International study

SAP LeanIX IT cost optimization survey report 2025

Real-world insights from enterprise architects on application rationalization and the cost savings opportunities it can bring

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85 %

participants report increased demand for IT cost savings over the past two years

80 %

respondents say making portfolio decisions is time-consuming and difficult

90 %

surveyed agree application TCO data could help accelerate application rationalization decisions

Enterprise architects on reducing IT costs

IT cost optimization momentum continues to build across enterprises

How significant is the pressure to reduce IT costs in companies today? How are enterprise architects responding to demands for application cost optimization? What barriers block progress, and where are the untapped wins?

Our survey of 225 enterprise architects and IT managers from companies across the world gives you the answers. This in-depth study explores how EA teams are turning budget pressures into portfolio transformation opportunities, while navigating ongoing data gaps and stakeholder alignment challenges.

So, what are the standout findings?

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IT cost savings are primarily part of broader company-wide cost reduction efforts

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Redundant applications and technical debt account for the majority of avoidable spending

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Limited collaboration between IT and the business continues to slow application rationalization progress

See how your IT budget waste measures up against survey results.

Now it’s your turn to see where you fit in, if you’re curious! Simply select your range and see how you compare with participating organizations.

What percentage of your IT budget do you estimate gets
wasted each year?

What the numbers reveal about IT cost optimization today

The study shows nearly every company (97%) currently pursues application rationalization, yet strategic drivers and future plans tell a more complex story.
Dive into survey results exploring how cost optimization demands are estimated to shift in 2026, what’s currently shaping cost optimization efforts, and where surveyed companies really stand with application rationalization today.

How do you expect demands around IT cost management will change in 2026?

  • 70 percent of respondents expect pressure from the business to continue to increase.

  • 30 percent of respondents expect the current level of demand for IT cost reduction to remain the same.
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What do you consider the primary goal of your company's effort to reduce IT costs? 

  • 70 percent state that these measures are part of a company-wide cost-cutting program.
  • Only 21 percent of companies say they are intended to free up budget to invest in other IT projects.
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Do you currently focus on application rationalization or have plans to do so?

  • More than half of the companies surveyed regularly implement or have already implemented measures to analyze and optimize their application portfolios.
  • Another 40 percent are currently planning such a program. This means that application rationalization is on the agenda in almost all companies.
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