All of these considerations raise the question: what should your company’s tech stack look like? This can be a tricky question to answer in some ways, since industry will result in major variations. However, at the end of the day, there are core components that are a definite must. Below are those items:
Accounting Software: Most people would point to a program like QuickBooks or Freshbooks as the way to go. For most businesses, this likely would be a fair assessment. However, depending upon your industry, this might not be the wisest choice, especially if there is significant growth potential. If you are in a manufacturing setting (or any setting that relies on supplies and interacting with vendors), you might be better situated with an ERP software system such as NetSuite. In addition to accounting, you have access to vendor and inventory management controls
CRM Software: Over the course of my career, the two big CRM programs that I have used are Insightly and Hubspot. Both have strengths and weaknesses. However, I am using them illustratively here because they illustrate how different industries would require different things. A business that is involved in servicing that regularly contacts customers directly would not necessarily require Hubspot’s marketing hub potential. On the flip side, a consulting firm that regularly published newsletters would find the power and scalability of Hubspot’s tools to be very enticing.
Office Suite: Google Workspace and Microsoft immediately come to mind here. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. At the end of the day, your choice when it comes to Office Suite for your personnel will likely come down to who you choose as your email provider.
Email: Having your own email domain in today’s business environment is a no brainer. Much like the website became a must have during the late 90s and early 2000s, having your own email address will be viewed as adding an element of professionalism and credibility.
Website: A good website is one of the most invaluable tools that a person can possess. This gives your business a digital front that will be visible to customers 24/7.
One important note here: while investing in a tech stack that works for your business is key, think in terms of what you need today. Many of these apps above have enterprise packages that are likely well beyond what your company needs. Therefore, think in terms of what you need for the next five years and aim for that. Of course, if you grow quickly past that, then you can and should upgrade accordingly.
This approach is aimed at making sure that your business gets what it needs, now what a sales agent says that your business needs. Additionally, with the predominance of integrations in today's business atmosphere, it is more than possible to find something that you like and works well for you and integrates well with everything else that you have. The only thing that I would say is before going integration heavy or even selecting your tech stack, think in terms of how you want to scale in the coming years. That way, you can evaluate if your chosen tech stack can be kept simple, or if those integrations you have been thinking about would effectively fit into your long term plans.
In conclusion, selecting your company tech stack is something that really isn’t rocket science. However, it does come down to a good knowledge of the type of work volume you can expect to see. That way, you can carefully evaluate what you need and what prospective core components of your tech stack properly align with your needs. Finally, select the plan for each component of your tech stack that meets what your short and medium term needs are. You can always upgrade it when it is required.