Today the IT startup market is oversaturated. Many software companies develop automation services, bots, and neural networks, while startups, in its turn, integrate these services into their applications. But how to choose the right software for startup and what things to keep in mind?
Knowing your talent pool
Before even jumping into technical stuff, the first thing you should think about is human resources. Behind all the software and technologies are true specialists who know what they are doing.
The common mistake of most startups is to either hire developers in different technologies or put all the responsibility on a small in-house team that will be in charge of development, architecture, testing, etc.
Both approaches do not bode well for startup growth.
Ideally, all you need at the first stages is a tech visionary that will choose the right technology stack, architecture, and required infrastructure for your software. All the tech decisions should be based on your goals, budget, and available/unavailable resources.
If you have the right in-house specialists, the choice of software for your product should depend on the knowledge and competence of your team.
However, your team (for example online marketing companies) is just responsible for the technical realization of your plan. That is why it is important to have a CTO or team leader who will be in charge of your startup’s technical department.
Writing software from scratch right away wouldn’t be a wise option – there are numerous SaaS solutions out there that can meet your needs.
Software for startup: IaaS or SaaS
Most startups today rely on ready-made cloud solutions.
The choice of solution directly depends on business needs. Some fully rely on the functionality provided by SaaS (Software as a Service), while others need the ability to customize the functionality to the company’s needs.
In the second case, the IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) platform will be preferable. IaaS solutions are mostly adopted by large companies, while the SMB market uses out-of-the-box SaaS solutions.
When choosing cloud solutions, startups usually have two choices. The first one is to integrate IaaS solutions and then add custom applications on top of it or integrate ready SaaS solutions.
The first option is best suited for startups with an IT department. However, because of the lack of resources, startups often resort to SaaS solutions. Most of them are cross-platform and allow building applications for B2B and B2C areas.
Support
Startups are usually too busy to spend time on IT. However, a smooth running IT infrastructure is an important part of the business that needs to run like clockwork. By moving some of the infrastructures to the cloud, startups can focus more on business development.
Many cloud software providers offer technical support to your company while catering subscription prices specifically for this segment. They help you to configure the system and offer all the support along the way.
Therefore, when choosing software for a startup, it is important to look for a cloud provider that will offer post-support. Study the reviews; make sure that your service provider responds promptly to all customer requests so that the company can operate properly in the future.
Integration with other services
Many service companies need more than just a CRM system and accounting software for effective automation. Often businesses need to combine them with other services: online cash registers, analytics systems, and marketing tools.
That is why startups should look for comprehensive IT systems that combine several solutions at once. For example, many online stores integrate software that combines a CRM system, POS systems, accounting systems, product labeling, and much more.
Resort to consulting
Unfortunately, if your startup is not tech related and you don’t have a tech department in your company, choosing the right software and setting a healthy technological road map can be challenging.
Integration of the right software – not to mention development – trails behind many risks.
That is why it is reasonable for startups to outsource software development — consulting with experts will save you time and resources.
In case you want to find programmers for a startup and expand your in-house team, or you lack a tech leader who can help you set up all the processes, recruiting dedicated teams could be the option.
A dedicated team is a remote staff of engineers, with an experienced project manager, designers, and testers.
It’s a good way to pick a team with the right set of skills, instead of having to run your own IT department.
Conclusion
Thus, when selecting the optimal software for a startup, it is crucial to pay attention to four key questions:
- How many tech talents do you have in the team?
- Can you integrate the software with other services?
- Does software offer post support?
- How customizable the software is?
Thus your startup will be better prepared for scaling and reduce any risks during the integration of software or its development.
