What influences your buying decisions?

For months our office has been carefully following statistics and reading industry articles and the tone remains unchanged: fewer building projects are coming to the table, and as money dries up, fewer projects are coming to fruition. Job loss is extensive and surviving firms are pulling the purse strings tight. All is not doom and gloom, however, because it is also reported that firms and professionals are investing, albeit cautiously, in expanding knowledge and specialties so they can hit the ground running when business returns to normal.

A colleague posed very interesting question this morning. To no one in particular and while the coffee was still hot and our brains were still cold, she asked “So, how are Architect’s buying patterns being affected in today’s economy?” The resulting discussion led to another list of questions, and one topic in particular directly affects us as a service provider to the design/ build sector:

The industry has taken a major blow and many expenses have been cut across the board, so what influences the purchases professionals and firms are actually willing to make?

Throughout this downturn, industry professionals are exhibiting nervous purchasing patterns. The fact of the matter is, however, that purchases essential for success will still be made. For instance, software that architects and designers depend on will still need to be updated and various tools will need to be acquired in the meantime, regardless of other restrictions, because business has to move forward. For instance, software distributed by AutoCAD and Microsoft are already established as reliable resources, so little hesitation is expected on the part of the purchaser when they deem the upgrade essential.

But outside of these tried and tested business tools, are industry professionals open to buying other tools or software that would make their business more efficient, even if they were not familiar with it before? And if they are considering purchasing a new product, what would have the greatest influence on their decision to purchase?

Seeing the product first hand at a trade show?
Conducting their own internet research?
Word of mouth recommendations from other professionals?
Reading software reviews in an issue of Architectural Digest or online at about.com?

What are your thoughts? In what ways have the buying patterns of Architects and industry professionals changed or adapted to today’s economy?