Out with the old: Modern technical architecture for digital products.

We centred the discussion around tech trends for our seventh Yolk event. But like any good conversation, it took some turns touching on topics such as culture, resources and upskilling. There's an appetite for innovation across WA like never before, with both big and small organisations jumping on the bandwagon and speeding ahead. It seems like the time is now to bring the right people together to have this conversation—what's next in tech—and Yolk 7 certainly was the spark to light the fire.

So, here’s something you probably didn’t expect to hear.

Keep it boring, but carpe that diem?

With so much new technology on the market, there's a real desire to innovate for the sake of innovation. For so long we've thought we had to jump whenever there was a new release or tech drop. However, it’s not always the best solution. There's certainly exciting new tech out there, but it's not always necessary for any given business. It may even hurt the organisation in the long run. Abiding by the old adage of ‘if it’s not broken, don’t fix it’ can be applied to new tech. Legacy systems are granted that status for a reason after all.

While new tech is exciting and can certainly advance capabilities of a business, it’s important to look past the hype and consider whether or not it actually adds value. And that’s why you need the right people at the helm of these decisions and a strategy behind the implementation. Because it’s not as simple as plugging in this new tech and away you go; the people running and maintaining the system, along with learning how to use it, need to be available and understand the end goal. Regardless if you’re a tech-based business or a business supported by it.

And that brings us to the topic of people.

Hop on board the culture train.

People run the world, not technology. They are the ones who envision it, build it, code it and maintain it. And here is an area of contention: where can we find great, tech-driven people? These types of employees are in incredible demand in Perth (and globally for that matter.)

Talent constraints have led employers to go remote, which surely has its pros and cons, just like anything. A remote team can be highly effective if managed well. Time and effort on the behalf of management to create and maintain a joint understanding of culture, purpose, and direction are critical to organise and optimise remote workers.

Meanwhile, those working in office are demanding more from their employers. They’re what we're calling the new-age rock stars—also known as tech stars! And in some cases, are being treated accordingly. That’s why the cultural element of the workplace here in Perth is undergoing a shift right alongside this global digital revolution.

So let's dive into the viva la revolution.

What are people putting on the radar?

First on the chopping block was platforms as a service (PaaS) and as microservices. When picking between the two, the discussion simply narrowed down to where the crystal ball was focused—aka the overarching business model. That and the practicality of finances and staff. 

One thing that was mentioned was PaaS-based solution suited platforms. With this, you can experience consistent transactions and high usage volumes—especially because you can account for costs on a month by month basis. For example, an online learning platform. Something like this would require operation 24/7 across the globe with consistent usage over this time. 

On the other hand, microservices were tipped as a great solution for a more ‘bursty’ based platform. Something like an online betting website, where hundreds of transactions could happen in a second, and then nothing happens for hours after. Or a transport company that has to process all of the data from hundreds of Smartriders, OctopusCards (or whatever you call them in your neighbourhood) within seconds and in batches as the trains come in and out.

The time is now.  

So, while these were the major discussion points on the tech side of things, multiple topics were touched on, including a comparison of tech stacks and the reasoning behind the preferences. Tips were given on transitioning from outdated platforms to new systems and a stake was set in the ground to mark foundation steps for quick migration. But the topic always came back to people—their capabilities, what it takes to upskill and the need for collaboration across various brands and businesses.

As Perth rapidly enters the digital product era, we must keep people at the center of all that we do—who we design for, how we build product teams and how we communicate as a community. See you this November at the next Yolk event!