How To Buy Creative Technology

Shopping for new software is overwhelming. There, we said it. 

With so many options out there, especially in marketing, it can be challenging to decide which ones you really need. Start narrowing down to specific solution areas, like creative technology, and suddenly you’re scrolling through 10 pages of Google results and G2 reviews.  

We’re here to help make that buying process a little easier. If you want to start the creative technology process, here’s a short guide to walk you through every step. Let’s jump in. 

Understand your business goals and challenges

The first step of the creative technology buying process is pinpointing the problem you need to solve. Once you identify the problem and figure out your business needs, you can make sure they are aligned with your overarching business goals. Gather all of your key decision-makers and ask these questions to help identify what you want to accomplish with creative technology: 

• What are the short and long-term business goals? 
• Where is the company growing? 
• What are your current creative challenges? 
• What is preventing us from achieving company objectives from a creative standpoint?

Define solution must-haves

Once you know the challenge you need to solve, it’s time to start thinking about must-haves. Make a list to capture everything your ideal software solution would offer. From functionality to cost, it’s important to establish the key features you need. Review with your team of decision-makers and then lock in your list. Here are some considerations to get you started: 

• What kind of support do we need from the vendor?
• Can we be supported globally?  
• How many users need access to this technology? 
• Are there specific integrations we need?
• Are there any mandatory features we need? 
• How flexible is our budget? 

Start talking: vendor outreach

Now that you have an understanding of the challenge you need to solve and your list of must-haves, it’s time to start contacting creative technology providers. Once you book a demo and begin initial contact, you’ll start to get a glimpse into the vendor’s customer service style. This part of the process is crucial, so keep an eye out for red flags at this stage. It’s important to consider vendors who demonstrate their ability to listen and address your organization’s unique challenges. Here are some things to keep an eye on at this stage: 

• How is their communication? Are they responsive? 
• Are they listening to your needs or pushing product features instead? 
• How long have they been in business? 
• What are they sharing on their social channels?
• Do you know anyone using their service?
• Who do they work with?
• What are their service reviews like? 
• What differentiates their product from others on the market?

Final evaluation and selection 

The final step is to review all of your vendor consultations and start narrowing down your options. After you make sure that your business needs will be met with this software, it’s time to purchase. Before you sign the contract, here are a few final things to double-check: 

• Do you need to purchase one product or a full suite? What value does that offer and how does that affect implementation and contracts? 
• Can this creative technology grow with the company? 
• What does the payment plan look like? 
• What does the onboarding plan look like?
• Do they offer managed services as an add-on?
• What will the vendor be responsible for after purchase? (e.g., staff training, customer service, etc.) 

If your business does not require an official RFP (request for proposal), this document can serve as a resource in sourcing information on Creative Automation. 

Looking for a creative technology to achieve creative control and flexibility, channel support for creative production, strategic value, and more? Then it’s time to consider Creative Automation. Learn more about our platform in this video or send us a note today.