4 Tools Every Tech Startup Needs to Consider

Running a business is not as simple as putting up a website and offering products or services to the masses. A great deal of thought has to be put into a seemingly endless list of operational aspects, from branding and marketing to pricing and customer support. In the tech universe, it can be argued that an even higher degree of consideration needs to be given to how the business runs, based on the ever rising number of technology-based companies entering the market each year. Fortunately, there are a number of smart tools designed to help tech startups reach the next level with fewer headaches and greater efficiency. Here are a few to consider.

Client Relationship Management

Without strong client relationships, tech startups have little foundation from which they can successfully grow. In the fast-paced tech world, though, it can be a challenge to keep up with the influx of new customers – or the ones who have decided to move on.

Client relationship management tools, or CRMs, are designed to assist with the ongoing organization of incoming and outgoing customers. Tech startups can utilize CRMs to maintain information on clients and customers, such as lead source, lifetime value, personal data like birthday or product anniversary date, and additional sales opportunities that may be on the horizon. Some of the most popular CRMs include SalesForce, Streak and Nimble.

Accounting and Finance

Unless finance is your “thing”, most business owners and high level managers struggle with accurately completing accounting tasks for their tech startup. However, because budgets are often tight, someone without the necessary financial prowess ends up doing the books – for better or worse.

Tech startups can lift the burden of complex accounting and financial reporting requirements from employees and management by utilizing certain finance tools designed for startup organizations. Whether you are in need of an easy way to manage payroll or a fully loaded accounting program, companies like ThePayStubs, Freshbooks, Quickbooks and Xero have you covered.

Project Management and Communication

The day to day operations of a tech startup can be a whirlwind of different tasks, and keeping up with everything that needs to be done while also communicating status updates is a true challenge. For growing companies, a task management tool like Asana or Basecamp, or an internal communication application like Slack can be a lifesaver. Projects and assignments can be monitored for progress, and employees both onsite and in remote locations have the ability to quickly and easily collaborate on new ideas and work in development. The use of project management tools and communication mediums play a critical role in ongoing success for the majority of tech startups.

Marketing and Social Media

There is no denying that marketing is a critical need for all tech startups, as is the use of social media to spread the marketing word. However, creating the right messaging for a specific brand is not always an easy task, nor is sharing that information on the social platforms customers are using each and every day. Fortunately, there are a number of affordable social media and marketing tools available to tech startups to lend a hand with ongoing marketing needs. Platforms such as Buffer, MailChimp and HootSuite take the pain out of scheduling and posting valuable content to all necessary social mediums, ultimately leading to improved brand recognition and more customers.

While this list is not nearly exhaustive, the tools listed above are a great place to start for any tech startup. Regardless of the product you sell or the service you provide, CRMs, accounting and finance tools, project management platforms and marketing mechanisms can assist in organizing and managing business operations with a tech startup in an efficient and cost-effective way.