01Inventory by process
A software list is not enough.
For each application, identify who uses it, what decision or workflow it supports, what information it owns, what enters and leaves, what fails without it, and what manual work surrounds it.
- Unique capability
- Overlapping capability
- System of record
- Integration dependency
- Manual workaround
- Contract and migration constraint
02Decide carefully
Consolidation is a means, not the objective.
A specialized tool may earn its subscription. A broad platform may still create poor workflow. The objective is the least unnecessary complexity that supports the operation reliably.
Technology should earn its place.
03Sequence change
Remove seams before removing systems.
Sometimes integration eliminates the pain without replacement. Sometimes a small custom workflow removes several subscriptions. Sequence changes so the business retains continuity and can validate each improvement.