We've compiled current strategies to optimize your SaaS budget and maximize return on investment.

Introduction

In today's business landscape, software expenditures constitute an increasingly large portion of company budgets. SaaS (Software as a Service) solutions, in particular, are gaining popularity due to their flexibility and accessibility. However, uncontrolled SaaS portfolios can expose companies to unnecessary costs. In this article, we'll explore ways to optimize your SaaS spending and achieve significant savings.

Create a Comprehensive SaaS Inventory

The first step in cost optimization is clearly understanding your current state. Create a comprehensive inventory of all SaaS applications actively used in your company:

• Request purchasing records from your finance department
• Scan SSO (Single Sign-On) and security platforms
• Consult with department managers to identify tools in use
• Utilize cloud cost monitoring tools

Once you've created your inventory, determine the usage rate, number of users, and total cost for each tool.

Identify and Cancel Unused Subscriptions

Research shows that approximately 30% of purchased SaaS licenses in companies go unused. To identify unused or low-usage applications:

• Examine accounts with no logins in the last 30-60 days
• Analyze usage reports by department
• Identify accounts that remain active after employee departures

Conduct surveys to determine the actual need for low-usage tools and promptly cancel unnecessary subscriptions.

Consolidate Tools with Similar Functions

Large companies often use multiple SaaS tools that serve the same purpose. For example, different departments may use separate project management tools according to their preferences. In this case:

• Classify tools in similar categories (project management, communication, CRM, etc.)
• Identify the most valuable and widely used tool in each category