[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"services-list":3,"blog-why-scaleup-businesses-are-hurt-by-a-lack-of-technical-digital-strategy":454},[4,82,159,233,307,381],{"id":5,"sort_order":6,"icon":7,"title":8,"slug":9,"tag":10,"tag_color":11,"headline":12,"description":13,"details":14,"image_url":20,"is_active":21,"created_at":22,"outcome_statement":23,"problem_heading":24,"problem_points":25,"benefits":30,"process_steps":43,"differentiators":56,"faq_items":66,"risk_mitigation":79,"testimonial_id":80,"secondary_image_url":81},"804df37c-c81d-4d70-8f61-e74f8ff19404",1,"🏗️","Tech Product Development","tech-product-development","Core Service","#4368fa","Turn your proven expertise into a market-disrupting platform.","We take the knowledge, processes, and IP that make your business exceptional and engineer it into a scalable tech product your customers can access directly - without you having to be in the room for every delivery.",[15,16,17,18,19],"Full-stack product engineering across web and mobile","Scalable cloud architecture designed for licensing and growth","UX & UI design that converts and retains users","Multi-year product roadmaps aligned to your commercial objectives","Ongoing iteration based on user behaviour and market feedback","https:\u002F\u002Fnqvtgsnvkuompyhdclct.supabase.co\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Ffiles\u002Fservices\u002F1771581940383_Joey_Divya_Hoodies.png",true,"2026-02-20T09:57:49.133845+00:00","Turn your proven expertise into a market-leading SaaS platform that generates recurring revenue.","Sound familiar?",[26,27,28,29],"Your revenue is capped by the number of people you can hire and the hours they can deliver","You've tried no-code tools or spreadsheets and hit a ceiling","Clients keep asking for a platform but you don't know how to build one","You know there's a product in your business but every conversation with dev agencies leaves you more confused",[31,34,37,40],{"label":32,"value":33},"Recurring revenue","Move from project-based billing to a scalable subscription model that compounds over time",{"label":35,"value":36},"Reduced founder reliance","A product that delivers value without business owners being personally involved in every engagement",{"label":38,"value":39},"Exit optionality","Tech businesses exit at 5–12x revenue vs 2–5x profit for service businesses",{"label":41,"value":42},"Market leadership","A platform their competitors can't easily replicate, built on your unique domain expertise",[44,47,50,53],{"label":45,"value":46},"Product architecture","We design the technical foundation - data model, integrations, user experience - so it scales from day one",{"label":48,"value":49},"Iterative build","Focused development sprints with regular demos. You see real progress every two weeks, not after twelve months",{"label":51,"value":52},"User testing","Real users on the platform early, giving feedback that shapes the product around actual behaviour",{"label":54,"value":55},"Launch & scale","We help you launch, onboard early adopters, and build the feedback loops that make the product get better over time",[57,60,63],{"label":58,"value":59},"B2B product specialists","We build B2B SaaS platforms - not websites, not apps. This is all we do and we're very good at it.",{"label":61,"value":62},"Outcome-obsessed","We measure success by your success metrics, not by lines of code",{"label":64,"value":65},"Long-term partner","We don't disappear after launch. We stay with you through scale, iteration, and growth.",[67,70,73,76],{"label":68,"value":69},"How long does it take to build a product?","A first release is typically 3–6 months after Discovery. We prioritise getting a valuable product in front of users fast, then iterate.",{"label":71,"value":72},"How much do I need to invest?","It depends on complexity, but we're transparent about investment up front. Discovery gives you a clear budget before you commit to Build.",{"label":74,"value":75},"Do we need a CTO or technical co-founder?","No. We act as your fractional product and technology team. You focus on the business and the market.",{"label":77,"value":78},"What technology do you use?","We have a highly scalable and proven stack that's already serving millions of users - this is Laravel, Vue & AWS, highly tuned by Wubbleyou to deliver performance. Our focus is on proven, scalable technologies that won't paint you into a corner.","We build iteratively with fortnightly demos - so you see real progress at every stage. Combined with Discovery, you never invest in Build without a validated plan. If something isn't working, we catch it in weeks, not months.","f111406d-2d2e-43d5-9d90-fd8ab1b2d95e",null,{"id":83,"sort_order":84,"icon":85,"title":86,"slug":87,"tag":88,"tag_color":89,"headline":90,"description":91,"details":92,"image_url":97,"is_active":21,"created_at":98,"outcome_statement":99,"problem_heading":24,"problem_points":100,"benefits":105,"process_steps":121,"differentiators":134,"faq_items":144,"risk_mitigation":157,"testimonial_id":158,"secondary_image_url":81},"5f0aedc2-2c9f-4ec4-b7a7-8f5d7f7560bc",2,"🧭","Discovery Journey","discovery-journey","De-risk First","#1fcce8","Shape the right problem before you spend a penny on building.","Our intense 6–8 week discovery process is designed to give you absolute clarity on what to build, for whom, and in what order. It's the most important thing we do -  and it typically saves clients 5 figures on product builds by eliminating the wrong assumptions early.",[93,94,95,96],"Stakeholder and user research interviews","Product blueprint and feature prioritisation","Technical scoping and architecture recommendations","Commercial model and pricing strategy validation","https:\u002F\u002Fnqvtgsnvkuompyhdclct.supabase.co\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Ffiles\u002Fservices\u002F1771551490383_1721753344239.jpg","2026-02-19T21:21:26.524359+00:00","Building the wrong product is an expensive mistake - before investing a single penny in development.",[101,102,103,104],"You know there's a product in your business but you don't know where to start","You've had conversations with agencies before and left more confused than when you started","You're worried about building the wrong thing at the wrong time","Your team is too busy delivering to step back and think strategically about product",[106,109,112,115,118],{"label":107,"value":108},"Validated opportunity","A clear, evidence-based assessment of whether your product idea has legs - before you commit budget",{"label":110,"value":111},"Clear blueprint","A detailed product specification and technical roadmap you can take to any development partner",{"label":113,"value":114},"A prototype product","A product that you can actually use, showing how the user journey and product works",{"label":116,"value":117},"De-risked investment","Confidence that you're building the right thing for the right market, with the right approach",{"label":119,"value":120},"Aligned stakeholders","Everyone in the business understands the vision, the plan, and what success looks like",[122,125,128,131],{"label":123,"value":124},"Deep-dive sessions","We immerse ourselves in your business - your expertise, your clients, your operations - to understand what makes you different",{"label":126,"value":127},"Finding Value","We understand the value in your business, and work out what assets\u002FIP you have which translate well into productisation",{"label":129,"value":130},"Product definition","We define the core product - features, user journeys, technical architecture - in enough detail to build from",{"label":132,"value":133},"Blueprint delivery","You get a comprehensive blueprint: product spec, roadmap, and usable prototype - ready to act on",[135,138,141],{"label":136,"value":137},"Strategic, not just technical","We think about your business model, your market, and your exit - not just the technology",{"label":139,"value":140},"Founder-focused","We've guided dozens of service-led founders through this exact transition. We speak your language, not tech jargon",{"label":142,"value":143},"Genuinely de-risked","Discovery exists to protect you from the most expensive mistake in tech: building the wrong thing",[145,148,151,154],{"label":146,"value":147},"How long does Discovery take?","Typically 6–8 weeks. Intensive enough to be thorough, short enough to maintain momentum.",{"label":149,"value":150},"What do I get at the end?","A comprehensive product blueprint including specification, usable prototype, and a phased roadmap we can jointly act on immediately.",{"label":152,"value":153},"What if we already know what we want to build?","Even experienced founders benefit from Discovery. It pressure-tests assumptions, uncovers blind spots, and ensures you're building for your market - not just your instinct.  There can be a difference between what a founder wants, and what they need.  We are productisation experts, and we listen - you will see significant benefit when we take your ideas and thinking, and distil them with our own ability.",{"label":155,"value":156},"Can we skip Discovery and go straight to Build?","We always recommend it, but if you have an existing spec or have completed a thorough discovery elsewhere, we'll assess it honestly and tell you if it's ready. Our experience is that others do not do discovery as well as us for B2B tech products - we are very good at it.  If your existing spec has issues, we will be up front - if we like it, we'll be equally as up front!","Discovery is designed to be the lowest-risk entry point. You invest a fraction of a full build investment and together we create a validated plan - if you learn during discovery that this is not a viable strategy, we pivot - you're not locked into an expensive build","82fa0220-2d70-4be2-aca5-0c1e603086e2",{"id":160,"sort_order":161,"icon":162,"title":163,"slug":164,"tag":165,"tag_color":166,"headline":167,"description":168,"details":169,"image_url":175,"is_active":21,"created_at":98,"outcome_statement":176,"problem_heading":24,"problem_points":177,"benefits":182,"process_steps":195,"differentiators":208,"faq_items":218,"risk_mitigation":231,"testimonial_id":232,"secondary_image_url":81},"d6c3eb2c-929d-4662-8ad3-cdce5fe36bfe",3,"🤖","AI Augmentation","ai-augmentation","Competitive Edge","#22c55e","Implement AI, which actually works","We build AI that actually works inside your business and your product, and solves real world problems. We have a unique 'building block' approach, which means we start by solving small problems quickly, and build in time into safely solving big things.",[170,171,172,173,174],"Custom AI agent design and development","LLM integration (OpenAI, Anthropic, and others)","Internal workflow automation and intelligent routing","AI-assisted product features for your B2B platform","AI strategy and implementation roadmap","https:\u002F\u002Fnqvtgsnvkuompyhdclct.supabase.co\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Ffiles\u002Fservices\u002F1771551565494_Mark_Divya_Emily_Joey.png","Embed AI into your product or operations to unlock efficiency gains your competitors can't match.",[178,179,180,181],"You know AI could help your business but you're overwhelmed by the hype and don't know where to start","You've seen competitors talk about AI and worry you're falling behind","Your team spends hours on repetitive tasks that feel like they should be automated","You're nervous about getting AI wrong - the wrong investment, the wrong approach, the wrong timing",[183,186,189,192],{"label":184,"value":185},"Competitive advantage","Capabilities your competitors don't have - embedded into your product or workflow, not bolted on",{"label":187,"value":188},"Operational efficiency","Automate the repetitive, high-volume work that consumes your team's time and energy",{"label":190,"value":191},"Scalable intelligence","AI that gets better as your data grows - a compounding asset, not a one-off tool",{"label":193,"value":194},"Practical, not theoretical","Working AI in your product within weeks, not a research project that never ships",[196,199,202,205],{"label":197,"value":198},"AI opportunity audit","We map your processes and product to identify where AI creates genuine value - not where it just sounds impressive",{"label":200,"value":201},"Proof of concept","A focused prototype that proves the approach works with your real data, before you commit to full integration",{"label":203,"value":204},"Production integration","We build the AI into your product or workflow properly - secure, scalable, and maintainable",{"label":206,"value":207},"Optimisation & learning","We monitor, tune, and improve the AI based on real usage data so it keeps getting better",[209,212,215],{"label":210,"value":211},"Practical, not hype-driven","We only recommend AI where it creates measurable value. If a simpler solution works better, we'll tell you.",{"label":213,"value":214},"Integrated, not bolted on","AI is built into your product architecture from the start - not a fragile add-on that breaks",{"label":216,"value":217},"B2B context experts","We understand B2B workflows, compliance requirements, and the practical constraints of real businesses",[219,222,225,228],{"label":220,"value":221},"Do we need a data scientist?","No. We handle the technical complexity. You bring the domain expertise and business context.",{"label":223,"value":224},"What kind of AI are we talking about?","It depends on the problem - document processing, intelligent automation, natural language interfaces, predictive analytics. We match the technology to the outcome.",{"label":226,"value":227},"Is our data good enough for AI?","Often yes, even if it needs work. It's the first thing we assess - as it's important we avoid a \"garbage in \u002F garbage out\" problem - if we believe a project will fail for this reason - we will be up front.",{"label":229,"value":230},"What about data privacy and security?","We take this seriously. All AI implementations follow data protection best practices, and we work with you to understand your needs to find the model and provider to provide the level of protection you need.","We start with a focused proof of concept using your real data - so you can see actual results before committing to full integration. Whilst theory is a part, it's not the result - our focus is on execution that makes a positive state change in your business. If AI isn't the right answer, we'll tell you before you spend a penny on it.","cb026b97-f41e-4d15-b17b-6d095fc36a47",{"id":234,"sort_order":235,"icon":236,"title":237,"slug":238,"tag":239,"tag_color":240,"headline":241,"description":242,"details":243,"image_url":249,"is_active":21,"created_at":98,"outcome_statement":250,"problem_heading":24,"problem_points":251,"benefits":256,"process_steps":269,"differentiators":282,"faq_items":292,"risk_mitigation":305,"testimonial_id":306,"secondary_image_url":81},"b195ddb0-5fc4-4b21-80b0-5ebf5d081fa2",4,"📊","Business Intelligence","business-intelligence","Clarity","#f59e0b","See your product performance, and make better decisions, faster.","What numbers must improve to achieve your 3–5 year goals? We create that clarity, build the integration layer to unify your data, and surface it in real-time dashboards that make the right decision obvious.",[244,245,246,247,248],"KPI definition and metric framework design","Data integration layer connecting your existing systems","Real-time executive and operational dashboards","Adoption and performance tracking for your tech product","Reporting infrastructure that scales as your business does","https:\u002F\u002Fnqvtgsnvkuompyhdclct.supabase.co\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Ffiles\u002Fservices\u002F1771551590260_divya_joey.png","Get the visibility you need to make confident decisions - without waiting for someone to pull a report.",[252,253,254,255],"You're making important decisions based on gut feel because you can't get the data fast enough","Your numbers live in five different spreadsheets and nobody agrees on which one is right","You only find out about problems after they've already cost you money","Your board or investors want reporting you can't currently produce without days of manual work",[257,260,263,266],{"label":258,"value":259},"Real-time visibility","See how your business is performing right now - revenue, pipeline, operations - in one place",{"label":261,"value":262},"Confident decisions","Make strategic choices backed by data, not instinct. Faster decisions, fewer regrets.",{"label":264,"value":265},"Early warning systems","Spot problems before they become crises - pipeline drops, churn signals, delivery bottlenecks",{"label":267,"value":268},"Investor-ready reporting","Professional, automated reporting that tells the story your board and investors need to hear",[270,273,276,279],{"label":271,"value":272},"Data audit","We map your data landscape - where it lives, what shape it's in, and what questions you most need it to answer",{"label":274,"value":275},"Architecture & design","We design a data architecture that brings your information together and makes it queryable and reliable",{"label":277,"value":278},"Dashboard build","We build the dashboards and reports you actually need - focused on decisions, not vanity metrics",{"label":280,"value":281},"Training & handover","We make sure you and your team can use, trust, and extend the system independently",[283,286,289],{"label":284,"value":285},"Designed for founders, not analysts","We build dashboards that answer business questions, not ones that require a data degree to interpret",{"label":287,"value":288},"Actionable, not academic","Every metric we surface is connected to a decision you can make or an action you can take",{"label":290,"value":291},"Integrated into your workflow","BI that lives where you work - not another tool you have to remember to check",[293,296,299,302],{"label":294,"value":295},"What data sources can you work with?","Almost anything - CRM, accounting, project management, spreadsheets, databases, APIs. If it holds data, we can likely connect it.",{"label":297,"value":298},"Do we need a data warehouse?","Sometimes, but not always. When we build a product with you, we handle this by default, so it's not something you need to worry about.",{"label":300,"value":301},"How long until we see results?","First dashboards are typically live within 4–6 weeks. We start with your highest-value questions and build outward.",{"label":303,"value":304},"Can our team maintain this themselves?","That's the goal. We build for handover, not dependency. Training and documentation are included.","We start with your highest-value questions and build outward - so you get actionable insights from day one, not after a six-month data warehousing project. If your data isn't ready, we'll tell you honestly and help you fix it first.","b05514e7-0f31-409b-8291-e25115729052",{"id":308,"sort_order":309,"icon":310,"title":311,"slug":312,"tag":313,"tag_color":314,"headline":315,"description":316,"details":317,"image_url":323,"is_active":21,"created_at":98,"outcome_statement":324,"problem_heading":24,"problem_points":325,"benefits":330,"process_steps":343,"differentiators":356,"faq_items":366,"risk_mitigation":379,"testimonial_id":380,"secondary_image_url":81},"cd8895d6-704d-48d2-adad-7c1afc0d80fb",5,"⚙️","Internal Platform Layer","internal-platform-layer","Foundation","#8b5cf6","Build the internal engine that powers your external product.","Productisation without an internal layer creates new chaos. We build the automation, workflow standardisation, and internal tooling that supports your external product - so that as volume grows, your team's effort doesn't grow at the same rate.",[318,319,320,321,322],"Business process analysis and workflow mapping","Automation of repetitive internal operations","System integration across your existing tech stack","Internal tools purpose-built for your team's workflows","The foundation that makes your external product financially viable at scale","https:\u002F\u002Fnqvtgsnvkuompyhdclct.supabase.co\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Ffiles\u002Fservices\u002F1771551603740_Emily.png","Replace the spreadsheets and manual processes holding your business back with a platform that scales with you.",[326,327,328,329],"Your operations run on spreadsheets, email chains, and tribal knowledge that only you understand","You can't delegate confidently because there's no system - just people who know how things work","Every new hire takes months to get productive because nothing is documented or systematised","You've looked at off-the-shelf tools but nothing fits how your business actually operates",[331,334,337,340],{"label":332,"value":333},"Operational clarity","A single source of truth for your core processes - visible, measurable, and not dependent on any one person",{"label":335,"value":336},"Confident delegation","Systems that let your team deliver to your standard without you being in every decision",{"label":338,"value":339},"Scalable operations","Grow your business without proportionally growing your headcount or your stress levels",{"label":341,"value":342},"Founder freedom","Step back from day-to-day operations knowing the business runs to the standard you set",[344,347,350,353],{"label":345,"value":346},"Process audit","We map how your business actually works - not how it should work on paper, but how it runs in reality",{"label":348,"value":349},"Platform design","We design an internal platform that fits your workflows, your team, and your growth plans",{"label":351,"value":352},"Build & rollout","We build iteratively and roll out in phases - so your team adapts gradually, not all at once",{"label":354,"value":355},"Training & embedding","We make sure your team actually uses it. Training, documentation, and ongoing support until it's second nature",[357,360,363],{"label":358,"value":359},"Built for service businesses","We understand the operational challenges of service-led businesses - because that's all we work with",{"label":361,"value":362},"Designed for operators","Built around how your team works, not how a software vendor thinks they should work",{"label":364,"value":365},"Pragmatic, not perfect","We build what you need now and design for what you'll need next - no over-engineering, no bloat",[367,370,373,376],{"label":368,"value":369},"Is this like an ERP system or CRM?","It can be, but it doesn't have to be. We aren't interested in re-inventing platforms which already do a good job.  We recommend those platforms instead, and focus on building a layer which connects it all together, or solving problems those tools don't.",{"label":371,"value":372},"How disruptive is the transition?","We design for minimal disruption. Phased rollouts, parallel running, and hands-on training mean your business keeps operating while the new system beds in.",{"label":374,"value":375},"What if our processes change?","They will - and that's fine. We build flexible systems designed to evolve with your business, not lock you into today's way of working.",{"label":377,"value":378},"Can this integrate with tools we already use?","Yes. We build to integrate with your existing tools wherever it makes sense - no rip-and-replace required.","We design for how your business actually works - not how a software vendor thinks it should. Phased rollouts mean you never risk your entire operation on a big-bang switch. And because we build iteratively, you see and approve every step before it goes live.","0cf87d40-6d19-4a7d-b2e0-fe82d42107dc",{"id":382,"sort_order":383,"icon":384,"title":385,"slug":386,"tag":387,"tag_color":388,"headline":389,"description":390,"details":391,"image_url":397,"is_active":21,"created_at":98,"outcome_statement":398,"problem_heading":24,"problem_points":399,"benefits":404,"process_steps":417,"differentiators":430,"faq_items":440,"risk_mitigation":453,"testimonial_id":380,"secondary_image_url":81},"f4bf1e19-4a12-4e43-8d60-bb1d6ca9f9ab",6,"🛡","Support & Maintenance","support-maintenance","Long-term Partnership","#64748b","Your product in safe hands, permanently.","Business-critical products need business-critical support. Once your platform is live, our team stays with it - handling security, scalability, disaster recovery, bug resolution, and the ongoing technical care your users rely on.",[392,393,394,395,396],"Continuous security monitoring and vulnerability management","Performance optimisation and scalability management","Disaster recovery planning and incident response","Bug resolution and quality assurance","Infrastructure and hosting management","https:\u002F\u002Fnqvtgsnvkuompyhdclct.supabase.co\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Ffiles\u002Fservices\u002F1771551647029_Lee_and_Mark_CA.jpg","Keep your product secure, stable, and evolving - without building an in-house dev team.",[400,401,402,403],"Your product is live but the agency that built it has moved on - and you're not sure who's looking after it","You worry about security vulnerabilities but don't have the technical expertise to assess them","Users are requesting features and fixes but you can't iterate fast enough to keep them happy","You're spending more time managing your technology than growing your business",[405,408,411,414],{"label":406,"value":407},"Peace of mind","Know that your product is monitored, maintained, and secure - without it being your problem to manage",{"label":409,"value":410},"Continuous improvement","Regular updates and feature releases that keep your product competitive and your users engaged",{"label":412,"value":413},"Security confidence","Proactive security updates, vulnerability monitoring, and best-practice infrastructure management",{"label":415,"value":416},"Expert on call","A technical team that knows your product inside out, available when you need them",[418,421,424,427],{"label":419,"value":420},"Technical audit","We assess your current codebase, infrastructure, and security posture - whether we built it or someone else did",{"label":422,"value":423},"Support agreement","A clear, transparent support plan tailored to your product's needs and your budget",{"label":425,"value":426},"Ongoing development","Regular sprints to ship fixes, features, and improvements - keeping your product moving forward",{"label":428,"value":429},"Quarterly reviews","Strategic check-ins to assess product health, plan upcoming work, and align on priorities",[431,434,437],{"label":432,"value":433},"We built it or we'll learn it","Whether we built your product originally or inherited it, we take full ownership and accountability",{"label":435,"value":436},"Proactive, not reactive","We don't wait for things to break. Monitoring, updates, and improvements happen continuously.",{"label":438,"value":439},"Strategic partner, not helpdesk","We think about where your product should go next - not just what's broken today",[441,444,447,450],{"label":442,"value":443},"What are your response times?","It depends on the support tier, but critical issues are typically acknowledged within hours. We'll agree SLAs that match your needs.",{"label":445,"value":446},"Can you work on code someone else built?","Yes. We regularly take over products built by other teams. The technical audit gives us - and you - a clear picture of what we're working with.",{"label":448,"value":449},"What's included in support?","It varies by plan, but typically: bug fixes, security updates, performance monitoring, minor feature work, and regular communication. We'll tailor it to your needs.",{"label":451,"value":452},"Is there a minimum commitment?","We typically work on rolling quarterly agreements. Long enough to be effective, flexible enough that you're never locked in.","We start every engagement with a thorough technical audit - so we understand your codebase before making any changes. No surprises, no guesswork. And our rolling agreements mean you're never locked into a long-term contract that isn't working.",{"id":455,"slug":456,"title":457,"description":458,"hero_image_url":459,"hero_image_alt":457,"body_html":460,"category":461,"author":462,"published_at":463,"reading_time_minutes":235,"featured":464,"is_active":21,"sort_order":465,"created_at":466,"updated_at":467},"6192e8cb-90db-436a-b86b-9c790d4f34a8","why-scaleup-businesses-are-hurt-by-a-lack-of-technical-digital-strategy","Why scaleup businesses are hurt by a lack of technical\u002Fdigital strategy","Today we look into why scaleup businesses are hurt by a lack of technical\u002Fdigital strategy","https:\u002F\u002Fnqvtgsnvkuompyhdclct.supabase.co\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Ffiles\u002Fblog\u002Fc52d4a0ef197.png","\u003Cp>Close to one-third of IT decision-makers (32%) say that digital business has already helped their organization achieve revenue growth (with an average of a 23% increase) – according to IDG.  Are businesses which are not taking care of this missing out on a substantial increase in revenue? LinkedIn Sales Navigator suggests that there are ~360k MDs\u002FCEOs in the UK, but only 32k Technical Directors\u002FCTOs\u002FCIOs.  Based on this, back of the napkin maths creates an assumption that up to 91% of businesses have no one in the leadership team with a technical background.  The same search for businesses with a headcount of 11-500 people suggests that 87% of scaleups\u002FSME businesses suffer the same problem.How does this impact a business? Well, technology can be a complex subject.  As businesses, we outsource legal and accountancy services for the same reason.Businesses likely use accountancy software like Xero or FreeAgent, and on occasion use online software to generate lower risk legal documents (like a website privacy policy), but when it matters (like filing yearly accounts, or reviewing contracts), we use experts.Does the same happen with technology?It’s common for scaleup founders to understand their business, and the business strategy they have to drive it forward.  However, who is looking after the tech? Who is driving forward a digital strategy to empower your business strategy? Is this creating opportunity cost for the business? Is it important to have a technical strategy to align with business strategy?According to Adobe, digital-first companies are 64% more likely to achieve their business goals than their peers. That’s a hard figure to ignore.  Would accelerated digital transformation better able you to hit your objectives? If you already are, would higher adoption allow you to set more ambitious objectives?How is a competitor likely to compare who is doing this successfully? How will that impact your business? Warning signs that not doing this is negatively impacting business right now:In terms of day to day problems you may notice, we’ve compiled a handy list of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wubbleyou.co.uk\u002Fblog\u002Funcategorised\u002F21-indicators-that-lack-of-tech-is-slowing-scaleup-growth\">21 Indicators that lack of tech is slowing scaleup growth\u003C\u002Fa>, some of these are:Slow, manual and error prone processes rely heavily on paper or spreadsheet softwareReports are not accurate, not trusted and are slow\u002Fmanual to createData is not used to make evidence-based decisions, key decisions are made on assumption and not evidenceAdding more people just makes things slowerManual admin work leads to repeated mistakes Zooming out, we generally see these problems:There is no technical expert within the business, meaning tech is not an informed consideration when the leadership team make decisionsThere is little to no coordination amongst active projects (different people running projects with no coordination). There may be competing solutions\u002Fsoftware in the business (e.g. 2 reporting tools), or solutions which can’t talk to each other, making automation harderTechnology is put into place to fix current issues, without thinking longer term. Thus, this technology reaches a natural limitation and must be replaced later, after it’s already embedded into the business – this is painfulThe ROI generated, nor the problems solved by technology implemented, are not understood, meaning it’s not clear if it was worth doing or notProblems reoccur and build up over time, meaning more and more time is spent firefightingCompetitors are more competitive and innovative, and are accelerating this gap What should a technical\u002Fdigital strategy achieve?Ultimately, your business objectives. It is important that a technical strategy empowers the business, to ensure that the execution of this strategy leads to paddle strokes which match the drum beat of the business. Lack of coordination increases chance of failure.What should be empowered\u002Fachieved?Remember that digital & software are a conduit, not the objective. A technical strategy must demonstrate how it will enable business objectivesWhat are the key objectives in the business strategy? How will technology either empower or achieve these?\u003Cbr>undefinedAn understanding of where the business is now, what will need to change to allow this transformation?What does success look like? How do we measure whether the execution of the strategy is working or not?A digital strategy \u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>must not\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fem> act as an enabler of the blind adoption of technology because it seems like the right thing to do.  It \u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>must\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fem> empower business objectives.We recommend in our DIY Digital Transformation document an approach which considers at least the following:Adoption of technology & automation of processesUse of data to drive decision makingContinuous Digital ImprovementProcess documentation How do I do it?We have detailed in our DIY Digital Transformation document an approach to achieve this.Below we’ve listed some excerpts as questions:What are your business objectives, and how should tech be used to drive those forward?What does success look like? How will you measure that?What are the current pain points in your business?What will your business look like if you eliminated these pain points?Do you have your current processes mapped & documented? Is this documentation used? Would automating these generate a ROI?Are your processes enforced via software? Is it easy to make a mistake in any of your processes, or bypass key gate checks? Who should be involved?Less than 30% of a company’s technology vendors are actively involved in their digital transformations.A business implementing technology without an overall strategy, and lack of coordination between staff\u002Fsuppliers, is like a rowing boat where everyone paddles in different directions.  It is common in this situation to see the following pitfalls:Technology implemented for the ‘now’, not the long term, leading to problems later. e.g. duplication of effort and wasted time\u002FresourceA lack of communication, resulting in staff\u002Fsuppliers making decisions which negatively impact other solutions managed by other staff\u002FsuppliersNo single person has a top down strategic view of the whole tech landscape in the business, reducing coordination and increasing the chance of failure and surprises To reduce that risk, it’s important the following people are involved:Someone from the leadership team to steer at a high level & provide strategic input (e.g. a Technical Director\u002FCTO\u002FOperations Director\u002FCOO)Someone reporting to that person to manage the day to day execution of the planKey technology suppliers who manage key software\u002FinfrastructureFrom here, if there is someone overseeing all projects, and if everyone is aware of the plan, it reduces the changes of failure.It’s also worth considering who is able to champion this as a day to day activity from within the business?  Does anyone have the skillset, or is coachable?\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>Empowering a person to drive this forward day to day, ensures that it's not just thought and strategy, but that there is action driving the plan forward.We have no one with the technical experience to execute this, what next?It’s important that there is someone present who understands technology from a strategic perspective, and who is able to bridge that gap between business strategy and technical strategy.Relatively few SMEs have a CTO\u002Ftechnical director in the business, that person would normally fit the bill.If that is the case, the following are options:\u003Cstrong>Hire a CTO\u003C\u002Fstrong>“The median salary in 2019 for the job title CTO was 80,000. A chief technology officer in the bottom 10% of the salary range made 49,000” – CTO AcademyThere will be a natural point at which employing a CTO makes sense.  If you’re a technology business by nature, that is likely to be relatively earlier in the journey, especially if you’re looking to raise investment.\u003Cstrong>Hire a Virtual CTO\u003C\u002Fstrong>This may be a good bridge with a lower cost than a full CTO, but you’re paying consultancy rates, so expect to pay around £1-2k per month.\u003Cstrong>Use an existing technology partner\u003C\u002Fstrong>Providers like Wubbleyou strive to be more than just a software\u002Fsolution provider.  We often input (or lead) on wider technical strategy, simply because we’re the most technically capable entity involved with the client. We’re able to provide further value, as understanding and shaping long term technical strategy ensures we consider that when executing shorter term projects.When taking this approach, it’s important that you build a strong relationship with your solutions provider (like us) to ensure everyone is aligned.  It’s important to:Ensure that mutual trust existsEnsure everyone is honest & transparent. The strategy naturally involves solution provider (as they are probably delivering key elements) Why don’t businesses do it?IDG lists the biggest obstacles in achieving success with digital business as:Lack of sufficient budget (39%)lack of staff and\u002For correct skill sets (36%)the need to replace legacy systems (34%)cultural issues (33%)We also don’t know what we don’t know.  Without the technical expertise in the first place, how do business owners know what is possible?Let’s face it, it’s hard – but it has high reward when done correctly.  We recommend following a crawl, walk, run approach.  At a high level, this looks like:Understanding high level objectives (business strategy objectives), and create understanding of how tech would support this, create objectives for a multiyear technical strategy which align with business strategyUnderstanding easy wins, what are the painful\u002Fcostly processes in the business which if resolved would see an immediate Return on InvestmentUse this momentum to learn and create confidence\u002Fbuy in throughout the team, and free up budget for further reinvestment. This starts to become culturalIncrementally undertake more ambitious projects to increment closer to strategic objectives, by creating 90 day and 12-month objectives ConclusionTechnical\u002Fdigital strategy is hard, but rewarding when executed correctly.  Technology is a way to leverage your business strategy, and must be used to empower and accelerate the business towards the achievement of your business objectives.Digital-first companies are 64% more likely to achieve their business goals than their peersScaleups with no technical expert in their leadership team, are not likely equipped to create and execute a technical strategyScaleups who are using an external software\u002FIT provider, should involve them in technical strategyWhat are your barriers to creating and executing a technical strategy, and how could we help?\u003C\u002Fp>","Digital Strategy & Scaleup Growth","Mark Renney","2023-07-07T00:00:00+00:00",false,0,"2026-05-05T23:47:02.526673+00:00","2026-05-05T23:47:02.613+00:00"]