All software has a cost

#{successful_large_company} uses #{trendy_new_product}.

We have to try it.

When you notice a successful company is using a shiny new tool, it’s easy to assume you may be missing out on something important. But pause before you sign up for another free trial.

A few years ago chatbots were “the next big thing”. Most of the leading B2B SaaS companies were jumping on board and adding tools like Drift and Intercom into their sales and support processes. The early results seemed promising.

Early-stage startups took note and quickly followed. They spent weeks building complex automated response pathways for sales and support queries. There was only one problem: the startups didn’t have enough users to make these tools useful.

Chat bots offered larger companies the opportunity to save time and money on difficult problems that come with sales and support at scale. But early-stage startups didn’t have these problems. They needed to talk to their users, not find ways to avoid them. They would have been better off spending that time jumping on calls and speaking with users and customers directly.

Your time is extremely valuable. Every shiny new software product you try comes with a cost – even those with tempting free trials – as it eats into that valuable time.

So spend your time wisely. Don’t be swayed by the latest fad; look for solutions to problems you’re actually facing.