How to Choose the Right Technology for Transformation

When you ask a consultant to “Help us discover our AI use cases,” you’ve handed them a blank check with an account the size of your AI budget. I say this as someone who runs an AI consulting firm: Don’t do that. When all you have is one hammer (AI), every opportunity and challenge looks like a nail. AI is a very expensive hammer that isn’t reliable enough for every use case. Instead, talk about your most significant opportunities and challenges. Then ask, “Where does AI create the most value in ways that align with our opportunities and challenges?” Businesses have several technology tools, and consultants should help them choose the best one for the job. Ask consultants to find AI use cases, and they’ll find excuses to buy and use that shiny new hammer as much as possible. A feasible, pragmatic approach to AI use case selection starts with the current business and operating models, but introduces a third strategic pillar: the technology model. Opportunity discovery begins with the questions: What parts of the business and operating model should we move into the technology model? (Business and operating model modernization) What parts of the business and operating model should we build for the first time in the technology model? (Business and operating model innovation/transformation) This approach is technology agnostic. C-level leaders don’t prescribe the technology to be used. Let feasibility and ROI determine that. Select the simplest technology that can support the opportunity and use case. Technical strategy is an evaluation of trade-offs. AI use case selection is a process of elimination. When the business has a high-value opportunity that no other technology can support, it’s time to evaluate AI’s feasibility.

One bad tech decision can destroy your startup. I've led the creation of 100+ software products for Silicon Valley startups & global businesses. The 5 key principles for choosing right in 2025: Most founders get their tech stack totally wrong. I've watched companies burn hundreds of thousands rewriting their entire codebase because they chose trendy tech that couldn't scale. Your tech stack choice today will impact: • How easily you scale • How fast you ship features • How much talent you attract Most chase whatever's hot in tech Twitter threads. But your business isn't a testing ground for experiments. Here are 5 principles I've learned from building software for Silicon Valley startups: 1. Avoid Fads Like The Plague Every year brings a new "revolutionary" framework that's supposed to change everything. 90% disappear within months. Your tech stack needs to solve real problems, not win coolness points. 2. Think Long-Term Your tech choices are marriages, not one-night stands. Pick solutions that will still be relevant in 5-10 years. The strongest technologies are usually the battle-tested ones. 3. Accept The Trade-offs There are no perfect solutions, only smart compromises: • Microservices scale better but add complexity • NoSQL gives flexibility but sacrifices consistency • Serverless cuts costs but increases dependency 4. Go Mainstream The more developers using a technology, the better your position: • Easier hiring • Better tool integration • Fewer scaling headaches • Lower maintenance costs Don't get stuck maintaining some obscure framework nobody uses. 5. Get Expert Eyes One bad tech choice = years of technical debt and scaling nightmares. Talk to experienced CTOs. Study where others failed. Ask around. The cost of getting it wrong is massive. I've seen it firsthand: • $300k spent on rewrites • 8-month delays • Entire teams quitting If you're building something serious and want to avoid these expensive mistakes, let's talk. We help companies choose and implement tech stacks that scale. Book a free consultation here: https://lnkd.in/dndQiR9A

Most enterprises waste millions on tech without seeing real impact. I learned this the hard way. Early in my career, I saw companies invest in cutting edge tools only to struggle with adoption, integration, and ROI. That’s when I developed a smarter, outcome-driven approach. Here’s the exact method I use to maximize ROI from technology investments:  Start with Business Outcomes, Not Features ↳ Define the measurable impact before picking the tech. What problem are you solving? What KPIs will prove success?  Ensure Alignment Across Teams ↳ IT, finance, and business leaders must be on the same page. Misalignment leads to wasted budgets and underutilized tools.  Adopt in Phases, Not All at Once ↳ Test, refine, and scale. A phased rollout prevents disruptions and maximizes adoption.  Measure, Optimize, Repeat ↳ Regularly assess ROI. What’s working? What needs adjustment? Continuous refinement drives long-term value. Tech alone doesn’t drive transformation—strategy does. How do you ensure your technology investments deliver real business impact? Let’s discuss. 👇 🔹 Follow me for more insights on digital transformation. 🔹 Connect with me to explore strategies that drive real impact. ♻️ Repost this to help your network. P.S.: Thinking about how to maximize your tech investments? Let’s chat. I’m happy to share insights on what works (and what to avoid).