The Tech Stack Graveyard:
Why Companies Keep Choosing the Wrong Tools (and How to Stop)

July 30, 2025

By Nicholas Johnson, Founder of Ataviz Consulting

Somewhere in your company’s shared drive is a list of tools that were supposed to "change everything."

A CRM you never fully set up.

A project management tool your team never really adopted.

That shiny analytics platform that only one person knew how to use... and they left six months ago.

Welcome to the Tech Stack Graveyard, where well-intentioned purchases go to die.

How Did We Get Here?

Let’s be honest, choosing new technology feels productive.

It signals innovation, momentum, and progress.

But too often, the decision-making process is driven by:

  • Buzzwords over business needs
  • FOMO over function
  • Demo-driven excitement instead of user-driven strategy

I’ve been brought in as a Fractional CTO and consultant more times than I can count to “fix” a company’s tech stack. What I usually find is this: tools were picked like throwing darts at a wall… while blindfolded… and under pressure.

The Hidden Costs of Shiny Object Syndrome

Every tool comes with more than just a subscription fee.

There’s the time to implement, the cost of onboarding, and the risk of abandonment.

Multiply that by 5–10 tools, and you’re looking at:

  • Workflow chaos
  • Fragmented data
  • Frustrated teams
  • Zero ROI

And then? You buy another tool to “fix” the mess.

Rinse. Repeat. Graveyard grows.

Why This Keeps Happening

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Most teams choose tools emotionally, then justify them logically.

"Our competitor uses it!"
"The UI looks slick!"
"It integrates with Slack!"

Rarely do they ask:

  • Does this solve a real, validated pain point?
  • Do we have the processes in place to support it?
  • Will our people actually use this consistently?

So How Do You Stop the Bleeding?

Here’s a battle-tested framework I use when advising clients, whether they’re startups or multi-million dollar organizations:

1. Diagnose First, Buy Later

Treat tools like medicine.

You wouldn’t prescribe antibiotics before understanding the symptoms. Same goes for SaaS.

Start by mapping out your processes. Identify bottlenecks. Then (and only then) look for tech that directly addresses the specific gaps.

2. Build a Tool Adoption Plan — Not Just a Purchase Plan

Buying is easy. Adoption is hard.

Set clear owners, onboarding processes, training timelines, and usage KPIs before signing a contract.

3. Involve the Actual Users (Not Just Leadership)

Don’t let execs choose tools the team has to live with. Involve the people doing the work, they’ll spot red flags faster than any sales demo ever could.

4. Prioritize Fewer, Deeper Tools Over Many Lightweight Ones

Consolidate where possible.

It’s better to go deep with 3 tools your team uses fully than juggle 10 they barely touch. You’re not building a museum, you’re building a machine.

Final Thought: Stop Worshipping the Tool, Start Serving the Strategy

Technology is not a silver bullet.

It's a force multiplier, it only works when it amplifies a well-defined strategy and process.

Before you buy your next tool, ask yourself:

Are we solving a people/process problem… or are we just avoiding it?

Let’s build tech stacks that serve us, not haunt us.

-- Your Hidden CTO

Stay in the loop

Get updates straight to your inbox.