4 Key Points to Focus on While Building a Tech Stack of Your Dreams in 2021
Digital transformation has taken over the corporate world and how! Regardless of the size of the company, it is hard to imagine a business operating without digital tools. The adoption of digital tools of tech solutions has witnessed staggering growth over the past decade, and the trend is likely to continue in the future.
As the corporate world grapples with the changes inflicted by the pandemic, companies are increasingly focusing on creating a perfect tech stack for themselves.
Did you know that leading companies use an average of around 37 software solutions or platforms to perform their day-to-day processes [1]? If you are a stakeholder or a key decision-maker, it is very important for you to be aware of the different types of digital solutions on the market.
Besides, you should also be aware of how each solution can transform your core processes and yield better results.
Building a perfect tech stack may seem intimidating at first. This is why we have created a step-by-step guide that will help you create a perfect digital tech stack for your company.
SEE ALSO: 6 Amazing Examples of Digital Transformation in Business
What is a Tech Stack?
A tech stack is a bunch of digital tools used by companies to perform their core processes and daily tasks. The tech stack umbrella covers web applications, software, and other key tools that are used in daily operations.
The term “tech stack” refers to a mix of software, web servers, programming languages, operating systems, and more.
However, as more and more companies are shifting their operations onto mobile and computer devices, tech stacks are moving beyond the realms of the web, app, and software development processes.
At present, tech stacks are used for a range of applications, from sales and digital marketing to analytics and human resources.
A well-built tech stack provides great benefits to more than one area of your business. It ensures that all facets of your business are growing and performing at the optimum level.
Why does your firm need a tech stack?
Regardless of the size of your business, a well-built tech stack is a stepping stone to high efficiency and productivity.
A tech stack is the digital backbone of your business, without which you are likely to struggle to attain your objectives.
Some of the best tech stacks play a pivotal role in streamlining business processes and boosting efficiency. Besides, you will soon start to see major improvements in your bottom line after you implement a robust technology stack.
Building the Right Tech Stack for Your Company
Building a perfect tech stack requires considerable investment, which is why it is important that you get it right.
Here are four useful tips that will help you build an effective tech stack.
1. Strategy
Without a sound strategy, you are likely to hit roadblocks while building your tech stack. Besides, it is easy to get drawn toward a particular solution that may seem like a good fit at that moment. However, you should identify the purpose of your investment before you make a choice.
Jot down your long-term or short-term goals and figure out what you require to achieve them. This is the first step to create a tech stack that is tailored to your company’s requirements.
Many companies could find it beneficial to understand the type of experience they want to provide to their customers before creating a tech stack. This lays emphasis on user experience from the offset, and eventually boosts customer satisfaction in the long run.
2. Research
Research is very important! Before you pick the tools for your business, do not skip the research.
Just because a specific solution is cheaper than the rest, does not mean it will provide great value in the long run.
Choose a tool that will provide value for your research and resources and also streamlines your processes. At the end of the day, you do not want your team to toggle between different applications
It is also probably a good idea to take your company’s domain and niche into consideration when you are looking for a digital tool.
While a lot of software companies offer a free trial, there are a gamut of open-source tools that can be accessed by all.
Do you want to add or subtract the technical elements to your stack? Get in touch with an in-house expert or a third-party consultant who can help you choose the right tools for you.
3. Usability
Remember that your employees will use your tech stack daily. Thus, it is critical to bear in mind their requirements when you choose a tool.
Ask yourself how good your team is with technology? What is their skill level? With this information, you can determine the type and level of training required for the tool you choose.
Besides, if you do not have a native IT team, these questions will also help you understand if your employees have the problem-solving skills needed during implementation.
You may have to opt for tools that are very easy to navigate and provide swift customer support services.
Besides, you also need to identify the degree of difficulty involved while migrating your existing tools to your new tech stack.
Companies that are hesitant or not entirely ready to go digital experience setbacks nearly 70% of the time when they do decide to take the path to digital transformation [2]. More often than not, this failure is driven by the reluctance exhibited by team members.
Besides, due to the fear of failing, businesses are never able to get out of their shell and reach the level they aspire to.
4. Adaptability
Last but not the least, your tech stack should allow your company to scale. Before you choose a bunch of tools, study the growth trajectory of your company and identify the cons of the tools you are considering.
Once you ensure that your tech stack aligns with your company’s growth, find out how often they roll out new updates. If they dish out consistent updates, it indicates that they take customer feedback seriously and are inclined toward improving their product.
Go Digital or Go Bust!
Now that you have a fair idea about the type of tools you want to use, there are a few more things you should keep in mind.
Create a shortlist of around two to five products. You can compare the different features, pricing plans, and integrations of these tools to narrow down your choices. You can also compare different tools on our platform using the compare feature. Click here to find all the tools based on their ranking and compare their key parameters to identify the best-suited solution for your business.
After you create a shortlist, see if a free trial is available. Just like a test drive, a free trial will allow you to play around with the tool’s features and get some hands-on experience.
A few vendors do not offer a free trial. In this case, you should try to schedule a demo. This enables you to get a better understanding of the tool’s features and also allows you to address all your questions.
Now with all of that out of your way, it is now time to pick the right tech stack for your company. Before you complete the entire process, have a discussion with your vendor and sort the terms of your contract.
Try to get discounts, pick your payment plans, and chalk out your vendor’s post-purchase responsibilities.
We hope this article will help you create the tech stack of your dreams. The ball is in your court now!
SEE ALSO: 4 Major Benefits of Customer Journey Mapping and Why You Need It in 2021
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Source:
[1] Keck. C (2017) “The 45 Tools We Use to Run Promoter.io” Promoter.io [online] Available from: https://www.promoter.io/blog/45-tools-we-use-saas/ [accessed August 2021]
[2] Tams. C (2018) “Why We Need To Rethink Organizational Change Management” Forbes [online] Available from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carstentams/2018/01/26/why-we-need-to-rethink-organizational-change-management/?sh=2260f29de93c [accessed August 2021]
