Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Tech it is a vital component of almost every modern business plan, but it is applied too often before it is properly evaluated. I've been on countless forums that include someone stating, “If you want success, you must use .” But in reality, technology is an extension of your business, not someone else's guide with numbers for you to replicate what's already been done.
Of course, following someone else's lead can help reduce some of the decision-making steps at the start, but it may not be the best strategy once an enterprise or organization is established. So I'm not here to tell you what technology to use, because I believe the process of choosing the right one is both complex and unique to each user. You can and should feel good about the systems you've invested in.
Here are some signs that yours are no longer supporting you as they should.
1. Spending too much time on setup and adjustments
It's all too easy to find yourself pulling late nights, skipping events, and spending less time with the people you care about, instead having frustrating computer sessions where you feel like you're banging your head against a wall. . In the end, you can only get as far as “good enough,” then call it a wrap.
The saying that “fighting your technology is part of business” just isn't true, or shouldn't be anyway. The odd late night session when you get inspired can be productive, but they should end with a sense of victory, not a compromise.
Connected: How to choose the right technique for your startup
2. Depending on outside people to make adjustments
It's common to have a friend or family member who is “really good at it” set up the technology. The problem is that it's very easy for this to result in a situation where someone else is running your business. Not having the confidence to dive into your digital tools and/or having repetitive, stressful conversations with the help desk because the person you visit isn't available just won't work.
3. Customers become aware of the problem
When you're an entrepreneur, customers are usually pretty understanding. They know you wear many hats and that technology can be tricky to navigate. But at the heart of things, they are looking for your services, and unsupportive tools will hinder that – affecting your relationships. Your problems should never become their problems.
4. You avoid opening your app
There are many reasons to dread opening an app. These can range from a color scheme that isn't intuitive, to UX that isn't intuitive – for example, you have to refer to help pages to perform routine tasks, or maybe things have frequency issues. This cannot happen with your digital services.
5. You're not having fun
Not everyone loves technology like I do, but you should have a feeling that yours is what I call “automagic”. This means that you work and reap the rewards – that the technology supports you and you feel empowered rather than drained by it. The absence of such happy feelings means that there is a vital issue to be addressed.
Be warned, though: even if you're experiencing any or all of the above, don't just run out to invest in new software. Because the reality is that the right technology may not yet be built for you or that you are not built for it. As any entrepreneur knows, it is essential to know a target audience, and the same applies to technology: it is not designed for absolutely everyone, even if it has the most and the best reviews.
Connected: Which software solution is best for your business? Here's how to decide.
Some factors to consider when thinking about your needs:
Set goals: The first step is to clarify your business goals and objectives, which have a lot of power when implementing support software and other solutions. From monthly costs to ease of use, understanding what your unique needs are is critical before investing in tools that can truly help (and never hinder) operations.
If you want to grow and scale, you need software that can support changes in data size/complexity – it can scale to more clients in different ways. And if your budget can't afford solutions that scale in this way, then consider technology goals that may be more in tune with understanding transition points and how to transition to new systems in response.
Inventory: Once you have clarity of purpose, go through each app you're using and write down how it's helping you achieve them. And don't forget to include what you resentment about them, along with the subscription cost and how much effort they require. This process paints a picture of the value of individual tools and the current state of your technology stack. It also helps to highlight any gaps and opportunities.
Alignment: Your digital tools should “spark joy,” as professional organizer and consultant Marie Kondo would say. That doesn't mean they have to be 100% perfect, but basically, they should make your life easier, not harder. Consider whether they can be manipulated, optimized or reduced, or if it's time to trade in something new.
Connected: 5 tech tools to impress your coworkers and neighbors all summer long
If you stick to this evaluation framework, you'll work more productively, avoid stress, increase output, get back into focus, and simply enjoy what you do more. The right choices will reflect your values, be easy to use, grow with you, provide a clear ROI, and work well alongside other systems.