--- description: Before making a software investment in 2025, read up on common mistakes and best practices of the software purchasing process in India. image: https://gdm-localsites-assets-gfprod.imgix.net/images/capterra/og_logo-e5a8c001ed0bd1bb922639230fcea71a.png?auto=format%2Cenhance%2Ccompress title: Tips on the software purchasing process in India for 2025 --- # A look inside the software purchasing process for Indian companies in 2025 Canonical: https://www.capterra.in/blog/7613/software-purchasing-process-2025 Published on 3/3/2025 | Written by Tessa Anaya. ![A look inside the software purchasing process for Indian companies in 2025](https://images.ctfassets.net/63bmaubptoky/6PSDCUR60Gw9xTfa2l2U9V/e049b6036a4f70308a33a14c4c63ea32/11-CAP-US-Header-Rapidly_Growing_Companies_Face_Greater_Software_Buying_Challenges_Our_Research_Can_Help_INTL_1200x630_DLVR.png) > Finding new tools to elevate business operations is a tough task; one should use all the tips available on the software purchasing process. ----- ## Article Content Finding new tools to elevate business operations is a tough task; one should use all the tips available on the software purchasing process. In this articleAlmost three-quarters of software buyers in India experience purchase regretTips on the software purchase process from successful buyersAvoid regret and other negative consequencesTop takeaways from regretful software buyersBusiness technology should be evaluated on a regular basis, especially when current tools aren’t delivering as expected. Recent data from Capterra’s 2025 Tech Trends Survey of 3,500 software buyers across nine countries, including 350 in India, shows that nearly three-quarters of software-purchase decision-makers in India experienced regret over a software investment in the last eighteen months.\*With so many Indian businesses reconsidering regretful software investments–and as software spending in the country is set to increase in 2025–examining the steps of a successful software purchasing process can offer vital support. This article will dive into the experiences of both regretful and successful software buyers, providing insights into the software research elements that help firms build the technology infrastructure that best fits their needs. Key findings:72% of software buyers in India have regretted one or more technology investments in the last 18 monthsSuccessful buyers tend to start with a shorter list of products for consideration compared to regretful buyersMore than half of successful buyers use product review and comparison websites as well as customer reviews for researchProduct trials, vendor customer support, and online demonstrations are more likely to influence successful buyers' final decisions Nearly half of regretful buyers in India would work harder to ensure alignment about the technology evaluation criteria in future decisionsAlmost three-quarters of software buyers in India experience purchase regretFinding the right technology to invest in is tricky, and it’s easy to make a mistake. Our research shows that a full 72% of decision-makers at Indian firms came to feel regret over one or more software purchases made in the last 18 months. Compared to the global average of 59%, Indian businesses show a higher risk of regret over tech investments. Not all software investments carry the same risk, however. According to survey data, security and IT-related software is the top category associated with regret, reported by 54% of respondents, followed by:Marketing/communication tools (37%)Finance/accounting tools (34%)Human resources tools (32%)Sales and business development tools (31%) Our research reveals that IT and marketing software are among the top investment priorities for Indian companies. Due to the elevated importance and need to improve these areas, adopting tools to help these aims may be extra delicate. Considering the high risk of regret for these categories, firms must be especially careful with their research to avoid making a purchase mistake. The impact of investing in the wrong software toolsOver half (56%) of the firms in India experiencing regret over a software purchase say that decision led to a significant or even monumental financial impact. But the negative consequences don’t end there—the most reported negative impacts of investing in the wrong tools include security vulnerabilities, reduced productivity, and increased costs.Creating a strategy to choose the right software tools then becomes paramount to keeping the technological landscape safe and running smoothly.Tips on the software purchase process from successful buyersSo, how exactly does one find the right software to invest in from the beginning? In this section, we’ll look closely at the differences in the software purchase process of successful vs. regretful buyers and point out potential areas of improvement.As we analyze the behaviors of the 28% of Indian decision-makers who’ve been happy with their software investments in the last year, we’ll focus on three important parts of the buyer’s journey.How to establish an initial list of products for considerationHow to review options and refine your shortlistHow to engage with vendors before making a final decisionEstablishing an initial list of software productsWhen the search for software starts, most decision-makers pool their ideas into an initial list of products for consideration. As the data shows, successful software investors start with shorter lists than regretful buyers, including 5.2 tools to consider on average. Carefully composing a shorter list of real contenders to evaluate from the start gives more time to dive into each tool, getting a better understanding of its suitability before investing. It’s also important to note successful buyers take just 4.4 months on average to evaluate software options and make a choice. Compared to regretful buyers’ average evaluation time of 6.1 months, time is clearly of the essence.Starting with a long list of tools may mean that less time is given to considering each one, leading the evaluation team to have vague ideas about the tools in question. In addition, letting the decision-making step drag on may lead focus to drift, with teams ultimately choosing a product they don’t know very well a long time after their primary research was done.Staying organised and on time during the software purchasing processWith all the software categories, products, and features to consider when evaluating software, it can be hard to keep your research organised. It can also be hard to keep the software adoption project on time, which is where project management software can help. Using a project management tool for software research can help teams:Stick to deadlinesKeep track of research done into software optionsCentralise communication with vendorsReview and refine your software shortlistOnce the initial group of tools to consider is set, it’s time to dive into the research stage. There is much to consider; features, fit to business needs, price, and customer service are all top of mind. However, where are the best places for those tasked with research to get their information? The most common source of information for successful buyers in India is product review and comparison websites.As the data shows above, regretful purchases are more often made based on research from unverified sources on the internet, like search engines and generative AI platforms. Successful buyers tend to rely on vetted feedback and credible sources including product comparison sites, customer reviews, and industry experts.Seeking out verified sources of information is a great way to review product options during the refining process, but what happens when none of the choices on the shortlist seem perfect? Successful buyers look for more options to add to the list.80% of buyers with no regret over their software purchases say that their initial list of vendors typically changes slightly or even significantly compared to their final list. Only 65% of regretful buyers were as open to changes to their vendor lists, showing that flexibility could be an ingredient for successful software investments. Finding potential products to add to the list doesn’t have to mean throwing a ton of new candidates into the mix. In fact, successful buyers tend to keep their final list shorter than regretful buyers do; over half keep just 1-3 vendors up for contention until the end, compared to just over a quarter of regretful buyers at that stage. Engage with software vendors With just a few options left to consider on the final list, getting a closer look at the software itself is the final piece of the puzzle in choosing between them. In fact, successful buyers are more likely to get an online demonstration, or even test the software themselves, before buying.Successful buyers had more contact with the product and vendors in all areas except one: the sales department. While listening to an elevator pitch can provide a concise introduction to a product, successful investments tend to be backed by up-close experience with the software.Avoid regret and other negative consequences  The most common reason for software purchase regret is investing in technology that is too complex for the business’s needs, cited by 42%. The second most common reason was adopting technology that is too basic (39%), pointing out the importance of finding the perfect fit. Identifying the right tools appears to be an especially difficult challenge in India. In fact, finding the right product was cited as one of the top challenges of planning investments in new software by 36% of businesses globally, but reported by 42% of companies in India.Other elements that led to regretful software investments include:Difficulty training and onboarding users (37%)Poor technical support services (37%)A more expensive investment than expected (36%)Incompatibility with existing systems (36%)To avoid the difficulties related to adoption and support cited by regretful buyers, a deeper understanding of the tool's use and the support services available is required. As discussed earlier, successful buyers tend to have more contact with vendors when it comes to product trials and touchpoints with customer success; that could be the key to choosing the right tool. Successful buyers’ shorter list of vendors may be another key to avoiding regret. With fewer options to consider, they get a more in-depth look at a tool’s functionality, its integration with existing systems, and overall costs before making a commitment. Top takeaways from regretful software buyersTo gain clarity on the errors that lead to a regretful purchase, we asked what changes regretful buyers would make when making future purchases. The most common change that regretful buyers would make would be to ensure alignment around the evaluation and selection criteria of the tool. Other important steps to take at the start of a software buying journey include securing a budget and clarifying desired outcomes, while steps like considering user reviews and changing the list of vendors come in handy during the evaluation process.Keep these important takeaways in mind when planning your process for software evaluation and research. Looking for project management software? Check out our catalogue. ## Disclaimer > Survey methodology\*Capterra’s 2025 Tech Trends Survey was conducted online in August 2024 among 3,500 respondents in the U.S. (n=700), U.K. (n=350), Canada (n=350), Australia (n=350), France (n=350), India (n=350), Germany (n=350), Brazil (n=350), and Japan (n=350), at businesses across multiple industries and company sizes (5 or more employees). The survey was designed to understand the timeline, organisational challenges, adoption \& budget, vendor research behaviours, ROI expectations, and satisfaction levels for software buyers. Respondents were screened to ensure their involvement in business software purchasing decisions. ## About the author ### Tessa Anaya Tessa is a Content Analyst for Capterra, delivering software-related insights to local SMEs. 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