In an era where companies rely on dozens, if not hundreds, of software tools, managing SaaS effectively has become a business-critical challenge. While software is essential for productivity, the rapid proliferation of subscription-based tools has led to inefficiencies, overlapping costs, and poor utilization.

Cledara is on a mission to help businesses take back control, providing companies with real-time visibility into their SaaS spending, automated cost optimization, and AI-powered insights that ensure technology investments align with business growth.

At Fintech Meetup 2025, Brad Van Leeuwen, Co-Founder and COO of Cledara, outlined why managing SaaS is no longer just a financial exercise—but a strategic imperative.

The SaaS Sprawl Problem: More Software, Less Oversight

As companies scale, their software footprint expands exponentially—yet many struggle to track what they’re paying for, let alone determine whether those tools are being fully utilized. What began as a challenge for tech startups has now become a widespread issue across enterprises.

Finance teams are increasingly questioning the ROI of SaaS investments, especially as economic pressures mount. Yet reducing spend without proper oversight often leads to cutting essential tools while duplicating subscriptions and inefficiencies remain unchecked.

Cledara emerged to solve this blind spot, giving businesses a centralized platform to monitor, control, and optimize SaaS spending—while ensuring teams have access to the software they actually need.

The Shift from Cost Cutting to Smart Investment

While many businesses initially approach SaaS management with the goal of cost reduction, the most successful companies see it as a growth optimization tool.

🔹 Instead of simply eliminating software, top-performing businesses strategically adjust their tech stack—investing in platforms that drive efficiency while eliminating unused or redundant tools.

🔹 AI-driven insights now play a crucial role in decision-making, analyzing which tools contribute to revenue growth, improving budgeting, and forecasting future software needs.

🔹 Real-time software tracking is reducing unnecessary spend, ensuring businesses no longer pay for tools that have been forgotten or underutilized.

This shift in mindset—from cost-cutting to smart optimization—reflects a broader trend in financial management, where companies are moving away from reactive budgeting and toward data-driven investment strategies.

AI’s Growing Role in SaaS Optimization

Cledara’s vast dataset, which tracks over 30,000 SaaS subscriptions, has provided a unique perspective on how businesses adopt and manage software. One of the most significant trends? The rise of AI-powered tools.

Recent data suggests that one in three new SaaS purchases is now AI-driven, indicating a fundamental shift in how businesses approach software investment. Companies are no longer just automating workflows—they’re embedding AI into core functions such as:

✅ Marketing and customer engagement – AI-powered platforms that personalize content and automate customer interactions.
✅ Financial forecasting and risk management – AI-driven tools that optimize budgets and predict cash flow.
✅ Software administration and security – AI solutions that automate IT governance, ensuring compliance and reducing shadow IT.

Cledara is leveraging these insights to help businesses identify high-impact AI-driven SaaS solutions, ensuring they invest in platforms that drive measurable outcomes rather than adding to software bloat.

Beyond Cost Control: The Future of SaaS Management

Looking ahead, SaaS management will become increasingly automated, reducing the manual effort required to track software usage and expenses. Cledara is already working on:

📌 Automated renewals and cancellations – Ensuring businesses only pay for the software they actually use.
📌 AI-powered software recommendations – Helping companies choose the right tools based on real-world performance data.
📌 Seamless onboarding and offboarding – Automating software access for employees to prevent unnecessary spending.

As businesses continue to navigate an increasingly AI-driven SaaS landscape, those that adopt proactive, data-driven management strategies will have a significant competitive advantage.

The conversation around SaaS spending is no longer just about cutting costs—it’s about ensuring every dollar spent delivers tangible business value.

Final Thought: Winning with Smart SaaS Strategy

As businesses rethink their approach to software, the companies that succeed won’t be the ones that simply reduce spending—they’ll be the ones that invest smarter.

Cledara’s approach reflects a fundamental shift: SaaS is no longer just a cost line—it’s an investment category that, when managed effectively, can be a powerful driver of business performance.

With AI-driven automation, real-time visibility, and a focus on strategic SaaS optimization, Cledara is ensuring that businesses don’t just spend on software—they invest in the future of their operations.

Disclaimer: The above podcast episode was generated using AI based on an interview transcript. While the content remains true to the original conversation, the voices, tone, and delivery were synthesized and do not represent actual recordings of the speakers. This AI-generated format is intended to enhance accessibility and provide an alternative way to engage with the discussion.

We’re thrilled to welcome Liberis as an official Unofficially Fintech sponsor. Embedded finance is a major theme at this year’s event, and Liberis is leading the charge by providing seamless funding solutions directly within platforms that businesses already use. They’ll be attending Fintech Meetup, talking all things embedded finance, so be sure to book some time with them! 👇

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