What method can be employed to address rising operational costs associated with multiple standalone applications?

Software consolidation is an effective method for addressing rising operational costs linked to multiple standalone applications. This approach involves consolidating various software solutions into a single, unified system typically designed to perform the functions of several different tools. By reducing the number of software systems that an organization has to maintain, support, and license, software consolidation can lead to significant cost savings related to both direct expenses (like licensing and support fees) and indirect costs (such as training and maintenance).

Through consolidation, organizations can streamline their operations, minimize duplication of effort, and enhance collaboration among team members, resulting in a more efficient use of resources. Additionally, centralized systems can improve data management and reporting capabilities, leading to better decision-making overall.

While application integration can help connect various stand-alone applications, it does not fundamentally change the number of systems in use or necessarily lead to cost reductions. Microservices architecture focuses on building applications as a suite of independently deployable services, which can enhance agility but may not directly impact cost if multiple services still need to be maintained. Similarly, containerization helps in deploying and scaling applications but doesn't fundamentally reduce operational costs associated with managing multiple applications.