SolarWinds has published its 2025 IT Trends Report, titled “Fragile to Agile: The State of Operational Resilience,” showing that while 90% of IT professionals see their organizations as resilient, fewer than half feel prepared to address core challenges like managing cyber threats and remote workforces. The report, based on a survey of over 600 IT leaders across nine countries, highlights that workflow inefficiencies and understaffing are major barriers to operational resilience, with 53% mentioning slow issue response caused by inefficient workflows. Cullen Childress, Chief Product Officer at SolarWinds, notes that achieving operational resilience involves more than just adopting new technology; organizations need to invest in the right tools and workflows to remain agile.
A recent article from The New Stack highlights a significant shift in the enterprise software sales landscape, revealing that buyers are increasingly rejecting multiyear contracts. This change is driven by the rapid pace of innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence, which has made buyers cautious about committing to static feature sets in a dynamic environment. Over the past year, discussions with numerous Software as a Service founders and go-to-market leaders indicate that the traditional sales playbook is becoming obsolete. Buyers are now opting for shorter, experimental commitments, focusing on the speed of product evolution rather than just current functionalities. As a result, successful sales strategies now emphasize transparency in product roadmaps and the ability to demonstrate value quickly, with shorter contracts being preferred to prove effectiveness in real-world settings.
Why do we care?
Two stories, one theme—agility.
SolarWinds says 90% of IT pros think they’re resilient, but fewer than half are actually ready for core challenges. Workflow bottlenecks and short staffing are slowing them down. Translation?
Clients think they’re good—but they’re not.
And The New Stack? They’re seeing enterprise buyers ditch multiyear SaaS deals because tech—especially AI—is moving too fast. People want short-term contracts, quick wins, and proof the tool’s evolving.
Buyers are moving away from long-term SaaS contracts, especially as AI-driven change accelerates. They don’t want to lock in to a feature set that could be obsolete before the ink dries. Shorter, proof-oriented commitments are in. The playbook now demands fast, visible ROI, transparent roadmaps, and iterative improvement. This aligns with a broader trend: flexibility and responsiveness are now competitive advantages in procurement.
Design your services and contracts for flexibility, prove value fast, and be ready to change course when the market does. Lock-in is out. Adaptability is in.