The hidden costs of SaaS: how companies maintain control in 2025 (with playbook)

SaaS inflation: higher than consumer prices

What stands out most is that SaaS inflation (averaging 11%) is much higher than regular consumer inflation (around 2.8% in G7 countries). This means that companies often pay more for the exact same software stack, without any new features.

In addition, we are increasingly seeing a form of 'shrinkflation': hidden price increases as suppliers restructure bundles, reduce discounts, or let unused credits expire. More than 25% of companies will be directly affected by this in 2025. 

Impact on business operations

With SaaS and Cloud now accounting for 25% of total IT spending, these rising costs are becoming a strategic issue. IT infrastructure and management tools are among the largest expenditure items, while the room for (re)negotiation for customers remains very limited after the contract is signed.

Without a clear, even aggressive, strategy, companies risk not only higher costs but also an impact on profitability and liquidity. 

What can companies do?

Here are some concrete measures:

• Supplier consolidation: fewer different tools means more clarity and better negotiating positions.

• Negotiate early: don't wait until the last few weeks before renewal, but start well in advance.

• Transparency in usage: by knowing exactly which licenses are actually being used, you prevent waste.

• Flexible contracts: build in room to adapt to changes in your organization.

• Awareness among employees: encourage a critical attitude regarding which functions and tools are truly necessary. 

And fortunately, there are still more