tl;dr:

• You sometimes tend to rush your SaaS purchases to stay ahead of the competition, reduce time-to-market, manage risks, cope with limited resources, meet deadlines, or perhaps manage scalability.
• While it makes sense to try to speed up the process, especially in urgent situations, it can be counterproductive because it could lead to unwanted susceptibilities and issues that could’ve been avoidable.
• Inadequate due diligence, quality and customization concerns, limited vendor support, data security, hefty long-term costs, and low adoption are just some of the many pitfalls of dashing SaaS purchases off.

We understand that in the world of SaaS, speed really matters. You want to stay current with ever-changing customer needs and adapt to the constantly evolving marketplace. You then feel rather forced to make decisions fast when it comes to buying new SaaS tools.

We understand where companies are coming from. So, before we discuss all the reasons companies should avoid rushing SaaS purchases, it makes sense to first understand why companies tend to scurry in the first place.

Why Companies Speed Up Their SaaS Purchases

There are many reasons why companies tend to get SaaS purchases going as quickly as possible, and the following are just some of the common ones:

1. Stay ahead of the competition

By implementing new technologies fast, your business can gain a competitive advantage. You get to respond to market changes quickly, meet customer demands promptly, and seize opportunities and industry trends with blazing speed, leaving competitors in the dust.

2. Reduce the time-to-market

Since SaaS solutions offer ready-to-use tools that can be deployed straight away, you can have a leg up in reducing the time-to-market for your products or services, which is awesome, especially for start-ups.

3. Mitigate risks quickly

Many companies rely on SaaS tools for their core business functions such as financial management, project management, or even customer relationship management. We understand how delaying the purchasing process could mean prolonging the dreaded operational risks and inefficiencies. You’re compelled to rush SaaS purchases to sidestep these potential vulnerabilities and disruptions, which totally makes sense.

4. Limited resources

You may not have enough budget to invest in the necessary infrastructure or hire specialized personnel, so you choose to onboard a SaaS tool as quickly as possible to perform the necessary functions.

5. Meet deadlines

You could have an urgent contractual obligation to fulfil, thus the haste. Some requirements could be out of regulatory compliance, and fast procurement could be crucial to ensure timely delivery.

6. Scalability and flexibility

Business needs can be rather volatile, and a company’s operations could either scale slowly or abruptly. If there’s a sudden increase in demand and the need for rapid expansion turns up in your business, rushing the SaaS purchasing process feels necessary to handle the growth efficiently.

All the reasons above are sensible grounds for wanting to set up SaaS tools ASAP, but doing so haphazardly and not having a proper SaaS purchasing process could lead to costly mistakes that could have been avoidable if things were only done more carefully.

Why You Should Avoid Rushing SaaS Your Purchases

The following are some of the common pitfalls of buying SaaS tools too quickly.

1. Inadequate due diligence

Before signing up for any SaaS tool, it’s important to ensure that the SaaS solution truly aligns with the company’s current and future goals. Before buying a new SaaS tool, it's crucial to look at testimonials, reviews, references, and case studies to thoroughly assess whether or not the solution is the right match for your company’s IT infrastructure.

Rushing the process makes you more susceptible to mistakes and poorly thought-out decisions that could just cost more time and money in the long run. Make sure to analyze your company’s exact needs, pain points, and long-term objectives and choose the solution that matches your business goals.

2. Quality and customization concerns

One of the biggest risks of making SaaS purchases too quickly is the potential for quality concerns. With over 17,000 SaaS companies in the U.S., choosing the solution that meets your quality expectations can be challenging. When companies rush to acquire new solutions, they may not take the time to thoroughly assess the features, functionality, and security of these solutions as thoroughly as they should. This can lead to solutions not being well-suited to the company's needs or having security vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers.

Rushing the process also makes it easy to overlook key integration and customization requirements. Every company has unique systems and workflows, and it’s very important to evaluate whether or not the SaaS solution you’re eyeing can indeed match your existing infrastructure. Make sure to assess the integration capabilities and customization options of a new SaaS tool to ensure a smooth transition and avoid unwanted configuration challenges.

3. Limited vendor and IT management support

Another risk of procuring SaaS hastily is limited vendor and IT management support. This is an important factor you should never overlook. In fact, 87% of buyers believe that customer support is one of the most crucial aspects of choosing a SaaS company. When companies rush into buying new solutions, they may fail to properly evaluate the customer support and vendor management capabilities of the provider. This might result in a lack of support when problems arise, which can, in turn, impact the company's ability to deliver quality products and services to its customers. Look for vendors that offer strong customer support and have an established track record of providing high-quality solutions.

4. Data Security and Privacy Issues

When using SaaS solutions, the chosen provider would have to store and process your company’s sensitive information. Take the selection process seriously because data security and privacy measures are critical for your business operation, not to mention your reputation. Before you sign anything, review the vendor’s security protocols, access controls, data encryption processes, compliance certifications, and track record for safeguarding sensitive data.

5. Failing to consider the long-term costs

Be sure to consider the long-term costs of each solution, including the cost of maintenance and upgrades. While a cheaper solution may seem attractive in the short term, it may end up costing more in the long term. Think about frequent maintenance and upgrades.

Thoroughly review the pricing structure, possible add-on costs, subscription fees, and the overall total cost of ownership. If you aren’t careful and you pursue hasty contract negotiations, you may end up accepting unfavorable terms and conditions that don’t serve your business well.

6. Poor user adoption

If you rush the process, you’re inviting the trouble of poor user adoption and inadequate change management and training program. You need to allocate enough time to prepare users for the transition. If not, it could result in low adoption or inefficient onboarding.

If you want to make smart purchasing decisions while minding speed, it's important to involve your key team members in the process. They may help evaluate the features and security of potential solutions, as well as provide input on the long-term costs and support requirements of each solution. Assess prospective SaaS vendors thoroughly and evaluate their track record, security measures, infrastructure, and most importantly, IT management support. By following the above-mentioned tips, you can balance speed and quality while sourcing and managing SaaS applications efficiently.

Ready to start your SaaS management journey? Explore your options now at gettalisman.com!

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