The conversation starts with a new agency owner trying to decide between AMS platforms and phone systems. Stephen and Shawn use the question to explore a much bigger topic—how scratch agency owners should think about building their technology stack from day one.One of Stephen's biggest recommendations is simple: start with your AMS.Your agency management system should become the source of truth for your agency. From there, evaluate which CRM, phone system, texting tools, integrations, and other technology work naturally around that core platform.Stephen and Shawn discuss their experiences with HawkSoft, EZLynx, AMS360, AgencyZoom, RingCentral, and Lightspeed, including the advantages, limitations, integrations, and lessons they've learned from their own agencies.They also discuss an important mistake new agency owners can make: signing long-term technology contracts without fully understanding them. The platform that works when you're a one-person agency may not necessarily fit the agency you're building several years from now.It's easy to keep adding vendors for e-signatures, phones, texting, AI, automation, CRM, and other functions. But before adding another subscription, Stephen and Shawn recommend auditing what your existing technology already does and building stronger processes around the tools you already have.The best technology isn't necessarily the platform with the most features. It's the technology that fits the agency you're trying to build, integrates with your core systems, and helps your team execute without creating unnecessary complexity.🔍 If you're starting a scratch insurance agency—or reconsidering the technology you're already using—this episode will help you think more strategically about your AMS, CRM, phone system, integrations, contracts, and overall tech stack.🕒 Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome & HawkSoft 01:13 – Questions From the Community 01:37 – Choosing an AMS & Phone System 02:00 – AMS vs. CRM: Understanding the Difference 02:30 – Why You Should Read Your Tech Contracts 03:55 – HawkSoft vs. EZLynx Considerations 04:36 – Shawn's Experience With AMS360 05:25 – Choosing the Right CRM 06:27 – Do You Need a CRM From Day One? 06:57 – Why You Need an AMS From Day One 07:38 – Shawn's Experience Starting Without a CRM 08:07 – Integrations & Building Your Processes 09:05 – Choosing a Business Phone System 10:51 – RingCentral vs. Lightspeed 11:50 – Phone & AMS Integrations 13:40 – Build Your Stack Around Your AMS 14:41 – Don't Overbuild Your Tech Stack 15:38 – Build the Process Before Adding More Tech 16:09 – Audit the Technology You Already Have 17:06 – Questions From the Community 17:29 – Starting the Conversation 17:59 – The Scratch Agency Podcast Community 19:00 – Closing Thoughts 💼 Sponsored by HawkSofthttps://www.hawksoft.comA family-owned and operated agency management system serving independent agencies with teams from one to 300+ employees. In this episode, Stephen also discusses why HawkSoft has become the core AMS for his agency and why data ownership, cost, integrations, and simplicity matter when choosing technology.🔗 Links & Resources:📘 Join the Scratch Agency Podcast Community on Facebook to connect with other Scratch agency owners, ask questions, compare technology and processes, and contribute ideas for future episodes.📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thescratchagencypodcast🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7hutxCZ5NUPqF5hRdC79Hl🌐 Visit Our Website: https://scratchagencypodcast.comThank you for tuning into another episode of the Scratch Agency Podcast.👍 Like the show. 📤 Share it with another scratch insurance agency owner. 🔔 Subscribe to the YouTube channel so you don't miss the weekly episodes, updates, and shorts.Most importantly, remember to dig down deep, believe in yourself, and own your own future.
