Resources

The APM Guru Blog

Practical insights on application rationalization, software cost reduction, and enterprise IT portfolio management.

Featured
Shadow IT AI

Shadow AI: The New Shadow IT Problem

AI tools are being adopted one person at a time, under every approval threshold, often with no purchase at all. Same problem as shadow IT, moving far faster — and invoice-based discovery will not find it.

August 2026 · 7 min read
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RationalizationTactical

Common Mistakes in Application Rationalization Projects

Rationalization projects rarely fail loudly — they stall. The six failure modes we see most often, what each looks like from the inside, and what to do instead.

August 2026 · 8 min read
StrategyBuy-in

Building the Business Case for Application Rationalization

Every other guide assumes you already have approval. This one is for the stage before that — estimating the saving before you've measured it, and selling it to finance and department heads at the same time.

August 2026 · 8 min read
GuideAPM

What Is Application Portfolio Management? A Complete Guide

The discipline that separates enterprises that control their software portfolio from those that are controlled by it — and how to build it inside your organization.

May 2026 · 14 min read
GuideRationalization

The Complete Guide to Application Rationalization

Everything you need to know about rationalizing your enterprise application portfolio — from building the initial inventory to retiring your first app and tracking savings.

March 2026 · 15 min read
How-ToPortfolio

How to Conduct a Software Portfolio Audit

A step-by-step walkthrough of the software portfolio audit process — from pulling the initial license inventory to scoring applications for rationalization.

February 2026 · 9 min read
Framework

Application Rationalization Framework: A 6-Step Process

The APM Guru methodology for rationalizing enterprise application portfolios — including our scoring rubric and decision criteria.

February 2026 · 11 min read
DataSaaS

How Much Does SaaS Sprawl Really Cost Your Business?

The real numbers behind enterprise SaaS spending — what the benchmarks say, what our client data shows, and what you can do about it.

January 2026 · 7 min read
StrategyConsolidation

Platform Consolidation: When and How to Standardize Your Tech Stack

The signals that tell you it's time to consolidate, how to evaluate platform options, and how to manage the migration without losing your team.

January 2026 · 10 min read
M&APlaybook

Post-Merger IT Integration: A Rationalization Playbook

A practical guide to navigating M&A application rationalization — from due diligence through the 100-day integration sprint.

December 2025 · 12 min read
Tactical

Application Rationalization Criteria: How to Score and Prioritize Apps

A detailed breakdown of the scoring rubric we use to evaluate enterprise applications — business value, technical health, utilization, and cost efficiency explained with real examples.

December 2025 · 8 min read
AwarenessShadow IT

The Hidden Costs of Shadow IT (And How to Get It Under Control)

Shadow IT costs more than the licenses. A rigorous breakdown of every way unapproved software drains your organization — and a structured approach to reigning it in.

November 2025 · 6 min read
LicensesSavings

Software License Optimization: 7 Ways You're Overpaying

From over-provisioned enterprise agreements to auto-renewing subscriptions nobody tracks — seven ways enterprises overpay for software and exactly how to fix each one.

November 2025 · 7 min read
HealthcareIndustry

Healthcare IT Rationalization: Cutting Costs Without Compromising Patient Care

Healthcare organizations face unique application rationalization challenges — HIPAA compliance, clinical workflow dependencies, and legacy EHR ecosystems. Here's how to navigate them.

October 2025 · 11 min read
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