The minimal tech stack for a lean production team (SME-friendly)
Tools don’t fix process — but the right few tools remove friction.
The “core 5”
- Docs + Sheets (briefs, matrices, approval logs)
- Asset storage (clean folder structure + permissions)
- Design (one primary tool, consistent components)
- Review (one place for feedback, not email chains)
- Automation (only where it removes repetitive steps)
How to choose (quick criteria)
- Longevity (will it still exist in 3 years?)
- Integration simplicity (does it talk to your other tools?)
- Low training burden (can a client use it?)
- Clear ownership (who maintains it?)
What to avoid early
- Overlapping tools (three reviewers, two PM tools, two DAMs)
- “One tool to rule them all” promises
- Anything that locks your files in proprietary formats
Next step
Price it sensibly with SLAs: /guides/pricing-models/