The Human Side of Tech: Operations

(Photo has nothing to do with the blog, I was just kicked about the 1000 users. Guess I operationalised it right :))

Years ago a boss had told me, “You can have the best idea, design the most awesome solution and create the best tech in the world but operations is the key”. "Yeah, yeah, operations," I remember thinking, back when I was knee-deep in apps and code. My boss was trying to tell me something crucial that I wasn't ready to hear. "Give 'em the best tech," I figured, "and the rest will sort itself out." Call it the ignorance of youth or the arrogance of a smart ass MBA and techie. I thought I had it all figured out, that a killer algorithm or a slick interface was the be-all and end-all.

Ten years later, I am eating those words for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Turns out, he was dead right. We've got a solid idea, a decent tech foundation, and a solution that, on paper, should be a home run. But here's the kicker: paper doesn't use the damn thing. We're out there, boots on the ground, hustling for every single user, and that's where the rubber meets the road.

Because let's be real, the true test isn't about lines of code or fancy AI. It's about whether people use what you've built. And more importantly, whether they keep using it.

So, what does that mean? It boils down to this:

• Can we consistently bring in new users and keep the ones you've got? It's not just about getting them to download the app or sign up for the service. That one is easy when we enter the classroom. It is about making them do the work and about building a loyal community, a group of people who find genuine value in what we are offering. We have to learn what incentivises them and what creates a stickiness factor.
• Does our solution solve the problems it's meant to address? Forget the theoretical benefits; we're talking about real-world impact. Can we point to tangible results? Can we show how our solution is making a difference? Honestly don’t know the answer and only time will tell as users use it.
• Are we willing to listen to our users and adapting? No solution is perfect right out of the gate. We have to be agile, ready to iterate, and willing to change course based on feedback. We have created a feedback loop with our student advisory board and we are taking all their input seriously to a point that we might just do a redesign in the back if needed.
• Can we build a sustainable business around our solution? A great idea without a viable business model is just a pipe dream. Basically, “ Monetise, monetise, monetise !!!” We need to figure out how to generate revenue, cover our costs, and keep the lights on. We have kickstarted somethings and the rest are in the pipeline so let us see how much we bank as we go ahead.
• Are we creating a positive experience for our users? It's not just about functionality; it's about making the entire process smooth, intuitive, and enjoyable. It is about making giving fun and easy for the youth. From onboarding to customer support, every touchpoint matters so we are going back to the drawing board each time we get feedback to keep refining till we have it for them.
• Can our operations scale as our user base grows? A surge in demand can be a blessing or a curse. If our infrastructure can't handle the load, we are going to crash and burn. The first app test with 15 users, and we had some crashes, so now we are ready for more. We learn, we improve and we keep going.

Ultimately, it's about the messy, unpredictable world of human behavior. It's about bridging the gap between brilliant tech and real-world application. It's about understanding that the best solution in the world is worthless if it's sitting on a shelf. We have to get it into the hands of the people who need it, and we have to keep them coming back for more. It is about a marriage of product market fit, operational excellence, and user engagement. So let us see where V-All and we stand on this.