Error costs & rework
Automated quality inspection
Errors are detected within the process, not only when the customer complains.
Lever 3 of 5 · Reducing cost pressure
More margin,
same substance.
The biggest and least used savings rarely lie in purchasing, but in three invisible cost blocks: unused licences, avoidable rework and tied-up capital.
- of purchased SaaS licences go unused
- 53%
- of purchased SaaS licences go unused
- name energy costs as a key problem
- 67%
- name energy costs as a key problem
- proven use cases in the catalogue
- 100+
- proven use cases in the catalogue
Starting point
Margins are shrinking. But where exactly is the money seeping away?
- 67%
name energy costs as a key problem, 57% material costs. Both 14 percentage points higher than six months earlier.
Source: DZ Bank Mittelstand survey 2026
- 53%
of purchased SaaS licences go unused
Source: Zylo SaaS Management Index 2025
- 43%
plan price increases. Only just under 5% expect falling prices.
Source: DZ Bank Mittelstand survey 2026
- 26.5%
average equity ratio, the lowest balance sheet quality since 2012
Source: DZ Bank Mittelstand survey 2026
Before / after
From invisible costs to ongoing transparency.
The lever does not cut budgets across the board. It makes visible where money is left on the table, and automates the ongoing control over it.
Today
SaaS & licences
grow over the years, nobody has the full picture
Error costs & rework
only become visible at the point of complaint
Purchasing & suppliers
price comparisons here and there, stock levels by gut feeling
Tied-up capital
early-payment discounts expire, approvals stall in the inbox
Cost overview
only fully visible at quarter-end closing
With a system
SaaS & licences
ongoing licence audit and tool consolidation
Error costs & rework
quality checks and root cause analysis upstream
Purchasing & suppliers
systematic price comparison and stock optimisation
Tied-up capital
digital approvals, early-payment discounts used automatically
Cost overview
ongoing process cost dashboard with early warning system
What the lever is worth
The calculation behind this lever.
A realistic example for one of the three cost blocks: SaaS sprawl. We add error costs and tied-up capital with your own figures in the initial consultation, deliberately without a blanket multiplier.
In numbers · Worked example
- Average unused licence share (~50%)≈ €6,000
- Of which realistically identifiable & cancellable (~50%)≈ €3,000
Savings in year 1 (example)€3,000
From a single cost block alone, without changing a single process. Error costs and tied-up capital come on top once your own figures are available.
Example calculation using figures from past projects. No guarantee.
Use case catalogue
A selection from 100+ proven use cases.
Not every use case suits every company. In the initial consultation we choose together the use cases that make the biggest difference for you.
Error costs & rework
Digital checklists
Every work step is ticked off completely and documented traceably.
Error costs & rework
Structured root cause analysis
Recurring errors are traced back to their cause and eliminated permanently.
Error costs & rework
Version control for documents
Everyone works with the current version, so there is no rework caused by outdated documents.
Error costs & rework
Automated deadline monitoring
Deadlines, inspection dates and cancellation dates flag themselves in good time.
Purchasing, suppliers & stock
Systematic price comparison
Quotes are compared continuously, and the cheapest suitable provider is visible immediately.
Purchasing, suppliers & stock
Stock optimisation
Stock stays within the target range: less dead capital, no shortages.
Purchasing, suppliers & stock
Supplier scorecard
Price, quality and delivery reliability of every supplier rated at a glance.
8 of 24 use cases
A selection from the ivato catalogue of 100+ proven use cases across all five levers. The catalogue keeps growing. If something is missing, tell us: if needed, we will design a new use case for you.
Why now
Balance sheet quality in mid-sized businesses is falling. Every quarter without countermeasures counts.
The equity ratio has fallen to its lowest level since 2012, and the willingness to invest to its lowest since 1995. In such an environment every unused euro counts twice.
That is why 43% are planning price increases, even though the real margin often lies in licences, rework and tied-up capital that nobody checks systematically.
- 67%
name energy costs as a key problem
- 57%
name material costs as a key problem
- 26.5%
average equity ratio, lowest level since 2012
- 52%
willingness to invest, lowest level since 1995
Sources: DZ Bank Mittelstand survey 2026 · Zylo SaaS Management Index 2025
Your starting point
Where do you start, and how do you put this lever to work in your company as quickly as possible?
Four building blocks that build on one another. You decide where to join, depending on what you already know and how much you would like to do yourself.
- 01Do it yourself · online
Digital self-check
Start here ifyou would like to check for yourself first where you stand.
Guided, thorough and convenient online: you receive your maturity level, the ranking of all five levers and an automatic evaluation with a business case.
After your evaluation we will get in touch personally, because every path is individual. Then continue to strategy consulting or straight to implementation.
- 02Guided · analysis
Strategy consulting
Start here ifit is still open where your biggest lever lies.
Together we analyse where your greatest potential lies and which use cases work first, as a quantified business case.
Depending on scope, up to 80% eligible for funding (up to €5,600 grant per year). We handle the administration.
- 03Guided · delivery
Implementation
Start here ifyou already know your lever, or are coming from the self-check or consulting.
We implement the prioritised use cases: four use cases, fixed scope, go-live in 8-12 weeks.
Depending on the federal state, funding of up to €50,000 can be used for implementation. We check this for you.
- 04Guided · monthly
Ongoing support
Start here ifyour solution (or your own system) should keep growing in the long term.
Our AI and strategy advisors are at your side every month: advising, implementing, developing further. We also rebuild and extend your existing in-house systems.
Not sure where to start? In the free initial consultation we will find the right starting point together.
Arrange an initial consultation →Success Stories
Results from practice.
01 / 10
⅓
shorter unloading time
Mechanical & plant engineeringBusiness models
Seven-figure exit thanks to a new business model: A third shorter unloading time.
- Problem
- Wind and swinging motion slowed down load positioning.
- Approach
- Measured data and a newly positioned product were combined into a practical control system.
- Result
- Unloading time fell by more than a third; the crane operator had to counter-steer less.
Reducing cost pressure
View case →Selected clients
350+ companies and public institutions have already delivered projects with us.
By industry
Selected approaches from more than 25 years of industry experience.
All industries at a glance →- Utilities & suppliers
- Mechanical & plant engineering
- Industry & series production
- Family businesses
- Property management & real estate
- Skilled trades
- Building services & electrical
- Solar & energy technology
- Tax advisors & lawyers
- Engineering firms & experts
- Banks
- Agencies & consulting
- IT system houses
- E-commerce & info business
- Medical technology
- Longevity & clinics
- Pharma & pharmacies
- Travel & hotels
- Trade fairs & events
- Public transport & aviation
- Family offices
- Universities & higher education
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about this lever.
Your question is not here? In the initial conversation we take 30 minutes for your specific topic.
No. Your tax advisor reviews the bookkeeping, not the operational processes behind it. We start exactly there: with licences, rework and approval processes that are not individually visible in any profit and loss account.
Controlling usually shows what was spent, not whether a licence is still used or where approvals sit for days. This is exactly the operational gap this lever closes.
For individual use cases such as the licence audit, often just a few weeks after go-live. Others, such as tied-up capital, take effect continuously over the first year.
That is up to you. If you would like to check for yourself first, start with the digital self-check. If it is still open which use cases bring the biggest lever, strategy consulting is the right start. If you already know your priority, go straight to implementation. Afterwards we can support you monthly if you wish.
That depends on the chosen scope of use cases and is discussed transparently in the initial consultation, on the basis of a fixed scope instead of an open-ended number of hours, often partly subsidised through funding.
Ready to find out where your greatest potential lies?
A 30-minute assessment of your topic, personal and without obligation.