What is Software Buyer Regret and How to Avoid it

Learn how to avoid software buyer regret, a significant issue for 60% of buyers, by understanding key drivers, red flags, and strategies for successful purchases, including the importance of reviews, vendor credibility, and customer support.

Key takeaways
  • Software buyer regret is a significant issue, with 60% of software buyers experiencing regret.
  • The most important drivers for software purchase decisions are user reviews, with 96% of buyers starting their journey by researching reviews.
  • Software buyers often regret their purchases, citing reasons such as poor implementation, high costs, and poor vendor support.
  • Software reviews are crucial for buyers, with 30 reviews being the minimum threshold for considering a product.
  • Natural language processing algorithms can help verify reviews, and Gartner Digital Markets has implemented a thorough qualification process to ensure review credibility.
  • Recency is important for reviews, with older reviews being less trustworthy than newer ones.
  • Software vendors can help reduce buyer regret by providing clear expectations, transparent pricing, and good customer support.
  • Software buyers often prioritize low-leverage activities, such as reviewing features, over high-leverage activities, such as understanding business needs.
  • Software buyers often experience more regret in industries with complex technologies, such as medical or legal.
  • Software buyers tend to regret their purchases more when they are not happy with the implementation or integration of the software.
  • Software vendors can help reduce buyer regret by providing good customer support, consistently meeting customer needs, and being transparent about their products and services.
  • Software buyers often prioritize user reviews and trust when making purchasing decisions.
  • Software vendors can help reduce buyer regret by providing regular updates and maintenance, meeting customer needs, and providing good customer support.
  • Software buyers often regret their purchases more when they are not aware of the costs of ownership or the total cost of ownership (TCO).
  • Software vendors can help reduce buyer regret by providing clear and transparent pricing and TCO information.
  • Software buyers often prioritize good customer support and high-quality products when making purchasing decisions.
  • Software vendors can help reduce buyer regret by providing good customer support, consistently meeting customer needs, and being transparent about their products and services.