Working to build a startup could be quite a difficult task. Here are the top five technological challenges that startups need to be prepared for:#1. Cyber security
Almost all businesses today are dependent on the internet in some way or the other, whether it is a construction company or a restaurant startup. However, the cyber threats faced by startups that have all their operations running online are quite high. Several startups are part of the B2B market and this means that other firms will be dependent on them for running things smoothly.
All modern startups need to understand the importance of installing antivirus and firewall software systems to mitigate various cyber risks. It is also vital to train the staff about handling sensitive customer information. You need to ensure that company information is accessible only through safe web connections. Startups can consider getting a web insurance policy that will offer protection in case of an information breach.
#2. In-app chat features
It is predicted that by the end of 2015, about 42 percent of the world population would be using a smartphone. All smartphone users will likely do all their communicating, shopping and brand engagement using their mobile devices. To stay abreast with such technological advancements, startups need to adopt smarter technologies and integrate communication channels for building a cohesive interface. A fast evolving medium of interaction in today’s technological world is chat.
Businesses have begun to realize the importance of incorporating in-app chat features for supporting their systems while offering customers a quick way to connect with the business instantly.
#3. Latest call center technology
There has been a constant evolution in the technology being used in call centers recently. It could be challenging for startups to keep up with the latest technological innovations coming into the market.
Some of the latest call center technologies include:
- Automated call distributors
The system is developed for managing incoming calls at a call center. It connects the incoming calls to the relevant party based pre-determined business logics. Several automated call distributors boast of skill-based connecting technology, which routes the calls to appropriate customer service agents on the basis of skill sets.
- Predictive dialers
Predictive dialers work by automatically calling a number list in sequence. In the process, they screen out no answers, busy signals as well as answering machines. These machines can also predict the time at which a customer service agent would be available for taking a call.
- Problem tracking systems
These systems are generally utilized in call centers for recording and tracking the progress of customer issues. They collect all the important data related to the issue while enabling the manager to know which agent owns the responsibility for resolving it.
- Email Reply Management Software
The software undertakes automatic handling of emails as per user-defined rules. Several call centers utilize the software to handle a bulk of emails and for tracking and recording the statuses of messages as well as follow-up messages. The software can also be utilized to offer automated replies to all incoming emails basis a reference email response from before.
#4. Hiring Bad Programmers
Another technology-related challenge faced by several startups is recruiting average or bad programmers. A tech team is a crucial part of any startup company today. All startups kick off with a clever idea. To implement this idea effectively, they then hire a team of programmers. However, several business-minded people are not qualified to hire technical staff. They don’t have the background or knowledge base to tell a good programmer from a bad one. So, a majority of them fail to get it right the first time.
In reality, startup founders select people they believe to be good programmers and end up with a team of mediocre tech individuals who have limited knowledge of the upcoming technologies in their field.
#5. Inappropriate platform
Another problem, related to the one mentioned above is selecting the incorrect platform. For instance, several startups destroyed themselves when they decided to develop Windows server-based applications. Hotmail continued to run for several years on FreeBSD after Microsoft purchased it, seemingly because Windows was unable to manage the load. In the scenario that the founders of Hotmail had used Windows, they could have got swamped.
A platform is not really a clear word. It could refer to some programming language, operating system etc. It refers to something, which acts like a foundation for a house.
The tricky part with platform selection is that it might appear to be a responsible choice to the outsiders, but still have the ability to destroy a business. A great example of this could be the Java applets. It was meant to be a renewed way to deliver applications. And supposedly it destroyed almost 100 percent of all startups that bought it.
Startups can select the right platform for their business by first hiring good programmers. They will be the best judge of which platform to choose.