Is your business on top of its tech stack?
Like many business owners, you’ve probably received a lot of technology advice. One term you may hear frequently is “tech stack.” Information technology (IT) folks love to throw this one around while sharing their bits and bytes of digital wisdom.
Well, they’re not wrong about its importance. Your tech stack is crucial to maintaining smooth operations, but it can be a major drain on cash flow if not managed carefully.
Everything you use
For the purpose of running a business, a tech stack can be defined as all the software and other digital tools used to support the company’s operations and IT infrastructure. It includes assets such as your:
- Accounting software,
- Customer relationship management platform,
- Project management tools,
- Cloud storage, and
- Communication apps.
Note: In a purely IT context, the term is widely defined as the set of technologies used to develop an application or website.
For businesses, a tech stack’s objective is to streamline workflows and promote productivity while maintaining strong cybersecurity. Unfortunately, as it grows, a tech stack can leave companies struggling with overspending, inefficiencies and employee apathy.
Case in point: For its 2025 State of Digital Adoption Report, software platform provider WalkMe surveyed nearly 4,000 enterprise leaders and employees worldwide. The data showed that about 43% of enterprise tech stacks are currently more complex than they were three years ago. Disturbingly, the report found the average large enterprise lost $104 million in 2024 because of underused technology, fragmented IT strategy and low employee adoption of tech tools.
Although these results focus on larger companies, small to midsize businesses face the same risks. Over time, companies often layer technologies upon technologies, sometimes introducing redundant or extraneous tools that are largely ignored.
5 factors to consider
Balancing functionality and innovation without overspending is the key to staying on top of your tech stack. Here are five factors to focus on:
- Composition. Many business owners lose track of the many complex elements of their tech stacks. The best way to stay informed is to conduct regular IT audits. These are formal, systematic reviews of your IT infrastructure, which includes your tech stack. Audits often reveal redundant software subscriptions and underused or forgotten software licenses.
- Integration/compatibility. When tech tools don’t play well together — or at all — data silos spring up and redundant work drags everyone down. This leads to more errors and less productivity. When managing your tech stack, choose solutions that integrate well across your operations. As feasible, replace those that don’t.
- Price to value. Choosing IT tools primarily based on cost is risky. Although you should budget carefully, opting for cheaper solutions can ultimately increase technology expenses because of greater inefficiencies and the constant need to add tools to fill functionality gaps. Stay mindful of getting good value for the price and make choices that align with your strategic objectives.
- Scalability. Generally, as a business grows, its technology needs expand and evolve. That doesn’t mean you always have to buy new software, however. Look for solutions that can scale up with growth or down during slower periods. Shop for assets that offer flexibility along with the right functionality.
- Adoptability. Your company could have the most powerful software tool in existence, but if it sits unused, that item is just a wasted expense taking up space in your tech stack. Add new technology cautiously. Consult your leadership team, survey the employees who’ll be using it and ask for vendor references. When you do buy something, roll it out with an effective communication strategy and thorough training.
A technological tree
Like a tree, a tech stack can grow out of control and become a nuisance or even a danger to everyone around it. Properly pruned and otherwise well-maintained, however, it can be a powerful and functional business feature. Let us help you identify all your technology costs and assess the return on investment of every component of your tech stack.
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