The vertical teams need to protect the interests of their business unit, so for them, business risk often outweighs the concerns of horizontal costs. Horizontal teams have to focus on the “take out cost” priority and therefore both teams end up at odds when the two imperatives collide.

So how do you solve this mess?

While we often see the fruit of this first wave of infrastructure consolidation and cost savings, we also find that the “what next?” question is often very hard to answer. If there is fat in the system, the first cut is often successful and low risk, but getting the next wave of savings is often fraught with danger. Taking out more and impacting the business is a decision few people want to make.

The challenge of finding this next wave of savings is often compounded by a lack of visibility on both sides. The horizontal teams have the horizontal data, the vertical teams have the vertical data, but getting that intersection is often too complicated, too costly and too time consuming.

Yet, visibility is exactly what you need if you are going to make a cut close to the bone.

Ever asked these questions...

“Can I double the number of portfolios through this system?”
“What are my pinch points if increase my volumes threefold?”
“Where do I have excess capacity?”

What if you could understand the digital footprint of a business transaction? Or profile the different demands that different types of users and counterparties put on your applications and infrastructure? Then you would be starting to get to the level of visibility you need to really answer those questions.

The irony is that all the data you need is already there, lying dormant in different silos around your systems. If you connect these dots, you can make sense of it all – and then you’ll have the comprehensive knowledge to act with flawless and effective surgical precision.