As you build your strategic plans for the future, one of the looming issues is likely to be “where does tech fit in here?” As HR continues to evolve as one of the most data-forward fields, having a reliable, innovative tech stack (an underlying technology platform that automates processes) is crucial. As you try to figure out what the best tech stack would be for your organization, there are a number of factors to consider.

What Does “Better” Mean To Your Organization?

Every organization has different goals, so not every tech platform is going to mean “success.” Before you make significant changes to your tech situation, it’s important to stop and determine what your organization’s most pressing needs are and which platforms can meet those. Are you looking to reduce benefit costs for existing employees? Are you trying to reduce your cost-to-hire or time-to-hire for your recruiting?

Having a software platform just to say you have it is not the way to go. It means diving into the nitty-gritty of what each platform does—and what it does best—to make sure that you’re getting the most possible bang for your buck. The value and benefits of your tech stack should be clear and easily understood for all stakeholders.

Are You Buying Marketing Or Functionality?

Tech is full of buzzwords and fast-paced decisionmaking (Adopt now! Optimize your workflow in an instant!)—but are you choosing the right solution for your organization or the hype of a buzzy product? Ask yourself if each platform has features that are business critical for your organization, or it’s made up of bells and whistles that are nice to have, but not essential. After you’ve committed resources to buying or developing your tech stack, you could find yourself overwhelmed by the implementation for a system that doesn’t even meet your needs fully.

What Kind Of Development Will It Take To Implement?

Implementing a new or improved tech stack is going to be a huge investment of resources for your organization. Are you buying an enterprise-ready (out of the box, so to speak) solution or one that will require months of customization and development? Is your organization prepared for a long onboarding process?

While considering tech developments, it’s also important to consider scalability in any system. It’s important to keep a close eye on your strategic development goals as an organization and to keep those in mind as you plan your technology upgrades. Will the system be able to accommodate more employees, more applicants, and more processes as you grow? Will you need to add expensive licenses shortly down the road? Will the infrastructure support more weight as your business needs evolve?

How Do You Know When It’s Time To Upgrade Your System?

If you don’t have a tech stack in place (or have multiple, outdated systems that don’t work in tandem), it’s a pretty straightforward decision to upgrade. But what if you already have a tech stack in place that isn’t yet breaking down? When you feel like your underlying system is full of workarounds or manual interventions, or just isn’t meeting your organization’s needs like it used to, it’s time to seriously investigate potential new solutions.

Whatever platforms you decide to adopt as part of your tech stack, you want a system that will be fast, responsive, and capable of keeping up with late-breaking changes. After all, you don’t want to invest the time and money in a system that will need to be completely re-evaluated in a year or two. Focusing on the real needs of your business and the growth you plan to make can help you put a system in place that grows right along with you and provides the support your organization’s needs.