Common Tech Problems Facing Start-Ups

Guest post by Sheryl Wright

It is exciting and challenging to start a new company. It can feel like an overwhelming experience to someone who has never run a company before. One of the biggest challenges start-ups face is finding the right technology for their needs.

Getting the Right Software and Tools

Your business needs to have the right tools if it is going to function. However, selecting the right software tools is not a straightforward job. For every situation that will require a software tool, there are countless options available. Start-ups need to do their due diligence and search the market to find the tools that meet their requirements.

There are tools that are available that can help increase efficiency by reducing manual tasks. For example, customer relationship management (CRM) software, accounting software, logistics software, and identity and access management (IAM) software automate tasks that improve efficiency and security.

Start-ups need to decide if they want to purchase ready-made software tools or if they would be better served by custom software. Custom software is developed to meet the unique requirements of the organization that purchases it.

The Challenge of Keeping Up-To-Date with Technology

Technology is constantly changing. To stay up-to-date, a start-up may need to purchase new software or subscribe to a software that is automatically updated.

Start-ups need to employ the latest technological solutions. This will save them time in the short-term and future-proof their business. The goal is to find a technology that is scalable and upgradable.

Start-ups may see constantly updating their software as a waste of money. However, successful start-ups see investing in technology as an investment in the business’s future.

Understanding the frustration that start-ups have when purchasing new technology as it becomes available, many companies are following the XaaS model. This allows start-ups to subscribe to a service that ensures they will always have the latest technology to meet their needs.

Creating Digital Solutions

To thrive in the current market, businesses need to create digital solutions that range from e-commerce stores to websites to mobile apps. If a start-up limits its sales to a physical store, it is hampering potential revenue. More people purchase their products online than they do from brick-and-mortar locations.

The website has long since replaced the storefront. Start-ups need websites that are visually appealing, secure, fast, and offer an unparalleled user experience.

This does not happen overnight or on its own. Besides building the website, start-ups will need to invest in technologies like CIAM, which is designed to keep customers safe while improving the customer’s interaction with the app.

Businesses should not think of having a website as something that is optional. Currently, there are five billion unique mobile users worldwide. These individuals are purchasing their products online. Therefore, offering services and products via mobile is important for business.

It is expensive and time-consuming for start-ups to develop these services in-house. Start-up owners may not have the time to visit a valuable resource, like Wiki Dll, every time they get a “dll is missing” error or have some other problem with their software or their website. It is cost-effective for them to outsource these services to professionals who solely focus on this field.

Choosing the Right Hardware

It can be confusing for start-ups to know what hardware they need. It is a greater challenge to know whether to buy or lease hardware.

There can be some debate about whether employees should have desktops or laptops. The solution often depends on the budget and working conditions of the start-up.

A start-up that has a large budget and wants its employees to be remote may opt for laptops. However, if the bulk of the work is being done in the office, then desktops would be the best option.

What type of printer is best? Will your start-up benefit from having a 3D printer? Or is a standard printer the best? Should your organization purchase on-premise servers? Or is cloud hosting the best option? These are just a few of these hardware choices businesses need to think about.

Conclusion

There are so many tech challenges that start-ups face that it can seem overwhelming. Messing up on any of them can lead to disaster. Failing to properly implement cybersecurity can lead to expensive breaches. A slow, unresponsive website can drive customers away. Therefore, it is vital that start-ups take technology challenges seriously.

Sheryl Wright is a freelance writer whose passions include inclusive business, interior design, and travel. She currently lives in Nashville, TN, with her cat, Saturn.