7 mistakes made when exploring new tech
New tech should be an enabler, but for companies that choose the wrong products or suppliers, it can be more than an expensive mistake - it could hold your business back for years. Here are a few pitfalls to help you avoid disaster:
- Not correctly identifying needs.
Before looking at new technology, it's essential to identify your needs. To some, it's very easy to be led by new features or claims made by software vendors and lose sight of the specific pain points that you're trying to solve. A 'needs first' approach will always lead you to the vendor, features and functionality that you need to address those specific pain points or opportunities.
- Looking for a product that fits how you work today, not tomorrow.
You want to improve your business, right? So, stop looking at solutions that fit what you do today and ask what you want your business to look like in 5 years - then find a solution that meets those requirements. Things move fast in tech and there's a massive opportunity for forward-thinking recruiters. Don't get left behind.
- Thinking the same way as everyone else.
Don’t be constrained by what you think may or may not be possible. Technology should be an enabler, so don't be held back at this early stage. Don't be afraid to be different. Speak to vendors about what you want to achieve and see if they can make it happen.
- Forgetting the client and candidate experience.
When evaluating new technology, consider how clients and candidates will interact with your business and your service. Will they benefit from engaging with you differently or by taking another service from you?
- Collecting software.
The trend for building tech stacks with multiple integrations opens businesses up to risks. Consider leveraging new technology to reduce complexity and scale back your reliance on integrations, other vendors and disparate systems.
- Not considering scalability.
As your business grows or changes shape, your technology needs to evolve. Look for a scalable solution that can help you grow, diversify, open new offices etc.
- Support and maintenance are an afterthought.
Consider the vendor's ability to provide the support and maintenance required to keep the new technology running smoothly. Look for solutions that offer robust support and where the vendors will continue to work with you on maximising the benefits over the lifetime of the software. Speak to peers about their experiences with particular vendors and ask each vendor how they support clients.Would you like help benchmarking technology or understanding the best way to choose and implement new software? Please speak to one of our experts today.Written by Daniel Fox, Marketing Manager at Mercury.