The hottest Operations Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

How to build safe and efficient systems. The Merchant Navy’s Top 6 Lessons for Tech Leadership [Storytime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 0 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Operations
  1. The Merchant Navy operates at a massive scale, which offers valuable lessons in managing large operations efficiently.
  2. The industry plays a crucial role in global supply chains, moving billions of tons of goods that we rely on daily.
  3. Despite facing challenges like rough weather and long voyages, the Merchant Navy manages operations with relatively small crews of 20 to 30 members.

A Crash Course on Incident Response, Part 2

realkinetic • 0 implied HN points • 04 Aug 20
🕹 Technology Operations
  1. Designate an incident commander who is calm under pressure and can manage communication effectively. They play a crucial role in incident management.
  2. Choose appropriate coordination mediums like a war room or chat room combined with a conference bridge to effectively communicate and coordinate resources during incidents.
  3. Focus on understanding the problem, identifying solutions, and implementing them quickly and safely. Reviews and retrospectives are vital parts of the incident management process.

Try it now Joe: avoiding costly mistakes with admin portals

realkinetic • 0 implied HN points • 30 May 19
🕹 Technology Operations
  1. Avoid manually changing settings in databases or running CLI tools on production servers - it's risky and can lead to costly mistakes.
  2. Invest in building admin portals for applications to access diagnostic tools and configuration settings - it pays off with increased safety and reduced time-to-resolution.
  3. Admin portals allow for enforcing business rules, masking sensitive data, and empowering support staff to handle diagnostics and repairs - leading to more efficient resolution of issues.

Operations in the World of Developer Enablement

realkinetic • 0 implied HN points • 24 Jan 19
🕹 Technology Operations
  1. NewOps is an evolution of DevOps, focusing on Operations through a product lens to shift Ops teams from masters of production to enablers of production.
  2. Developer Enablement empowers dev teams to control their own destiny, extending responsibilities beyond building products to include testing, security, deployment, and operation of systems.
  3. In the world of Developer Enablement in the cloud, Operations teams take on more advisory roles, providing domain expertise, guidance, and ensuring dev teams consider key operational aspects early in the development process.
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Are more flexible resources always better? A case for rigid resource allocation.

Entraigues • 0 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
💼 Business Operations
  1. Flexible resources can be used for many purposes, like money and skilled workers. Inflexible resources have limited uses, but they can sometimes be more helpful, depending on the situation.
  2. In some cases, like memberships or all-inclusive resorts, inflexible resources encourage people to use them more, even if it costs more upfront.
  3. Having specialized teams or resources in a workplace can be better for long-term goals, even if it seems less efficient in the short run. This can improve overall quality and satisfaction.

#6 Cost

Mountain Labs Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 17 Jul 24
💼 Business Operations
  1. It's important to understand costs in hardware projects because high expenses can limit your ability to compete and grow. Knowing what you're spending will help you make smart business choices.
  2. When buying components, consider quality. Check if the documentation is good, if it meets your needs, and if the support is reliable. Quality can save you money in the long run.
  3. Create a budget for all parts of your product, including manufacturing, marketing, and payroll. This helps you know how much you can spend and what price you need to sell at to make a profit.

Level Up Your RevOps Career

beyondrevenueoperations • 0 implied HN points • 19 Oct 24
💼 Business Operations
  1. RevOps is key to business success, bringing sales, marketing, and customer success teams together to grow revenue. Choosing the right career path in RevOps can greatly influence your impact.
  2. There are two main paths in RevOps: the technical path, which focuses on data analysis and tools, and the strategic path, which emphasizes revenue strategy and leadership. Each path offers unique opportunities and challenges.
  3. Combining technical and strategic skills can create a powerful professional. This 'T-shaped' skillset helps you make better decisions and improve business outcomes.

How to Build a Revenue Operations Function From the Ground Up

beyondrevenueoperations • 0 implied HN points • 04 Oct 24
💼 Business Operations
  1. Start by defining why you want a Revenue Operations function and set clear goals with measurable targets. Knowing the specific problems to solve helps everyone stay focused.
  2. Get buy-in from company leaders first. They need to understand how RevOps will benefit the business and support your efforts, including providing necessary resources.
  3. Assess your current situation thoroughly before implementing changes. Look at existing processes, the technology in use, and the quality of data to find gaps and areas for improvement.

#36 Navattic's PLG funnel with Natalie Marcotullio

Organic SaaS Growth • 0 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
💼 Business Operations
  1. Navattic creates interactive product demos that help marketing and sales teams showcase their products. This gives potential customers a hands-on experience before they decide to buy.
  2. Word of mouth is their best-performing channel. People love sharing tools that are free to try, and this has helped increase their referrals since launching a freemium plan.
  3. When hiring a marketer, it's crucial to know what role you really need. Understanding your specific marketing goals can help you find the right person for your team.

The Digital Workforce Revolution: AI Agents as the Next Evolution of Global Commerce

domsteil • 0 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
💼 Business Operations
  1. AI Agents are like digital workers that can do tasks on their own. This means businesses can spend less time on routine work and focus more on innovation.
  2. These agents work seamlessly with existing software and platforms, making them a powerful tool for improving efficiency across various industries. They help businesses handle orders, customer issues, and more without needing human input.
  3. The rise of AI Agents marks a big shift in how businesses operate. Instead of just using software, companies can now expect direct results, making it easier to scale and improve customer experiences.

Ranking and Rating

Kartick’s Blog • 0 implied HN points • 26 Dec 24
💼 Business Operations
  1. Ranking shows preferences clearly, like choosing cars in order of what you like most. It's straightforward for comparisons.
  2. Ratings provide more detailed info with scores, but they can sometimes lead to confusion or arguments over small differences.
  3. Information can be helpful, but too much can complicate things. Sometimes, a simple ranking is better to avoid overwhelm.

Revolutionize Your Ops: How Sort Transforms Data Chaos into Operational Excellence

Database Engineering by Sort • 0 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
💼 Business Operations
  1. Sort is a database tool that helps operations teams manage their data better. It keeps everyone on the same page with up-to-date information.
  2. With Sort, teams can quickly track changes and resolve issues together, reducing confusion and improving teamwork.
  3. Using Sort can lead to faster decisions, fewer mistakes, and overall better efficiency in operations management.

🐿️ Horns - The IPT Newsletter

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 0 implied HN points • 19 Aug 25
💼 Business Operations
  1. New York drivers regularly use their horns to communicate, not just to express annoyance. This shows how important clear signaling can be in resolving conflicts quickly.
  2. In busy cities, being direct and loud can help traffic move more smoothly, unlike places with more reserved communication styles.
  3. Using tools that share information quickly, like dashboards, can help teams be more transparent about issues and improve decision-making.

Profit From AI Without Chatting - Live in London

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 0 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
💼 Business Operations
  1. Modern AIs like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can do fast, low‑cost research and analysis that replaces a lot of human thinking.
  2. Most people limit AI to the chatbox or simple copilots for small productivity gains, but AI can also be used in many other ways to learn from customers, cut costs, and transform how companies make money.
  3. A free live event for executives in Central London on 5 February 2026 will share practical, non‑technical tips to use AI for profit, and a recording is available for those who can’t attend.

Ignoring Black Friday

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 0 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
💼 Business Operations
  1. Some deadlines are truly fixed and unavoidable, like holidays, elections, or launch windows. Others are socially created and movable, and those movable dates mostly drive herd behaviour rather than real necessity.
  2. Copying culturally specific sales events from elsewhere is usually pointless when they don't fit your market. Running sales on a different day can help your business stand out.
  3. Arbitrary internal deadlines are transparent and unmotivating, so don't use them. Use meaningful deadlines and methods like a glidepath or Procrustes to focus effort and force helpful trade-offs.

#43: Thought Experiment: Don't Pay The Coordination Tax

OSS.fund Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
💼 Business Operations
  1. Multi-layer approval chains for low-value purchases mostly exist to diffuse blame rather than improve decisions, and they add unnecessary delay.
  2. Auditable AI agents can enforce policy, score risk, auto-approve routine buys in seconds, and keep better tamper-proof audit trails.
  3. You’re paying a coordination tax in time and money — audit small purchases and automate rule-compliant approvals so people can focus on genuine judgment and analysis.

🐿️ Don’t Worry, Nobody’s On Fire - The Insanely Profitable Tech Newsletter

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 0 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Operations
  1. Using passive language in reports hides who actually did what and makes it hard to hold anyone accountable.
  2. Paperwork and process fixes are useful but not enough; if root cause analysis ignores human mindsets and norms, the same failures will recur.
  3. Leaders need to watch how people really behave, name specific actions and responsibilities, and enforce accountability to change harmful cultural habits.

🐿️ Management by Embarrassment - The IPT Newsletter

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 0 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
💼 Business Operations
  1. Real, specific external threats or immovable deadlines motivate teams more effectively than made-up goals because they create meaningful consequences people want to avoid.
  2. Put responsibility in small, cross-functional teams with one engaged leader so work can’t be passed around and accountability rests where the results happen.
  3. Make progress highly visible with frequent demos and scorecards so the importance is reinforced, rapid corrections are possible, and public accountability (within a safe culture) drives delivery.