The 7 Signs It Is Time to Modernize Your Tech Stack

For many mid-market companies, growth happens faster than systems can keep up. What worked when you were a 10-million-dollar business no longer works at 50 million. Manual processes multiply, reporting slows down, and your people begin compensating with spreadsheets, workarounds, and outdated technology.

These challenges are often the early signs that your organization needs tech stack modernization to stay competitive.

This guide outlines the 7 most common indicators that your systems, processes, and technology are holding your business back and what modernization can unlock for long-term growth.

1. Your Teams Are Running the Business in Spreadsheets'

Excel is powerful, but it should not be the backbone of your operations.
If your sales, operations, finance, or client service teams rely on spreadsheets to manage:

• quoting
• pipeline
• scheduling
• inventory
• financial reporting
• project tracking

…it is a clear indicator your systems are not supporting the business.

Why this matters:
Spreadsheets create errors, duplicate work, inconsistent data, and slow decision-making. As your business grows, the risk grows with it.

2. Your Systems Do Not Integrate or Share Data

Disconnected systems create disconnected operations.

Examples:

• your CRM does not integrate with your ERP fee
• accounting data cannot sync with operations
• inventory, purchasing, and production systems run separately
• reports require manual stitching of data from multiple systems

Most modern platforms use open APIs and are built for seamless integration. If integration feels impossible, you are likely working with older systems that were never designed for modern connectivity.

Why this matters:
Lack of integration slows down workflow, increases errors, and prevents real-time visibility .

3. Your ERP or Core Systems Are 10 to 20 Years Old

Many mid-market organizations are still using:

• older Microsoft Dynamics NAV
• Sage 100 or Sage 300
• legacy Infor or Epicor systems
• homegrown tools with no vendor roadmap

These systems were built for a different era of business.

Common issues:

• vendor Support is ending
• upgrades break customizations
• reports take too long
• IT resources are spent maintaining old features instead of improving processes

Why this matters:
Legacy ERP systems limit scalability, integration, analytics, visibility, and operational efficiency.

4. Reporting Takes Too Long or Requires Manual Work 

If it takes:

• days to close the month
• hours to prepare dashboards
• manual work to get accurate reports

…your systems are slowing your ability to make decisions.

Why this matters:
Real-time analytics and business intelligence are no longer optional. Companies that cannot see their performance quickly cannot improve quickly.

5. Customers Are Starting to Feel the Operational Friction 

Internal inefficiencies eventually become customer-facing problems.
Signs include:

• slow quote turnaround
• inconsistent follow-up
• errors in orders or invoices
• scheduling delays
• lack of visibility during long lead-time projects

Why this matters:
Customer experience is directly tied to operational maturity. A modern tech stack improves both.

6. Your People Are Overcompensating with Manual Work 

When your technology falls short, your team picks up the slack.
Signs include:

• side processes to fix broken workflows
• hiring additional administrative staff to manage manual tasks
• critical knowledge stored in one or two team members
• scheduling delays
• departments creating unsupported tools or shadow systems

Why this matters:
Manual work leads to burnout, inconsistent results, and higher labor costs. Automation allows your team to focus on higher-value work.

7. You Cannot Scale Without Adding More Staff 

If growth requires:

• more schedulers
• more planners
• more finance staff
• more administrative support
• more project managers
  

…instead of better systems, you are hitting a structural ceiling.

Why this matters:
High-growth organizations scale through better systems, not just more people. Tech stack modernization reduces dependency on headcount and increases operational leverage.

What Modernizing Your Tech Stack Actually Looks Like 

Tech modernization does not require replacing everything at once. It usually begins with a focused roadmap.
A strong modernization roadmap includes:

• a current-state assessment 
• systems and process mapping
• identification of quick wins
• prioritization of high-impact improvements
• guidance on selecting the right CRM or ERP
  
• an operational excellence and automation plan

The goal is not perfection.
The goal is clarity, integration, and systems that support your next stage of growth.

How Brixey & Meyer’s OTS Practice Helps

The OTS team helps mid-market companies modernize their operations through:

• technology assessments 
• process improvement
• CRM and ERP selection
• automation and workflow redesign
• dashboard and analytics development
• scalable operating frameworks

Our approach emphasizes practical solutions, real-world experience, and measurable ROI.

Is It Time to Modernize Your Tech Stack?
If these signs feel familiar, your organization may be ready to evaluate its systems and operations.
We would be happy to help you identify the best opportunities for improvement and create a roadmap tailored to your growth goals.