The paradigm shift from clunky hardware to the smooth cloud-based office setup is both noticeable and here to stay.

Over 89% of companies are opting for the digital-first strategy today. As companies become more tech-savvy, the easier it becomes for them to lose control of their tech stack.

If you are looking to have greater control over your tech stack, this post is for you. We have put together a handy guide to help you control your technological infrastructure with a bit of planning. 

What will give IT teams greater control over their Tech Stack?

Tech stack is a term used to refer to the technical setup of a company. All the software, hardware, and technology used by a company to run its operations are collectively called the tech stack.

IT service management tools play a crucial role in managing the tech stack. The aim is to make running operations easier and manageable with the help of technology.

With so much at our disposal, it becomes hard to identify which tool is truly needed and which is not fulfilling its promise. You can end up collecting too many tools and slowing your entire ecosystem.

Conversely, you may have too little infrastructure and are unable to meet the demands. The key is to balance your setup and keep your tech stack under control.

We have outlined some easy-to-follow steps to help you manage your technological space and make the most of it.

1. Identify that the tech stack is out of control

Before you go about fixing your tech stack situation, you should check if you even have one. And if you do, what is the extent of it.

You may face problems with your technological infrastructure here is and there, but it is not a problem unless you have any or all of the issues given below:

• Various tools in your system are not compatible with one another.
• You lose precious data in transfer from one platform to the other.
• You don’t have sufficient backup in case you lose information.
• The staff is not trained enough to manage tools.
• Your tech structure doesn’t support the expansion of your firm.

If you have been experiencing issues along these lines, it is time to take a deeper look at your tech stalk. You may enlist the help of professionals to help you diagnose the problems and find appropriate solutions for them.

2. Catalog the current situation

Now that you are sure that your tech stack is indeed in need of an overhaul, begin by assessing the current situation. Catalog every technical tool you use, and categorize them by departments. 

See if your staff is trained enough to use them. What tools can no longer support your work and need to be upgraded or replaced entirely? Would your staff be able to use the new tools?

Such cataloging helps form the blueprint of your future plans. You get a comprehensive look at a vast framework. You can focus on areas that need attention and check how changes in them will affect the rest of the edifice. 

3. Create a strategy

The next step will be to form a plan around rebuilding your tech stack and bringing it under control. Some tools will be removed from the setup while others will be upgraded. Some others will need to be replaced with entirely newer ones. 

You will need a complete arsenal of tools to execute your plan. This is the stage where you may enlist the help of your team as well as outside professionals. A cross-functional team will help you determine the best course of action.

More importantly, your team is the end-user of your entire tech stack, their voice needs to be heard and accounted for. It tremendously helps to create a tech stack that is functional and in tune with the capabilities of the users.

Given below are some goals you should set for your reformed tech stack:

4. Knowledge management

Whether you go for internal storage of data or cloud-based solutions, the aim should be to make the management of information easier. You should be able to access it and share it without hassle. 

There are also SaaS-based solutions to help you manage your company’s knowledge, saving employees time and effort to look for specific information. 

5. Seamless collaboration

Another requirement it needs to fulfill is that it should facilitate communication between teams. Teams should be able to hold organized conversations amongst themselves while also being able to commute with other teams.

Tools such as chat platforms and video conferencing are vital to the work modules of today. Make sure that the technology supports mobile usage as well. 

6. Security 

Data privacy and security are of utmost importance, especially with the rise of remote working. The more information you share, the harder it becomes to protect the communication lines and access to important data.

All the tools and updates you choose for your tech stack must be uncompromisable in data security. You can also consider additional tools such as anti-virus software and firewalls.

7. Lead the hunt

As you have requirements pinned down, it’s time for the IT team to research the market for the most suitable tools for your setup. Having the checklists prepared in advance helps you search better. 

You may look online or physically for the software hardware and the technology that you need. You may also ask around the industry and look for people’s reviews of them before you make your final decision.

Whatever tools and software you pick, make sure to run a final check before incorporating them into your tech stack. Here is what they should certainly have:

8. Integration and compatibility

All the new software and hardware of your tech stack should be compatible with itself but also with the older stack. For example, if all your computer systems are Windows-based, the newer computers cannot be Linux or Mac. They also need to be Windows.

Compatibility around the entire tech stack helps with seamless collaboration between teams. It also helps boost productivity as employees don’t have to wait around to access information or talk to their colleagues. 

9. Ease of use

This is subjective. While you want software that can be used by everyone easily, you also don’t want to miss out on a technology that would be beneficial for your company simply because it needs to be learned first. 

Look for tools that provide thorough tutorials for their usage. Invest in training your team to use advanced tools. It may seem like an expensive investment, but one that will pay off in the long run. 

10. Growth and expansion

Lastly, your new and improved tech stack should be able to support the expansion of your company. The aim of any company is to grow with time. The tech stack plays an indispensable role in it. 

You can automate processes, enhance operation cycles and manage employees better with the help of technology. It paves way for better performance and eventual growth of the company. 

11. Train your employees

Whether your employees are tech-savvy in general or averse to technology, you should conduct regular training programs to help acquaint them with your tech stack. 

Begin by assessing their current capabilities with technology, and plan training programs around it. Some employees need more help than others. Group them together and spend more time and resources on them. 

As you upgrade and control your stack, keep your employees in the loop and train them for the newer technology as well. Adaptive learning is an efficient way to impart necessary teaching to employees. The module adapts to their learning capabilities and prepares the next lesson around it.

For example, if a learner is not understanding a concept, the next lesson will reinforce that concept in a new or simpler way instead of moving on to the next topic as it may be with other learners.

12. Review

The last and imperative step in transforming your tech stack is to constantly review it. You should know your entire technical infrastructure thoroughly. This way, you can identify which technology is obsolete and in need of reform and which is giving you value for money.

You need to keep a check on changes that are showing positive results and ones that don’t fit into the framework. Conduct analysis of specific things such as work efficiency or the time taken to complete tasks with new software to compare them accurately. 

Conclusion

Tech stalk is the term used to refer to the technical infrastructure of a company. It helps a company run its operations. 

With the technological boom happening around us, it’s important to cultivate an efficient tech stack. It should both enable current operations and be able to incorporate future ones. 

Look for tools that are easy to learn and operate. Train your staff to use them efficiently. And make sure to review your stack for regular upgrades. 

Let us know in the comments what you think is the best way to control the tech stack for your company. 

Also Read: 6 Ways That Meeting Management Tools Help Teams Have More Effective Meetings