In 2025, IT complexity has quietly become one of the biggest threats to business agility. According to Forrester’s Q2 2024 Tech Pulse Survey, 77% of U.S. technology decision-makers report moderate to extensive levels of technology sprawl, leading to unsustainable costs, slower IT delivery, and increased security risks.
Between cloud migrations, hybrid work, cybersecurity demands, and the explosion of AI tools, most IT environments have ballooned into a tangled mess of platforms, vendors, and tools. What began as agile adoption has snowballed into a performance liability.
The cost of complexity is real: hidden licensing fees, longer onboarding times, brittle integrations, and an overwhelmed IT staff just trying to keep the lights on. Meanwhile, CIOs are being asked to drive transformation while defending every dollar of spend. It’s no longer about doing more with less but about doing less better.
The Case for Consolidation
Streamlining your IT stack isn't about cutting corners. It's about regaining control. When thoughtfully executed, tech consolidation can:
- Improve security through fewer integration points and simplified access control
- Boost agility by reducing the time it takes to onboard tools or spin up new services
- Enhance support by minimizing finger-pointing between vendors
- Lower costs through bundled services, economies of scale, and better negotiation leverage
Real-World Insight: On average, C3 clients reduce their vendor footprint by 50%, freeing up IT resources and cutting annual costs without disrupting core services. With few vendors and clearer accountability, performance and morale both improved.
Where to Start
Not all consolidations are created equal. The key is to identify systems that:
- Are redundant or underutilized
- Require complex custom integrations
- Have the highest support or security overhead
Common starting points include:
- Communication platforms (voice, video, messaging)
- Network and security architecture (SASE, SD-WAN, firewalls, VPNs)
- Monitoring and observability tools
- CX and contact center applications
It’s not just about picking fewer tools—it’s about choosing better-aligned partners and building a more intentional IT roadmap.
Strategic, Not Reckless
One of the top concerns CIOs share is that consolidation will reduce flexibility or create future lock-in. That’s why any simplification initiative should be guided by business outcomes, not just budget pressure.
A trusted advisor can help you:
- Conduct a gap and risk analysis
- Benchmark current spend against the market standard
- Build a phased plan that aligns with budget cycles and internal change readiness
Control Begins with Clarity
Simplifying your tech stack doesn’t mean limiting your capabilities. On the contrary, it creates the space for innovation by removing the noise and inefficiency that slows down your team. If your IT environment is feeling more like a burden than a competitive advantage, it’s time to explore what streamlined success could look like.
Let’s Simplify, Together
Want a second set of eyes on your tech stack? We’d love to help. Reach out to our C3 team to explore what consolidation could look like for your business.
Or, better yet, meet us at the C3 Tech Summit this November in Grand Rapids, MI. With 550+ IT and CX leaders and 50+ top vendors, it’s the perfect environment to explore modern IT leadership and see how the right partners can help you simplify, strengthen, and scale.
