Think fast

Jira Service Management vs Zendesk

Jira and Zendesk are two of the biggest players in the world of support and service management software. Each offers a modern, primarily cloud-based platform for handling a range of service request workflows. Despite having a lot of common functionality, they also occupy very different corners of the market. Today, we’re diving deep into what makes each platform tick, their relative strengths and weaknesses, and which use cases they’re best suited to.

Ronan McQuillan

Mar 25, 2025

Illuminating the Shadows: How to Manage and Mitigate Shadow IT

Shadow IT isn’t a new phenomenon. It’s been in organizations for years, surfacing whenever employees can’t find (or don’t trust) official channels to get the tools they need. And as digital transformation accelerates, those unofficial pathways multiply. According to Qualys’ State of Cloud and SaaS Security Report , 28% of organizations experienced a cloud or SaaS-related breach in the last year, with over a third of those hit multiple times within 12 months.

Jamie Birss

Mar 24, 2025

11 Microsoft Access Alternatives for 2025

Microsoft Access is one of the most popular database solutions for businesses of all kinds. Historically, it offered quite a unique take on the data management space, combining a database engine, GUIs, and tools for developing end-user solutions. However, many businesses are seeking out more modern alternatives, with the rise of new technologies including NoSQL tools, big data, AI, low-code development, and more. Despite this, countless businesses still use Access. Indeed - and to its credit - it’s been at the center of all kinds of solutions for decades.

Ronan McQuillan

Mar 20, 2025

5 FreshService Alternatives & Competitors for 2025

FreshService is one of the biggest names in the world of enterprise ITSM software. It’s well-regarded for offering a comprehensive, modern, cloud-based solution for handling service management processes. But this is a crowded space. In fact, there are a number of vendors targeting specific corners of the market for service management platforms. Which of these is right for you can depend on a range of factors, including your budget, user volumes, technical requirements, and the complexity of your service portfolio.

Ronan McQuillan

Mar 20, 2025

Top 8 Free Asset Management Software Tools for 2025

Asset management is one of the most common, mission-critical ITSM workflows. Efficiently handling requests for devices helps us to minimize internal admin costs. This ensures that our IT resources are deployed as effectively as possible. At the same time, we can improve experiences for service users with a centralized, accessible tool to submit and manage requests. Today, we’re checking out a range of open-source and free asset management software. We’ll be picking out tools from different corners of the market, from COTS applications, to highly customizable solutions.

Ronan McQuillan

Mar 15, 2025

How to Build a Policy Management System in 5 Steps

Handling compliance tasks requires us to have a clear record of which policies are in place and how they change over time. For this, we need a robust system that enables colleagues to interact with our policy data in a structured way. The trouble is the specific internal workflows involved in this are rarely the same from one organization to the next. Today, we’re exploring one way of addressing this problem, by building a custom policy management system in Budibase.

Ronan McQuillan

Mar 14, 2025

ServiceNow vs BMC Helix: In-Depth Guide

In the world of ITSM, ServiceNow and BMC Helix (formerly Remedy) are undoubtedly two of the most dominant players. With comprehensive service management workflows, automation tools, and AI capabilities, they’re two highly advanced, enterprise-grade ITSM platforms. However, they’re also optimized for slightly different segments of the market. As such, it’s crucial to have a thorough understanding of each platform’s relative strengths and weaknesses in order to make an informed decision about which is right for your specific needs.

Ronan McQuillan

Mar 12, 2025

6 ManageEngine Alternatives & Competitors for 2025

Part of the Zoho suite, ManageEngine is a widely used platform for handling a range of ITSM, ITOps, and related processes. This centers around a feature-rich, modern service management tool called ServiceDesk Plus. However, this is a crowded space, with several prominent vendors cornering different corners of the market. Today, we’re taking a deep dive into the top ManageEngine alternatives and competitors. Along the way, we’ll see some of the most important decision points across the marketing, including functionality, pricing, and non-functional requirements.

Ronan McQuillan

Mar 10, 2025