Most waste isn’t dramatic. It’s repeatable.
1) Duplicate tools
Two teams, two tools, one job. The bill doubles. Nobody notices.
2) Renewals seen too late
If you learn about renewals after the invoice, you’re negotiating blind.
3) Supplier fragmentation
Five vendors for one category kills volume leverage and pricing consistency.
4) “Urgent” buying
Urgent is a workflow. It bypasses review, scope, and negotiation time.
5) Unowned categories
If a line item has no owner, it becomes a hiding place.
6) Weak approvals
Vibes-based approvals produce vibes-based spend.
7) Scope creep
Vendors expand scope quietly. The contract stays; the usage balloons.