On average, companies now use 371 SaaS applications - a staggering 32% increase since 2021. With the typical department managing around 87 of these tools, it’s no surprise that the task of managing employee access has become a significant burden for many businesses.
Without Structure It Cannot Be Delegated
One of the biggest challenges in managing employee access to software is that the process is often in disarray, making it difficult to delegate effectively. In many organizations, the responsibility for granting access to various SaaS applications is fragmented across different departments and individuals. This can create a tangled web of approvals, where one person holds the keys to a particular software, while another must sign off on who gets access.
The Pressure of Urgency
Managing software licenses and access is often complicated by the urgency with which employees need these tools. In fast-paced work environments, the pressure to get the right software into the hands of employees quickly can be intense. Teams are frequently working on tight deadlines, and any delay in obtaining the necessary tools can stall critical projects, leading to frustration and lost productivity.
This urgency often leads to hasty decisions, where approvals are rushed or bypassed altogether, creating potential security risks and compliance issues. The need to meet immediate demands can also put additional pressure on IT and management teams, who must juggle these urgent requests with their other responsibilities. As a result, the process becomes reactive rather than proactive, leading to a cycle of constant fire-fighting rather than strategic management.
The Growing Complexity of SaaS Management
As SaaS usage has exploded, so too has the complexity of managing it. Every time a new employee joins, moves departments, or leaves, someone needs to ensure they have the right access to the right tools. This often involves juggling dozens of platforms, each with its own licensing requirements, user permissions, and security protocols. The process is not only time-consuming but also prone to errors, which can lead to security risks or inefficiencies.
The Hidden Costs of Manual Access Management
The time you spend on manually managing SaaS access is time taken away from more strategic tasks that could drive your business forward. While it might seem like a necessary part of day-to-day operations, the cumulative effect of constantly handling access requests, troubleshooting login issues, and ensuring compliance with licensing agreements can drain productivity across the organization.
Moreover, manual access management often leads to over-provisioning or under-provisioning of licenses, both of which have their own costs. Over-provisioning results in paying for licenses that aren’t being used, while under-provisioning can frustrate employees who don’t have the tools they need to do their jobs effectively.
The Need for Automation and Optimization
Given the sheer number of SaaS applications in use today, it’s clear that traditional methods of managing access are no longer sustainable. Organizations need to adopt more efficient, automated solutions that can handle the complexity of modern SaaS environments. By automating license management and access provisioning, you can free up time to focus on higher-value activities, reduce the risk of errors, and ensure that your SaaS investments are truly supporting your business goals.
