--- description: Many Australian businesses face software implementation disruption. Capterra reveals how better planning and user reviews can help SMBs avoid costly setbacks. image: https://gdm-localsites-assets-gfprod.imgix.net/images/capterra/og_logo-e5a8c001ed0bd1bb922639230fcea71a.png?auto=format%2Cenhance%2Ccompress title: Software Buying Trends 2026: Capterra Australia’s Report --- # Software buying trends in Australia 2026: Planning and user reviews boost ROI and lessen disruption Canonical: https://www.capterra.com.au/blog/7674/software-buying-trends-2026-australia Published on 29/10/2025 | Written by Laura Burgess. ![Software buying trends in Australia 2026: Planning and user reviews boost ROI and lessen disruption](https://images.ctfassets.net/63bmaubptoky/5LVT8qHzD0d1ZZDWjwEYBe/32c8f8e3848ecbf649136bf9479a7c7b/05-CAP-US-Header-HR_Employees_Say_Half_Of_Their_Software_Systems_Perform_Overlapping_Functions_INTL_1200x630_DLVR.png) > Australian companies are adopting new technologies to stay competitive, but selecting the incorrect tool can be complex and lead to costly setbacks. To support better decision-making, we outline the key behaviours of successful software adopters. ----- ## Article Content Australian companies are adopting new technologies to stay competitive, but selecting the incorrect tool can be complex and lead to costly setbacks. To support better decision-making, we outline the key behaviours of successful software adopters.In this articleHow successful software buyers stay ahead of disruption1. Define outcomes and requirements early2. Seek expert and peer input3. Shortlist decisively4. Execute a detailed implementation plan5. Be a successful software adopterSoftware plays a central role in achieving business goals for many Australian organisations. However, despite growing investment in digital tools, the selection process often falls short. When expectations aren’t met, the result can be higher costs, operational disruption, and lost time.To pinpoint what drives successful software adoption, and what derails it, Capterra analysed responses from 281 participants in Australia (from 3,385 globally). The report specifically analyses buyers who successfully adopted a software system as well as those who experienced disruption and disappointment.\*Key takeaways:Software purchases often miss the mark: Only under one-third (30%) of Australian software buyers experienced no disruption or regret from a purchase.Purchase regret is nearly always preceded by disruption: 92% of software buyers in Australia regret their purchase and experience implementation disruption.Successful adoption equals savings: 89% of disappointed buyers expect to spend more on software next year, compared with 74% of successful adopters.User reviews bring results: Half of successful adopters (51%) use reviews to inform their software buying research.Decisive action pays off: Successful adopters typically round out their software selection within three months, as longer time frames show a stronger link to dissatisfaction.Planning avoids regret: Half of successful adopters (51%) in Australia create an implementation plan, which reduces the risk of disruption.How successful software buyers stay ahead of disruption Australian businesses adopt new software to improve operations, reduce time spent on tasks, and support growth. However, only 30% of buyers end up satisfied with their chosen system, while a larger share face implementation challenges and later regret their decision.This analysis segments respondents into two key groups:Successful software adopters, comprising 30% of our Australian sample, who found the right solution without disruption or regretDisappointed software buyers, which consists of 43% of Australians, who experienced both disruption and regretThe remaining buyers experienced regret without disruption or disruption without regret.Why avoiding regret is criticalUnfortunately, regret seems most common, with nearly half (47%) of buyers in Australia regretting one or more software purchases. This is often influenced by unexpected disruptions during implementation, a trend we observed globally, where these setbacks are present for 89% of buyers experiencing regret. In Australia, however, this rises to 92%.It highlights that avoiding implementation disruption is a major step to successful software adoption.What are the costs of disappointment? There are a few notable ones, a major one being the extra expense. Conversely, fewer successful software buyers in Australia plan to increase their software spending in the next 12 months compared to their global peers, while 89% of disappointed Australian software buyers plan to spend more next year.A major issue that software buyers later find is that the software crashes or has bugs (30%), which undermines trust in the system. Security concerns follow closely, affecting 29% of disappointed buyers, whether due to actual breaches or the fear of one. Performance that doesn’t meet expectations (26%) is another common reason for regret, especially when it slows down operations or creates friction in daily workflows.In short, when a system is unreliable, insecure, or underperforms, it disrupts how teams work and leads to disappointment. These issues highlight the importance of thoroughly evaluating software stability, security, and performance before making a purchase or considering a switch.To help you approach this process with confidence, we outline what to do next.1. Define outcomes and requirements earlyThough thinking through the outcomes and requirements for a software adoption in depth may seem like a demanding and time-consuming task, it is critical for ensuring success.Successful adopters in Australia take a more structured approach to software selection than disappointed buyers. They are more likely to define outcomes and set budgets. They also show stronger consistency in risk assessment, reinforcing the link between documented steps and better adoption results. Small process gaps matter. Structured planning reduces risk and prevents costly mistakes. Spending time upfront to clarify goals and align them with your workflows makes it easier to choose software that delivers a strong ROI.It’s telling that 44% of disappointed buyers say they would improve stakeholder communication to avoid regret in the future, and 42% would secure an adequate budget. Addressing alignment and financial planning early can help prevent setbacks later.2. Seek expert and peer input Feedback from user experience proves a decisive factor for getting a good ROI on software. User reviews and comparison sources especially make a considerable difference in getting to this point.Comparing and researching the available products is a key step to assessing the options available. However, with a market of hundreds and sometimes thousands of options, filtering down those choices with credible information is key.Findings show that successful adopters in Australia rely most on user reviews and software comparison site sources to achieve success in their selection. Conversely, disappointed buyers are far less likely to use this information.Software review and comparison sites (49%) and industry experts (41%) are also top resources used by successful buyers. Access to peer insights and expert guidance may be a key differentiator between confident decisions and costly missteps.While the use of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT or Google AI Overview) appears in the top five sources, buyers should approach these outputs with caution. AI-generated summaries can be helpful for initial research, but they may miss context, misinterpret user sentiment, or reflect outdated data. To reduce risk, buyers should validate AI findings against verified reviews and expert analysis before making decisions.Expertise and experience help buyers assess critical factors like usability, security, and pricing, areas where successful adopters tend to focus. These insights also clarify whether key features perform as expected and whether vendor promises hold up post-purchase.3. Shortlist decisively Clearer goals can equal a more streamlined buying process. In fact, our research shows that successful software adopters in Australia are, on average, more likely to have a shorter evaluation period than those who end up disappointed with a purchase.This starts from creating the shortlist, with most adopters listing fewer vendors on their shortlist, indicating a more focused and pinpointed approach informed by research. Generally, the more vendors listed and engaged, the worse it is for overall success.Successful adopters don’t rush their decision, but they don’t stall either. Taking time up front to define goals and requirements leads to a more focused search and ultimately saves time.Longer searches often signal confusion or shifting priorities. Without a clear direction, the process can lose momentum and miss the mark. Our data shows that searches lasting three months or less are more likely to lead to success than those stretching beyond four months.Making informed decisions early helps reduce downtime between retiring an outdated system and onboarding a better fit. It also shortens vendor negotiations, since buyers know what they need and can spot gaps quickly.4. Execute a detailed implementation planThere is a notable gap in the preparation methods of successful adopters and disappointed buyers in Australia. In fact, successful respondents are more likely to plan for implementation, such as timelines, training, and data migration, by a difference of 20 percentage points. This step is often overlooked by disappointed buyers, but it plays a key role in avoiding regret.It is vital to carefully plan and actualise how the new acquisition will be implemented in the business. Failure to plan at this stage will often result in disruption and eventual disappointment.This came across in our findings, where just over half of successful adopters formally plan for implementation during the buying process. This is in contrast to disappointed buyers, where 31% prioritise this step.When adopting a new system, it’s important to align the setup with your business needs. Focus on these five areas: Change management: Build a team of internal stakeholders to guide and oversee the implementation process.Technical setup: Adjust system settings to match your workflows and meet the expectations of primary users.Data transfer: Prepare your data for secure migration and ensure it’s compatible with the new system.System testing: Run a trial of typical tasks to confirm the software performs as expected before launch.Employee training: Walk staff through key features and highlight any changes to how tasks will be completed.Clarifying these elements early helps avoid delays, confusion, and resistance that could impact adoption and long-term use.It is also important to ensure that expectations align with the amount of onboarding and ongoing support from the vendor. In this case, one in five disappointed buyers (20%) feel they received poor vendor support overall after a purchase, while 18% found themselves undone by inadequate training and onboarding generally. However, perhaps the biggest issue from not judging the implementation correctly is disruption. We already know that this correlates very heavily with regret, and it often manifests itself through a number of problems.Among Australia’s disappointed buyers, the most common causes of disruption include:Data migration problems: 41%Delay: 40%Budget overrun: 36%Integration issues: 34%Inadequate user training: 33%Security or compliance issues: 33% These are, therefore, the failure points to prepare contingency plans around most comprehensively. This will help avoid regret in these later stages of software buying and adoption.5. Be a successful software adopterEvery buyer wants their software investment to pay off, but success doesn’t happen by chance. It takes clear planning and purposeful action.In Australia, dissatisfaction with software purchases remains high. The data points to a common cause: unclear goals and disruptive selection processes.Software budgets are expected to grow, with 81% of Australian companies planning to increase spending by 5% to 15% in the next year. Interestingly, successful adopters tend to spend less than disappointed ones, likely because they’re not replacing tools that missed the mark.To improve outcomes, businesses should start by aligning software choices with their strategic goals. From there, they can use peer feedback and expert input to narrow the field. Keeping the search focused helps avoid wasted time and effort. Once the right product is selected, a well-managed implementation plan is key to seeing real results.Looking for review feedback for a software product? Capterra’s extensive software directory provides up-to-date user reviews for thousands of products. ## Disclaimer > Methodology\*Capterra’s 2026 Software Buying Trends survey was conducted online in August 2025 among 3,385 respondents in Australia (n=281), Brazil (n=278), Canada (n=293), France (n=283), Germany (n=279), India (n=260), Italy (n=263), Mexico (n=288), Spain (n=273), the U.K. (n=299), and the U.S. (n=588), at businesses across multiple industries, ages (1 year in business or longer), and sizes (5 or more employees). Business sizes represented in the survey include: 1,676 small (5-249 full-time employees), 822 midsize (250-999), and 887 enterprise (1,000+). The goal of this study was to understand the timelines, organisational challenges, research behaviours, and adoption processes of business software buyers. Respondents were screened to ensure their involvement in business software purchasing decisions. ## 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 - [Accounting Software](https://www.capterra.com.au/directory/1/accounting/software) - [CRM Software](https://www.capterra.com.au/directory/2/customer-relationship-management/software) - [ERP Systems](https://www.capterra.com.au/directory/9/enterprise-resource-planning/software) - [HR Software](https://www.capterra.com.au/directory/5/human-resource/software) - [Project Management Software](https://www.capterra.com.au/directory/30002/project-management/software) ## Related Articles - [5 Top free travel agency software and their key features](https://www.capterra.com.au/blog/3531/top-free-travel-agency-software) - [10 effective workplace communication tips for managing remote teams](https://www.capterra.com.au/blog/1465/effective-communication-tips-remote-teams) - [How can business decision-makers avoid software buyer’s regret in 2024?](https://www.capterra.com.au/blog/4353/how-to-avoid-software-buyers-regret-for-business-decision-makers) - [5 key construction industry trends in Australia](https://www.capterra.com.au/blog/4190/construction-industry-trends-australia) - [As 57% of Australian companies use AI in customer services, their biggest challenge is consumer trust](https://www.capterra.com.au/blog/6915/how-to-improve-cx-with-ai-in-customer-service-australia) ## Links - [View on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com.au/blog/7674/software-buying-trends-2026-australia) - [Blog](https://www.capterra.com.au/blog) - [Home](https://www.capterra.com.au/) ----- ## Structured Data