The Ethical Tech Stack: Choosing Software That Aligns with Your UK Business Values
As a micro or small business owner, every decision you make, from the services you offer to the clients you work with, reflects your values. But have you ever considered if your business’s technology stack, all those apps and systems you rely on, truly aligns with what you stand for?
In a world increasingly conscious of ethical practices, choosing software isn’t just about features and price; it’s about building an “ethical tech stack” that genuinely mirrors your business values.
Starting with Your Values: The Blueprint for Your Tech Choices
Before you even start looking at software, the first crucial step is to get crystal clear on your own core business values.
What genuinely matters to you and your business beyond sales and profit?
Perhaps it’s absolute client data privacy, unwavering commitment to sustainability, supporting local businesses, or prioritising transparency.
This simple exercise can help you list 3-5 non-negotiable values that define your business’s ethos.
For instance, you might decide, “I believe in only using providers with robust, transparent data practices,” or “I want my business to support companies committed to environmental responsibility.”
These core values will become your essential filter for every tech decision you make.
Key Ethical Considerations When Choosing Your Tech
Once you know what matters to you when running your business, you can start looking at software providers in a new way.
One of the biggest ethical considerations to think about, especially for UK businesses, is Data Privacy. You really need to know where a provider keeps your data. Is it on servers in the UK, within the EU, or further away in the US or elsewhere? This isn’t just a technical detail; it directly affects how you stick to GDPR rules and how much your clients trust you.
You’ll want to pick providers who are open about their data centres, how they protect data and exactly how they handle and share it. We’re all more aware now of our own personal data and where it goes, so if you show you care about strong data privacy, it can really make your business stand out from others.
It’s also worth looking beyond just the software itself and thinking about the company’s own values and culture. Do they actually live up to what they say they believe? This can be tricky to research but checking how open they are, how they treat their staff and what their general reputation is can give you clues. Trustpilot can be a good place to read reviews and see what their customers are saying!
Then there’s the environmental impact of the tech you choose. Digital apps and systems use a lot of energy, especially with big data centres. So, thinking about the software you use, does the company use renewable energy, or maybe plant trees for each customer? Do they have a clear plan to be more eco-friendly or reduce their carbon footprint some other way? Choosing ‘green hosting’ or providers who actively work towards being sustainable means your tech choices match your environmental values.
It’s also really important to avoid ‘Vendor Lock-in.’ An ethical tech provider shouldn’t make it deliberately hard for you to leave their platform if you choose to. Look for software that makes it easy to get your data out and moved to another system. If a company designs its system to make you stuck or too reliant on them, that doesn’t fit with the values of freedom and flexibility.
Lastly, think about choosing local versus global providers. Picking tech companies based in the UK or EU can mean easier customer support because of time zones and language and they’re more likely to follow UK and EU data rules strictly. It also helps to put money back into our local economy.
Of course, bigger international companies might have features or prices that smaller, local ones can’t beat, so it’s all about balancing these pros and cons against your own values and budget constraints.
Building Your Ethical Tech Stack Foundation
By thoughtfully evaluating software through the lens of your business values, you’re not just making functional choices; you’re building a tech stack that truly reflects your brand’s integrity.
This proactive approach can bring immense peace of mind, strengthen your brand’s appeal to ethically minded clients and ensure your entire business operation is aligned with its core purpose.
It’s about making conscious choices that serve both your business goals and your principles.
And if you’re unsure how to get started with this, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. I enjoy advising my clients on the right tech systems and apps for their businesses.