Technology changes at a dizzying pace. Mere months after a gadget or program is purchased, it is already out of date. It is almost impossible to keep up, and some tech users have found that having a “wait and watch” attitude has many benefits.

Saving Money

The most obvious benefit of being a late adopter is price, and this can be especially important for a business on a budget. Once the early adopters buy in at the highest market price, the price for the product or gadget goes down considerably. Late adopters may not even buy the previous model until the newest model is out and the prices are much lower. The tail end of the late adopter group, the laggards, may not buy the first generation until the third or fourth generation is available, and may not upgrade for many years.

Avoiding the Glitches

Early adopters are important because they are the ones who discover and help developers work out the early glitches. Late adopters would rather wait until all the early problems are solved before they jump on the bandwagon to avoid all the aggravation and get a more functional product at a better price. Our San Diego IT consultants see this a lot with companies who do not know much about tech and are often afraid to invest in new products.

Getting Only What Is Needed

Late adopters will not buy a gadget with bells and whistles that aren’t needed. If an earlier model has proved reliable and has the functionality that they need, that is the one they will purchase. In fact, late adopters will sometimes not buy until there is a function they can’t do without any longer, or even until the technology is no longer supported or doesn’t work with other devices. With software, late adopters are less prone to rush to buy every upgrade in an operating system or software program if the version they are using is still doing the job.

The Importance of Late Adopters

Late adopters make up the majority of gadget and software purchasers. Developers watch what and when they buy to see what stages of development motivate people to make a purchase. In this way, late adopters have a large profile in technology development.

If you’re thinking about new technology for your business, but you’re not sure which investments to make, reach out to Syndeo Communications today. We are a trusted San Diego IT support company that offers free consultations. We’d be more than happy to answer your questions and help you find the best technologies for your individual needs.