Selection
The most expensive software is the wrong one – even if it’s “industry standard”.
Stress-test your decision before committing.
The most expensive software in vendor selection is the one that does not fit your business, even if it is the “industry standard”, because it creates hidden ongoing costs, disruption, and risk. Stress‑testing your decision before committing means deliberately trying to “break” the choice—commercially, technically, and operationally—before you sign, so you expose these risks early.
Why the “wrong” software is most expensive.
- Misfit software adds hidden costs: extra manual work, workarounds, re-keying data, and more support time, which erode productivity and margins over years.
- Poor alignment with your processes leads to scope creep, customisations, and change requests, inflating implementation and maintenance costs well beyond the original quote.
- Low‑quality or ill‑suited solutions create technical debt, outages, and security gaps that later require expensive rework or even a full replacement project
“Industry standard” vs right fit
“Industry standard” labels often mask the fact that the product was not designed for your specific scale, regulatory context, or ways of working. Treat such products as strong candidates, not automatic winners.
| Aspect | Industry standard risk | Right‑fit goal |
| Process | You adapt to the tool, causing workarounds. | Tool supports your critical workflows with minimal bends |
| Total cost of ownership | High change/customisation and training costs. | Predictable licence, change, and support costs. |
| Risk & compliance | Assumptions may not match your regulators | Proven fit to your sector’s specific obligations. |