Let’s talk about something near and dear to every company’s heart (and wallet): software spending. You’d think in this day and age, we’d have a handle on where our precious tech dollars are going. But alas, the numbers paint a rather grim picture, one that might leave you choking on your artisanal coffee.
According to some rather unsettling statistics (which, you know, are based on actual data and not just my cynical musings):
- A whopping 32%-36% of desktop software and SaaS is wasted. Let that sink in. That’s like throwing a third of your software budget directly into the digital abyss. (Source: State of IT Asset Management Report, Flexera, 2023)
- And hold onto your hats, because it gets better (read: worse). 50% of all software installed goes completely unused. Half! It’s like buying two of everything and then just admiring one of them from afar. Brilliant strategy, team. (Source: Half of Software Licenses Goes Unused by Employees, Wasting Business Billions, Keeblex, 2023)
- But wait, there’s more! We’re apparently on track for a 25% overspending in SaaS by 2026. So, not only are we wasting a significant chunk now, but we’re also gearing up to waste even more in the near future. High five for that ambition! (Source: 2024 SaaS Management Index Report, Zylo, 2024)
So, what’s the takeaway here? Well, besides the obvious need for a serious intervention on our software spending habits, it highlights a critical lack of visibility and management. We’re essentially throwing money at tools and hoping for the best, which, as these stats clearly demonstrate, is not a winning strategy.
Maybe it’s time to take a good, hard look at what software is actually being used, who’s using it, and whether we’re just paying for digital dust bunnies. Just a thought. You know, before that 25% overspending becomes a painful reality.
