A global survey by B2B marketplace Capterra reveals that 59% of businesses regret at least one software purchase in the last 18 months, with over half describing the financial impact as “significant” or “monumental.”
Despite this, 75% of organizations plan to increase software spending in 2025, prioritizing IT systems and artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Capterra says it connects buyers with over 2 million verified reviews across 1,000 categories, helping businesses make informed software decisions. It surveyed 3,500 businesses.
4 insights about software purchases and investments
- AI market saturation challenges buyers. 31% of companies plan to invest in AI in 2025, but the growing number of generative AI tools has made assessing value and risk 70% harder year-over-year.
- Unclear goals drive regret. Businesses with regretful purchases cite the need for clearer goals (36%) and better stakeholder alignment (32%) when making future decisions.
- Timely decisions matter. Buyers who finalize decisions within three months are 57% more successful, while 54% of regretful buyers take five months or longer.
- Prior experience and reviews help. Successful buyers prioritize vendor reputation and product trials, with 25% more leveraging trials than regretful buyers.
“Software is essential to business success, yet many organizations struggle to make the right choices,” says Brian Westfall, principal analyst at Capterra. “With spending set to rise, especially in AI, companies must refine their evaluation processes to avoid costly mistakes.”
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