Driving Cost Optimization for PE-backed Lifestyle Brand

CLIENT
Mid-market PE Firm
INDUSTRY
Retail / Apparel
CONSULTANT ROLE
Cost Optimization Consultant
LOCATION
United Kingdom
The Challenge: Reducing High IT Costs

The client, a mid-sized PE firm, embarked on aΒ cost optimizationΒ project with one of its portfolio companies, a UK lifestyle brand.Β The portfolio company had high overhead costs, in which 40% came from IT. The client sought aΒ consultantΒ to evaluate the existing cost structure and suggest actionable strategies to lower IT costs.

Role of Consultport

ConsultportΒ proposed 4 strong consultants within 48 hours. The client interviewed 3 candidates and selected an ex-Accenture Manager with extensive project experience in reducing IT costs. The consultant started working with the client team 5 days after the initial request.

The Approach: Robust Cost Review

he consultant conducted a thorough cost breakdown of the company’s IT operations, carefully analyzing expenditures across infrastructure, applications, licensing, and support services. Through this detailed review, the consultant identified inefficiencies in the allocation of IT resources and uncovered multiple opportunities for cost optimization, particularly within IT license management.

By examining licensing agreements, usage patterns, and compliance requirements, the consultant highlighted areas where the company was over-licensed or underutilizing existing contracts. These insights not only revealed immediate cost-saving opportunities but also provided a strategic foundation for renegotiating vendor agreements, streamlining software portfolios, and ensuring long-term financial efficiency in IT operations.

The Results

The tailored cost strategies and implementation plan generated measurable savings opportunities, strengthened financial discipline, and secured client confidence for ongoing engagement.

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Robust Cost Structure Review
The consultant performed a comprehensive review of IT operations, breaking down costs across infrastructure, licenses, and support services. This analysis provided visibility into inefficiencies and highlighted underutilized resources.
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Tailored Cost Reduction Strategies
By applying Zero-Based Budgeting principles, the consultant identified savings potential of 15–20% in the IT cost base. Recommendations included renegotiating vendor contracts, consolidating underutilized licenses, and exploring tier-based alternatives.
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Comprehensive Implementation Plan
A step-by-step implementation roadmap was developed to guide execution of the savings initiatives, ensuring smooth adoption by IT teams and alignment with both portfolio company leadership and PE partners.
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Prolonged Client Engagement
Impressed with the tangible results, the client extended the consultant’s mandate to support contract renegotiations and oversee the exploration of additional cost optimization opportunities, reinforcing long-term financial efficiency.
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The cost optimization plan proposed by the consultant was extremely impactful, contributing to significant cost reduction for the portfolio company.
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