How to Decide Which Tools are “Must-Haves” Versus “Nice-to-Haves” in a Downturn Market?

At the end of the day, prioritizing tools means focusing on ROI, direct impact on conversion, and potential cost savings. These days, there’s no room for discretionary spending – every dollar counts. So ask yourself, “Does this tool directly drive revenue or replace a legacy option at a fraction of the cost?”

But what about those moments when you’re considering upgrading from freemium to premium? In my time at G2, we often tested tools in a “bottom-up” way. If a freemium product was getting real traction among team members, and they were consistently asking for it, then I’d take it seriously. When there’s organic adoption and a positive buzz internally, that’s a strong indicator that the tool has value.

How to Find New Tools? Keep tabs on the latest offerings through curated sources. My daily routine includes scanning a few trusted newsletters, including some focused on AI, and checking community updates like Product Hunt. A few minutes each morning catching up on these feeds makes it easier to stay current with emerging options.

Positive ROI is essential: Think productivity, cost savings, or even morale boosts through simpler workflows. And remember – even the best tools need user buy-in to succeed. If you can get 80% of your team to actively use a new tool in the first 30 days, that’s an indication to keep it.

Think about it, how do you ensure your team embraces new tools, and what indicators make you think, “Yes, this upgrade is worth it”?

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