Ask a CTO: Building your technology investment strategy

Ahmad Nassri, a Fractional CTO, advises software companies on developing effective technology investment strategies that align with long-term product objectives while maximizing revenue and minimizing costly failures. He emphasizes focusing on core customer needs rather than over-investing in infrastructure that isn't directly relevant to customers. Nassri cautions against building technology from scratch when third-party solutions can offer necessary functionality efficiently, citing services like AWS and Stripe as valuable resources. He also highlights the importance of considering time to market and advises leveraging integrations to enhance product stickiness and reduce churn, especially in competitive industries. Furthermore, Nassri stresses the need to calculate the total cost of ownership, including ongoing maintenance and opportunity costs, to avoid future financial surprises and ensure sustainable technological growth.