Studio Graphene Gains SaaS Control and Achieves 30% in Cost Savings with Zluri

We had an insightful conversation with Carla Felici, Finance Director at Studio Graphene. Facing increasing challenges in managing and optimising SaaS tools, Carla and her team sought a centralised solution to enhance visibility, control costs, and streamline operations across their software ecosystem.

Challenges

Studio Graphene's fast-paced and collaborative environment relies heavily on a diverse SaaS landscape, using managed and unmanaged applications. Core-managed applications like Jira and Xero support project management and finance, while Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, and GitHub support power design and development. However, the unmanaged side presented challenges, with certain teams independently selecting specialised tools for testing, analytics, and niche development needs. This ad-hoc management approach often led to redundant tools, duplicate subscriptions, shadow IT, and hidden expenses—all discovered only during annual budget reviews.

Solution Search and Selection

Studio Graphene needed a SaaS management platform that could address their requirements comprehensively. The evaluation process focused on these critical aspects:

• Comprehensive application discovery and native integration with existing tools
• Automated user lifecycle management, particularly for onboarding and offboarding workflows
• Budgeting, contract, and spending management capabilities

Zluri stood out from other options due to its user-friendly interface, competitive pricing, and extensive feature set. It met all criteria and offered the necessary functionalities to support Studio Graphene’s SaaS management needs.

Smooth Onboarding and Integration

Integrating Zluri into Studio Graphene’s existing IT infrastructure was seamless, thanks to Zluri’s broad range of native integrations. With minimal setup, the platform delivered immediate insights into SaaS utilization across the organization. Zluri’s onboarding support included tailored training sessions and detailed documentation, facilitating a smooth and efficient transition. Studio Graphene’s team commended Zluri’s customer service for its proactive support during this period.

Enhanced SaaS Visibility and Cost Management

Before Zluri, Studio Graphene’s visibility into SaaS spending was limited and required manual oversight. Zluri provided comprehensive insights, enabling the team to easily monitor, control, and eliminate unnecessary expenditures. Uncovering shadow IT was particularly beneficial, as undiscovered applications previously under the radar were identified and assessed.

Zluri’s license and contract management features proved invaluable for budgeting and forecasting. By consolidating all contracts within Zluri, Studio Graphene centralized agreements across internal stakeholders. The finance and operations teams actively used the platform to manage contract renewals and monitor expenditures. The team extended the feature’s utility by also logging offline supplier contracts, allowing streamlined management of all agreements in one place.

Licence Optimization and Significant Cost Savings

Zluri’s impact on license wastage and app redundancy was immediate. With automated license tracking and offboarding, Studio Graphene’s finance team identified underutilized licenses, consolidated applications serving redundant purposes, and eliminated access for former employees. In 2024, these optimizations resulted in savings of approximately £30,000—equivalent to about 30% of their annual SaaS expenditure.

Results and Key Takeaways

Zluri has become a central tool in Studio Graphene’s SaaS management strategy. The platform’s license management functionality is a standout feature, driving material cost savings through improved usage and minimized redundancies. Additionally, Zluri’s contract management feature significantly enhanced operational efficiency, simplifying annual supplier reviews and supporting a cohesive financial planning process.

"Zluri’s license management functionality has been particularly impactful, resulting in material cost savings by optimizing usage and reducing redundancies." – Carla Felici, Finance Director, Studio Graphene.

Conclusion

Studio Graphene’s overall experience with Zluri has been highly positive. Zluri transformed its SaaS landscape from a fragmented, ad-hoc structure into a streamlined, cost-effective ecosystem. By delivering comprehensive visibility and management capabilities, Zluri enables Studio Graphene to maintain SaaS efficiency, minimize waste, and optimize operational costs across their global studios.