Ever feel like your company's software portfolio is more bloated and costly than a streamlined toolset? You're not alone. In today’s digital world, applications can build up, leading to a bloated mess that stifles innovation and drains your budget. This issue is often referred to as "technical debt." 

This isn’t just a tech problem; it’s a business obstacle. But don't worry, we have the insights to help you streamline your application portfolio, unlocking the potential for innovation and agility. 

Think of each application as a subscription service. Each one adds recurring costs, not just in licensing fees, but also in maintenance, training, and complexity. This "application sprawl" leads to: 

• Skyrocketing IT costs: Software expenses can consume over half of IT budgets, leaving less “energy” for strategic initiatives. 
• Decision paralysis: A tangle of overlapping functions can slow down decision-making processes, making progress sluggish. 
• Innovation on hold: Resources tied up in maintaining legacy systems limit the capacity for new ideas and solutions. 

It's time to reduce software bloat and create a lean, efficient operation. Here is some guidance on how to achieve this: 

1. Focus on business value first: Not all applications are equally important. Prioritize assessments in areas critical to your business goals. Align your consolidation strategy with business needs, ensuring essential capabilities remain intact. 
2. Identify troublemakers: Target applications that are redundant, filled with technical debt, bloated backlog or consuming too much maintenance time. Eliminating these will provide quick wins and free up resources. 
3. Balance costs and needs: Focus on applications with the highest costs within a specific business domain. Removing a few costly applications can have a more significant impact than cutting many smaller ones. Ensure cost savings don’t come at the expense of critical functionalities. 
4. Encourage collaboration: Involve both IT and business stakeholders in the process. Establish common performance metrics and transparent communication for successful portfolio optimization. 
5. Commit to continuous improvement: Regularly assess your application portfolio as part of strategic planning and architecture governance. Keep your portfolio updated to match evolving business needs. 
   

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but enterprise architecture-based strategic portfolio management tools can bridge the gap between business and IT. These tools offer a comprehensive view of your application landscape, fostering collaboration and alignment with business goals.

The Benefits of Streamlining 

By implementing these steps, you can unlock numerous benefits: 

• Reduced costs: Decrease licensing fees, maintenance expenses, and support needs. Redirect those savings towards digital transformation initiatives. 
• Enhanced agility: Simplify your IT environment, enabling faster decision-making and quicker responses to market changes. 
• Increased innovation: Free up resources to explore new technologies and develop cutting-edge solutions. 
• Reduced risk: Minimize vendor dependence and ensure business continuity with well-maintained, best-in-class applications. 
  

Streamlining your application portfolio isn’t just about saving money; it’s about creating a dynamic IT foundation that promotes innovation and supports sustainable business growth. Embrace a leaner, more efficient future by reducing your digital bloat. 

Find out more how to optimize your application portfolio with EA-based SPM and watch our Alfabet tool in action with our webinar: “Put Your Apps on a Diet: Streamline Your Portfolio to Innovate!”