fewer manual steps in invoicing and collections, more reliable IT operations, better visibility into performance, or faster onboarding for new employees. Zoho’s strategy aims at that practicality by offering a broad portfolio under one roof—starting with its main suite at Zoho.com and extending to IT management via ManageEngine, process orchestration via Qntrl, and training delivery via TrainerCentral. What the Milestone Means in Day-to-Day Terms A customer count doesn’t automatically translate to “best fit” for your company, but it can hint at product maturity and ongoing investment. For a busy owner, the more immediate value is whether a platform can: Keep customer and financial data consistent across teams Reduce duplicate data entry Automate routine handoffs (lead → deal → onboarding → billing → support) Make it easier to report on what’s working without pulling spreadsheets from five systems Zoho’s announcement didn’t introduce a specific new feature set. Instead, it used customer stories to argue that businesses use the portfolio to scale and adapt over time—without getting boxed into rigid processes. Zoho spotlighted customers across industries, including manufacturing, security, IT operations, and healthcare, and it framed their experience around partnership, flexibility, and consolidation. “’Partnership’ is a word that gets frequently used in business, but it rarely matches its definition … With Zoho, I can say that they have always genuinely felt like a true partner. Rather than simply delivering software, Zoho engages with us in a collaborative way — helping us think through challenges, adapt to change, and improve how we operate. That level of customer focus and long-term perspective is what has made our relationship endure over eight years.” David Fauser, VP of Sales, Marketing and Strategy – CIMCO Another customer emphasized the ability to adjust systems during organizational change—an issue that can hit SMBs just as hard as enterprises, especially after acquisitions, rapid hiring, or shifts in service models. “As our business has evolved over the past 10 years through further acquisitions, organizational restructures and new operating models, Zoho has continued to scale with us rather than forcing us into rigid frameworks … The broad range of apps available and the extreme flexibility they offer have repeatedly helped us quickly pivot our business needs, make informed decisions, and maintain momentum during times of significant challenge.” Brandon Lennix, Director of Commercial Operations – GardaWorld For small businesses, “flexibility” often comes down to whether the software can handle real-world quirks: unique pricing rules, approvals, territory structures, multiple service lines, or customer onboarding steps that differ by client type. Many SMBs also want the freedom to start simple and add complexity only when needed—without replatforming every two years. Where SMBs Typically See Practical Value Even though Zoho’s milestone announcement stayed high-level, the underlying suite narrative maps to a few common SMB scenarios: 1) Reducing tool sprawl If you currently run a CRM, separate email marketing tool, separate help desk, separate invoicing platform, and separate analytics/reporting app, you likely deal with fragmented customer records. A suite approach can centralize customer data, reduce duplicate work, and make reporting less painful—especially when a small team wears multiple hats. 2) Improving visibility without hiring a full analytics team Owners often don’t need “big data.” They need fast answers: Which offers convert? Which sales rep pipeline looks real? Which service line has margin compression? Which customers create the most support load? Platforms that unify activity across sales, finance, and support can make these answers easier to access—assuming the underlying data remains clean. 3) Supporting growth without ripping and replacing systems Businesses that grow from a handful of users to dozens (or hundreds) often discover that their first tools can’t handle permissions, reporting, automation, or process complexity. Several Zoho customer quotes focused on expanding usage rather than switching vendors midstream. “After seven plus years of using Zoho, we are convinced it is the right CRM for us. A project that started with just a few users has grown to over 1,000, largely because we have built a partnership with Zoho that addresses our demanding growth and business needs.” Rene Selemi, Vice President of Operations – IDT “Like many, our decade-plus journey with Zoho began with just one application, Zoho CRM, and like many, Zoho has grown with us. Once we realized we could run our entire business on Zoho, we moved over to Zoho One. Over time, our entire business has improved, and it has everything to do with Zoho providing a suite of products at a reasonable price, with far better support than competitors.” Roque Rodon, Director of Operations – Erase.com And for companies operating in multi-dealer or multi-region models—where CRM, analytics, integrations, and workflow automation all need to connect—Zoho highlighted the “integrated ecosystem” angle. “We’ve been with Zoho since 2014, and what keeps us here is the breadth of the platform. As a Canadian hot tub manufacturer with over 200 dealers across North American and Europe, we need our CRM, analytics, and operations tools to work together seamlessly. Zoho gives us that integrated ecosystem without forcing us into enterprise-level pricing. As our business has grown and our needs have become more sophisticated—from dealer management to API integrations and workflow automation—Zoho has scaled with us. Thank you to everyone at Zoho for building a platform that allows mid-market companies like ours punch well above their weight – you’ve given us an essential tool in the growth of Arctic Spas.” Phil Edey, General Manager – Arctic Spas Zoho also called out the ManageEngine brand in the context of IT operations growth—relevant for SMBs that increasingly face enterprise-grade security expectations from customers and insurers, even if they don’t have enterprise budgets. “When we started our journey with ManageEngine 15 years ago, our operations were much smaller in scale. As our company expanded, so did ManageEngine … We’ve grown with the product suites, and whatever goals or challenges we have, ManageEngine seems to always have the solution.” Gerry Forde, IT Operations Manager – Lakeland Dairies What to Consider Before Consolidating on One Platform Zoho’s customer stories emphasize breadth, flexibility, and support. Small business owners evaluating a similar “suite-first” move often benefit from stress-testing a few practical areas before committing deeper: Implementation ownership: Even easy-to-use platforms require process decisions. Someone must map workflows, define fields, set permissions, and maintain data hygiene. If nobody owns it, automation can turn into chaos. Integration reality: Many SMBs rely on specialized industry tools (POS systems, vertical scheduling, niche e-commerce workflows). Confirm what integrates out-of-the-box and what requires custom API work. Switching costs: Consolidation can lower monthly costs and reduce friction, but it can also make future migrations harder. Ask about exports, APIs, and how easily you can retrieve data and rebuild workflows if plans change. Support experience at your scale: Quotes praise strong support, but support can vary by product line and region. A pilot project and reference calls with similarly sized businesses can clarify what you’ll experience. Zoho also included a customer quote highlighting a theme many owners are debating right now: using AI to automate work without losing service quality or creating a “black box” business process. “We were interested in Zoho due to the quality of the software, but began using it once we saw that it’s a company that shares our values—growing a business with purpose, not simply just to make money. We liked Zoho’s mission to create jobs, train internally, and maintain a healthy work culture. We have always felt a genuine interest from Zoho in getting to know our company, our needs, and building software that actually works for us, even in a specific industry like healthcare. Over time, we’ve eliminated now-extraneous software systems, and Zoho has become our operational powerhouse. The tech space is changing rapidly, but so far we’ve been impressed by how Zoho has balanced embracing AI and maintaining a human touch, something that is a priority of ours, as well.” Jessica Miller, LMHC, Chief People Officer – Island Psychiatry and Island Practice Management The Real-World Implication for SMBs Zoho’s 30-year milestone announcement is, at its core, an argument for operational simplification: fewer vendors, fewer disconnected systems, and a longer runway for growth without a disruptive technology reset. That approach can appeal to owners who want to spend less time managing software and more time managing customers, employees, and cash flow. At the same time, the best choice depends on how your business runs today. For some companies, a suite reduces friction immediately. For others—especially those with specialized requirements—best-of-breed tools still win, provided the integrations remain reliable and the team can manage the operational overhead. Zoho’s milestones and customer stories suggest it expects more small and midsize businesses to choose consolidation as complexity rises. For owners weighing that move, the most practical next step is simple: identify the workflows that cost you the most time (lead handling, invoicing, collections, support triage, reporting), then evaluate whether a unified ecosystem—Zoho’s or another vendor’s—can reduce steps without creating new bottlenecks. This article, "Zoho Marks 30 Years With 1 Million Customers and Growing SMB Demand" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Zoho is marking its 30th anniversary with a milestone meant to signal stability in a fast-changing software market: the company says it has surpassed one million paying customers and 150 million users globally, following what it describes as 32% year-over-year customer growth and 20% revenue growth in 2025. For small business owners juggling rising costs, staffing constraints, and more complex operations, the announcement reinforces a familiar question: does it make more sense to run on a connected suite of tools—or to stitch together specialized apps and hope the integrations hold? Zoho Corporation—whose portfolio includes Zoho, ManageEngine, Qntrl, and TrainerCentral—positioned its growth as evidence that businesses of all sizes continue to look for “powerful, scalable, and affordable solutions,” especially from vendors that can consolidate workflows across departments. The company shared a short milestone page with additional context here: Zoho Corporation one million customers milestone. Zoho’s leadership used the anniversary to underscore its business model and product philosophy. “Being bootstrapped, private, and built entirely in-house makes Zoho an outlier among competitors,” says Sridhar Vembu, Co-founder and Chief Scientist, Zoho Corporation. “But vendors don’t need our help, businesses do, which is why delivering customer value has, for 30 years, been Zoho Corporation’s North Star. Before any innovation, strategy, or guiding principle becomes a product, pivot, or policy, it must first affirm the question, ‘Will this help businesses?’ We are incredibly grateful that companies around the world have responded so positively to our customer-first approach over the past three decades, and will continue to meet the evolving needs of businesses with powerful, scalable, and affordable solutions.” For small businesses, vendor claims about “customer-first” tend to land only if owners see tangible results: smoother sales pipelines, fewer manual steps in invoicing and collections, more reliable IT operations, better visibility into performance, or faster onboarding for new employees. Zoho’s strategy aims at that practicality by offering a broad portfolio under one roof—starting with its main suite at Zoho.com and extending to IT management via ManageEngine, process orchestration via Qntrl, and training delivery via TrainerCentral. What the Milestone Means in Day-to-Day Terms A customer count doesn’t automatically translate to “best fit” for your company, but it can hint at product maturity and ongoing investment. For a busy owner, the more immediate value is whether a platform can: Keep customer and financial data consistent across teams Reduce duplicate data entry Automate routine handoffs (lead → deal → onboarding → billing → support) Make it easier to report on what’s working without pulling spreadsheets from five systems Zoho’s announcement didn’t introduce a specific new feature set. Instead, it used customer stories to argue that businesses use the portfolio to scale and adapt over time—without getting boxed into rigid processes. Zoho spotlighted customers across industries, including manufacturing, security, IT operations, and healthcare, and it framed their experience around partnership, flexibility, and consolidation. “’Partnership’ is a word that gets frequently used in business, but it rarely matches its definition … With Zoho, I can say that they have always genuinely felt like a true partner. Rather than simply delivering software, Zoho engages with us in a collaborative way — helping us think through challenges, adapt to change, and improve how we operate. That level of customer focus and long-term perspective is what has made our relationship endure over eight years.” David Fauser, VP of Sales, Marketing and Strategy – CIMCO Another customer emphasized the ability to adjust systems during organizational change—an issue that can hit SMBs just as hard as enterprises, especially after acquisitions, rapid hiring, or shifts in service models. “As our business has evolved over the past 10 years through further acquisitions, organizational restructures and new operating models, Zoho has continued to scale with us rather than forcing us into rigid frameworks … The broad range of apps available and the extreme flexibility they offer have repeatedly helped us quickly pivot our business needs, make informed decisions, and maintain momentum during times of significant challenge.” Brandon Lennix, Director of Commercial Operations – GardaWorld For small businesses, “flexibility” often comes down to whether the software can handle real-world quirks: unique pricing rules, approvals, territory structures, multiple service lines, or customer onboarding steps that differ by client type. Many SMBs also want the freedom to start simple and add complexity only when needed—without replatforming every two years. Where SMBs Typically See Practical Value Even though Zoho’s milestone announcement stayed high-level, the underlying suite narrative maps to a few common SMB scenarios: 1) Reducing tool sprawl If you currently run a CRM, separate email marketing tool, separate help desk, separate invoicing platform, and separate analytics/reporting app, you likely deal with fragmented customer records. A suite approach can centralize customer data, reduce duplicate work, and make reporting less painful—especially when a small team wears multiple hats. 2) Improving visibility without hiring a full analytics team Owners often don’t need “big data.” They need fast answers: Which offers convert? Which sales rep pipeline looks real? Which service line has margin compression? Which customers create the most support load? Platforms that unify activity across sales, finance, and support can make these answers easier to access—assuming the underlying data remains clean. 3) Supporting growth without ripping and replacing systems Businesses that grow from a handful of users to dozens (or hundreds) often discover that their first tools can’t handle permissions, reporting, automation, or process complexity. Several Zoho customer quotes focused on expanding usage rather than switching vendors midstream. “After seven plus years of using Zoho, we are convinced it is the right CRM for us. A project that started with just a few users has grown to over 1,000, largely because we have built a partnership with Zoho that addresses our demanding growth and business needs.” Rene Selemi, Vice President of Operations – IDT “Like many, our decade-plus journey with Zoho began with just one application, Zoho CRM, and like many, Zoho has grown with us. Once we realized we could run our entire business on Zoho, we moved over to Zoho One. Over time, our entire business has improved, and it has everything to do with Zoho providing a suite of products at a reasonable price, with far better support than competitors.” Roque Rodon, Director of Operations – Erase.com And for companies operating in multi-dealer or multi-region models—where CRM, analytics, integrations, and workflow automation all need to connect—Zoho highlighted the “integrated ecosystem” angle. “We’ve been with Zoho since 2014, and what keeps us here is the breadth of the platform. As a Canadian hot tub manufacturer with over 200 dealers across North American and Europe, we need our CRM, analytics, and operations tools to work together seamlessly. Zoho gives us that integrated ecosystem without forcing us into enterprise-level pricing. As our business has grown and our needs have become more sophisticated—from dealer management to API integrations and workflow automation—Zoho has scaled with us. Thank you to everyone at Zoho for building a platform that allows mid-market companies like ours punch well above their weight – you’ve given us an essential tool in the growth of Arctic Spas.” Phil Edey, General Manager – Arctic Spas Zoho also called out the ManageEngine brand in the context of IT operations growth—relevant for SMBs that increasingly face enterprise-grade security expectations from customers and insurers, even if they don’t have enterprise budgets. “When we started our journey with ManageEngine 15 years ago, our operations were much smaller in scale. As our company expanded, so did ManageEngine … We’ve grown with the product suites, and whatever goals or challenges we have, ManageEngine seems to always have the solution.” Gerry Forde, IT Operations Manager – Lakeland Dairies What to Consider Before Consolidating on One Platform Zoho’s customer stories emphasize breadth, flexibility, and support. Small business owners evaluating a similar “suite-first” move often benefit from stress-testing a few practical areas before committing deeper: Implementation ownership: Even easy-to-use platforms require process decisions. Someone must map workflows, define fields, set permissions, and maintain data hygiene. If nobody owns it, automation can turn into chaos. Integration reality: Many SMBs rely on specialized industry tools (POS systems, vertical scheduling, niche e-commerce workflows). Confirm what integrates out-of-the-box and what requires custom API work. Switching costs: Consolidation can lower monthly costs and reduce friction, but it can also make future migrations harder. Ask about exports, APIs, and how easily you can retrieve data and rebuild workflows if plans change. Support experience at your scale: Quotes praise strong support, but support can vary by product line and region. A pilot project and reference calls with similarly sized businesses can clarify what you’ll experience. Zoho also included a customer quote highlighting a theme many owners are debating right now: using AI to automate work without losing service quality or creating a “black box” business process. “We were interested in Zoho due to the quality of the software, but began using it once we saw that it’s a company that shares our values—growing a business with purpose, not simply just to make money. We liked Zoho’s mission to create jobs, train internally, and maintain a healthy work culture. We have always felt a genuine interest from Zoho in getting to know our company, our needs, and building software that actually works for us, even in a specific industry like healthcare. Over time, we’ve eliminated now-extraneous software systems, and Zoho has become our operational powerhouse. The tech space is changing rapidly, but so far we’ve been impressed by how Zoho has balanced embracing AI and maintaining a human touch, something that is a priority of ours, as well.” Jessica Miller, LMHC, Chief People Officer – Island Psychiatry and Island Practice Management The Real-World Implication for SMBs Zoho’s 30-year milestone announcement is, at its core, an argument for operational simplification: fewer vendors, fewer disconnected systems, and a longer runway for growth without a disruptive technology reset. That approach can appeal to owners who want to spend less time managing software and more time managing customers, employees, and cash flow. At the same time, the best choice depends on how your business runs today. For some companies, a suite reduces friction immediately. For others—especially those with specialized requirements—best-of-breed tools still win, provided the integrations remain reliable and the team can manage the operational overhead. Zoho’s milestones and customer stories suggest it expects more small and midsize businesses to choose consolidation as complexity rises. For owners weighing that move, the most practical next step is simple: identify the workflows that cost you the most time (lead handling, invoicing, collections, support triage, reporting), then evaluate whether a unified ecosystem—Zoho’s or another vendor’s—can reduce steps without creating new bottlenecks. This article, "Zoho Marks 30 Years With 1 Million Customers and Growing SMB Demand" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article