Takeaways on how to shop for software

The best software decision you make at ARA happens before you walk the show floor.

Hi y’all,

ARA week is one of my favorite times of year — getting to meet so many of you in person is genuinely one of the highlights of this job. But I also know the show floor can get overwhelming fast.

That’s why I asked our own Marshall McCormick to share what he tells everyone before walking the show floor. He’s seen what works & what doesn’t.

See you in Orlando,

Mallory Mullen

Goodshuffle

Hi everyone,

I’m Marshall, and I sell Goodshuffle Pro for a living — so I’ll be the first to tell you: the show floor is a lot.

Big booths, flashy demos, show specials with a deadline. It can feel like you need to make a decision before you even get back to your hotel room.

You don’t. And rushing that decision is almost always more expensive than whatever discount you think you’re getting.

Here’s what I’d actually do if I were in your shoes heading into ARA.

Do your homework before you walk the floor.

Before any demo, write down specifically what you need — not generic categories, but real pain points. “I need real-time availability when my salesperson is on the phone” is a lot more useful than “I need inventory management.” The more specific you are, the faster you’ll know if a software is actually going to work for you.

Then split your list into must-haves and nice-to-haves. Companies will lead with the cool stuff, the feature that got you to walk into the booth. Don’t buy on the nice-to-haves. If the must-haves aren’t there, you’ll know it in 60 days and you’ll be back on the show floor next year.

Know how to evaluate what you’re seeing.

A big booth is a big expense. That’s not automatically a bad thing, but it’s worth asking: where is that money coming from, and is it going toward product development or a trade show footprint? Ask to see release history. Ask what the last meaningful feature was. That’ll tell you more about a company than any demo will.

Even better, talk to actual users. This industry is more relationship-driven than almost any other. People will be honest with you. Ask them if they’d choose their software again. Ask them how much the product has changed since they signed up.

And don’t be afraid to ask the software company itself for a reference.

The one question worth asking every vendor.

If I had to give you one question that separates good software companies from the rest, it’s this: Is support unlimited, and what does it actually look like?

At Goodshuffle, we don’t charge extra for support. Because if we give you software and it doesn’t help your business, we’ve failed you. Find out what that looks like at every booth you visit.

On show specials: ask the rep directly.

If a deal seems time-sensitive, just ask: “Is this genuinely better than what I’d get next month?” Most honest reps will tell you the truth.

This year, Goodshuffle is running a show special where you get to choose between one year of free Dispatch or one year of free Advanced Inventory for your whole crew — training included.* And yes, I can definitively say you won’t see a deal like this come around again. Just mention the promo in your demo and we’ll hook you up!

Implementation doesn’t have to be a flip of the switch.

A lot of event pros put off switching because of busy season. Understandable. But it doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Start with getting your sales team and orders in, and build from there as things slow down. You can be sending quotes in an hour.

The real question isn’t whether it’s the right season. It’s how much your current setup is costing you right now.

So come find me at booth #2834. No pressure, no pitch. Just a real conversation.

See you on the floor today,

Marshall McCormick
Goodshuffle

*Offer valid for either one free year of Advanced Inventory or one free year of Dispatch. Offer valid on annual plans only. Must become a customer before 04/01/2026. No refunds at any time on claimed discounts.