Over the past year, I've helped several organizations consolidate their data platforms. The pattern is remarkably consistent: companies that grew quickly accumulated tools faster than they could integrate them properly.
Why Consolidate?
Reduced cognitive load - Your team can master five tools deeply instead of knowing fifteen superficially.
Faster onboarding - New hires become productive in weeks, not months.
Better data quality - Fewer handoffs between systems means fewer places for data to break.
The Consolidation Framework
Phase 1: Discovery (2-3 weeks)
Create an inventory of every tool in your data stack, monthly cost, which teams use each tool, and integration points.
Phase 2: Rationalization (1-2 weeks)
Categorize each tool: Keep, Consolidate, or Sunset.
Phase 3: Migration Planning (2-4 weeks)
Document workflows, data migrations, user retraining, and timelines.
Phase 4: Execution (4-12 weeks)
Execute migrations in order of risk—start with lower-stakes tools to build confidence.
The Results
A typical consolidation project results in 30-50% reduction in tooling costs and 40% reduction in integration maintenance.