Technology stack is the set of technological tools you use to produce the front and the back end of your online platform such as a website, a mobile app or a platform. These stacks consist of programming languages, databases, frameworks and much more tools that help build these platforms.
For any organization that is using several applications in order to perform a variety of functions, there are several possible technology stacks that can be used to achieve your objective. Let’s take a look at how tech stacks end up making the front and the back end of any given digital interface in detail.
To make things easier to understand, let’s go over how various technology stacks come together in a business. Only then will you be able to understand and proceed to auditing your tech stack.
Technology Stacks:
Technology stacks used by organizations vary with each department as well as the specific function that they’re being used to perform. Your marketing tech stack will probably involve a few tools and apps that are used by your marketing team. In fact, not all members of the marketing department might be using a specific set of tools or applications.
For example, someone using advertising technology stacks to streamline PPC efforts might not have any use for email automation which is being used by your team dedicated to retaining existing customers.
Read More: How to Use Data-Driven Marketing with Integrated CRM Solutions?
Since all departments have a distinguished nature of tasks that require certain tools which are offered by various apps, you can be sure that at any given time, your organization is using over 100 apps in total.
This can create a frustrating amount of data sets that are hard to compile and analyze. Moreover, if left unmanaged, this can result in more expenses for the organization than it can afford. For example, if everyone starts using premium applications for everything they’re required to do, your monthly expenditure will be going through the roof due to the accumulating costs you accrue.
Other than saving financial expenses, think of the time your employees spend switching between apps and circulating data to analyze and streamline a variety of different operations. Obviously, a huge chunk of it can be saved if we can find a way to bring it all in one place. Which is where ERP and CRM solutions come into play.
Read More: Choosing a CRM: 5 Steps to Help You Make the Right Decision
Below, you’ll find various examples of how different organizational departments use several different technologies to achieve their goals:
Marketing Tech Stack
Depending upon the nature of tasks that are being performed by your department, a marketing tech stack can include the following tools:
- Email automation software like MailChimp
- Chatbot software
- Analytical tools like HubSpot
- Content Management System (CMS)
- SEO and lead generation tools
Sales Tech Stack
Your sales team might use the following tools to close their deals:
- Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRMs)
- VoIP
- Data Management Systems
- Online communication channels
Customer Service Tech Stacks
Similarly, your service department dedicated to addressing the needs, concerns and complaints of your clients will probably be using a combination of the following tools:
- Knowledgebase software
- Help desk software
- Call center and tracking software
- Survey and Live chat software
Steps to Auditing Your Tech Stacks
As all applications and systems that you use aren’t going to be completely free, you need to choose what stacks you’ll go for. And if your organization is already using a significant number of applications, it’s best that you audit your tech stacks before you decide on what you should and shouldn’t have.
Here’s an overview of how you can audit your tech stacks:
Ask Your Departments
Every department in your organization is probably working with a few tools that are accruing costs and getting data. You can’t know if the cost of the data or the processes they’re accomplishing are actually worth it in the long run without listing down its possible uses first. And since the use of an app isn’t restricted to a single department, you should ask all your departments to list down the tools they’re using, the tasks they’re accomplishing and the costs they’re accruing.
Identify Gaps
Once you have a list of tech stacks that your organization is using, you need to identify possible gaps in your operational integrity that are resulting from either miscommunication or the lack of data. For example, if your sales or customer service team isn’t getting access to your CRM, this is a problem. Similarly, if your finance department is working without a billing automation and payment reconciliation software, you’d do well to invest in that direction.
Even in this step, it’s crucial that you ask your teams what they require before you decide to finalize on any tech stack. Since your employees will know what they need to accomplish specific tasks, get their input by running a survey.
Read More: Leverage Customer Analytics To Improve Customer Experience with Freshworks Integrations
Research Market Options
Once you have a list of what you need, you can go around looking at different technologies offered in the market. For instance, if you decide that you require HubSpot consultants to integrate marketing tools in a custom-made billing automation software, you should look at various options in the market. You can go for freemiums and trials to decide what works for you.
Think of Scalability
Your tech stacks need to be scalable because you can’t afford to change technologies once they’ve been implemented. For example, though it’s not impossible, but if you choose to change your CRM because it’s charging you per customer and the rates are becoming unaffordable, you will face many difficulties moving things to a new one. This is why it’s best that you look at scalability as an important feature required in your tech stacks.
Think of scalability as either horizontal or vertical. While horizontal scalability refers to how well the program can adjust to increasing user-base, vertical scalability refers to how easy it is to keep adding and integrating new products and tools in your existing technology to make it more effective for organizational operations.
Read More: 9 HubSpot Integrations That Will Boost Your Business Efficiency
Your Budget Decides What You Have
Ultimately, your budget will determine what you can go for. Obviously, everyone would prefer to have the best versions of everything right from the get-go.
However, as a SME that is only now starting to sustain itself will need to prioritize tech stacks as per its current needs with special attention and thought paid towards future repercussions such as scalability issues. Make use of integrability of many top-tier tools to enhance the efficiency and automation features they offer.
A good example of this can be hiring HubSpot integration partners to understand your current infrastructure and designing a CRM for you that incorporates all the marketing stacks that your organization will need.
