How to Create a Tech Stack That Improves Business and Increases Growth

Technology is now at the center of everything. That’s why it’s important for any new business to be able to capitalize on technological advancements. But to do so, it must first have a tech stack in place that meets its unique set of needs. From managing SIP trunk calls to powering your organization's intranet, a tech stack can have many helpful applications.

But finding the best stack is not always a simple process. What steps can be taken to avoid making a poor investment? The first is to take a thorough look through all available choices. 

In this piece, we’ll explore some of the options and look at how they can help your business achieve more growth.

What Is a Tech Stack? 

Do you have a brilliant idea for a new product or service? You will likely have conducted market research, thought about how you are going to bring it to market, and maybe even started to contact manufacturers and suppliers. But have you taken the time to consider some of the finer, more easily overlooked processes you’ll need in place? 

From phone call queuing to managing production, there is much that can consume your time unexpectedly, but the good news is that it is possible to automate many of these processes. 

To do this, you’ll need the right technology in place, and here is where a tech stack comes in. It is essential for any business operating in the modern world. Furthermore, having quality tools and the best phone companies for small businesses deployed will allow better collaboration and communication of your tech team. 

Your tech stack is central to all the different operations within your organization. It controls the kinds of products you can build, your digital marketing, and the overall efficiency of your business. But where should you begin when choosing your stack? Here are some steps for ensuring that you choose the best tech stack for your organization.

Have Clear Goals

All good investments start with some searching questions. Choosing a tech stack is no different. What do you need your tech stack to do? Will it be used for customer support, sales, or marketing? How much does domain name registration cost? What is your budget? How much time do you need to allot to ensure your project is completed? Think carefully about these questions. Without appropriate planning, you’ll make a poor investment. 

Here are some additional elements to consider when planning for your tech stack:

• How will people use your software? Different functionality will be needed depending on its purpose. For instance, software used for cold calling will be radically different from file-sharing software. It might sound basic, but if you overlook this factor, you are increasing the likelihood of making a poor choice.
• Who will use your software? Are there any specific functions your users will need access to? Be sure to define your target audience, whether it be internal or external.
• What device will people use to access your software? Different functionality will be needed by someone using a laptop compared to someone using a tablet.
• Where will people access your software? Can they only gain access from the office, or will they have remote access?

If you build your tech stack around your needs, it will be more effective.

Buy or Build? 

There are two options: build your own tech stack or buy an off-the-shelf solution. There are clear advantages to both. Take a moment to examine your finances; a custom build will likely be costly. This is because you will need to pay specialist staff a monthly fee, an IVR system for communications, and possibly license fees as well. If you’re looking to reduce the cost, there are some free as well as some low-cost, open-source options. 

Off-the-shelf options are generally cheaper than a custom-built alternative but have less flexibility. If you build your own stack, you can tailor a design to your needs.

Choose a Programming Language

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Even if you choose a package option, you will probably build at least some of your tech stack. To do so, you’ll need to choose a programming language. The language you choose for your stack will be dependent on the needs of your project. Alongside the functionality of each language, be sure to consider longevity — you’ll find it easier to recruit specialist developers to assist with the more popular languages. 

Here are some of the available languages:

Python

Many people unfamiliar with coding have heard of Python. This is because it is ranked as the most used coding language in the world. While Python’s strength is in machine learning, the language is extremely adaptable and can be used for many different purposes.

Java

Java is another programming language that is widely known. Across the world, organizations use Java for mobile and web applications, as well as business software.

JavaScript

Despite their similar names, Java and JavaScript bear no relation. JavaScript is often used for building interactive websites and animations.

C/C++

Whilst C might be less known outside of the programming community, it is one of the most influential coding languages. Its main use is in the scripting of system applications. It is commonly used in games, graphics, and enterprise applications.

Take some time to think about your project. Which coding language will be best suited to helping you achieve your aims? For example, the programming language needed to power your AOV marketing will be different from the language needed for HR. Your chosen programming language is an essential part of your tech stack. Look at each option before making a decision.

Build a Proof of Concept

The worst-case scenario when building a tech stack is that you invest time and money only to find that your stack does not meet your needs. By using inexpensive, open-source software to build a proof of concept first, you can help avoid this. If this proves to be successful, you can start to invest in your tech stack.

Pick an Operating System

Choosing the right operating system (OS) is no longer central to choosing the best tech stack. Thanks to cloud-based applications, we can work across different platforms. This means that no matter which OS we are using, we can still work on our project.

But though it is no longer a limitation, the OS you choose is not completely irrelevant. Security should be near the top of your list of priorities when deciding which OS to use. Without the right levels of security, you could fall victim to data breaches and find that your ideas have been stolen.

Each OS also has its own set of tools. Ask yourself, what tools do I need for my stack? If you’re building a stack for supporting help desk project management, your OS will need the tools to enable call routing systems. It goes without saying that the tools available to one OS will not necessarily be available to another. Make sure you properly evaluate each OS before making a choice.

Gather the Right Data

Behind every useful tech stack is a collection of high-quality data. This data will help inform all the different processes involved in your stack. If it’s being designed for customer use, your data should provide an inside-out view of your shopper and their journey. But how should you go about collecting data?

For gaining customer data, an excellent first step is to set up Google Analytics (GA) on your website. GA can tell us everything we need to know about a customer and more, including demographics, interests, and geographic location.

GA is a must for every business and helps with more than just learning about your audience. It can be used to improve your SEO, allowing you to increase eBay sales or enhance your Amazon presence, for example.

If you’re looking for more advanced data, event tracking is a useful analytics function within GA. This gathers data when specific actions occur on your website. You can specify actions for tracking, allowing you to gain much more detailed insights into customer behavior.

How Is Your Stack Performing?

Every business needs benchmarks to measure its performance. These could be sales targets, call center benchmarks, or conversion goals.

The same goes for tech stacks. After investing hours and money into building a tech stack, you’ll probably want to know how it is performing. To find this information you’ll need a metric for measuring success at every status of your stack. Luckily, the Digital Maturity Model can help provide this information.

The model looks at four levels of your tech stack: nascent, emerging, connected, and multi-moment:

• Nascent: Data silos are connected between departments. 
• Emerging: You are delivering better experiences and introducing new technologies to your stack. 
• Connected: Data-driven processes are improving productivity. You are using a combination of online and offline data to support the goals of your organization.
• Multi-Moment: All of your channels are fully optimized and data-driven across all channels and touchpoints.

Get to Work on Your Tech Stack!

The right tech stack can transform your business. But if you’re just starting, the idea of building a stack can be difficult to get your head around. Remember, don’t go at it alone. Get specialist help to design and program your software. Specialists can also provide advice during the creation of your tech stack.

With the right assistance and by following the steps outlined above, you’ll be well on your way to designing a tech stack that will take your business to the next level.