Building a business case for software investment

How to get firm-wide sign-off on digital change

Finding great software for your firm is a challenge, but it doesn't stop there. Discover how to make the case to management, get sign-off, and track success.Contents

STEP ONE: Understanding the importance and scope of a business case

STEP TWO:
Identifying your
team’s pain points

STEP THREE:
Making the
commercial case

STEP FOUR:
Gathering detailed information and evidence

STEP FIVE:
Presenting your case

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Building a business case for software investment

Improving your digital systems means convincing the right people

You have a problem in your practice. The good news is you’ve spotted some software you believe will solve it.

That’s no easy task... but your work isn’t done yet.

Next, you need to provide a compelling case to those who hold the purse strings in your firm. This is normally a one-off meeting. If they’re not convinced, you won’t get the software.

So, it’s make-or-break time for your dream upgrade. Thankfully, this guide will help you cross the final hurdle and make it a reality.

Who do you need to convince?

We will assume the person you need to convince is a senior partner, a CFO, or an equivalent in your accounting firm. Sometimes, however, you might also need to convince people who influence these decision-makers. That’s why your case needs to be rock-solid. We will show you how.

What’s the role of a business case when making a digital investment?

You know you need new software. A business case provides structure to the reasons why that new software is needed. It delivers your points in a way that will be clear and compelling to a decision-maker.

This is especially important for you because of your environment. Appealing to emotions won’t cut it in most industries, and it certainly won’t work in an accounting firm. Instead, you need to craft a compelling narrative underpinned by pain points, business objectives, information, and evidence.

If that sounds like a lot, don’t worry. Two experts wrote this guide. As accountants, they made these kinds of cases while driving their own digital transformation projects.

With their help, we promise things will feel a lot simpler.

A guide created by people who’ve made the case for change as accountants

Eva Mrazikova:

Eva is an accountant who blends financial expertise with a passion for innovation and technology. With 20+ years of experience across accounting, marketing, and technology, she now leads go-to-market strategy, product positioning, and customer engagement at IRIS Software Group.

Jon Cooper:

Having spent 10 years in practice running a team of accountants and bookkeepers, Jon knows first-hand the pressures firms face, and he is passionate about making their lives easier. At IRIS, he now helps connect software and services to the real needs of accountancy firms.

What you’ll get from this guide

This guide will take you through five important steps to building a business case for digital investment. If you follow them, you will have made and delivered a persuasive case underlining the importance of new technology.

Understanding the importance and scope of a business case. Why a strong case matters, including some unexpected benefits to your career.

Identifying your team's pain points. How to surface the real problems your software will fix and make them measurable.

Aligning your business case to your request. Discover two great ways to link your proposed solution to the firm's wider, strategic objectives.

Gathering information and evidence. Here, we discuss specific proof points you'll need to back up your proposal.

Presenting your case. The all-important meeting with the decision-maker: who to bring into the room, how to structure it, and what to do next – even if you don’t like the outcome.