How our partners are responding to COVID-19

ion8 is proud to work with some of the most trusted tech companies in the world, who have all worked diligently to take action during the COVID-19 pandemic. From offering extra support to users to working to raise awareness about the pandemic and how it might affect businesses, all of our partners have risen to the call to aid in the fight against this invisible enemy, and to help the businesses that use their services weather the storm.

**Google
**Google is working to help people find accurate info and supporting relief efforts

Google’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been nothing short of amazing. The company is helping people around the world stay safe by partnering with the US government to develop a website entirely dedicated to raising awareness about COVID-19 and connecting users to resources. Google is also actively working to protect users from misinformation about the virus, removing misinforming videos, blogs, apps, and other false information from their network of apps and websites.

The tech giant has also enabled thousands of users to work and study from home by offering free access to Google Hangouts Meet, a video conferencing app that allows users to connect and communicate from anywhere. Google has also offered support to relief efforts, government organizations, and nonprofits by committing $50 million to the COVID-19 crisis, matching up to $5 million in contributions to the COVID-19 Solidary Response Fund, and offering large discounts on G Suite for Nonprofits to ensure that nonprofits can continue to operate during these uncertain times.

Recently, Google announced a massive $800 million commitment to helping organizations in the public and private sector who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Of that commitment, $340 million in ad credits will be given to small and medium-sized businesses globally. In order to qualify for the ad credit, small and medium-sized businesses must have spent on an active Google Ads account for ten out of the twelve months of 2019, or the first two months of 2020. Qualifying businesses may have advertised directly with Google Ads or through a partner, and must adhere to Google’s advertising policies. The ad credit will cover future Google Ads spend, and cannot be applied to a billed past or current spend.

**Zoho
**Zoho launches the Emergency Subscription Assistance Program to help small businesses

In response to the global pandemic, Zoho has launched the Small Business Emergency Subscription Assistance Program (ESAP), offering three months of free access to currently used Zoho apps. Eligible businesses must have had an active Zoho subscription for at least one year, hosting up to 25 employees across their organization. Priority is being given to small businesses that can demonstrate that their operations have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the business has been approved, wallet credit will be issued to the company’s Zoho admin, which can be used for new Zoho product purchases, to cover existing subscription costs, and to add additional user licenses before the expiry period.

Zoho has also published a Coronavirus data and visualization hub to help users better understand the scope of the COVID-19 outbreak, providing up-to-date information about cases all around the world.

**Shopify
**Shopify’s 3 key strategies help make remote management successful for UX designers

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Shopify has developed three key strategies to promote effective remote management for UX designers. The key strategies lay out a roadmap for how UX designers can work to maintain total project transparency, establish more effective communication processes, and provide remote-friendly tools so that remote teams don’t miss a beat, even during a global pandemic.

**Innoweave
**Innoweave offering a new coaching steam to help organizational leaders during the crisis

Innoweave was quick to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, offering a brand new coaching stream titled Leading Through Crisis to help organizational leaders during the crisis. The new stream connects organizational leaders with executives with previous experience in disasters and other relevant fields in order to help business leaders survive and thrive in this rapidly evolving situation. Slides from the Leading Through Crisis Introductory Webinar can be found on Innoweave’s website.

**Authorize.Net
**Authorize.Net offering flexible payment options to merchants

COVID-19 has forced businesses to adapt to new ways of doing business in order to continue serving customers during these challenging times. Authorize.Net has made it easier for merchants to adapt by offering flexible payment options so that businesses can get paid faster, whether they have an eCommerce website. Merchants can now create and send digital invoices, use a virtual terminal to enter phone orders without the need of a card reader or other hardware, and access a secure Mobile Point of Sale that makes it easy to accept payments while continuing to maintain distance from customers.