You know, growing a business is one of the most exhilarating experiences out there. You're bringing new ideas to life, winning over customers, and building something truly meaningful. But as you scale, some tech pitfalls can sneak up on you and derail all that hard work. At Valerian, we've seen these challenges time and time again, and trust me, avoiding them can make all the difference. Let me take you through the top five tech mistakes growing companies often make and share how you can dodge them effortlessly.
Skipping the Foundation: Ignoring Scalability
Picture this: your startup is booming, customers are pouring in, and everything feels like it's clicking into place. But beneath the surface, your tech infrastructure is struggling to keep up. It’s like building a skyscraper on shaky ground—eventually, something’s bound to give. Skipping the foundation by ignoring scalability can turn those initial successes into long-term headaches.
In 2024, I worked with a rapidly expanding e-commerce company that initially opted for budget-friendly, quick-fix solutions. As their customer base doubled within months, their website started crashing during peak hours, leading to frustrated customers and lost sales. The fix? Investing in cloud-based, scalable solutions that could grow with their business. It might cost a bit more upfront, but future-you will thank you for setting up a solid foundation now.
Why It Matters: Investing in scalable technology ensures that your business can handle growth without collapsing under its own success. It’s about setting yourself up for sustainable growth, not just short-term gains.
Leaving Cybersecurity on the Back Burner
Let me tell you about a client from last year—a mid-sized financial firm that thought cybersecurity was something they could tackle later. Fast forward to a data breach that compromised sensitive client information. The fallout? Damaged reputation, lost trust, and hefty fines. It was a nightmare they could have avoided by prioritizing cybersecurity from day one.
In today’s digital landscape, small and mid-sized businesses are prime targets for cyber attacks precisely because they often lack robust security measures. Implementing multi-factor authentication, keeping software updated, and educating your team on cybersecurity basics aren’t just good practices—they’re essential.
Why It Matters: Treating cybersecurity as a must-have rather than a nice-to-have can save you from devastating breaches that hurt your reputation and bottom line.
Sticking with Outdated or Inflexible Technology
Sticking with outdated technology is like trying to run a marathon in flip-flops—it’s just not going to work. I’ve seen too many businesses fall into this trap, relying on legacy systems that slow them down and drain their resources.
Take a 2024 example of a traditional manufacturing company that clung to its old ERP system. As they expanded, the outdated software couldn’t handle the increased data load, causing significant slowdowns and errors. By upgrading to a modern, flexible ERP solution, they streamlined operations and boosted efficiency, making their growth sustainable.
Why It Matters: Keeping your tech stack fresh and flexible allows you to stay competitive and meet the evolving demands of your market without being held back by obsolete systems.
Overlooking Data and Analytics
Here’s a golden nugget: your data is pure gold. It tells you what’s working, what’s not, and where to go next. But many companies overlook the power of data and analytics, missing out on insights that could drive their growth.
In 2024, a SaaS company I consulted for wasn’t leveraging its user data effectively. They had heaps of information but no strategy to use it. By implementing a robust data analytics system, they uncovered key trends in user behavior, which informed their product development and marketing strategies, leading to a significant increase in user engagement and retention.
Why It Matters: A solid data strategy enables you to make informed decisions, optimize your operations, and uncover opportunities that propel your business forward.
Not Planning for Tech Team Growth and Support
As your business grows, so do your tech needs. Relying on a small team or a few individuals to handle everything tech-related is a recipe for burnout and bottlenecks. I remember working with a growing digital marketing agency where the tech team was stretched too thin, leading to missed deadlines and frustrated employees.
Planning for tech team growth means not only hiring the right people but also setting up processes and structures that support scalability. A fractional CTO can be invaluable here, helping you map out a plan for expanding your tech team and ensuring that your infrastructure can support your growth without overwhelming your staff.
Why It Matters: Proactively planning for team growth ensures that your tech operations can scale smoothly, maintaining efficiency and preventing burnout as your business expands.
Wrapping It Up
Avoiding these tech pitfalls can save you time, money, and stress as your business grows. At Valerian, we’ve seen firsthand how the right tech choices can make a world of difference. From building a scalable foundation and prioritizing cybersecurity to keeping your technology stack updated and leveraging data effectively, these strategies are essential for sustainable growth.
Ready to navigate your business’s growth without the tech headaches? Let’s chat! Our team at Valerian is here to help you make smart, sustainable decisions that support your expansion and keep your operations running smoothly. Don’t let common tech mistakes hold you back—embrace these insights and watch your business thrive.
