As organisations expand their tech stacks, they often accumulate a growing number of software applications - many of which become redundant or underutilised. For many businesses, tech bloat has become an unavoidable and costly challenge.
Managing multiple applications can overshadow the software’s core purpose of making work easier, creating what could be described as an unnecessarily complicated fix for simple problems. According to Statista (2024), in 2022 the average number of SaaS applications used by organisations worldwide had grown to 130.
This increase, however, doesn’t always add value. Vertice (2023) reported, within the average company 33% of SaaS licenses are either barely used or not used at all by the intended employees.
A messy tech stack reduces team effectiveness and slows essential processes, all while creating a tangled web of subscription costs - like using both Slack and Microsoft Teams for messaging, or using Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive all for file storage. It just makes things more complicated than they need to be.
In finance, this can impact credit risk assessments, lending decisions, and customer service timelines, all of which are central to business performance and customer satisfaction. For example, using separate platforms for customer data, risk management, and financial reporting can make it harder to access a unified view of a client’s profile, slowing decision-making. This clutter not only slows workflows but also makes it challenging to maintain a seamless customer experience - something an integrated solution could help with.
Combatting a bloated tech stack
Fortunately, organisations can take a strategic approach to tackle tech bloat and keep their operations lean and efficient. Below are some key methods:
• Technology Audit and Consolidation: Regular technology audits help organisations identify essential tools. Consolidating underutilised or overlapping software ensures each application serves a clear purpose.
• Refining Purchase Processes: Correctly managing the buying process is essential to avoid unnecessary tools. A needs-based approach prevents software bloat at the source and ensures software aligns with business objectives, rather than accumulating “nice-to-have” features.
• Tracking Usage and Renewals: Tracking usage data identifies underused applications, allowing decisions about which subscriptions to keep or cancel. Monitoring auto-renewals also ensures renewals are based on actual utility, reducing unnecessary costs.
• Using Integrated Solutions: Integrated platforms help reduce software bloat by minimising standalone applications and avoiding redundancies. The right integrated solution enables organisations to access a range of functionalities in one place.
If reducing tech bloat feels unmanageable, it might be time to find a technology partner who can help. Choosing a partner that understands your specific business needs and provides tools built to work together can help keep your tech stack focused and efficient, without the unnecessary extras.
LendingMetrics’ Credit Decisioning and Data Services
When bloat slows down your business, it's important to take action. By reviewing your tech stack, consolidating tools, and refining software choices, you create an environment that promotes efficiency and keeps operations running smoothly.
Choosing the right technology partner is key. You need a team that understands scalability, integration, and one that’s ready to grow with you. With LendingMetrics, you gain access to solutions designed to reduce unnecessary costs, improve decision-making, and keep operations running smoothly - all while ensuring our software supports your credit decisioning needs.
Our Auto Decision Platform (ADP) connects effortlessly with all major credit reference agencies and a wide range of third-party services, making credit decisions faster and more consistent. By bringing together essential data sources and providing the decisioning tool, we remove the need for managing multiple, disconnected, or manual systems, streamlining the entire credit assessment process.
Looking to lighten your tech stack? Get in touch with LendingMetrics to learn how our team can support your credit decisioning and data needs.