Frankenstacks vs. unified solutions: weighing the pros and cons for mid-market and enterprise businesses

Does your business' tech stack remind you of Frankenstein's monster? If so, you might have built yourself a Frankenstack…

One of Frankenstein's Monster's famous quotes is:

"All men hate the wretched; how, then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things! Yet you, my creator, detest and spurn me, thy creature, to whom thou art bound by ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of one of us."

I asked ChatGPT to translate this into modern English. This is what it came back with:

"But you, my creator, hate and reject me - your creation. We are connected by a bond that can only be broken if one of us is destroyed."

If you have created a Frankenstack and you hate it, buckle up and get ready to read-on! You may have to destroy it and replace it with a unified tech stack.

What is a Frankenstack?

A Frankenstack is a patchwork of disparate systems built over time to meet specific business needs. Companies might choose a specialised CRM for sales, a separate marketing automation tool, an independent service platform, to go with their finance and payroll systems and anything else they’re running. The idea is to pick the best tool for each function. However, as these systems rarely "speak" to each other naturally, the result can be a fragmented tech stack fraught with risk, failure points and inefficiencies.

- Failure points like this are common! 😉

The downsides of a Frankenstack

1. Data silos and inconsistency
   
   
• Fragmented customer view: with each system storing its own version of customer data, you end up with isolated data silos. This makes it challenging to develop a comprehensive view of the customer journey and can lead to inconsistent insights across departments.
• Manual reconciliation: data often needs to be manually synchronised between systems, increasing the risk of errors and outdated information.
2. Integration complexity
   
   
• Multiple external integrations: a Frankenstack typically requires numerous integrations not only between sales, marketing, and service platforms but also with ERP, payroll, finance, and other back-office systems. Each added integration is a potential point of failure that can disrupt workflow.
• Increased downtime and maintenance: when systems fail to communicate effectively, operational downtime can increase - impacting everything from lead follow-ups to customer service response times. Maintaining these connections often requires custom development and ongoing IT support.
3. Higher Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
   
   
• Multiple vendor fees: licensing, subscription fees, and support contracts with several vendors can add up quickly, putting pressure on your budget.
• Training and maintenance overheads: your IT teams must learn, manage, and update several systems, which can drain resources and lead to inefficiencies over time.
4. Cyber-security and data privacy concerns
   
   
• Increased attack surface: each additional system and integration in a Frankenstack is another potential entry point for cyber attacks. The more complex the ecosystem, the harder it becomes to monitor and secure every connection effectively.
• Data privacy risks: with customer data spread across various platforms, ensuring consistent data protection policies is challenging. This fragmentation increases the risk of data breaches or non-compliance with data protection regulations, potentially exposing sensitive information.
5. Inconsistent customer experience
   
   
   • Fragmented interactions: without a unified approach, customers may experience inconsistent messaging and support across different channels. This can hurt brand perception and reduce customer loyalty.
   • Delayed responses: disjointed systems can slow down communication and response times, frustrating customers and potentially driving them to competitors.
6. Scalability challenges
   
   
   • Complex upgrades: as your business grows, scaling a patchwork system can be far more complicated than scaling a single, unified platform.
   • Limited agility: adapting quickly to market changes or customer needs becomes more challenging when multiple systems must be reconfigured simultaneously.

The case for a unified solution

A unified technology platform offers an integrated approach to managing sales, marketing, and service - all under one roof. This streamlined system not only minimises the need for multiple integrations with ERP, payroll, finance, and other external systems but also addresses critical cyber-security and data privacy issues. Here's how:

• Seamless data integration: a unified solution consolidates customer data into a single, centralized database, offering a comprehensive, real-time view of the customer journey without the fragmentation seen in a Frankenstack.
• Reduced integration complexity: with one platform, businesses need fewer direct integrations with external systems, reducing points of failure and easing overall IT maintenance.
• Enhanced cyber-security: fewer systems and integrations mean a reduced attack surface. A unified platform typically offers robust, built-in security features and centralised control, making it easier to implement consistent security policies and monitor for threats.
• Improved data privacy: centralising data within a unified system helps enforce uniform data protection policies. This consolidation reduces the risks associated with data breaches and non-compliance, providing peace of mind for both businesses and customers.
• Streamlined operations: integrated workflows reduce manual processes, minimise errors, and improve response times across all departments, leading to a more efficient and agile operation.
• Cost efficiency and scalability: with a single vendor solution, businesses often experience lower overall costs - from reduced licensing fees to simplified IT maintenance and training. Furthermore, unified platforms are generally easier to scale as your business grows.

That said, a Frankenstack may still appeal to organisations with highly specialised requirements. The key is weighing the tailored functionality of niche solutions against the integration challenges and potential security risks they often bring.

Finding the right balance

Ultimately, the decision between maintaining a Frankenstack and moving to a unified solution depends on your business's specific needs and long-term strategic goals. While a Frankenstack can offer highly-tailored functionality, the resulting data silos, integration headaches, and heightened cyber-security risks can hinder growth. In contrast, a unified platform not only streamlines operations and enhances the customer experience but also reduces the complexities of external integrations and strengthens data protection.

Ready for a change?

At Flipside Group, we're proud to be a HubSpot partner - providing a unified solution that simplifies your tech landscape while enhancing security and data privacy. Contact us today to learn how we can help digitally transform your business and drive sustainable growth.