Over the past five years, the demand for Specification Management software has skyrocketed and Specright is excited to be conducting its third State of Specification Management survey to provide valuable insights, share industry best practices, and establish benchmarks.

It’s hard to believe that just five years ago, the first research on Specification Management software was released. Since then, so much has changed.

What were once considered "disruptions" have become everyday realities. Economic uncertainty, shifting regulations, evolving consumer expectations, and advanced technologies have all shaped our world. Businesses everywhere have had to adapt.

How is your organization navigating these changes? What adjustments have you made to your strategies and objectives? More importantly, how are you turning these goals into action?

2023’s State of Specification Management Takeaways 

In 2023, the State of Specification Management survey revealed that, while more businesses are recognizing the importance of Specification Management, many still struggle with outdated systems. Challenges such as managing increasing supply chain complexity, staying compliant with evolving regulations, and meeting rising consumer demands have intensified.  

The result was a comprehensive report and webinar showing that managing specification data remains manual, difficult, and oftentimes incomplete. Main takeaways included:

• 75% of respondents identified a need for better Specification Management
• Legacy tools like spreadsheets, shared drives, and emails are still widely used, hindering collaboration and data accuracy
• Specification data is now essential for multiple departments, including quality, procurement, and sustainability
• Companies managing 10,000–50,000 specifications increased by 21%, highlighting the growing complexity of product portfolios

Despite increased awareness, businesses are still slow to adopt purpose-built solutions, which is leaving many exposed to inefficiencies and risks. Adopting a more modern approach to data management is crucial for driving efficiency, collaboration, and innovation across organizations. 

A Year Later: The Need For Specification Management is Greater Than Ever 

With advances in technology and growing competition, we ask: have companies made real strides in their approach to Specification Management? The need for better data tools is undeniable, and companies that don’t adapt are proven to fall behind. But how much progress have we really made?

That’s why we’re conducting this research again—to gather updated benchmarks, insights, and best practices from industries that depend on accurate, reliable data.

We invite you to share your current challenges, future goals, and experiences in our quick survey. The survey will remain open through February 2025, and we’ll release the State of Specification Management 2025 report early next year, followed by a virtual panel discussion to dive deeper into the findings.

Staying in tune with market trends is essential for our team as we continue to innovate our Specification Data Management platform. Your feedback will help us shape the future of the industry.

Let’s continue driving the industry forward with a digitized, streamlined approach to Specification Management—allowing your teams to focus more on innovation and less on chasing down data.