Canadian businesses are betting on technology to fuel growth in 2025, but will those investments pay off? From boosting innovation to avoiding costly mistakes, we break down the latest software buying trends and reveal how to make smarter tech investments next year.
In this article
- Businesses are preparing for growth by prioritizing technology that can help them expand efficiently
- Organizations are leaning on learning management and BI tools to support growth
- Security is the biggest concern when planning software investments
- Companies seek quick ROI—clear goals and vendor support can help
- Realistic and measurable planning can determine successful investments
As Canadian businesses are preparing to finish out 2024, and looking forward to 2025, many are expressing confidence in their growth trajectories. With companies seeking opportunities to expand, technology can be a cornerstone for supporting this anticipated growth. Whether it is for managing training courses with learning management systems, supporting growing teams with help desk software, or leveraging data with business intelligence tools, there are multiple ways that businesses can use technology to boost their growth. However, while optimism abounds, there are challenges and considerations that organizations must take into account as they invest in software to fuel their expansion. Most notably, ensuring security and achieving ROI.
Capterra surveyed 350 Canadian professionals who are involved in the decision-making process when it comes to purchasing new business software within their company. Through this research, we have gathered insights on key buying trends in the software market and will provide tips on how Canadian companies can optimize their technology investments and strategies to maximize returns.*
- Canadian businesses plan to increase their software spending in 2025: 69% of Canadian organizations will spend more on software in the upcoming year, with 13% expecting to spend over 15% more than in 2024.
- Technological advancements are the most significant factor shaping Canadian business goals: 59% of respondents cite technological advancements as the key external factor shaping their business goals, ahead of competition.
- Learning management and business intelligence software are the tools businesses are adopting most in this moment of growth: 55% of respondents say their company has adopted a learning management system in the last 12 months, and 54% have adopted BI tools.
- Security is the leading concern when buying software: Security concerns (49%), data management (35%), and compatibility issues (35%) are the three main obstacles to successful software adoption.
- Canadian businesses want their investments to pay off quickly: 54% of respondents say senior leadership in their company expect to see positive ROI within six months of purchasing a new solution.
Businesses are preparing for growth by prioritizing technology that can help them expand efficiently
There is a picture of optimism in Canadian businesses. When asked about anticipated business growth over the next 18 months, 82% of Canadian businesses expect an increase in revenue, with 18% forecasting an impressive 15% or more in revenue growth. This positivity is mirrored in their spending plans—69% of Canadian organizations plan to increase their software spending in 2025, and 13% of them expect to raise their investment by over 15% compared to 2024.
These strategies to invest more in software may be an indicator of the critical role technology can play in achieving business goals. While access to skilled workers and competition are important external factors shaping their organization’s goals, technological advancements stands out as the most significant one, according to 59% of respondents.
As companies seek solutions to support their operations, improve customer engagement, and drive innovation, the alignment between growth expectations and tech investments signals a proactive approach to supporting business scalability. Canadian businesses are preparing for growth by prioritizing technology that can help them expand efficiently, respond to market changes, and improve operational performance. As they expand, the reliance on technology may grow further.
Organizations are leaning on learning management and BI tools to support growth
Over the past 12 months, Canadian businesses have shown significant interest in software that enhances learning, collaboration, customer service, and business intelligence. The six most widely adopted software types during this period include:
- Learning management systems (55%)
- Business intelligence (BI) software (54%)
- Help desk and IT support (53%)
- Call center and customer service tools (52%)
- Collaboration tools (52%)
- Application development platforms (52%)
The heightened interest in learning management systems and collaboration tools reflects a growing emphasis on improving employee training and fostering better communication and collaboration across teams, which is even more essential as a company grows. Additionally, businesses are also interested in optimizing their problem-solving capabilities, be it through IT-focused help desk support or general customer service tools.
Also, to align tech investments with growth, businesses should focus on tools that support collaboration and performance monitoring. Business intelligence software can provide key insights into performance and identify areas for growth.
These adoption trends suggest that businesses are looking for tools that improve internal processes, enhance customer interaction, and support innovation in product development. As businesses become more technology-driven, they are prioritizing solutions that can streamline operations and provide better data-driven insights.
Security is the biggest concern when planning software investments
Despite expressing optimism in growth, businesses face several critical challenges when it comes to buying new software. The top obstacles include:
- Security concerns (48%)
- Data management (35%)
- Compatibility with existing systems (35%)
As companies invest in new technology to support growth, they must be mindful of the challenges associated with security, integration, and data management. These challenges become more pressing as businesses scale, and failing to address them can lead to inefficiencies, security breaches, and operational disruptions.
Moreover, buyer’s remorse is a real concern—56% of decision-makers surveyed say they regret at least one of the technology purchases they’ve made in the past 18 months. Many of these regrets are rooted in poor decision-making during the software selection process, with the most common regrets being related to security software, product-related issues like pricing or onboarding problems, and vendor performance issues such as unmet expectations.
Consequently, inadequate planning and hasty decisions can contribute to buyer’s remorse, often due to underestimating the complexity of these issues or choosing vendors that fail to meet expectations.
Investing in IT security and data protection software is essential. Tools that integrate with existing systems and provide end-to-end encryption will help address security and data management challenges However, before making a purchase, here are some steps to help you begin your search for the best IT security software for your needs.
- Ensure that your business has a solid security and data management strategy in place.
- Vet potential software vendors thoroughly, especially regarding how their tools will integrate with your existing systems.
- Evaluate security certifications, customer support options, and product scalability to ensure that the software can support both current and future business needs.
- Deploy cross-functional teams in the evaluation process to avoid overlooking critical compatibility concerns.
Companies seek quick ROI—clear goals and vendor support can help
Canadian business leaders can often find themselves under significant pressure to ensure that their software investments pay off quickly. Over half—54%—say company leadership expects to see a positive return on investment (ROI) within six months of purchasing a new solution. While this reflects the urgency of demonstrating value, it can lead to unrealistic expectations if companies aren’t diligent in their planning and implementation.
Short-term ROI can often be impacted by the effectiveness of training and adoption processes. Without a clear strategy for onboarding employees and integrating new software into existing workflows, even the most promising technology can fail to deliver expected returns in a timely manner.
Determining whether six months is a feasible time frame to expect a positive return on investment for a software purchase depends on several factors. To assess this, here are some key questions to ask both internally and to potential vendors, and tips to help you manage your expectations and measure the success of your software investment.
How complex is the software are we working with?
While many tools and applications can deliver results within a six-month timeframe, complex systems like enterprise resource planning (ERP) or CRM platforms may take longer to reap noticeable rewards for several reasons. For example, ERP and CRM systems are deeply integrated into various business functions that may take longer to customize into specific workflows, or they require large volumes of data to transfer from legacy systems.
Tip #1: Conduct a thorough ROI analysis. Estimate the software's direct and indirect benefits. Consider all costs, including initial purchase, implementation, training, and ongoing maintenance.
How time-consuming is the implementation?
Software that can be deployed quickly and requires minimal customization is more likely to achieve ROI in half a year. However, if the software requires significant customization, data migration, or integration with other systems, the implementation phase alone could take several months.
Tip #2: Engage stakeholders. Ensure that all relevant stakeholders are involved in the planning and implementation process. Their buy-in and support can significantly impact the success and speed of achieving ROI.
What scale of deployment are we looking at?
For small-scale deployments, benefits might be realized more quickly, but for larger organizations or enterprise-level software, the rollout and adoption process can be lengthy.
Tip #3: Set milestones. Adopt a phased implementation strategy. Start with small-scale deployments to iron out any issues and allow your workforce to adopt it gradually.
Will the software require intense training and onboarding?
If the software is intuitive and easy to learn, this can shorten the time it takes to see ROI. However, steep learning curves, with extensive training and onboarding requirements, can delay the realization of benefits.
Tip #4: Seek vendor support. Strong vendor support can be crucial during this phase, so choose vendors that offer comprehensive training and onboarding assistance.
What are our goals with this software implementation?
If you have clear, measurable goals and metrics for success, it will be easier to track progress and achieve ROI. However, with ambiguous goals, and without clear metrics, it can be challenging to determine when ROI has been achieved.
Tip #5: Monitor and adjust. Regularly monitor the software's performance against your ROI goals. Be prepared to adjust your strategy or expectations based on real-world data.
Realistic and measurable planning can determine successful investments
As the tech landscape keeps expanding towards 2025, Canadian businesses seem poised for growth in the next 18 months. As they prepare for this expansion, technology is one of the vehicles they are betting on to help support operational efficiency and innovation. However, optimism alone won’t deliver results when the road to expansion meets hazards. Security issues, data management, and integration issues remain key concerns that must be addressed to ensure successful software adoption. Meanwhile, buyer’s remorse can be waiting in the wings if you don’t plan wisely.
Strategic planning is key when it comes to software investments. This includes emphasizing long-term planning, vendor vetting, and a focus on ROI to set businesses up for sustained success. Regularly evaluate software performance, ensure proper training, and choose solutions that can scale alongside your business. Moreover, remain flexible and adjust your technology stack as your business grows—a well-planned approach to software investment can make a big difference.
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, organizational challenges, adoption & budget, vendor research behaviors, ROI expectations, and satisfaction levels for software buyers. This report focuses on the respondents from Canada. Respondents were screened to ensure their involvement in business software purchasing decisions.
