In the 1990s and 2000s - early days of SaaS, the biggest concern was tool overload. Teams bought software fast, often without visibility or centralized oversight. Procurement was reactive, and IT played catch-up.

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That’s changed. In 2025, organizations aren’t just expanding their SaaS stacks, they’re prioritizing intelligence. AI-native platforms and traditional tools with copilots are being adopted at scale, not just for functionality but for strategic advantage. According to Spendflo’s State of SaaS Procurement 2025 report, the average tool count per company has jumped by 23% compared to last year, a growth driven not by sprawl, but by the rise of AI-powered solutions across every department.

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Key Insights from the Report

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Buying is decentralized: Department heads are the main decision-makers—approving the majority of SaaS purchases. Procurement teams are involved in only a fraction of buying decisions.

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Stacks are expanding and evolving: The average organization now uses over 100 tools. But it’s not just about quantity—AI is the new north star. Organizations are prioritizing tools with AI copilots, intelligent automation, and predictive capabilities.

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Budgets are up, scrutiny is too: 10% of the companies surveyed spend over $5M on SaaS annually. However, leaders aren’t approving purchases blindly. There is an increased focus on ROI, usage, and renewal value.

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Renewals are a weak spot: 45% of leaders cite price hikes as their top frustration during renewals. Another 30% say they miss contract alerts and end up in expensive auto-renewals. While companies are buying smarter, they’re not always managing smarter.

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AI is influencing more than tool features—it’s shaping the procurement process: From license utilization analysis to automated negotiation suggestions, AI is playing a larger role in how SaaS is evaluated, procured, and renewed.

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What Finance and Procurement Leaders Want

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• Better control over contract cycles with industry-standardized

• pricing & contract terms

• Fully automated, AI-driven managed procurement

• Greater focus on cost-cutting

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Read about how finance, procurement, business, and marketing leaders worldwide are buying SaaS today. Benchmark yourself against your peers. Learn from the experiences of the collective.

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Download the full State of SaaS Procurement 2025 Report to learn more.

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