PeopleOne vs. Higher Logic Vanilla

We are using [PeopleONE] to collect and manage our field data for payroll, invoicing, and production management purposes. So far, it works quite well for those uses. Additionally, we are using the app to manage communications from our offices to our field management at upper and middle field management levels. We have successfully used the application to communicate important upcoming events, COVID protocols and reporting processes, and other initiatives. I am unfamiliar with the limitations of this technology or applications for which it would be unsuited.

For companies that want to customize almost anything and make the forum look like your site, Vanilla Forums is the one for you. Customization and automation of the data via the API with other systems is more than possible and they serve to be great as a hosting provider, dealing with all the upgrades, deployments and maintenance and threat management well. I would say they might be less turn key for a small application but the fact they have an open source community, the ability to find help and information can lower the barrier of entry for most.

Incentivized

• The UI, both for desktop and mobile apps, is simple and virtually self-explanatory.
• Compared to apps we have used in the past, PeopleONE is fast, in both data entry and retrieval.
• The team responsible for creating our specific requirements for the app is exceptionally responsive. It is made up of creative problems solvers who have built a product that meets every need we have presented.

• Gamification: The ability to incentivise community members to get involved with ranks and badges is one of the main reasons that we purchased the tool.
• Support: The Vanilla support team are incredible, often responding to issues very late at night and proactively fixing issues as soon as they occur.
• Customisation: Vanilla can be completely styled with css allowing us to match it to the branding of the rest of our website.

Incentivized

• We haven't actually experienced any issues of note to record here. Every concern, requirement, or change we have requested has been swiftly and satisfactorily resolved by the Impiger team.

• There are some features I wish Vanilla would implement that could improve ease of use in our specific community, but some of the ideas we have are not necessarily something that would benefit all of the forums that Vanilla works with.
• In the past, we've had issues with releases breaking some of our specific site features they built for us, but this has improved drastically recently.

Incentivized

[I give it this rating] because it has addressed all of our needs in a succinct manner and it operates efficiently.

It is very intuitive and simple to operate. Our customers immediately came up with the curve and began contributing content.

Incentivized

They did an amazing job transferring our content from GetSatisfaction. We had almost 100% success in the transfer of 8 years worth of content.

Incentivized

From a footprint standpoint, Vanilla has less technical bloat than vbulletin or InVision, and it outdoes Lithium as far as features and service go. The bloat of other services and ability to use new ways of engaging communities such as through Reactions are part of the reason Vanilla was selected. However, the features are better on a couple more seasoned platforms and more equipped to deal with issues and technical problems.

Incentivized

• Improved accuracy of data collected
• Improved efficiency of data collected
• Improved efficiency of payroll and invoicing processes
• Decreased time, in the field and in the office, involved in managing data

• Increased uptime and overall speed in the forum (compared to our previous phpbb solution)
• Increased usage by users which resulted in a higher pages/session in a short amount of time

Incentivized