I recently spoke with a Finance Director who was spending an entire day every single month on month-end reporting. Why? Because her process was a complex process made up of three different planning technologies and seven separate data transfers between systems and tools. She was doing it all herself, and it was a massive drain on her time and energy.
When I showed her that one of her existing technologies could handle the entire process completely automated, her entire perspective shifted. The thought of saving a full day each month, not to mention the unnecessary software costs, brought a smile to her face.
This scenario is far more common than you might think. Many businesses are suffering from what I call “tech stack fatigue.”
What Is Tech Stack Fatigue?
Tech stack fatigue happens when your planning technology stack, instead of helping your business, starts to hold you back. The symptoms are unmistakable:
- Too many tools: You have multiple overlapping systems that don’t communicate effectively.
- Too many logins: Your team wastes time navigating different platforms just to get a single task done.
- Too many integrations: You’re constantly troubleshooting and moving data between systems, creating silos and confusion.
The result is a planning process that’s complicated and inefficient. Instead of supporting strategic decision-making, it becomes a frustrating administrative burden.
The Power of Connected Planning
The remedy for tech stack fatigue is connected planning. This approach brings speed and clarity by simplifying your technology stack and creating a seamless flow of data. With a connected planning system, you can:
- Simplify your stack: Consolidate your tools into a single, unified platform.
- Align your teams: Ensure everyone is working with the same, accurate data.
- Accelerate decision-making: Get real-time insights and reports, allowing you to react quickly to market changes.
Connected planning allows you to shift your focus from managing tools to managing strategy. It transforms your planning process from a complicated chore into a clear, agile engine for growth.
An Opportunity to Innovate
Think about your own planning process. What’s in your tech stack? Is it a collection of disparate tools, or a cohesive system? More importantly, does it support or undermine your strategic goals?
If you’re currently bogged down by a frustrating, overly complex process, don’t despair. Processes that frustrate are simply opportunities to innovate and automate. By embracing a connected planning approach, you can free up valuable time for yourself and your team—time that can be spent on strategy, leadership, and driving the business forward.
If you’d like to learn how other CFOs have transformed their planning processes and saved themselves, their teams, and their businesses significant time and money, feel free to reach out. Or, if you just want to gain one extra day a month to breathe and think strategically, let’s talk.
