Companies can reduce IT spending without losing efficiency

In an increasingly dynamic and competitive business environment, optimizing IT costs has become essential to ensure efficiency and financial sustainability. According to the 33rd survey on IT use in companies, conducted by the Center for Applied Information Technology at the São Paulo School of Business Administration at Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV EAESP), technology spending and investments in Brazil reached, on average, 8.7% of company revenue in 2021. This percentage has grown 6% annually over the past 34 years and highlights the importance of effective strategies to optimize IT costs and ensure operational efficiency and competitiveness.

"The first step to optimizing costs is to map all IT expenses, both recurring and one-off. Understanding where the money is going is essential to creating a strategic plan that takes into account consumption, unforeseen events, tools, technology, and staffing," emphasizes Adriano Ignatti, account executive at technology and innovation company Gateware.

According to the professional, the most common mistake companies make is failing to anticipate budget changes, which can have significant financial impacts. "Many business owners only calculate the exact cost of the project and don't reserve a margin for unforeseen events. Continuous monitoring and time management are critical to avoiding unwanted surprises."

Outsourcing as an optimization strategy

Outsourcing IT professionals emerges as a strategic solution for companies that need specialists, but without the costs and challenges of maintaining a highly skilled in-house team. "In many cases, it's more cost-effective to hire a temporary specialist than to invest in training an in-house professional just for a specific project," explains Ignatti. "Furthermore, outsourcing allows for scalability and flexibility, allowing for adjustments to the team according to demand, as it functions like an outsourced company."

Gateware offers a comprehensive talent placement service, ensuring clients have access to qualified talent who are up-to-date with the latest technology trends. "Our unique advantage lies in our rigorous talent curation and post-hire follow-up, ensuring that the professionals we assign are aligned with our clients' expectations," emphasizes the executive.

Advantages of the Cloud

Another key to reducing IT costs is the intelligent use of technology. Migrating to the cloud, for example, can be a viable alternative for companies seeking scalability and agility. "The cloud offers flexibility, but requires strict control to avoid waste due to excessive storage and lack of monitoring," warns Adriano.

Netflix, one of the pioneers in video streaming services, for example, managed to reduce its infrastructure costs by approximately 60% by transferring its operations to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud platform in 2016. This change not only allowed Netflix to expand its capacity but also improved its availability and security.

However, rapid technological evolution also poses challenges for companies, which often fail to keep their internal teams up to date. "Outsourcing specialists allows companies to keep up with changes without having to constantly invest in internal training," he emphasizes.

By optimizing IT costs, companies can reduce expenses, increase efficiency, and boost growth, generating more value for the business. "The secret to optimizing these costs lies in well-structured planning with efficient control tools. Continuous monitoring prevents waste and ensures that investments are directed toward what truly adds value to the business," concludes Adriano Ignatti.