Innovating CRM Solutions: An Interview with Ashish Dwivedi, Founder & CEO of Outright Systems

Inside the Vision of Ashish Dwivedi: The CTO Driving Innovation at Outright Systems

If you’ve ever explored CRM solutions, tackled cloud computing challenges, or searched for a trusted partner in website development, chances are you’ve encountered the work of Ashish Dwivedi.

Ashish Dwivedi is the Founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Outright Systems Pvt. Ltd., a leading software development company specializing in Customer Relationship Management (CRM), cloud solutions, and custom web development.

With a mathematics and computer science degree from Kanpur University, India, Ashish has combined technical mastery with business insight to deliver high-quality, scalable solutions to clients across industries. Since founding Outright Systems in 2014, he has earned a reputation for engineering excellence, client-first service, and continuous innovation, building long-lasting relationships with clients worldwide.

In this exclusive feature, we explore Ashish’s journey, his biggest achievements and lessons, and the strategies that have helped him position Outright Systems as a trusted name in software engineering—all from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, where his vision continues to shape the future of CRM and cloud technologies.

• Position:  Engineering, Senior Leader
• Industry: Software Engineering
• Location:  Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/outright/
• Websites: outrightsystems.org  store.outrightcrm.com outrightcrm.com, extractmails.com

Q: What motivated you to start Outright Systems, and what was the biggest challenge you faced in the beginning?

Ashish Dwivedi:
“I’ve always dreamed of creating a product that is useful for everyone, easy to install, easy to use, and highly cost-effective. One of the biggest frustrations I noticed in the industry was how users were constantly burdened by recurring charges and short trial periods that didn’t give them enough time to evaluate a product properly.

That inspired me to build Outright Systems—a place where people can download the extensions they need without worrying about ongoing subscription costs or limited trials. We focus on providing one-time purchase solutions with complete transparency and reliability.

In the beginning, the biggest challenge was building trust in the market. Many users were accustomed to the subscription-based model, so we had to prove that a one-time payment approach could still deliver high-quality, regularly updated, and well-supported products. Through consistent effort and customer satisfaction, we overcame that challenge, and today, Outright Systems is a trusted name in the industry.”

💡 Pro Tip: Build customer trust first—when disrupting norms, customer trust is your primary capital.
📊 Stat Check: The global SaaS market is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2030, but pay-once software still appeals to users seeking simplicity.

Q: How did you transition from having a strong technical background to running a successful business? What non-technical skills did you need to learn?

Ashish Dwivedi:
“Having a strong technical background helped, but running a business required more. A science or mathematics degree builds problem-solving skills, but communication is the key non-technical skill I had to learn. Clear communication helps in team management, customer relations, and business growth. Additionally, I picked up business strategy and financial management to ensure long-term success.”

🎯 Lesson: Soft skills often determine whether great technology becomes a great business.

Q: What do you think is more important for an entrepreneur—technical expertise or business acumen? Why?

Ashish Dwivedi:
“Both are important, but balance is the key to success. Technical expertise helps in building great products, while business acumen ensures growth, strategy, and sustainability. An entrepreneur must understand technology to innovate and grasp business to scale effectively. Combining both creates a strong foundation for long-term success.”

💡 Pro Tip: Cultivate “T-shaped” skills—depth in one area, breadth in others.
🎯 Lesson: Balanced founders win—you can’t grow a tech company without knowing both tech and business.

Q: Looking back at all these years, what was the most difficult challenge you had to overcome in running your business?

Ashish Dwivedi:
“The toughest challenge was managing the financial journey and meeting constant content demands. Balancing cash flow, investments, and sustainability was crucial in the early days. At the same time, consistently delivering high-quality, valuable content to engage users was challenging. Overcoming these required smart financial planning and a strong content strategy.”

🎯 Lesson: Content + financial discipline are a growth engine—neglecting either will slow momentum.

Q: What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs who want to start their own tech company?

Ashish Dwivedi:
“My advice to young entrepreneurs is to focus on the basics—a strong foundation is essential for long-term success. Without mastering the fundamentals, it’s hard to build something that lasts. Research comes second, but it needs to be deep and thorough. Understanding the market, customer needs, and technology inside out will help you make informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls.”

🎯 Lesson: Depth beats speed when building something that lasts.

Q: What are some of the biggest mistakes you see young entrepreneurs making in the tech industry?

Ashish Dwivedi:
“One of the biggest mistakes young entrepreneurs make is lack of patience—success takes time. They also focus only on hard work or smart work, but the key is to balance both. Additionally, many overlook physical strength, but staying active through sports helps maintain energy, focus, and resilience, which are crucial for entrepreneurship.”

💡 Pro Tip: Success = smart work + hard work + physical resilience.
📊 Stat Check: Entrepreneurs are twice as likely to experience mental health issues—fitness fights burnout.

Q: What skills (both technical and non-technical) do you think are essential for someone looking to start a business like yours?

Ashish Dwivedi:
“For a tech business, programming skills and coding practice are essential to build strong products. Engaging in technical discussions, taking on challenges, and continuous learning helps stay ahead. Knowledge sharing fosters growth, while leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, etc. boosts efficiency and innovation. A mix of technical expertise and adaptability is key to success.”

💡 Pro Tip: Don’t just focus on coding — immerse yourself in problem-solving communities (Slack, Discord, open-source groups). You’ll not only learn faster but also build a valuable network.

🔑 Lesson: Adaptability + Technical Mastery = Long-term Success. Technology changes fast. Entrepreneurs who keep learning and adjusting are the ones who thrive.

📊 Stat Check: According to a McKinsey report, 87% of companies are facing a skills gap in tech, especially in areas like AI, automation, and software development — showing how crucial continuous learning is in this field.

Q: How do you keep yourself and your team updated with the latest trends in CRM and software development?

Ashish Dwivedi:
“I stay updated by actively participating in community discussions and engaging in various Slack groups. These platforms help in knowledge exchange, trend analysis, and networking with industry experts. Additionally, continuous research, webinars, and hands-on experimentation keep me and my team ahead in CRM and software development trends.”

🛠️ Productivity Hack: Schedule regular trend-watching sessions—learning is part of the job.
🎯 Lesson: Communities > isolation—shared knowledge compounds faster.

Q: Can you share a key business decision that significantly contributed to the success of Outright Systems?

Ashish Dwivedi:
“A key decision was consistent publishing of content and products without waiting for 100% perfection. Releasing early versions allowed us to gather real user feedback and improve based on recommendations. This approach helped us stay ahead, adapt quickly, and build trust with our audience. Speed and iteration were crucial to our success.”

💡 Key Tip: Don’t wait for perfection—launch early, learn fast, and iterate. Real user feedback is more valuable than endless internal revisions.

Q: How do you handle competition in such a fast-evolving industry?

Ashish Dwivedi:
“We handle competition by building unique products and creating detailed, multi-format content. From videos and blogs to shorts, we ensure users can choose how they consume information. Linking all content formats enhances engagement and visibility. Innovation and strong content strategy keep us ahead in the fast-evolving industry.”

💡 Pro Tip: Content isn’t optional—it’s your brand’s voice and moat.
📊 Stat Check: 70% of B2B buyers consume 3–5 pieces of content before talking to sales.
🎯 Lesson: Teach first, sell later—educate your way to market leadership.

Q: What role has mentorship played in your journey, and do you mentor young entrepreneurs yourself?

Ashish Dwivedi:
“Mentorship plays a crucial role in guiding entrepreneurs, avoiding mistakes, and accelerating growth. While I haven’t actively focused on mentoring, I believe sharing knowledge through content, discussions, and community engagement helps others. In the future, I’d love to mentor young entrepreneurs and contribute to their success.”

💡 Tip: Even if you can’t formally mentor, sharing knowledge publicly through blogs, talks, and communities is a great way to give back — and you’ll grow as a leader, too.

Q: What are some key habits or routines that have helped you stay productive and focused over the years?

Ashish Dwivedi:
“One key habit that keeps me productive is documenting everything. Keeping clear records helps in tracking progress, refining ideas, and avoiding repetitive mistakes. It also ensures better decision-making and smoother team collaboration. Consistency in documentation has been a game-changer for staying focused and organized.”

🚀 Productivity Hack: Start simple — a daily journal or shared team doc can massively improve team alignment and prevent costly mistakes. Small notes, big impact!

Q: How do you balance leadership responsibilities with staying involved in the technical side of the business?

Ashish Dwivedi:
“I balance leadership and technical involvement by leveraging AI and automation. These tools help streamline operations, manage tasks efficiently, and free up time for innovation. By automating repetitive processes, I stay actively engaged in technical development while effectively leading the business.”

💡 Pro Tip: Use AI and automation not just for tech tasks, but also for business ops — from customer service bots to AI-powered analytics. Freeing up your time lets you focus on what matters most.

Q: What are your long-term goals for Outright Systems, and where do you see the company in the next five years?

Ashish Dwivedi:
“In the next five years, Outright Systems will expand globally with multiple branches and diversify beyond tech into industries like health, fashion, tourism, and more. With tons of products and around 50 well-targeted websites, we aim to create impactful solutions across various domains while maintaining our innovation-driven approach.”

🔑 Lesson: Thinking beyond your core industry and building a multi-domain presence is a smart way to future-proof your company. Diversification can unlock new opportunities and protect against market shifts.

Q: If you could go back in time, what is one piece of advice you would give your younger self when you were starting Outright Systems?

Ashish Dwivedi:
“If I could go back, I would tell my younger self: ‘Keep pushing forward with your international journey—don’t slow down.’ Expanding globally was the right move, and staying consistent, adapting fast, and scaling aggressively would have accelerated growth even more. Think bigger, act faster, and never hesitate to take bold steps.”

💡 Key Advice: Don’t wait for the ‘perfect’ time to go global — start building international networks early.

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