Question 1

Will organizations increase software spending in 2026?

Accepted Answer

77% plan to spend much or somewhat more, 19% about the same, and 4% less. These are expectations reported by 3,385 decision makers in the August 2025 survey, rather than measured 2026 expenditure.

Question 2

What distinguishes successful software adopters?

Accepted Answer

The report defines successful adopters as buyers who experienced neither unexpected implementation disruption nor purchase regret (n=1,147). Their habits include clear requirements, expert input, focused shortlists, attention to contract terms, and formal implementation plans.

Question 3

Why do buyers remove vendors from their shortlist?

Accepted Answer

The three leading reasons shown in the report are security or compliance gaps (55%), unfavorable contract terms (52%), and poor trial experiences (50%). Respondents could select more than one reason.

Question 4

How do successful adopters approach AI?

Accepted Answer

74% of successful adopters are comfortable adopting proven AI technologies, 17% aggressively test and deploy emerging AI, and 9% tend to avoid AI. Among disappointed buyers, the corresponding figures are 63%, 33%, and 4%.

Question 5

Are the AI chat and industry expert statistics from the same survey?

Accepted Answer

No. The shortlist-influence chart led by AI chat at 55% comes from G2's March 2026 survey of 1,076 B2B decision makers. The industry experts (49%), review and comparison sites (39%), and generative AI (38%) figures come from the August 2025 survey of 3,385 software buyers and a different question.

Make Your Category the Next G2 Report.

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Make Your Category the Next G2 Report.

Keep Reading

This is a test report for Version History

72% Are Moving to Connected Compliance. Only Proof Gets Them There

PR 163 Theme Re-import Test New New New