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Guide · Application rationalisation

Building the application rationalisation business case

Analysis alone doesn't get funded. To act on a rationalisation you need a business case that puts a number on every recommendation — and that's what turns an architecture exercise into a board decision.

A rationalisation roadmap with consolidation savings
A roadmap that pairs each move with the savings behind it.

Follow the money

The single most important move is to attach cost to the analysis. Cost by TIME quadrant instantly shows how much you're spending to Tolerate and Eliminate — spend that delivers little value.

Quantify the savings

Don't forget risk

Not every benefit is a pound saved. Retiring unsupported, insecure or fragile applications reduces operational and security risk — a benefit leadership takes seriously even when it's hard to price.

Make it a plan, not a wish

Sequence the moves into a roadmap with clear phases, owners and expected savings per phase. A credible plan with numbers behind it is far more likely to be approved than a list of recommendations.

Build the case with the toolkit

The Applications Assessment & Rationalisation Toolkit quantifies cost by quadrant and consolidation savings, and includes an executive report and deck built for the boardroom.

View the toolkit →