miro new business plan

Miro Review

The all-in-one collaboration platform.

TechRadar Verdict

Miro just about ticks every box from the birth of an idea right through to presenting it, and collaboration with colleagues along the way helps to iron out the process for hybrid workers.

Combines numerous products

Reasonable pricing

Option for third-party integrations

Support could be better

Requires Internet connection

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Miro is one of those online tools that aims to bridge the gap between traditional office working and the modern hybrid routine that many of us are familiar with. Its success is measured in its popularity among Fortune 100 companies (99%) and 45 million global users.

Miro: Plans and pricing

Miro is available at a number of different price points to suit organizations of different sizes, but it all starts with a free plan that includes some of the software’s most fundamental features. Users get access to one workspace with three editable boards (think of these like individual projects that you’re working on), with over 1,000 templates. There are also more than 100 third-party integrations with other software that you might be using as an organization, including Zoom and Slack . It’s best thought of as a trial to see whether you can benefit from the full paid packages.

If you choose to upgrade to Starter, you’ll get unlimited boards within your single workspace with plenty of other useful features like version history, collaboration tools including video chats and polling, and more control over who can see and share your work.

Business opens up unlimited workspaces on top of that (with unlimited boards inside each workspace), even more integrations, and support for single sign-on (SSO). Normally, this is reserved for customized enterprise plans, so it’s refreshing to see that businesses looking to apply this type of login method can save a bit of cash.

Starter and Business cost $10 and $20 per user per month respectively, but if you’re willing to commit long-term and pay for a year upfront then you can save 20%.

On the subject of larger organizations, there is an Enterprise version with added admin controls, security, and 24/7 support. As ever, pricing for this is based on a custom quote. Staff and students of educational establishments can also get access to unlimited boards which the company says are “free forever”, which will certainly be welcome news to those in need of collaboration tools.

If you’re looking for a basic tool that covers one of the areas covered by Miro, like presentation or mind mapping, then you may find Miro slightly expensive. However, if you’re able to use all of its features including its online collaboration tools then you’ll likely unlock significant savings versus subscribing to multiple platforms. 

Miro: Features

Miro is best described as a multipurpose online collaboration tool, and its list of features is pretty extensive stretching beyond the typical realms of similar software by offering up things like video conferencing .

The majority of the work you’ll end up doing in Miro will revolve around what it calls boards, which start off as entirely blank spaces. Setting one up from scratch can be daunting and time-consuming, which is why the company has designed templates that you can pick from the get-go.

Some of its most commonly accessed templates include mind maps, Kanban boards, flowcharts, product roadmaps, and timelines. Many of these will serve well as project management tools, and anybody familiar with other project management software like Airtable or Trello will already be familiar with how they work.

Given the nature of project management, collaboration is a key driver in how Miro sets up its services, and you can invite team members and colleagues to watch and edit live with you. Even if the software itself is new to you, the collaboration part of it shouldn’t be because it works in the same way that other service, like Google Workspace, do, by highlighting active members and their locations on the boards.

In an effort to cater to the entire process, Miro extended its project management tools to cater for presentations, too. It can take a lot of time and effort to carefully curate the content of a board, so rather than have to create a new presentation, users can take that extra second or two when designing the board to place content in the right areas (known as frames). When a user chooses to enter the presentation view, they will be guided through each frame as if it were a slide in a presentation. Of course, with access to unlimited boards, certain members can create setups that are specifically designed to be presentations from the get-go, eliminating the need to invest in other software like Prezi.

When the going gets tough, certain paying users will be able to tap into the video conferencing-like capabilities that Miro has to offer, including screen sharing which can be handy for inter-team collaboration where one worker may know more about a specific area than another. If your company already invests in a third-party video conferencing platform, like Zoom, it can choose to connect this instead. 

Miro: Interface and in use

Miro is really designed to be used anywhere, and while many will opt to use the browser version, there are Windows and Mac desktop clients, and iOS and Android apps. In fact, support is pretty impressive with optimized apps for Intel and Apple silicon Macs, 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows, and even interactive displays.

Upon creating an account, and optionally paying for a higher tier of membership, you’ll be greeted with a few startup tips and an option to add colleagues straight away. From here, you can then pick from one of the many templates, each of which illustrated with clear depictions of how the template would look.

Once you’ve reached the point that you’ve got a number of boards, you’ll be able to filter them by owner and sort through them alphabetically or by date. It’s important to note that, despite Miro’s extensive catalog of third-party integrations, storage is handled in-house. It doesn’t quite live up to what dedicated cloud storage drives are capable of and we felt it was lacking in the ability to organize with folders.

Where Miro loses out against more traditional rivals like PowerPoint is that it requires an active Internet connection. While this is unlikely to present a challenge to many working environments, anybody looking to use the software when traveling may be disappointed. 

Once you’re inside a board, there are three key areas around the periphery of significance. In the upper left-hand corner are some settings for the board, including options for saving and exporting. 

The left-hand side houses all the editing tools that you would usually find along the top in more traditional offerings, including text boxes, shapes, frames, and so on. This is where you’ll spend most of your time when designing a board.

The top-right is home to some of the online collaboration tools, like voting, chat, and video calling.

Miro: Support

Every customer (or prospective customer) has access to the site’s Help Center which is designed to aid with some common troubleshooting, and it’s clear that it’s been designed with ease of use in mind.

However, there will be times where a more personalized or customized response will be required. Free plans get no such thing, but paying users can use the email support channel. Enterprise customers can also opt for an onboarding session and 24/7 support for critical issues.

Overall, support for the Miro platform is pretty average, and other companies have it beaten with telephone and live chat channels. While efficient email communication can eliminate the need for live chat, sometimes it’s nice to be able to speak to a person on the phone in real time as they walk you through your problem.

Miro: Security

When a company fails to disclose information on its security practices, it raises red flags. Fortunately, Miro has several pages dedicated to explaining how it handles its customers’ data, instilling confidence in users who need to remain compliant with strict regulations. 

Data is stored under encrypted conditions, for example, and remains compliant with GDPR and CCPA standards. The same applies to free and paid versions of the software, however Enterprise versions get access to more advanced features that can relate to industry-specific rules.

The company also discusses its choice of cloud hosting partner, AWS, which it uses in the US and EU. It stresses that no data is stored in Russia, Belarus, or Ukraine, and that it has wound down operations in Russia.

The competition

Miro has plenty of competition, however none of it quite covers as much ground as Miro does. If you’re looking for project management software, something like Airtable would cost about the same but lacks any form of presentation or video conferencing abilities.

If you need interactive and quirky presentations, you may be able to get Prezi slightly cheaper but you won’t get access to any of the project collaboration tools that you get with Miro.

Then, there’s the real-time collaboration with video calling and screen sharing directly from within the app, which is a great idea that is rarely implemented. Pitch does a really neat job of integrating live video call feed straight into the interface for an affordable price, but its attention is purely focused on building presentations. 

Final verdict

Overall, we think Miro is hard to beat. Its long list of features should cover all parts of a typical business process from research and design to presentation, and its collaboration abilities are second to none. Furthermore, its transparency around security and reasonable pricing make it hard for us not to recommend it. The only thing we could wish for is better support channels.

With several years’ experience freelancing in tech and automotive circles, Craig’s specific interests lie in technology that is designed to better our lives, including AI and ML, productivity aids, and smart fitness. He is also passionate about cars and the decarbonisation of personal transportation. As an avid bargain-hunter, you can be sure that any deal Craig finds is top value!

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Small Business Trends

Business owners: use this one app to develop your business strategy for the new year.

Strategic planning is essential for business owners, especially as the new year approaches. Crafting a cohesive business strategy can be challenging, but digital tools are changing the game. Meet Miro, a dynamic app designed to streamline this process. With Miro, you can map out your business strategy with ease, making it perfect for gearing up for the new year.

This tool brings together all the elements needed to create a comprehensive plan, setting your business up for success. When it comes to pivoting business strategy , Miro proves to be a valuable tool. Its flexibility and wide range of templates allow businesses to swiftly adjust their strategies in response to changing market conditions. The ability to collaborate in real-time and visually map out pivot strategies makes Miro an excellent platform for businesses looking to stay agile and responsive.

Our Methodology for Reviewing Miro

We’ve taken a close look at Miro to show you how it can be a powerful tool for business owners planning for the new year. Our review focuses on how practical, efficient, and collaborative Miro is. We want to help you see how this tool can make your strategic planning smoother and more effective.

Understanding Strategic Planning Needs (Rating: 9/10)

When it comes to gearing up for the new year, business owners often grapple with how to shape and visualize their strategies. It’s more than just setting goals; it’s about crafting a clear, actionable roadmap. Recognizing these strategic planning needs is vital. This is where Miro shines. It provides the tools that make this often complex task simpler and more approachable, helping business owners effectively plan and set the stage for a successful year.

Comprehensive Feature Analysis of Miro (Rating: 8/10)

Miro offers some great tools for shaping business strategies. Its collaborative whiteboards are a game-changer, making it easy for teams to brainstorm and share ideas in real time. Imagine a digital canvas where everyone’s thoughts can come alive and evolve together. Plus, Miro’s brainstorming tools and project planning templates help streamline strategy development. These features not only make planning more organized but also encourage teamwork, turning complex strategy sessions into productive, engaging experiences.

Collaborative Capabilities (Rating: 8/10)

Miro excels in bringing team members together. Its real-time collaboration feature is a standout, allowing team members to work together on the same page, no matter where they are. Communication is smooth and effortless, thanks to tools that let you chat and share feedback directly within the app. Miro’s ability to integrate with other business apps means it fits seamlessly into your existing workflow. This interconnectedness ensures that collaboration is not just possible, but also efficient and effective.

User Experience and Accessibility (Rating: 7/10)

Miro’s user interface is designed with accessibility in mind, aiming to be user-friendly for all, regardless of tech expertise. Its intuitive design makes it relatively easy for business owners and their teams to get on board and start using the tool effectively. However, there’s a learning curve, especially for those less familiar with digital tools. The ease of adoption varies, but once accustomed, users find the app quite efficient. This balance of accessibility and functionality earns Miro a solid rating in user experience.

Application in Business Strategy Development (Rating: 9/10)

Miro proves to be a valuable ally in business strategy development. Its suite of tools effectively supports key stages like market analysis, goal setting, action planning, and progress tracking. Business owners can use Miro to dissect market trends, brainstorm goals, and lay out step-by-step action plans. The real gem is its ability to visually track progress, keeping everyone aligned and focused. This visual approach not only clarifies complex concepts but also ensures that strategy implementation stays on track, making Miro an indispensable tool in the strategic planning arsenal.

Real-World Applications and Case Studies (Rating: 8/10)

Businesses have effectively leveraged Miro for strategic planning in various contexts. At ASOS, it was instrumental in uniting teams for planning and enhancing initiative impacts. DocuSign found Miro invaluable for managing tasks across product designers, simplifying the design process. Likewise, Z Energy used Miro to align cross-functional teams, improving productivity and supporting Agile methodologies. These cases showcase Miro’s versatility and effectiveness in different business scenarios, underlining its utility in strategic planning.

Cost-Benefit Analysis (Rating: 7/10)

Miro’s pricing ranges from a free plan, ideal for basic strategic planning with limited boards, to paid plans for more extensive needs. The Starter plan at $8 per member/month (annually) offers unlimited boards, catering to growing planning demands. The Business plan, at $16 per member/month (annually), provides advanced features and security, crucial for larger-scale collaboration. While Miro delivers valuable strategic planning tools, its cost, particularly for advanced plans, is a key consideration for small to medium-sized businesses assessing the investment’s worth.

Comparative Analysis With Other Strategy Tools (Rating: 7/10)

Miro stands out in a field crowded with tools like ClickUp, AchieveIt, Lucidspark, and Hive. While ClickUp and Hive integrate strategic planning with comprehensive project management, and AchieveIt automates the planning process, Miro’s strength lies in its superior collaborative and visual capabilities. Lucidspark excels in brainstorming, but Miro’s broader range of templates and intuitive design make it more versatile. For businesses prioritizing team collaboration and visual strategy formulation, Miro offers a more engaging and user-friendly experience, setting it apart from its competitors.

What is Miro?

Miro is a dynamic online whiteboard platform, revolutionizing the way businesses plan and collaborate. It’s designed for teams to brainstorm, plan, and develop strategies in real time, no matter where they are. Miro’s core functionalities include an interactive whiteboard, brainstorming tools, and project planning templates. Its journey began as a simple tool for visual collaboration and has since evolved into a comprehensive solution for business strategy development. With Miro, teams can visualize their goals, map out action plans, and track progress, making it an essential tool for businesses looking to innovate and grow.

How to Use Miro for Strategic Planning

Dive into using Miro for strategic planning with ease. This guide will walk you through setting up your workspace, leveraging strategic planning templates, collaborating effectively with your team, and finalizing your strategy for successful implementation.

Adapting to Small Business Strategy Shifts

For small business strategy shifts , Miro’s adaptability is particularly effective. Its user-friendly interface and diverse functionalities cater well to the dynamic needs of small businesses. Miro facilitates quick strategy adjustments, helping small businesses stay competitive and resilient in rapidly changing environments.

Incorporating Business Strategy Games

Integrating business strategy games into Miro’s platform can offer an innovative approach to strategic planning and team building. While Miro primarily focuses on collaboration and planning tools, incorporating elements of strategy games could enhance team engagement and creative thinking. This could be particularly beneficial for brainstorming sessions, where gamification elements add a fun and interactive dimension to serious business strategy discussions.

Managing the Stress of the Holidays

During the stress of the holidays , Miro can be a helpful tool for businesses to plan and organize holiday-related strategies. While not specifically designed for stress management, its efficiency in planning can indirectly alleviate the pressure associated with the hectic holiday season, especially in a business context.

Setting Up Your Miro Workspace

To create your Miro account, go to miro.com/signup and enter your work email, then click “Continue.” You can optionally choose to sign up for Miro using your Google, Microsoft, or Slack account.

Enter your name on the next screen, and your desired password on the screen after that, then click “Continue.” You’ll then be sent a confirmation code via email to verify your account.

Answer seven questions about your team to customize your Miro account as shown below.

Next, you can share your link with your team or enter their email addresses to invite them to Miro. You can optionally skip this step for now, and invite them later. For this guide, I’ll be selecting “Skip for now.”

On the next page, you can choose to start with one of Miro’s templates, or you can choose to start from scratch.

Utilizing Strategic Planning Templates

Miro offers various strategic planning templates, such as SWOT analysis, business model canvases, and roadmap templates. These templates, which you can access from the main dashboard, help users outline and develop different components of a business strategy. For example, the OGSM template breaks down strategies into Objectives, Goals, Strategies, and Measures, while the Scenario Planning template simplifies envisioning future scenarios. The Strategy Diamond template ensures all business needs are addressed, and the Business Plan template streamlines the creation of a comprehensive plan. Lastly, the 7S template helps organizations understand their internal dynamics. To use these templates effectively, choose the one that fits your needs, add it to your workspace, and customize it as needed. This approach allows you to adapt the template to your specific business strategy, making it a powerful tool for strategic planning.

Collaborating with Your Team

Miro is a powerful collaboration tool that facilitates teamwork through features like real-time board editing, commenting, and integration with other collaboration tools. Real-time board editing allows multiple team members to work on the same board simultaneously, with changes made by one member instantly visible to others. Commenting enables team members to leave feedback and discuss ideas directly on the board. Integration with other collaboration tools, such as JIRA, Slack, Confluence, and Trello, helps centralize project management and communication. These features enhance teamwork by enabling seamless brainstorming, visualization of complex strategies, and effective collaboration in developing a comprehensive business strategy.

Finalizing and Implementing Your Strategy

Miro enables teams to visualize strategic plans using customizable templates and infinite canvases. Break down goals into actionable tasks, prioritize them, and assign owners. Map out timelines with Miro’s Gantt charts. Check progress regularly using built-in tracking features. Update tasks as completed and note obstacles. Review board history to see progress over time. With its collaboration features and project management tools, Miro facilitates turning strategic plans into reality while allowing teams to track progress.

Final Thoughts

In wrapping up, Miro stands out as a crucial tool for business owners prepping for the new year. Its collaborative features, versatility, and user-friendly design make strategic planning smoother and more effective. Whether you’re brainstorming, setting goals, or tracking progress, Miro adapts to your needs, bringing a new level of clarity and efficiency to the planning process. Give Miro a try and experience how it can transform your strategic planning, setting your business up for a successful year ahead.

Image: Miro

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Miro Pricing Plans & Costs Guide

by Daniel Raymond · April 18, 2023

Miro is a collaborative whiteboarding platform that enables teams to visualize, design, and co-create ideas in real-time. It offers a range of features including sticky notes, diagrams, flowcharts, wireframes, project management tools, and other visual aids. Teams can work remotely, making use of the platform’s online tools to brainstorm, conceive ideas, and create solutions for their projects. It allows teams to work simultaneously together on whiteboards with colleagues and partners without any lag or interruption.

Table of Contents

How Much Does Miro Cost?

Miro pricing is available in a range of plans to suit different team sizes and budgets. The features range from essential workspaces and boards to the most sophisticated integrations, security, and collaboration functions. The Miro pricing plans are:

• Miro Free – for individuals or small teams who need basic whiteboard solutions to achieve teamwork and productivity
• Miro Starter ($8 per user, per month) – best for small teams that require more functionality to collaborate easily
• Miro Business ($16 per user, per month) – suitable for medium-sized teams that require additional collaboration and customization features
• Miro Enterprise (Contact Miro) – perfect for very large businesses that require a more comprehensive solution with enterprise-level features and support

If you need a business tool that can handle team collaboration as well as project management, timesheets, expenses, and documents, you may want to consider AceProject . It is a practical solution that does not charge on a per-user basis for its services.

Miro Free Plan

The Miro Free plan is perfect for individuals or small teams who need a quick and convenient digital whiteboard solution. With this plan, you can create up to three boards, collaborate with unlimited team members, and use basic templates and integrations.

INCLUDED IN FREE :

• Workspace and Boards – Includes a single workspace with 3 editable boards.
• Templates – Begin quickly by utilizing our collection of over 1,000 Miro and user-generated templates.
• Integration – Connect with more than 100 apps and integrations like Zoom, Slack, Google Drive, and Sketch to connect with your current work methods.
• Attention Management – Bring people to a particular board area or keep track of their actions.

Miro Starter Plan ($8 per user per month)

The Miro Starter plan is suitable for startups and small businesses that require essential collaboration features. It includes unlimited and private boards, custom templates, and board version history. Moreover, it integrates with a core group of apps, plus Jira and Confluence. It costs $8 per user per month when billed annually or $10 per user per month when billed monthly.

EVERYTHING IN FREE, PLUS :

• Workspace and Boards – Provides a single workspace with unlimited boards.
• Collaboration – Allows adding collaborators with a single click, and accessing public boards by an unlimited number of visitors without requiring sign-in.
• Project Folders – Includes project folders to quickly locate and share boards.
• Board Version History – Allows retrieval of lost content and previous versions of your boards.
• Built-in Features – Includes a built-in timer, voting, video chat, and estimation app to make for great meetings.
• Custom Templates – Encourage best practices within the team with custom templates.
• Private Boards – Manage access to your content with private boards.
• High-quality Resolution Board Exports – Enable you to showcase your work outside your circle.

Miro Business Plan ($16 per user per month)

The Miro Business plan is perfect for medium-sized teams needing a whiteboard solution with advanced security and collaboration features. This includes a single sign-on (SSO) access, external editors for board export, and interactive workshop activities to enhance teamwork. The price is $16 per user per month when billed annually or $20 per user per month when billed monthly.

EVERYTHING IN STARTER, PLUS :

• Workspace and Boards – Includes unlimited private and secure workspaces with unlimited boards for every team and client.
• Collaboration – Guests who sign-in can collaborate securely on private and team boards outside of their team.
• Diagrams– Provides seamless visualization of processes and systems using over 2000 advanced diagramming shapes from well-known providers such as BPMN, UML, AWS, Google, Azure, and Cisco.
• Miro Activities – Enhance meetings and workshops with tools for content management, agenda setting, and facilitated activities like breakouts and voting.
• Security – Access via SSO through OKTA, AWS, Google, and OneLogin Auth0.

Miro Enterprise Plan (Contact Miro)

The Miro Enterprise plan is a scalable solution that is custom-built to fit the specific requirements of large enterprises. This plan starts with at least 50 users, custom branding, 24/7 customer support, and enhanced security and compliance. It is a perfect option for companies that require high-level management with very specific needs. The Miro Enterprise plan has a custom price that you can obtain by getting in touch with Miro.

EVERYTHING IN BUSINESS, PLUS :

• Flexible Licensing Program – Includes a licensing program to safely scale the product throughout an organization.
• Admin Control – Provides 2FA and company-wide measures for external collaboration and public link sharing.
• Enhanced Security – Ensures enterprise-grade security and compliance with domain control and data classification.
• Request Management Settings and Integrations – Manage the resources of the users.
• Integrations – Includes controls for third-party integrations and apps on Miro.
• SIEM Integrations and Audit Logs – Enhance visibility by tracking changes made to the system.
• Admin Insights – Provides centralized account management and adoption and usage insights to view user activity.
• Customer Support – Provides 24/7 support from top-notch customer success programs and guaranteed SLAs of Miro.

Miro for Education, Nonprofits, Startups and Accelerators

Miro offers Free Student and Educator plans with a variety of tools that facilitate effective collaboration and learning. It also offers a customized Institution plan for schools and learning institutions. It is a valuable tool that promotes creativity, organization, and communication, making it an excellent choice for educational settings.

Miro also offers special reduced rates or discounts to non-profit organizations and startups.

Miro pricing plans are fair and reasonable, with a good balance of features and affordability. The pricing is flexible too, with options for monthly or annual subscriptions, as well as discounts for non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and startups. Overall, Miro visual collaboration tool is a valuable platform for teams looking to work together in a better way. Miro pricing plans make it accessible and affordable for organizations of all sizes.

Visual platforms like Miro can enhance how teams collaborate nowadays. At the same time, its blank canvas-like interface can be overwhelming for some users. For a better understanding of the platform and the right plan to choose, see our Miro Pros and Cons article.

Source: Miro Pricing Official Website

Daniel Raymond

Daniel Raymond, a project manager with over 20 years of experience, is the former CEO of a successful software company called Websystems. With a strong background in managing complex projects, he applied his expertise to develop AceProject.com and Bridge24.com , innovative project management tools designed to streamline processes and improve productivity. Throughout his career, Daniel has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence and a passion for empowering teams to achieve their goals.

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What's New: What We Launched in May 2024

• Community overview
• Questions & Ideas
• Ask The Community
• Upgrade to 'Business' (to get the new features...) 'UPGRADE PLAN' PAGES BROKEN

Upgrade to 'Business' (to get the new features...) 'UPGRADE PLAN' PAGES BROKEN

• 2 years ago 19 October 2021

• 373 replies

To whom it may concern… I’m not sure if this is only happening to me… but 

I’m trying to upgrade from ‘ Consultant ’ to ‘ Business ’. 

• miro.com/pricing is broken in that it only shows me ‘free’ plans that I’ve been invited to

If any support people see this and want a video of this experience, Please DM me… 

Thank you. :)

• Upgrading Plan

The automated upgrade from Consultant to Business is not available (as Consultant accounts are multi-workspace accounts and Business one-workspace). Also, as of now Business plan is available starting from 5 seats (licenses). If you wish to proceed with changing your subscription to Business, please ask the Support team to help you out manually via the Submit a request form.

Hope this helps!

Ksenia, PM @ Miro

@Xenia That sounds confusing.  … its not your fault… not the way you’ve phrased it or anything… its just part of the whole account/team/user/workspace/team/project/guest/boards/plan/features/editor/owner/permissions/  confusing challenge of Miro.  Wait, what even is a workspace?  Is that a ‘team’? 

Does an upgrade from Consultant to Business mean that one must collapse their multiple workspaces down into one?  

Yes @Max Harper  I know exactly what you mean.. Sorry that it is confusing. 

Exactly that: we do not support auto-convert from Consultant as it may have multiple teams inside.

• 2 years ago 20 October 2021

Also @Max Harper  just for the sake of clarity: Unlimited Guests and Smart Meetings are available for Consultant plan holders (only Diagramming is not for now).

That would add clarity - but the pricing and plan page says differently.   

but you’re right… the interface is locking many of those diagramming stencils from us on a consultant plan  

• 2 years ago 30 November 2021

Just so I understand — for full feature parity with what most of us as consultants actually wanted — sophisticated diagramming AND multiple workspaces to isolate our clients — we actually need to upgrade from Consultant to ENTERPRISE.

Now I suspect that it varies for each of us as to how much of our costs for Miro we can push to our clients (teams/workspaces in Miro parlance), but I think that more honesty from Miro support and pricing would be better. Moving from Consultant to Business is a step down because the entire reason Consultant was created in the first place was to allow centralized management of multiple teams. This was clear in the emails sent when RealTimeBoard first created the Consultant concept.

I agree that it seems honestly petty to deny access to the additional stencils when these plans are reaching into thousands/year. However, I think much of the angst could be avoided if the comparison was what it was really … Consultant > Enterprise.

As this should be an automatic move, those of us with Consultant plans should be able to be automatically priced to convert our existing configurations into Enterprise so we can at least understand our costs and make an informed decision.

For my organization, we are contractually (and legally) obligated to isolate data from clients we work with. Combining teams is absolutely not an option, so my only recourse at the moment is to follow suit with @Max Harper  and look into Lucid or go back to importing diagrams from OmniGraffle and Visio. And as many point out, there are plenty of readily accessible icon palettes out there which mean we can keep working.

But I would like to stick with Miro if possible. My clients definitely like it and as many have mentioned here, I’ve had many of them sign up for their own business accounts as a result of my evangelizing the platform.

Fingers crossed that cooler heads will prevail soon.

In the meantime, I’m back to OmniGraffle …

• 2 years ago 1 December 2021

@Ryan Quick

This is either:

- a not thought out accident

- a poorly thought out feature exclusion for Consultant Plan holders. Designed haphazardly with the intention to get people to upgrade? But upgrade to what plan? There is no upgrade pathway to unlock these features.  Like… Just let me pay more!! Can I please just pay you more Miro? Their answer right now is ‘no… not without loosing your other key features… or Enterprise @ price ‘come talk to us’.  

The answer right now is — ‘we didn’t really plan this one out/ we somehow either missed that diagram tools would be useful to consultants… or caught it, but ignored it intentionally for no purpose’. 

To Miro’s credit, they are managing a lot of complexity and a lot of growth, so I can understanding them not having a perfect plan here… but it moments like this where we should point out the overall UX of the “product” for them … to that end: 

The result of this seemingly haphazard decision just feels unintentionally sloppy or intentionally antagonistic. 

Who did user-centered-design on this one? 

@Max Harper  I’m trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. I can’t imagine though that this is merely the work of UX without proper research. There definitely is a “standard line” everyone is receiving which is that the functionality for diagramming is being deliberately moved into the other plans.

While I also agree that this is a bad move, and absolutely a horrible user experience. I, like you I suspect, dutifully clicked on the “you must upgrade now to continue using these products” email and found like everyone else that there is no way to follow the instructions in the email. THAT is bad UI/UX …

The fact that the product usage wasn’t actually aligned with the product offerings is the work of the Product and Feature management organizations or else someone would have immediately “corrected” the problem. All I think we can do in the meantime (as they’ve already had a month+ to fix it) is to continue to make the point that we are an advanced, paying community which was intentionally created by Miro for the purposes outlined. We joined the Consultant program precisely for the features it offered which uniquely fit our businesses. 

That we are now in this position leaves me with only two rationales I can think of:

• The Consultant program is too costly/not-profitable enough for Miro to continue maintaining it and so the original offering is seen internally as a mistake, but as all of these folks are well-paying customers with a track record of converting additional customers we need to make some sort of gesture to keep them. The “gesture” was a move to Business plan, but no one realized that the reason we weren’t already Business customers was because the two small differences in the plan actually made ALL the difference for our business models.
• The technical difficulty of maintaining centralized management of “workspaces” requires more aspects of the Enterprise plan (which centers mostly on authentication, authorization, privacy, and data management) than originally conceived and so the Consultants are actually receiving a fair amount of those services in a “scaled-down” manner than they actually advertise. Meaning Miro provides a lot of those enterprise-features but don’t give the Consultant administrators the ability to “tweak the knobs” like they would with the Enterprise Plan. This management of the Consultant concept is costly from both a backend development and a UI/UX perspective and so they would rather convert those customers to some other plan which doesn’t require this odd “crossover” behavior which is difficult to maintain internally. If this is the case, then the right path should be an “Enterprise-lite” or “Enterprise Consultant” plan which basically allows for more managed workspaces but limits the team members. This plan could be priced automatically as the other offerings are — and this is what I propose.

Sorry for being long winded — I am hoping that some internal Product, Feature, and/or technical folks inside Miro are paying attention. As I said before — we’re good customers and we want to work with Miro for the services it offers well … but a blanket move to “Business” is not the right one and seems to border on disdain for the Consultant customer base. 

Miro can do better. I’m hoping they choose to do so.

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Hochul Halts Congestion Pricing in a Stunning 11th-Hour Shift

Weeks before New York was to charge motorists to enter Manhattan’s business district, Gov. Kathy Hochul postponed the program, citing economic concerns.

By Grace Ashford

Reporting from the State Capitol in Albany, N.Y.

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York announced on Wednesday that she was shelving the long-awaited tolling plan known as congestion pricing, just weeks before it was to go into effect.

“After careful consideration I have come to the difficult decision that implementing the planned congestion pricing system risks too many unintended consequences,” Ms. Hochul said, adding: “I have directed the M.T.A. to indefinitely pause the program.”

The move angered environmentalists, transit advocates and economists , with some accusing the governor of abandoning a plan that was decades in the making for political reasons in a critical election year.

The decision, Ms. Hochul acknowledged, was not an easy one, but she said it was nonetheless crucial in light of the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic on working families and New York City’s economy.

The congestion pricing plan , the first of its kind in the nation, was slated to start June 30 . Drivers using E-ZPass would have paid as much as $15 to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street.

The governor said she feared that instituting a toll to drive into the borough would “create another obstacle to our economic recovery.”

“Let’s be real: A $15 charge may not seem like a lot to someone who has the means, but it can break the budget of a hard-working middle-class household,” Ms. Hochul said.

In the days before her announcement, the governor notified the White House and the top House Democrat, Hakeem Jeffries, of her plans, according to two people familiar with the conversations.

They disputed reports that Mr. Jeffries had directed Ms. Hochul to delay the plan, saying that he had remained neutral on the issue.

“To the extent immediate implementation of congestion pricing is being reconsidered, Leader Jeffries supports a temporary pause of limited duration to better understand the financial impact on working-class New Yorkers,” said Andy Eichar, a spokesman for Mr. Jeffries.

Word of the governor’s last-minute misgivings began to circulate in Albany on Tuesday night, and quickly sent shock waves through the New York State Capitol by Wednesday morning, the penultimate day of the legislative session.

Few lawmakers could say they loved congestion pricing and the optics of taxing constituents. But the proposal was championed by economists and environmentalists alike as the solution not only to the financial woes of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the state agency that runs New York’s subways and buses, but also the city’s infamous gridlock.

The program was also being contested in court by eight separate lawsuits, with plaintiffs including the Trucking Association of New York and Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey .

Mr. Murphy’s case in particular, which is being argued in Federal District Court in Newark, was regarded as the most serious challenge to congestion pricing. State officials are seeking a more comprehensive environmental study of the program.

But in New York, most Democrats had made a grudging peace with the plan after decades of debate, hearings, studies and planning — none more publicly than Ms. Hochul, who had defended it as a necessary step toward rebuilding New York’s economy.

Just two weeks ago, the governor told attendees at the Global Economic Summit in Ireland that implementing congestion pricing was critical to “making cities more livable.”

Many key players in New York politics, from Albany to New York City, expressed dismay at the reversal, which cast the transportation authority’s finances into uncertainty.

“I’m very upset that suddenly, out of the blue, this would pop up,” State Senator Liz Krueger, a Manhattan Democrat, said on Wednesday, adding: “If we stop congestion pricing now we’re never going to get it.”

Kate Slevin of the Regional Plan Association, a nonprofit urban research and advocacy group that has championed the tolling program, called the move “a total betrayal of New Yorkers and our climate.”

The president of the Partnership for New York City, Kathryn Wylde, said the governor’s decision was a disappointment and that she hoped the pause would be temporary.

Yet an undercurrent of support for Ms. Hochul’s move was also evident among lawmakers, particularly those representing swing districts.

“Many see it as welcome news,” said James Skoufis, a Democrat who represents Orange County in the State Senate, adding that despite the plan’s approval five years earlier, opposition had been growing in the Legislature. “Some of it is outspoken, some of it is quieter, but it is widespread.”

Shortly after Ms. Hochul’s announcement, U.S. Representative Pat Ryan, a Democrat facing a tough re-election race in the northern exurbs of New York City, sent out a statement taking partial credit for defeating the plan.

“Since Day 1, I’ve fought alongside countless Hudson Valley families against this unfair, uninformed and unacceptable congestion pricing plan,” Mr. Ryan said. “Today, I’m proud to say we’ve stopped congestion pricing in its tracks.”

Indeed, the plan has been largely unpopular in suburban areas of the Hudson Valley and Long Island where Democrats are desperate to make gains this cycle.

A Siena poll from April found that 72 percent of New York suburbs opposed congestion pricing. Statewide, the number is lower, but still a majority — including 54 percent of Democrats.

Transit experts say that such opposition is common among communities acclimating to tolling plans, but not always lasting.

“We know from the experiences of other cities that have implemented congestion pricing that public support is at its nadir right before implementation,” said Nicholas Klein, an assistant professor of city and regional planning at Cornell University. “That is when the public, media and politicians panic. But time and again, we see that the sky does not fall.”

In her address, Ms. Hochul stressed her commitment to public transit, and ensuring that the transportation authority had the funding it needed to complete long overdue capital projects. But she said that the city’s outlook had changed since the plan was approved in 2019.

“Workers were in the office five days a week, crime was at record lows and tourism was at record highs,” she said. “Circumstances have changed and we must respond to the facts on the ground.”

The decision has the awkward effect of bringing Ms. Hochul, a centrist Democrat who has at times served as a surrogate for President Biden, into alignment with former President Donald J. Trump, who has derided the plan , as well as her predecessor, Andrew M. Cuomo, who championed the concept as governor but now questions its timing.

To halt implementation of the plan, Ms. Hochul needs only the approval of the authority’s board, which she controls. But without the projected $1 billion a year for the city’s buses and subways, the transit system could quickly fall into crisis.

Ms. Hochul could fill that gap, at least temporarily, with money from the state’s reserves. But she is also said to be looking at a more durable revenue source, possibly in the form of a tax on city businesses, which would require the approval of the State Legislature.

The transportation agency has already invested heavily in infrastructure to implement the pricing plan, including $507 million it paid to a Nashville company.

In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams endorsed Ms. Hochul’s move. “I think that if she’s looking at analyzing what other ways we can do it and how we do it correctly, I’m all for it,” Mr. Adams said Wednesday at an unrelated news conference on Staten Island.

Mr. Adams, who has not been a strong proponent of congestion pricing, said he was worried that charging vehicles to enter Lower Manhattan would be an undue burden for “everyday New Yorkers” and potentially affect the city’s economic recovery from the pandemic.

“We have to get it right,” the mayor said, noting that he had been communicating with the governor over the last few days. “This is a major shift in our city and it must be done correctly.”

Reporting was contributed by Nicholas Fandos , Jeffery C. Mays and Claire Fahy .

Grace Ashford covers New York government and politics for The Times. More about Grace Ashford

NATO is making plans for surging US troops into Europe in case Russia invades

• NATO is creating land corridors in Europe for the US in case Russia attacks, The Telegraph reported.
• Under the plan, soldiers would land at ports in the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Turkey, and Norway.
• Soldiers would then travel overland to NATO's eastern flank, per the outlet.

NATO is busy setting up land corridors that US soldiers and military vehicles would use in the case of a Russian invasion of Europe, The Telegraph reported , citing unnamed officials.

Under the plan, US soldiers would land at one of five key ports in the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Turkey, and Norway, before being sent along established routes to counter Russian attacks, the officials said.

While some US forces would be transported by land from Italian ports to Hungary, which borders Ukraine, others would be moved from Greek and Turkish ports to the eastern border of the alliance via Bulgaria and Romania.

Local legislation would not restrict militaries in these corridors, allowing them to move cargo without constraints, according to The Telegraph.

Plans are also being developed to move troops through ports in Sweden, Finland, and the Balkans, the outlet reported.

Under previous plans, US troops would have arrived in the Netherlands, and then boarded trains to travel through Germany and on to Poland, the outlet reported.

But contingencies are now being prepared to extend this, The Telegraph said.

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And in the event that NATO forces were struck in Dutch ports or northern European ports were destroyed, the military alliance would refocus its attention on landing sites in Italy, Greece, and Turkey.

Last year, NATO leaders agreed to keep 300,000 soldiers in a state of high readiness, The Telegraph reported.

European nations have repeatedly warned of the risk of a possible Russian invasion.

Vaidotas Urbelis, the defense policy director of Lithuania's defense ministry, told BI in February that despite its setbacks in Ukraine, Russia seemed to be better prepared for a future attack than it was before the invasion of Ukraine.

In March, Donald Tusk, Poland's prime minister, said there was a "real" threat of conflict in Europe and that the continent was in a "prewar" era.

Despite experts saying Russia has been weakened by the war in Ukraine, and is in no position to attack, some European countries aren't taking any chances.

Poland unveiled a plan in May for new defenses along its borders, and the Baltic States said in March that they're investing more in defense than ever.

Last week, the Financial Times reported that NATO had less than 5% of the air defenses needed to protect Central and Eastern Europe, citing people familiar with NATO's defense plans.

But Alexander Sollfrank, the commander of NATO's Joint Support and Enabling Command, told The Telegraph that everything required to create resilience is being worked out.

"Everything is created in a way so the necessary resilience exists — robustness, reserves and also redundancies," he said.

"With regards to air defence... It's always scarce," he added. "I cannot imagine a situation that you have enough air defence."

Watch: Ukrainian army tests new Western weapons as NATO boosts supplies

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