How to choose your next martech solution wisely
Choosing a martech tool is a strategic decision for any team, as it impacts productivity, process automation, and business scalability. However, the selection process is not straightforward. In this article, we explore key considerations before acquiring a marketing technology solution, current purchasing trends, and best practices to ensure an effective choice. Considerations for choosing a martech 1. Define needs and objectives Before making a decision, companies should evaluate multiple factors to ensure the solution fits their needs and objectives. The first step in choosing a marketing platform is to be clear about the problems they want to solve. According to Gartner, 54% of marketing teams seek to improve operational efficiency and 44% consider reducing costs. Therefore, it's important to understand how this purchase aligns with a long-term strategy. 2. Understand the category that defines the platform If all marketing platforms say the same thing, it's necessary to consider the category. Given the high degree of specialization among platforms, being an agency, adtech, or martech doesn't mean the same thing. For example, although we can all provide a solution for "media optimization," talking about media auditing isn't the same as talking about media management: while the former refers to a Data Analysis category, the latter refers to an agency or adtech category. 3. Evaluate the reputation of the technology Customer reviews and ratings are a decisive factor when purchasing software. Evaluating awards, recognition, and badges is essential to understand whether a technology is keeping pace with the industry it operates in. According to Gartner, four in ten buyers rely on user reviews before making a decision. In this regard, Bunker DB is positioned as the only Latin American martech recognized by Software Advice in the data analysis category. 4. Prioritize ease of implementation A marketing platform may seem ideal in terms of functionality. However, its ease of implementation will dictate its adoption. What good is having the best solution on the market if it's so complex that we barely get any use out of it? Would you prefer to use 10% of a complex solution or 100% of a simpler one? At this point, it's important to evaluate the estimated implementation time and the estimated learning curve. 5. Prioritize integration capacity Likewise, becoming independent of an IT team requires simple and high-quality integration with other platforms. For example, if the data structure is stored in AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure, having that export is essential. If my most used platforms in marketing are Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and TikTok Ads, those integrations will also be required. At this point, it's important to evaluate integration with native connectors. 6. Look for onboarding and technical support Understanding the quality of technical support is also essential. Will it be self-managed, or will there be professionals available to assist me? Will it be in my local language, or are there language limitations I should consider? How many professionals and teams does the platform provide for successful onboarding? A faster onboarding process will allow for a more immediate time-to-value for that solution. 7. Cost as a decisive factor The price of a platform isn't the only cost to consider. When calculating the total cost, you should consider subscription or license costs, one-time implementation and configuration costs, and the human costs of training, technical support, and consulting. For example, does the platform charge per user per month? Does the platform offer discounts for multiple brands or for purchasing a solution package? Why is there hesitation when choosing a martech? Currently, it is estimated that more than 14,000 companies make up the martech ecosystem. Unlike a decade ago, the problem today is not a lack of options, but an overabundance of offerings. With so many alternatives, choosing the right martech has become a challenge for brand managers and growth marketing teams. Among the main difficulties in effectively filtering a handful of relevant options, we find the following: Lack of relevant content. Increasingly, all companies say the same thing or something similar, making it difficult to conduct an in-depth evaluation. All companies may promise to "maximize ROI," "optimize time," or "automate processes," but there are significant differences in how each does it. Without reliable and detailed content, it is difficult to know who to trust. More stakeholders involved. The technology selection process involves more teams within a company. The teams evaluating marketing technology include IT, Marketing, Operations, and Sales, each with their own timeframes and demands. This adds complexity and lengthens decision-making times. Perceived risk and shorter contracts. The cost of a martech leads companies to prefer shorter contracts to reduce risk in case the project doesn't perform as expected. It's very common today to find annual contracts with termination clauses of six months or less. Trends in martech purchasing As if that weren't enough, the martech ecosystem is changing, and certain trends are consolidating when evaluating technology selection. Among them, we identify: Less dependence on IT teams. Given the multiplicity of stakeholders in this decision-making process, there is an explicit focus on mitigating IT department decision-making times, prioritizing business teams to have greater influence in decision-making. In fact, today, 60% of marketing technology buyers are marketing, sales, and operations leaders. This reinforces a trend toward more accessible solutions and user-friendly interfaces. A gap in marketing performance maturity. According to a study by McKinsey, 41% of marketing leaders surveyed consider their marketing performance measurement method to be mature, and only 30% acknowledge that they dynamically adjust their investment. Purchases based on real-life demonstrations or tests. Buyers are no longer satisfied with sales presentations. 40% of buyers seek personalized demonstrations before purchasing. Increasing prioritization of AI. Artificial intelligence tools are helping companies analyze performance data and compare solutions more objectively. 35% of buyers use AI to compare prices. slice1 Final recommendations for choosing the best solution The process of purchasing a martech platform has evolved, and companies must adapt to new strategies to make more informed decisions. Define goals and needs from the start. Prioritize highly rated solutions on comparison platforms. Consider solutions with a good reputation among their customers. Evaluate compatibility and integration with your current tools. Take advantage of trends like AI, live demos, and personalized recommendations. Evaluate ease of implementation. Evaluate the quality of onboarding and the customer support team. Consider the total cost, not just the initial price. Making the right decision can accelerate your company's growth and improve operational efficiency. Make sure you choose wisely!