How To Know If Your Software Implementation Is Successful

If you’re a small business decision-maker unsure about a recent technology purchase, this may resonate with you, and if it does, you’re not alone: 61% of U.S. SMBs in GetApp’s 2023 SMB Tech Trends Survey* say they’ve experienced buyer’s remorse over technology they’ve purchased in the past 12-18 months.

But where is this remorse coming from? The top three reasons cited by SMBs are subpar support services from vendors following their purchase (39%), the total investment costing more than expected (34%), and difficulty proving a positive return-on-investment (ROI) (33%).

In this article, we’ll address the third most common reason for buyer regret: How can you tell if your software investment was worth it? 

Here are some signs of a successful software implementation, and some tips on how to get the results you want if signs ultimately point to “needs improvement.”

Figuring out whether or not your software investment is paying off sometimes requires thinking beyond revenue gained and other common metrics.

Sign 1: You’re saving time and/or money

Your employees, through their time and skills, are your greatest asset, and their salaries are an expensive investment. Think about how the new software is changing the ways your employees allocate their time, and what that means for your business.

Perhaps your new software is automating or speeding up tasks that used to take up huge chunks of your employees’ time. Now, they can spend that time on tasks that require their special skill set and that are more critical to your business goals.

What’s equally important as revenue gained in determining the success of your software investment is what you’ve saved, including time and money.

Sign 2: You haven’t had significant disruptions due to the implementation

Sometimes, a sign of a successful software implementation is the platform working silently in the background, helping you avoid disruptions. 

This could mean a software platform helps your business avoid delays during the onboarding process, or simply makes business processes run smoothly without bottlenecks slowing anything down. If your business collects customer data, a cybersecurity tool could be saving you hundreds of thousands of dollars by preventing ransomware attacks and costs associated with rebuilding brand trust after a data breach. 

Additionally, consider how this software makes your business more resilient and agile in the face of unexpected challenges.

Sign 3: You’ve minimized previously experienced challenges 

Recall why you decided to invest in the new software. Perhaps you invested in a project management platform because you noticed project delays becoming increasingly frequent as a result of poor communication between teams. Since you’ve adopted the platform, have projects gone more smoothly? Have teams communicated more effectively? Has miscommunication reduced? 

Or, perhaps you noticed that your team was spending too much time on redundant tasks, such as scheduling meetings or sending follow-up emails. Has your new platform successfully automated these tasks, drastically minimizing manual errors? Has this allowed employees to allocate that time to more impactful tasks and projects without having to stay late? Has this reduced burnout levels in the office? 

When evaluating the success of your software, remember why you decided to invest in the platform in the first place and what challenges you were trying to address.

Sign 4: Business has grown since implementing

Growth is often gradual, and can be difficult to notice as it's happening. This is why it’s important to track metrics over time to see the longer-term impacts of your software stack. 

In the first year of your software investment, however, you should still be able to see growth and the possibility for growth in how your software investment addresses the challenges it was intended to tackle.

For example, by smoothing processes and allowing employees to dedicate more time to meaningful tasks, you’re allowing your business room to grow by reducing errors and giving employees time to dedicate to tasks and projects that can help your business reach the next level.

Success isn’t always loud and flashy. When considering the ROI of your software investment, consider how it helps you avoid, minimize, and overcome past and potential challenges.