11 TIPS FOR ADDING TO YOUR SMALL BUSINESS TECH STACK
All business, large and small, run on a tech stack - the digital programs and tools you use to make your business possible. If you can think of it, someone is probably willing to sell you it. If you look hard enough, you'll find solutions for solutions.
How to pick what you need
Product demos are slick. They're designed to look great and always work. It's easy to get caught up in them. Here's a check-list of how to get through them without getting lost in the shiny features and slick talk:
- Ask yourself what problem are you really trying to solve
- Does any of your existing software already do what they are showing you?
- Go in knowing your pain points, and press hard on how they are going solve them for you
- Ask the same questions in different ways throughout the demo (if they're BS-ing you, it will come out more readily this way)
- Get a list of references, other stores that use the product - but not one or two, you want a lot, as many as they'll give you
- Plan ahead, have pointed questions for the references, real-world stuff the sales guy won't really know as well as them
The fear of change
Employees can torpedo the second coming of just about anything through sheer apathy. That's on you to avoid. Here's some suggestions:
- You need to use it - if you don't, they won't, end of story
- Find a champion - someone that sees the value and will be a power-user to set the example
- Develop a process for use long before you install - something that everyone can understand and easily follow
- If it is a requirement of employment to use it, set expectations and guidelines on its use and then;
- Back up your wording with action if they don't - fail to do this even once, and the precedent has been set and you can kiss your monthlies goodbye as wasted investments
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