[Step by Step] How Do I Choose the Right Technology Partners? (Feat. Michael Bernard, VP of Tax Content & Operations and Chief Tax Officer at Vertex)
Future Commerce · with Michael Bernard · August 30, 2022 · 40 min
Summary
This episode provides a critical framework for ecommerce businesses to strategically evaluate and select technology partners, emphasizing the long-term implications of these decisions beyond immediate functionality. It guides operators through identifying key criteria like scalability, team capability fit, and vendor ecosystem support to ensure their tech investments drive differentiated online experiences and operational efficiency, rather than becoming costly distractions.
Key takeaways
Prioritize tech partners that offer scalability and can grow with your business, avoiding solutions that may quickly become insufficient or overly complex for your current needs.
Assess your internal team
s capability and maturity before investing in new software to ensure proper adoption and avoid solutions that are either too basic or too advanced for your team.
When evaluating vendors, look beyond just features; consider the partner's ecosystem, support model, product roadmap, and their ability to integrate with your existing systems.
Recognize that tax compliance, especially state and local sales tax, is a complex but critical component of retail operations, necessitating a tech partner with precision and adaptability in this area.
Focus on technology that enables differentiation and empowers your team to create unique customer experiences, rather than leading to "blandification" or diverting focus from core business activities.
In this episode of Step by Step, we’re learning how to choose the right technology partners to help make a sound investment in a differentiated online experience for your customers. From state and local tax information to selecting the right vendors, we break down what you might miss but still need to know when selecting tech partners. Listen now!
What does this episode say about shopify & ecommerce platforms?
Prioritize tech partners that offer scalability and can grow with your business, avoiding solutions that may quickly become insufficient or overly complex for your current needs.
What does this episode say about finance & fundraising?
Assess your internal team
What does this episode say about founder & leadership?
s capability and maturity before investing in new software to ensure proper adoption and avoid solutions that are either too basic or too advanced for your team.
What does this episode say about ai & automation?
When evaluating vendors, look beyond just features; consider the partner's ecosystem, support model, product roadmap, and their ability to integrate with your existing systems.
What does this episode say about shopify & ecommerce platforms?
Recognize that tax compliance, especially state and local sales tax, is a complex but critical component of retail operations, necessitating a tech partner with precision and adaptability in this area.
