How Finance Can Use SaaS Discovery to Reduce SaaS Spend

When finance teams are actively looking for ways to reduce unnecessary SaaS spend without impacting user collaboration, productivity, security and compliance, discovering all SaaS and AI apps in use is one of the proven ways.

In this brief guide, learn how SaaS discovery helps finance and IT teams spot opportunities to optimize SaaS spending and keep wasteful expenses in check.

Key Takeaways:

  • SaaS spend in the cost of using SaaS and AI apps in any organization.
  • Performing SaaS discovery is one of the proven ways to reduce unnecessary SaaS spend.
  • CloudFuze Manage is one of the best tools for lowering wasteful SaaS spend.

What is SaaS Spend and Why is it Important to Manage it?

SaaS spend is the total expense of using SaaS apps and AI tools like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, HubSpot, Cursor, etc., in any organization. It includes:

  • Subscription fees
  • User license cost
  • Add-ons (e.g., integrations, premium support, etc.)

Without proper management, SaaS spend can spiral out of control as more SaaS and AI apps get added to the existing tech stack. And uncontrolled SaaS spend not only causes budget overruns but also lowers overall profitability and ROI.

How Does SaaS Discovery Help Reduce Unnecessary SaaS Spend

With SaaS discovery, IT and finance teams gain complete visibility into the total number of apps currently in use (with subscriptions). With CloudFuze Manage, SaaS discovery gets more advanced with several types of insights, including:

  • Total Apps
  • Total Active Users
  • Total Spent
  • Potential Savings
  • Apps with the Highest Spend
  • Apps Based on Categories
  • Top 10 Applications by Active and Inactive Users

1. Identifying Overlapping Apps

One of the best ways to leverage SaaS discovery to reduce wasteful SaaS spend is to identify overlapping apps. To do this in CloudFuze Manage, click on the “Total Apps” section on the dashboard.

You will see a list of all apps in use. You can also check Overlapping Apps to identify redundant apps that are contributing to the overall SaaS expenses.

For example, here you can see under App Consolidation Report that there are several similar project managements apps, such as Asana and ClickUp. Based on this insight, finance teams can decide to stop using similar overlapping apps and revoke their licenses to reduce SaaS spend.

2. Identify Potential Savings

Identifying potential savings opportunities is also another good way to use SaaS discovery to lower unnecessary SaaS spend. In our SaaS management platform’s dashboard, click on the “Potential Savings” option.

It will open App Insights through which you can spot potential savings opportunities. The App Insights functionality identifies unused license seats in every SaaS and AI app and estimates potential savings.

3. Identify and Assess Apps with the Highest Spend

In our tool’s SaaS discovery dashboard, IT and finance teams can also check the top 10 SaaS and AI apps with the highest spend. Based on this report, they can assess and determine whether the top 10 highest-spend apps are worth the cost in terms of importance, operational leverage, and overall ROI.

4. Identify and Assess Apps with Active, Inactive, and Guest Users

Upon scrolling down on the SaaS discovery dashboard of our SaaS management software, IT and finance teams can also check top 10 SaaS and AI apps with active and inactive internal users as well as active and inactive guest users.

Based on this insight, IT and finance teams can take decisions on whether to keep or remove inactive internal users and guest users.

Leverage CloudFuze Manage to Reduce Unnecessary SaaS Spend

With CloudFuze Manage, IT and finance teams can reduce wasteful SaaS expenses through strategic SaaS discovery. Many leading companies, such as Vendasta and Loonio, use CloudFuze Manage to streamline their SaaS and AI app management.

Contact us today to learn more about cost saving opportunities with our solution.

Watch CloudFuze Manage’s overview video:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Best tools to track and reduce SaaS expenses

CloudFuze Manage is one of the best tools to track and reduce SaaS expenses. It helps IT and finance teams detect areas with wasteful spending, such as unused license seats, duplicate/overlapping apps, etc.

2. How to audit SaaS subscriptions for cost savings?

Check whether any SaaS app your employees have subscribed to is being used to its full potential, such as using all license seats, regular usage, etc. Taking this approach helps spot apps where wasteful spending is occurring every month.

3. What platforms help manage and optimize SaaS expenses?

CloudFuze Manage, a 360° SaaS and AI app management platform, helps businesses of all sizes and industries manage and optimize SaaS expenses through features such as license intelligence, shadow IT control, automated user lifecycle management, and more.

Take Control of Your SaaS Stack Today

Use CloudFuze Manage to securely manage all your SaaS apps. Manage users and licenses, optimize spending, cut unnecessary costs, identify and eliminate shadow IT, ensure compliance, and do a whole lot more!