Platform engineering is about creating tools and services that help developers write high-quality code easily, without worrying about infrastructure. It speeds up projects, makes developers' jobs easier, and ensures consistency in teams.
While platform engineering offers solutions to many digital challenges businesses face today, adopting it requires careful thought. Organizations must assess their software development capabilities and readiness for change.
In this blog, we'll dive into platform engineering, urging you to consider whether your organization is ready for it. Are you set to benefit from platform engineering, or do you have more critical goals to achieve first?
Let's explore the benefits and key considerations for making a well-informed decision.
Who should SKIP platform engineering?
Startups seeking product-market fit should aim for simplicity. During this crucial stage, quick prototyping and fast changes are key. Complex platform engineering could slow things down. Simple, cost-effective ways to deliver applications, or even no-code options, are often better choices.
Enterprises using off-the-shelf software should also think twice. These organizations usually juggle legacy systems, packaged software, and custom solutions. Since vendors of third-party software like ERP systems often provide deployment and management guidance, adding platform engineering might complicate things unnecessarily, increasing both complexity and costs.
Some companies have products that hardly change. For them, adding the speed and flexibility of platform engineering is unnecessary—like putting a race car engine in a horse carriage. If your product updates are infrequent and slow, you likely won't benefit from the extra agility platform engineering offers.
Then there are companies that stick to the traditional waterfall model for software development. For these businesses, the agile and iterative approach of platform engineering might seem incompatible. If the structured, step-by-step process of the waterfall model has always worked for you, you might not see the value in adopting platform engineering.
Who should say YES to platform engineering?
Speed Wins in Tech-Rich Fields
In the fast-paced worlds of consumer tech, gaming, or SaaS, being quick to market is everything. Getting a new feature out first can skyrocket a company to the top, attracting users and boosting profits. Platform engineering is the secret sauce to this speed, making it easier and faster to launch new stuff. Here, being fast isn’t just nice—it’s essential to staying ahead.
SaaS and the Importance of Behind-the-Scenes Details
If you’re running a SaaS company, things like how much the service costs to run, keeping data safe, and following rules are super important. If these aren’t handled well, especially as the company grows, it can lead to big problems. Platform engineering helps manage these tricky parts, making sure customers are happy and the company makes more money. It’s all about being quick and efficient.
Everyone on the Same Page: Big Companies Need Standardization
Big companies often struggle with making sure all their tech teams are doing things the same way. When every team has its own playbook, things can get messy. Platform engineering brings everyone together, offering a standard set of rules that works no matter where a team is or what it’s working on.
Filling the Skills Gap
Finding people who know how to build and manage cloud systems is tough. But what if your current developers could do it all?
Platform engineering makes this possible by simplifying the tricky parts of cloud work and getting rid of repetitive tasks. This means you don’t have to hunt for hard-to-find specialists, and your team becomes more skilled and flexible.
In sum, for certain businesses, platform engineering is not just another tech trend. It’s a crucial strategy for staying quick, efficient, and united. It’s about making sure your team can do more, and do it better, without constantly searching for more people to hire.
Ready to jump the fence?
Before jumping into platform engineering, take a moment to see the bigger picture. It's easy to follow the crowd, attracted by the promise of faster and more streamlined operations. However, it's essential to consider whether it's the right choice for your organization. Not every company needs the latest and fastest technology; sometimes, reliability and mastering the basics are more crucial.
Evaluate where your company currently stands. Do your objectives, existing technology, and team capabilities align with what platform engineering can offer? If they do, platform engineering could significantly accelerate your projects. If not, you might benefit more from improving your current setup or investing in your team's skills development. Understanding your company's specific needs and growth strategies is key.
In conclusion, choosing platform engineering should be more than just following a trend. It's about thoroughly assessing its fit with your company's goals and plans. Whether you decide to adopt it or focus on enhancing your existing processes and team skills, the goal is to make a deliberate choice. Informed decisions are what set you on a path to genuine growth and success in the tech landscape.
