--- description: Capterra looked at buyer behaviour among 252 Australian decision-makers for insight into the potential software trends for 2023. Read more here. image: https://gdm-localsites-assets-gfprod.imgix.net/images/capterra/og_logo-e5a8c001ed0bd1bb922639230fcea71a.png?auto=format%2Cenhance%2Ccompress title: Buying behaviours and software trends in Australia in 2023 --- # Software trends: Insight into the buying behaviours of Australian firms Canonical: https://www.capterra.com.au/blog/3399/software-trends-and-buyers-behaviour-australia Published on 29/01/2023 | Written by Laura Burgess. ![Software trends: Insight into the buying behaviours of Australian firms](https://images.ctfassets.net/63bmaubptoky/9zJV2NOothDjc6MAYv3qg/d4fb5c4fb187d4f71fd1cc89a33d6dde/software-buying-guide-AU-Capterra-header.png) > In this article, Capterra looks at the software buyer behaviours of Australian companies for insight into the buying priorities and preferences of company decision-makers. How might buyer experience in 2022 influence the software trends for 2023? ----- ## Article Content In this article, Capterra looks at the software buyer behaviours of Australian companies for insight into the buying priorities and preferences of company decision-makers. How might buyer experience in 2022 influence the software trends for 2023?In this articleWhat triggered companies to buy software in 2022?What do businesses consider when selecting a software vendor?What do buyers expect when adopting new software?What internal barriers do companies face investing in new software?What are the key takeaways?Over the past few years, digital adoption has increased globally, with software implementation significantly benefiting businesses. Choosing the right system can be tricky as many vendors crowd the software marketplace. A lot is at stake for company decision-makers; implementation can be expensive, and the right tools are required to meet the business needs. Nevertheless, software adoption and vendor partnerships are crucial investments and valuable business assets.In the first article in this two-part series, Capterra found that 67% of Australian companies plan to increase their spending on software in 2023, mainly on IT management, customer relationship management (CRM), and cybersecurity tools. But what do companies look for when purchasing software from vendors?Capterra surveyed 252 Australian business decision-makers about their experiences buying software in 2022. What can we gather from the last 12 months as insight into the coming software trends of 2023? The full methodology is available at the end of the article.What triggered companies to buy software in 2022?Generally speaking, technology can help businesses to automate processes, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. By letting software help with monotonous and repetitive tasks like data entry, employees can focus on their core responsibilities. When asked what triggered companies to purchase new software in 2022, ‘improving productivity’ was the most common answer (36%) among business leaders surveyed by Capterra. Time, energy, and attention are three pillars of productivity, but ineffective communication and multi-tasking are common challenges for employees. Software tools can help track employee productivity, create reports, and allow staff to communicate in real time.‘Business needs outgrowing current technology’ (31%) was next on the list. As businesses grow, technologies may not keep up with their rapid expansion. For example, workers may experience longer wait times for applications and data if a company outgrows its IT infrastructure, leading to lower employee productivity. Other signs an IT system needs upgrading include the need for more storage space or any performance issues.Survey-takers also said their company purchased new tools in 2022 due to ‘expanding product offerings’ and ‘moving to / and managing a hybrid workforce’ (at 27% each). Hybrid workplaces rely on software that enables employees to collaborate remotely and manage a physical workspace. Video conferencing is an example of a tool that can help staff to maintain quality interaction whilst working hybrid. What do businesses consider when selecting a software vendor?There are many points that companies need to consider when choosing a vendor, such as their credentials, fees, trial periods, and whether they align with the business needs. With this checklist to think about, it’s unsurprising that 75% of survey-takers said they consider four or more different vendors before making their final purchase decision. According to the business leaders surveyed, the most important factors when selecting a new software vendor are: ‘security for end-user and data’ (35%), ‘ease of use’ (33%), and ‘customer service and responsiveness’ (27%). Whilst 38% of respondents unsurprisingly cited ‘features and functionality’ as among the top five most important factors when considering new software, ‘security’ (38%) and ‘ease of use’ (36%) also topped the list. Capterra’s findings show that preventing data breaches is a top priority for companies outsourcing their software. To keep up with the advancement of cybersecurity attacks, it is important to know whether vendors have developed their applications with data security as a priority. Company and client data must be safeguarded against threats. ISO 27001 is not mandatory for vendors, but choosing software systems with this certification shows the vendor has taken the necessary steps to protect data assets from cybersecurity risks. Understanding the end user's pain points is also helpful when selecting software with features that can potentially help solve these issues. The system shouldn’t be complicated to learn so users can easily and efficiently perform their tasks. After a period of inactivity, employees can return to the system without relearning how to use it. Free trials can help companies evaluate how intuitive software is for end users and the level of training that may be required during implementation. Another important factor when purchasing new software is customer reviews. Why are user reviews so valuable?User reviews are valuable as they can help with the vendor’s reputation, and reading about other users’ experiences can encourage customers to trust the software. Capterra asked survey-takers what they look for in user reviews when comparing software vendors. The most important factors considered by respondents were:What users like or dislike about the products (50%)Higher percentage of positive reviews vs. negative reviews (48%)Presence of numeric ratings, e.g., rated X out of 5 stars (38%)Presence of recent reviews (38%)Did you know? Capterra can help business decision-makers to compare and choose software vendors. The site has more than one million verified reviews, with ratings and pros and cons shared by real users. Reviews can be filtered by industry and company size and display the reviewer’s job title to help buyers find profiles and use cases similar to theirs. What do buyers expect when adopting new software?Capterra wanted to know what business decision-makers find most valuable when onboarding new software solutions at their company. ‘Personalised training’ was top-rated (41%), followed by a ‘knowledge hub for self-training/tutorials’ (40%) and ‘flexible workflows adapted to user types’ (40%). Buyers expect a good experience when purchasing software, which includes customer training. Experienced employees may show colleagues how to use a third-party product, but vendors often provide initial training for no added cost. A company can save time and money on internal training efforts if a vendor representative teaches employees the ins and outs of the system. Well-trained staff are less likely to demand extra support, although ‘access to customer support’ also proved to be a valuable onboarding factor for companies adopting software (39%).A previous survey by Capterra found that most Aussie consumers prefer customer support to be handled via the phone or live chat, with a human being giving instant answers. Software support is crucial, and in partnering with a local Australian vendor, companies are more likely to receive a response within business hours. Global vendors may provide 24/7 assistance for clients. ‘Customised implementation’ of templates and dashboards (37%) was also rated highly as a factor taken into consideration by survey-takers. Custom dashboards enable employees to view their data in one place. If designed correctly, dashboards can be simple and provide staff with quick data access and management. But before customisation is even implemented, there can still be challenges in choosing the right software vendor to invest in. Why do buyers disregard some software vendors?When choosing new software, comparing several vendors before buying is a must. Some of the most common reasons business decision-makers disqualified software providers when considering their purchasing options included:Prices that are not in line with expectations (cited by 42%)Confusing information material (39%)Lack of clear differentiation (38%)Low-quality sales pitch or presentation (37%)What internal barriers do companies face investing in new software?Software implementation comes with challenges, which can derail the company’s transformation strategy. When asked what their organisation’s top three internal barriers were when investing in new technology, survey-takers most frequently cited ‘concerns about downtime or learning curves’ (48%). This was followed by a ‘lack of satisfaction with potential software solutions’ (41%), a ‘lack of budget’, and ‘concerns over the return on investment (ROI)’ (both at 38%, respectively). Preparing for software roll-out includes determining how much support and training the vendor will need to provide during the first few weeks. Some tech systems are more intuitive, with more straightforward tools to use. The more user-friendly the system is, the less training is required, meaning adoption rates are likely to be higher. A project manager must identify and address common user problems and mitigate any issues. Clear insights into usability challenges mean they can promptly implement a solution and share their knowledge with the team. When choosing a software provider to work with, expectations must be met during the partnership, particularly with the implementation process. The vendor needs to be transparent about what they can realistically deliver to avoid creating issues further down the line. Technology adoption can be expensive, and software implementation may cost more than the tool. Looking for a vendor that offers fixed-price implementation services can help with threats to the IT budget. What are the key takeaways?Capterra’s survey on software trends has shown that the majority of Aussie companies plan to ramp up their spending on software in 2023 to remain competitive. However, in the current climate of economic uncertainty, firms need to employ a high level of pre-purchase scrutiny to ensure a positive ROI and minimise disruption to their business. The following insights indicate the factors likely to influence their choices in the coming year:The top reason Australian businesses made software purchases in 2022 was to improve employee productivity.With many factors to consider when choosing a vendor, business decision-makers compare an average of four or more vendors before buying software. Security is the most important factor when purchasing new software, which is unsurprising given the number of reported cybercrimes across Australia in 2022.Personalised training is one of the most valuable onboarding factors for companies buying new software.The biggest internal barrier to investing in software for organisations is the learning curve of implementing new technologies. This reiterates the need for vendors to provide adequate training for clients in the early phases of adoption. Looking for popular software categories? Check out our directory\! ## Disclaimer > Survey methodology:Capterra conducted this survey online in October 2022 among 252 business leaders and managers in Australia. The study aims to understand businesses' technology investments and the drivers and challenges influencing their decisions. Respondents were screened by:Number of employees: 2 to 999 employees Annual revenue: Less than US$1BIndustry: Manufacturing, Natural Resources, Communications, Media \& Services, Education, Retail, Banking \& Securities, Healthcare Providers, Construction, and HospitalityRespondents were required to be involved in purchasing technologies for the organisation and hold a manager-level position or above in the company. ## About the author ### Laura Burgess Laura is a Content Analyst at Capterra, researching and giving insight on tech trends to help SMEs. Graduate of Bath Spa University, UK. ## Related Categories - [Cloud Security Software](https://www.capterra.com.au/directory/31344/cloud-security/software) - [CRM Software](https://www.capterra.com.au/directory/2/customer-relationship-management/software) - [Cybersecurity Software](https://www.capterra.com.au/directory/31037/cybersecurity/software) - [ERP Systems](https://www.capterra.com.au/directory/9/enterprise-resource-planning/software) - [Network Security Software](https://www.capterra.com.au/directory/30003/network-security/software) ## Related Articles - [55% Of Australians Say They’re Ready To Become A Cashless Society](https://www.capterra.com.au/blog/1653/australians-say-ready-become-cashless-society) - [How to write a CV to get past robot recruiters](https://www.capterra.com.au/blog/2571/how-to-write-a-cv-to-get-past-robot-recruiters) - [Digital natives and digital immigrants: How to train a multigenerational workforce](https://www.capterra.com.au/blog/4262/research-study-digital-natives-digital-immigrants-australia) - [Smart cities: How can businesses contribute to their growth in Australia?](https://www.capterra.com.au/blog/4212/research-study-smart-cities-australia) - [Remote working hasn’t significantly changed toxic workplace culture for employees](https://www.capterra.com.au/blog/3028/remote-work-and-toxic-workplace-culture-in-australia) ## Links - [View on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com.au/blog/3399/software-trends-and-buyers-behaviour-australia) - [Blog](https://www.capterra.com.au/blog) - [Home](https://www.capterra.com.au/) ----- ## Structured Data