Software investment is undergoing transformation and a trend is being noticed in enterprise Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) markets. New data from PitchBook reveals rise in venture capital interest and particularly in categories like customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management (SCM) and knowledge management systems (KMS).

A decline was witnessed in recent years in investment into enterprise SaaS. The sector was limited with fewer deals and reduced transaction values compared to years before 2013. However, lately notable green shoots have indicated a potential turnaround. The fourth quarter of the past year witnessed a 12% increase in total investment compared to the preceding quarter. It definitely justifies renewed investor confidence.

The surge is basically in the CRM investments and it witnessed a 72.5% quarter-on-quarter growth. The unexpected trend highlights evolving nature of CRM solutions beyond traditional customer data management.

The definition of CRM in PitchBook is on a broader landscape and includes marketing automation, sales enablement, customer service and e-commerce. It reflects innovative approaches within the sector.

Meanwhile, sectors like data analytics platforms received less attention in the report. CRM, SCM and KMS emerged as frontrunners.

There are several factors to note that contributed to the rise in software investment. Cloud spend efficiency concerns are diminishing and this is therefore reflecting improved net retention rates among software companies. Moreover, a rebound in the stock market is bringing venture investors to the sector.

There are challenges too as the average revenue multiples for public software companies remaining high. Startups are facing pressure in demonstrating substantial growth and justify venture capital investment. However, there is a reason for cautious optimism. A potential rate cut and strong enterprise IPOs could further stimulate venture investment in enterprise SaaS.