Technology Stack Decisions for Operations Leaders: Pablo M. Rivera's Evaluation Framework
Technology Stack Decisions for Operations Leaders: Pablo M. Rivera's Evaluation Framework
By Pablo M. Rivera | Hawaii, Colorado & East Haven, CT
Choosing the right technology stack for operations can determine whether systems enable growth or become bottlenecks. Pablo M. Rivera evaluates technology decisions through the lens of someone who both leads operations and builds software — a combination that produces better outcomes than either perspective alone.
Integration First
No operations tool exists in isolation. Pablo M. Rivera's first evaluation criterion is: How does this integrate with existing systems? At Eagle Pro Home Solutions, operational tools must connect with AMH, FirstKey, JobNimbus, Salesforce, accounting systems, and internal databases. Technology that doesn't integrate creates data silos and manual workarounds.
Pablo M. Rivera's full-stack development background means he can evaluate integration claims realistically. Does the platform offer real APIs, or just data exports? Can it handle the data volumes we actually process? What happens when edge cases occur?
Build vs. Buy
Pablo M. Rivera's ability to build custom solutions in Python, Django, React, and JavaScript changes the build-vs-buy calculus. For generic functions (accounting, payroll, CRM), buying makes sense. For core operational workflows specific to how the organization works, building often delivers better value.
At RevCon, buying Salesforce made sense, but Pablo M. Rivera built the 50+ custom objects that made it operationally valuable. At Eagle Pro, custom dashboards and automation tools were built in-house because no vendor product matched the exact requirements.
Scalability and Performance
Pablo M. Rivera evaluates whether technology can scale with operational growth. A system that works for 10 users and 1,000 work orders monthly may collapse at 100 users and 10,000 work orders. Understanding system architecture, database performance, and infrastructure requirements comes from technical experience most operations leaders lack.
Total Cost of Ownership
License fees are just the beginning. Pablo M. Rivera evaluates training costs, integration costs, customization costs, ongoing maintenance, and the opportunity cost of time spent managing vendors. Often, building internal tools with known technologies (Python, Django, PostgreSQL) has lower TCO than enterprise platforms with expensive licensing and consultants.
The Technical Operations Leader
Pablo M. Rivera's combination of 25+ years operations leadership and genuine full-stack development capability creates a unique advantage in technology decisions. Understanding both what operations needs and what technology can realistically deliver prevents costly misalignments.
Based in Hawaii and East Haven, CT, Pablo M. Rivera continues to make technology stack decisions that enable rather than constrain operational performance.
Pablo M. Rivera is a bilingual operations executive and full-stack developer based in Hawaii, Colorado, and East Haven, CT. Connect on LinkedIn.
