How to avoid buyer’s remorse when investing in new technology?

Recent reports reveal that up to two-thirds of businesses regret their software or platform investments. So how can companies avoid these risks and maximize the return on their technology investments?

Avoid chasing trends, make decisions based on actual needs

In the era of booming artificial intelligence (AI), many businesses tend to "follow the crowd" to avoid falling behind competitors. This often leads companies into the "trend trap," where they adopt new technology without properly assessing the actual capabilities and needs of their organization. AI is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and not every cutting-edge technology is immediately suitable for your business.

Instead of chasing trends, businesses should start by identifying the right problems. The key question is: Does this technology investment truly solve the company’s current challenges? If your business is still using basic tools like Excel without optimizing forecasts, small improvements with existing tools may yield significant benefits before moving to more complex platforms.

Financial analysis and scenario planning to ensure feasibility

Return on investment (ROI) analysis is a critical step in evaluating the financial viability and potential benefits of deploying new technology. However, it’s not just about calculating initial costs. An effective ROI plan must also include intangible factors, such as the value of operational efficiencies or improvements in forecast accuracy.

To achieve this, businesses should start by developing an improvement metric to establish a baseline. From there, factors such as forecast accuracy and storage costs can be incorporated into financial models, allowing for a meaningful comparison of software claiming to reduce expenses. More importantly, using scenario planning helps businesses gain a clearer understanding of how the platform will perform under varying conditions, such as when there’s a sudden spike in product demand.

Implement effective change management to ensure success

After selecting the right tech solution, internal transition processes are crucial for long-term success. This is where change management plays a critical role. To mitigate risks during implementation, businesses need to have a detailed plan and ensure their teams are fully prepared.

Effective change management is not just about training employees on how to use the new technology. It also involves setting up communication channels for employees to ask questions, providing ongoing training programs, and developing feedback loops to adjust processes in real time. Once the internal team is ready and aligned with the changes, the implementation of new technology will be smoother, increasing adoption rates and maximizing the potential of the new solution.

Key questions to ask before investing in new technology:

1. Does this tech solution genuinely address the specific problem facing the business?
2. What small improvements can be made with existing tools before investing in a new solution?
3. What financial factors should be considered, from initial costs to the value of operational efficiencies?
4. Has the business thoroughly prepared for the internal transition process?
5. Is the team aligned and ready to embrace the change?

Investing at the right time and preparing carefully increases success rates

Investing in new technology, especially AI, presents great potential but also carries significant risks. Businesses must carefully evaluate whether the timing is right and whether existing tools can be optimized before moving to more complex solutions. Adhering to fundamental principles and using accurate assessment metrics will help companies minimize uncertainty, build confidence in investment decisions, and avoid regret after implementation.

Moreover, businesses should not hesitate to seek support from external experts with proven success. Above all, effective change management is essential to ensure that the internal team is ready and willing to embrace the change. Only with strong internal buy-in can companies fully capitalize on the potential ROI that new technology brings.

Thus, successful tech investment is not merely a competitive arms race between businesses but also an art of preparation, thorough evaluation, and knowing when it’s the right time to move forward.

By Ha Le