Technology can be your biggest accelerator—or your biggest bottleneck. As your service business scales, the patchwork of tools that got you started may no longer cut it. Mismanaged access, overlapping subscriptions, and manual workarounds can drain productivity and create unnecessary risk.
Here’s how to get your systems back under control:
🔹 1. Conduct a Tech Audit Once a Year
-
- List every platform, app, and software license your team uses.
- Identify redundancies, underused tools, and shadow IT (tools employees use without approval).
- Eliminate what no longer serves you.
🔹 2. Tighten Up Access Control
-
- Remove access for former employees and contractors.
- Use role-based permissions instead of giving everyone full access.
- Consider a password manager or identity access tool to centralize control.
🔹 3. Automate the Repetitive Stuff
-
- Look for tasks repeated across projects or departments—like client reminders, task assignments, or file creation.
- Use native automation tools (Zapier, Make, built-in workflow tools) to streamline them.
🔹 4. Consolidate Where Possible
-
- Are you using five tools that one platform could handle?
- Choose platforms that integrate well and reduce context switching for your team.
Pro Tip: Add your tech stack review to your annual planning calendar. Don’t wait for something to break—optimize before it costs you time, money, or momentum.
