# Capterra’s 2025 Tech Trends Report | Capterra > Most software buyers regret a purchase made in the past 18 months. Read our report to learn what separates successful and regretful buyers at every stage of the process. Source: https://www.capterra.com/resources/tech-trends-successful-buyer-purchase-journey --- # Capterra's 2025 Tech Trends Report: How Successful Buyers Find, Evaluate, and Purchase Software Contributor: Brian Westfall Brian WestfallContributor HR Technology Expert Experience I worked at Capterra for over a decade, becoming a trusted thought leader on all aspects of the HR technology market. I have... [See bio & all articles](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/bwestfall/) and edited by: Carolyn Santa Maria Carolyn Santa MariaEditor Carolyn Santa Maria is a senior editor at Capterra. Carolyn has been working in content for more than five years as an editor. With her keen eye for detail, ... [See bio & all articles](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/carolyn-santa-maria/) Published November 18, 2024 2 min read ## Software purchase regret is shockingly common. Our e-book looks into what successful buyers do differently. Download Capterra's free Capterra's 2025 Tech Trends Report eBook [](#signup) We were surprised to learn last year that businesses make regretful software purchases more often than not—causing immediate harm and impacting their long-term performance. Has a new year made businesses better at buying software? In short, no.  According to Capterra’s 2025 Tech Trends Survey[\*](#methodology), which collected responses from 3,500 software buyers around the world, software purchase regret is still high. And with 75% of organizations planning to increase their software budget in 2025, companies run the risk of even more regret in the near future unless they make meaningful changes. To help, Capterra’s 2025 Tech Trends Report goes even deeper than last year. In this [downloadable e-book](#signup), we examine what separates successful and regretful buyers at every stage of the purchase journey: the number of vendors they consider, the purchase factors they prioritize, the information sources they use to make decisions, and more. Our e-book is a must-read before you make your next software purchase. Discover how to navigate a more complex software market and leverage trustworthy resources like [Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/) to pare down your options and arrive at the best software for your needs and budget. Key insights - **AI has made software purchases more complicated:** The number of software buyers that consider assessing the value and risk of generative AI a top business challenge has grown 70% year-over-year. - **Social media can pollute initial lists, while experience gives buyers a leg up:** Regretful buyers are twice as likely to factor social media into initial lists, while successful buyers are 50% more likely to factor previous product experience. - **Product comparison sites lead to shortlist success:** Successful buyers are at least 50% more likely to factor product comparison sites and expert recommendations when doing research to create their shortlist. - **Buyers shouldn’t delay making a purchase decision:** Most successful buyers (57%) take 3 months or less to evaluate their software options, while most regretful buyers (54%) take 5 months or more. **Download Capterra’s 2025 Tech Trends Report below to learn how successful software buyers find, evaluate, and purchase the right software.** * * * **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 (five or more employees).  The survey was designed to understand the timeline, organizational challenges, adoption & budget, vendor research behaviors, ROI expectations and satisfaction levels for software buyers. Respondents were screened to ensure their involvement in business software purchasing decisions. * * * ### Was this article helpful? * * * ## About the Authors [### Brian Westfall](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/bwestfall/) Brian Westfall worked at Capterra for over a decade, becoming a trusted thought leader on all aspects of the HR technology market. He has a passion for helping organizations create great workplaces by leveraging his keen attention to detail and ability to present information engagingly. Before Capterra, he honed his writing skills in journalism, social media content creation, and search engine advertising. [### Carolyn Santa Maria](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/carolyn-santa-maria/) Carolyn Santa Maria is a senior editor at Capterra. Carolyn has been working in content for more than five years as an editor. With her keen eye for detail, technical experience, and cross-team collaborative expertise, she has developed new content types, briefs, and processes for a variety of different projects and teams. She has edited a large variety of content, including research reports, white papers, eBooks, email marketing campaigns, and many other types of technical papers. 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