How a modern tech stack provides a competitive advantage

From slow to early adapter

Modern technological developments rapidly follow each other and force companies to take an increasingly critical look at their IT landscape. The philosophy “to stand still is to go backwards” applies more than ever, and modernizing the software, frameworks and infrastructure (in short, as a ‘tech stack’) is therefore not a luxury but a pure necessity to remain competitive and relevant as a company.

Using old technologies is often a pitfall for many companies and can lead to slow and inefficient operations. It hinders the progress and innovation of an organization and makes a company less attractive to work for. This article shows how a modern tech stack can help with this transformation and how companies quickly choose the right resources to be flexible, scalable, and innovative.

Risks of an old IT environment

According to Dion Drost, Account Manager of IT & Innovation at LINKIT, an outdated IT landscape can entail significant risks for a company. “Not only on an operational level but also on the company’s position in the market,” he says. “Old techniques often impose restrictions on the growth of a company. On the other hand, modern stacks are designed to scale seamlessly with an organization’s (growing) needs, making it easier for them to adapt to changing circumstances.”

“Modern stacks, on the other hand, are designed to scale seamlessly with an organization’s (growing) needs.”

In Dion’s eyes, modern technologies are optimized for business process improvement. “The speed and performance that a modern stack brings results in significant time savings and increased productivity. But also regarding data processing and real-time insights, you put yourself 1-0 ahead of your competition.”

Flexible, innovative resources

Choosing flexible and innovative resources is crucial for a successful tech stack. Dion: “There are several considerations for organizations. For example, cloud platforms offer unprecedented scalability, and companies can quickly adapt their infrastructure without major hardware investments. And by using tools and software that have an API-first approach, you integrate this software seamlessly with other systems. This facilitates data transfer and functionality between different applications.”

One of the ways to increase flexibility is through the use of low-code. “Low-code platforms, such as Mendix and OutSystems, enable organizations to rapidly develop company-specific software thanks to the visual aspect. And as the organization grows, the applications can be easily extended and modified, increasing scalability. So a company becomes more agile and can react more quickly to changing market conditions and customer needs, making them more competitive.”

Strategic decision

Moving to a modern tech stack is a strategic decision that must be carefully planned and executed. To successfully implement this transformation, there are five steps for an organization to take, says Dion.

“The first step is to assess the current infrastructure and identify weaknesses that limit growth and efficiency. You then set goals that you want to achieve with the new stack, after which you conduct extensive research into new (modular and flexible) technologies that align with these goals. Companies such as LINKIT are often approached to help organizations with this. Step four is conducting pilot projects through small POCs (Proof of Concept, ed.) before deploying the stack on a large scale. Learn from the results and adjust where necessary. Finally, after implementation, training those involved sufficiently to use the new technologies optimally is important. Proper training and education are essential to unlock the full potential of a modern tech stack.”

“Proper training and education are essential to unlock the full potential of a modern tech stack.”

An agile and innovative early adapter

Using old technologies can break a company’s growth and competitiveness. By investing in a modern tech stack, companies can improve efficiency, innovate faster and gain a competitive edge. “These strategies not only help to catch up on the backlog,” Dion points out, “but also provide faster load times, better responsiveness, and stronger security. Moreover, a modern tech stack makes the company much more attractive to engineers and new talent because they can work with the latest technologies.”

He concludes: “In fact, by using a modern infrastructure, you not only gain a competitive advantage, but you also transform an organization into an agile and innovative trendsetter in the market. And that is paying off.”

Do you want to read more about modernizing your tech stack? Take a look at these articles:

• Modernize your tech stack, why is it so important?
• Modernize your application? You can do it, with these 3 tips!