Software Advice
{{Infobox company
| name = Software Advice
| logo = SoftwareAdviceLogo.png
| type = Public company
| traded_as = {{NYSE|IT}}
| foundation = 2005
| founder = Don Fornes
Austin Merritt
| location = Austin, Texas
United States
| key_people = Blake Clark (General Manager){{Cite web|url=https://www.softwareadvice.com/news/new-general-manager/|title = Software Advice Selects New General Manager}}
| homepage = [https://www.softwareadvice.com/ www.softwareadvice.com]
}}
Software Advice is a company that provides advisory services, research, and user reviews on software applications for businesses in over 300 market categories including medical, CRM, HR, construction, business intelligence and marketing automation.{{cite news |work=TechInsider |title=Gartner, Inc. Small Acquisition Provides New Solution for Small Businesses |first=Ross |last=Shultz |date=March 18, 2014 |url=http://www.techinsider.net/gartner-inc-small-acquisition-provides-new-solution-for-small-businesses/112375.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321045020/http://www.techinsider.net/gartner-inc-small-acquisition-provides-new-solution-for-small-businesses/112375.html |archive-date=March 21, 2015 }}{{cite news |work=ClickZ |title=Software Fatigue and How to Fight It |first=Andrew |last=Edwards |date=February 14, 2014 |url=http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2330327/software-fatigue-and-how-to-fight-it |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402190028/http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2330327/software-fatigue-and-how-to-fight-it |archive-date=April 2, 2015 }}
Co-founded in 2005 by CEO Don Fornes and Austin Merritt, it has been a subsidiary of Gartner since 2014.{{cite web |url= https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=260202278 |title= Software Advice, Inc. |type= Company Profile |publisher= Bloomberg Business |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171208070808/https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=260202278 |archive-date= 2017-12-08 }}{{cite press release |last=Rivera |first=Janessa |date=March 11, 2014 |title=Gartner Acquires Software Advice |url=http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2680018 |location=Stamford, Connecticut |publisher=Gartner |access-date=March 10, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310071341/http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2680018 |archive-date=March 10, 2015 }}
History
Software Advice, Inc., formerly known as River Guide, Inc., was co-founded in 2005 in San Francisco, California by CEO Don Fornes and Austin Merritt, the company's former general manager and COO.{{Cite web|url=https://www.builtinaustin.com/2017/09/05/software-advice|title=Their first office was a bedroom—wait until you hear about their first hire|website=Built In Austin|language=en|access-date=2019-09-17}} The company provides advice on different software for buyers in several verticals: construction, medical, retail, property, manufacturing, distribution, electronic health record, CRM, applicant tracking systems, and more.{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-learner-buyer-why-software-advice-is-taking-off/|title=The Learner Buyer – Why Software Advice is taking off|last=Sommer|first=Brian|website=ZDNet|language=en|access-date=2019-09-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/report-40-of-ehr-buyers-replacing-current-system.html/|title=Report: 40% of EHR Buyers Replacing Current System|website=www.beckershospitalreview.com|access-date=2019-09-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://facilityexecutive.com/2014/06/cmms-trends-attitudes/|title=Spreadsheets Instead Of CMMS?|last=Schwartz|first=Heidi|date=2014-06-24|website=Facility Executive - Creating Intelligent Buildings|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-17}} In 2009, the company's headquarters moved to its current location in Austin, Texas.{{cite web|url=http://www.texaspolicy.com/blog/detail/software-advice-igniting-success-in-the-lone-star-state|title=Software Advice: Igniting Success in the Lone Star State|work=Texas Public Policy Foundation|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114021/http://www.texaspolicy.com/blog/detail/software-advice-igniting-success-in-the-lone-star-state|archive-date=2016-03-04}} In March 2014, Software Advice was acquired by Gartner, Inc., a global information technology research and advisory company.
The company announced Blake Clark as its new general manager in November 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.builtinaustin.com/2018/11/26/november-austin-tech-leadership-news|title=These 7 Austin tech companies welcomed new leaders in November|website=Built In Austin|language=en|access-date=2019-09-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/potmsearch/detail/submission/6460342/Blake_Clark|title=Blake Clark|website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=2019-09-17}}
Product
The company advises buyers on software products via free telephone consultations with software analysts.{{cite news |work=Hubspot |title=The 'Yelpification' of the Software Buying Process: A CMO's Guide |first=Dan |last=Lyons |date=April 7, 2014 |url=http://www.hubspot.com/cmos-guide-yelpification-software-buying-process#chapter4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724020705/http://www.hubspot.com/cmos-guide-yelpification-software-buying-process#chapter4 |archive-date=July 24, 2016 }} The Software Advice website gives pricing and demo information on individual systems, as well as market reports based on buyer interactions, and detailed reviews and comparisons.{{cite news |work=ThomasNet |title=Successful Software Selection: Do Your Due Diligence |first=Al |last=Bredenberg |date=June 11, 2014 |url=http://news.thomasnet.com/tech-trends/2014/06/11/successful-software-selection-do-your-due-diligence |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213821/http://news.thomasnet.com/tech-trends/2014/06/11/successful-software-selection-do-your-due-diligence |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.businessinterviews.com/software-advice-don-fornes|title=Don Fornes, Founder & CEO - Software Advice|date=2013-06-26|website=Business Interviews|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-25}} The company's reports have been used as a source of expertise in Forbes,{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2017/03/10/five-strategies-old-and-new-to-improve-communications-in-the-senior-care-industry/#57c43cd21010|title=Five Strategies (Old And New) To Improve Communications In The Senior Care Industry|last=Council|first=Forbes Agency|website=forbes.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215221902/https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2017/03/10/five-strategies-old-and-new-to-improve-communications-in-the-senior-care-industry/#57c43cd21010|archive-date=15 December 2017|access-date=23 February 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/centurylink/2017/01/26/4-tips-for-securely-accepting-payments/#488155325899|title=CenturyLinkVoice: 4 Tips For Securely Accepting Payments|last=LaPlante|first=Alice|website=forbes.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215221636/https://www.forbes.com/sites/centurylink/2017/01/26/4-tips-for-securely-accepting-payments/#488155325899|archive-date=15 December 2017|access-date=23 February 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/centurylink/2016/12/12/get-your-daily-fiber-network/#76290311a90f|title=CenturyLinkVoice: Get Your Daily Fiber...Network|last=LaPlante|first=Alice|website=forbes.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215221822/https://www.forbes.com/sites/centurylink/2016/12/12/get-your-daily-fiber-network/#76290311a90f|archive-date=15 December 2017|access-date=23 February 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kaviguppta/2016/06/30/5-roles-that-will-power-21st-century-human-resources-departments/#36285c7b6c2e|title=5 Roles That Will Power 21st Century Human Resources Departments|last=Guppta|first=Kavi|website=forbes.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208175253/https://www.forbes.com/sites/kaviguppta/2016/06/30/5-roles-that-will-power-21st-century-human-resources-departments/#36285c7b6c2e|archive-date=8 December 2017|access-date=23 February 2018}} Entrepreneur,{{cite web|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/302080#|title=4 Ways You're Misusing Your CRM Data|last=Herrick|first=Jonathan|date=10 October 2017|website=entrepreneur.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202155514/https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/302080|archive-date=2 February 2018|access-date=23 February 2018}} Huffington Post,{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/supporting-home-health-aides-in-their-vital-work-assisting_us_58cc4047e4b0537abd95708d|title=Supporting Home Health Aides in Their Vital Work Assisting America's Seniors|last=Flannery|first=Marki|date=17 March 2017|website=huffingtonpost.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721095133/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/supporting-home-health-aides-in-their-vital-work-assisting_us_58cc4047e4b0537abd95708d|archive-date=21 July 2017|access-date=23 February 2018}} Business Insider,{{cite web|url=http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/AdvancedMD-Named-Leader-in-Gartner-s-FrontRunners-for-Electronic-Medical-Records-Quadrant-1001829589|title=AdvancedMD Named Leader in Gartner's FrontRunners for Electronic Medical Records Quadrant - Markets Insider|last=GmbH|first=finanzen.net|website=businessinsider.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208070713/http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/AdvancedMD-Named-Leader-in-Gartner-s-FrontRunners-for-Electronic-Medical-Records-Quadrant-1001829589|archive-date=8 December 2017|access-date=23 February 2018}} Yelp,{{cite web|url=https://www.yelpblog.com/2017/07/yelp-1-users-looking-home-services|title=Survey: Yelp is #1 Choice for Finding Doctors, Lawyers & Home Service Providers - Yelp|date=25 June 2015|website=yelpblog.com|accessdate=23 February 2018}} Inc.,{{cite web|url=https://www.inc.com/brandedcontent/insight-job-crm-lets-you-use-data-you-already-have-to-win-more-business.html|title=Insight Job: CRM Lets You Use Data You Already Have To Win More Business|website=inc.com|date=3 July 2017|accessdate=23 February 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.inc.com/sunil-rajaraman/4-companies-that-are-dominating-b2b-customer-acquisition.html|title=4 Companies That Can Help You Find Better Customers|website=inc.com|date=26 July 2016|accessdate=23 February 2018}} and the Wall Street Journal{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-doctors-are-doing-about-bad-reviews-online-1498442580|title=What Doctors Are Doing About Bad Reviews Online|last=Wang|first=Shirley S.|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=26 June 2017|via=www.wsj.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219193353/https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-doctors-are-doing-about-bad-reviews-online-1498442580|archive-date=19 February 2018|access-date=23 February 2018}} among others.
Software Advice releases biannual reports to highlight top software products in different categories.{{Cite web|url=https://www.advsol.com/asi/IMIS20/product/software_advice_imis_leader_in_nonprofit_donor_management_software.aspx|title=Best Donor Management Software for Non-Profits - ASI|website=www.advsol.com|access-date=2019-09-30}} Its FrontRunners for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), April 2019 report analyzed the software that companies use to track information such as inventory management, accounting, and customer relationship management.{{Cite web|url=https://solutionsreview.com/enterprise-resource-planning/software-advice-names-frontrunners-for-enterprise-resource-planning-april-2019/|title=Software Advice Names FrontRunners for Enterprise Resource Planning, April 2019|last=Quirk|first=Elizabeth|date=2019-07-09|website=Best ERP Software, Vendors, News and Reviews|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-30}} In the report, Software Advice used analyzed data to plot the market’s top ERP products graphically, based on Usability and User Recommended. The other FrontRunners reports also base scores on Usability and User Recommended.{{Cite web|url=https://www.buildium.com/blog/gartner-2018-frontrunners-quadrant/|title=Gartner's Software Advice names Buildium to 2018 FrontRunners Quadrant|date=2018-12-07|website=Buildium|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-30}}