The average established business wastes hundreds of thousands a year on software nobody questioned. I help you find it, cut it, and replace it. In weeks.
Adrian Barkus
Adrian Barkus

Your Software Is Costing More Than You Think.

Most established businesses are spending hundreds of thousands a year on software that was built up tool by tool, renewal by renewal. Nobody questioned it. Until now. I find exactly where the money is going, cut what you don't need, and build what you do — in weeks, not months.

Dinny EvansJurie FourieTony FitzgibbonJason KeithMike Dudarenok
5

from 117 reviews

$0M

Delivered Projects

0%

Costs Cut

0%

Faster AI Dev.

$0B

Transaction Per Year

The Addiction

Most businesses don't have a software strategy. They have a software history. A decade of reactive purchases, auto-renewed contracts, and tools approved by whoever needed them at the time.

I've seen this pattern in every established business I've worked with.

Rent Forever

Every month you pay. Every year they raise the price. You can't leave because your entire operation is built around their system — and they know it. That's not software. That's a landlord who owns your data.

Dead Architecture

The platforms your team uses every day were built for a world before AI existed. Your team has built workarounds for the workarounds. You're paying enterprise prices to run a business that has outgrown the tool that was supposed to help it grow.

Locked In

Your data lives in their system, in their format, on their terms. They know switching feels impossible. That's exactly how they want it.

The Hidden Tax

Your SaaS spend is spread across 12 department budgets, 6 annual renewals, and a handful of expense reports nobody questions. Most businesses have no idea what their total number is until someone finally adds it up. When they do, it's rarely under £80k. Often it's over £150k. For software that covers maybe 20% of what you actually need.

Franken-Stack

One tool feeds into another, into another. Nobody fully understands how it all connects — because it was never designed. It just grew. Your sales team enters data in three places. Finance exports reports manually. IT spends half their time keeping duct tape in place. You're not behind on technology. You're behind on decisions.

No One Owns It

You have an IT Manager who keeps the lights on. You have department heads who bought their own tools. But nobody is sitting at the table making strategic technology decisions for the business. Every year, the problem gets a little more expensive and a little harder to fix. Until someone finally does something about it.

THE FIT

Who This Is For

I work with established businesses — typically 10 to 30 years old, £5M to £75M in revenue — that have grown through operational strength, not technology.

Companies where the MD still makes the technology decisions, or where nobody does. Where SaaS costs have crept up for a decade without anyone doing the full maths. Where a competitor is moving faster and the honest answer is: they have better systems.

If your finance director just pulled the software invoice report and it was an uncomfortable number — we should talk.

If you've tried to hire a CTO and it hasn't worked, or you're not ready to commit £150k to a full-time hire — we should talk.

If your operations feel like a £5M company even though you're turning over £20M — we should talk.

THE MOMENT

The Cost of Custom Software Just Collapsed. Your Renewal Invoice Didn't.

What Just Happened

AI has fundamentally changed what custom software costs to build and how long it takes to deliver. What used to require a development team of six and six months now takes one person with the right tools a matter of weeks.

The businesses most exposed are those locked into expensive platforms they can't leave and can't justify renewing. The CFO is asking questions. The MD is frustrated. And the answer is no longer "this is just the cost of doing business."

Where I Come In

I've spent 19 years inside the enterprise software world — at Woolworths, Thomson Reuters, the Australian Government, and a dozen established businesses in between. I've implemented the platforms your business runs on, which means I know exactly where they're costing you money and how to replace them without disrupting your operations.

I now combine that experience with AI-accelerated development to do what no agency can match: audit what to cut, build the replacement, migrate your data, and hand you a system you own outright — delivered in weeks, not months. No subscriptions on the other side. No lock-in. No vendor to negotiate with at renewal time.

THE RESPONSE

How It Works. No Surprises.

No retainers until you've seen the savings. No surprises. Every step is designed so you can walk away — until you don't want to.

01

Software Review Call

Free

A 45-minute conversation — no pitch, no agenda. I want to understand your current software situation, what it costs, and what it's failing to do. If I can't find meaningful savings, I'll tell you straight and you'll walk away with a clearer picture of your stack at no cost.

02

Software Review

£6,750

A one-week deep-dive into your entire software estate. I interview your team, audit every active subscription, map every workflow, and find exactly where the money is going. You receive a written report with your total software spend, projected 3-year savings, what to cut immediately, what to replace, and a clear ROI model. This report is yours whether you work with me further or not. Most clients cover the cost of the review in the first month of changes they make from it alone.

03

SaaS Detox Sprint

Priced on findings

Based on the Software Review findings, I build your custom replacement. Fixed price, fixed scope, delivered in 4–6 weeks. You get a system built specifically for how your business actually works — not a configuration of someone else's platform. Zero subscriptions on the other side. You own it outright. Priced at 10% of your projected 3-year savings, so the numbers make sense before we start.

19 Years Inside the Platforms Your Business Runs On.

I've worked inside Woolworths, Thomson Reuters, the Australian Government, Breville, and SUEZ — implementing and optimising the same enterprise platforms that established businesses rely on. That experience means I don't just know how to build replacements. I know exactly what breaks, what's worth keeping, and what to walk away from.

Background

Australian Government
Breville
Fairfax
RXP
SUEZ
Choice
Woolworths
LaunchTN
SiteMinder
Thomson Reuters
Australian Government
Breville
Fairfax
RXP
SUEZ
Choice
Woolworths
LaunchTN
SiteMinder
Thomson Reuters

Modern Stack

Supabase
Vercel
TypeScript
Next.js
Salesforce
Cursor
Claude
Azure
Supabase
Vercel
TypeScript
Next.js
Salesforce
Cursor
Claude
Azure
19 Years
Top Secret
AI-Accelerated
Fortune 500

Case Studies

Legacy stack replacement for Fortune 500 retailer

Fortune 500 retailer

Legacy stack replacement — 40% cost reduction, one system instead of five

Migrated core operations off ageing vendor stack onto a modern, AI-augmented system. Reduced annual software spend by 40% and cut time-to-insight from days to hours.

+More detail
Problem: A major retailer running multiple legacy platforms with high annual renewal costs and siloed data across regions. Reporting took days. Teams operated from different systems with no single source of truth. Every renewal was a negotiation nobody was winning.
Solution: Full software estate audit followed by a single replacement system built on a modern stack. AI-assisted workflows for reporting, approvals, and data consolidation across regions. Delivered in 6 weeks with full team handover and documentation.
Outcome: 40% reduction in annual software spend. The same operations team now runs the business from one system instead of five. Time-to-insight dropped from days to hours. No ongoing vendor contracts.
Fractional CTO delivery for established professional services firm

Established professional services firm

Fractional CTO — technology leadership without the full-time hire

Defined technology roadmap and led build of customer-facing platform. Delivered in 6 weeks and handed over to internal team with full documentation.

+More detail
Problem: A 12-year-old professional services firm with strong revenue but no technology leadership. The MD was making all technical decisions. Two failed attempts to hire a full-time CTO. Meanwhile, the product roadmap had stalled and a competitor was pulling ahead.
Solution: Fractional CTO engagement: defined the technology roadmap, took ownership of technical decisions, and led the build of a new customer-facing platform using AI-accelerated development. The MD was removed from technical decision-making within two weeks.
Outcome: New platform live in 6 weeks. Internal team fully onboarded with documentation. The MD hasn't made a technical decision since. Business is now moving faster than the competitor that prompted the engagement.
Software audit and replacement for professional services firm

Professional services firm

Six-figure SaaS spend eliminated — 20 subscriptions to one custom system

Audited 20+ subscriptions, consolidated to a single custom system. Eliminated six-figure annual spend and gave the firm full ownership of data and workflows.

+More detail
Problem: A 15-year-old professional services firm had accumulated 20+ SaaS subscriptions over a decade of reactive purchasing. Total annual spend was over £120k. Renewals were auto-approved because nobody owned the review process. No single view of costs, usage, or data. The firm was locked into platforms it had long outgrown.
Solution: One-week software review identified £120k in annual spend with significant overlap and redundancy. Built a single custom system covering CRM, project tracking, client portal, and reporting — tailored to how the firm actually works, not how the SaaS vendor assumed it would.
Outcome: £120k annual saving from year one. One system to maintain instead of twenty. All data and IP fully owned by the client — no vendor relationship to manage, no renewal to dread, no price increase to absorb. The Software Review paid for itself in the first week of changes.

Two Ways to Work Together

Secure Your Slot

Here's how I work with you.

Software Detox Sprint

For established businesses that need to cut software spend without disrupting operations. I run a one-week audit of your entire software estate, then build your custom replacement in 4–6 weeks. You get a system you own outright — no subscriptions, no lock-in, no renewal negotiations. One engagement. Full handover.

  • AI-powered audit
  • Custom AI interface
  • Data migration + ownership
  • Cancel subscriptions
  • Full handover
Investment:Priced on Findings
Timeline:4 weeks

Limited slots per quarter. Each engagement receives full focus — I don't run parallel sprints. Book early; your slot is held with a signed agreement.

2026 slots

40%used

Software Detox Sprint

3 / 5 left

Fractional CTO

For established businesses that need senior technology leadership without committing to a £150k+ full-time hire. I join your senior team on a structured basis — attending key meetings, owning the technology roadmap, and making the technical calls your MD shouldn't have to make. When we decide something needs to be built, I build it myself. Strategy and execution. One person. No handoff delays.

  • Strategy
  • Roadmap
  • Direct Access
  • Execution
  • Technical ownership
Investment:£6,250/day
Minimum:12 per year

3 slots total. 2 taken. One space left.

1 slot left

67%used

Fractional CTO

1 / 3 left

THE FILTER

This Isn't for Everyone.

I work with a small number of clients at any time, and I'm selective about who I take on. This is not the right fit if:

  • — You're looking for the cheapest option. I'm not it, and I won't pretend to be.
  • — You need someone to manage a team of developers. I work directly, not through layers.
  • — You want a six-month strategy document with no delivery attached. Everything I produce ships.
  • — You're a startup that hasn't proven the business model yet. My background is in established operations, and that's where I add the most value.

If you're an established business with real revenue, real software costs, and a real decision-maker who's ready to act — I want to hear from you.

What leaders say about working with me

5.0

117 reviews

Dinny Evans

Dinny Evans

CFO, New Horizons (recent client)

Exceptional professional—expertise in enterprise architecture, Salesforce, PMO leadership. Remarkable ability to simplify complex projects. Transformed our PMO.

Jurie Fourie

Jurie Fourie

Group HR Manager, Inghams Enterprises (client)

Knowledgeable and well-connected professional - scoped and addressed Company's needs accurately and timeously

Tony Fitzgibbon

Tony Fitzgibbon

Head of Technology, Woolworths

Exemplary platform knowledge with dynamic, thought-provoking approaches. Exactly what large enterprises need early in their Salesforce journey.

Jason Keith

Jason Keith

Woolworths Head of Technology

Highly professional architect—strong in technical and business engagement. Breaks down complexity, builds relationships.

Mike Dudarenok

Mike Dudarenok

Chief Information and Digital Officer

Tight-knit team delivered on tight timelines under pressure. Focused on getting right things done right—project shipped, users happy.

David Freke

David Freke

Solution Architect

Superb knowledge of Salesforce Architecture—develops strategies all stakeholders understand.

Andrew Fragias

Andrew Fragias

Principal Product Manager, Lumary

Clear understanding of Salesforce CRM and architecture to implement and enhance business processes.

Tony Harrison

Tony Harrison

CPTO Digital Transformer (recent client)

Calm, structured, highly methodical. Deep technical knowledge and stakeholder collaboration. Bridges gap between business needs and technology solutions.

Priyanka Das

Priyanka Das

Senior Business Analyst (direct report)

Standout Enterprise Architect—vision and expertise invaluable for transforming software infrastructure. Meticulous diagrams gave crystal-clear roadmap.

Kristoffer Ferrer

Kristoffer Ferrer

Complex Project Management (direct report)

Key to our transformation. Architecture diagrams gave clarity and roadmap. Strategic leadership brought executives together around common goal.

Walter Nguyen

Walter Nguyen

Integration Solution Engineer (direct report)

Incredible leader and mentor—brings positive energy and motivation. Delivered project successfully on time with very positive client feedback.

Peter Jeans

Peter Jeans

Solution Architect

In-depth architectural knowledge that bolstered the growing Salesforce practice. Key role developing architecture through the Salesforce guild.

Sally Montgomery

Sally Montgomery

Product Manager, Woolworths

Instrumental in setup and running the Salesforce CoE during growth stage. People person who built strong relationships.

Anil Kumar

Anil Kumar

CRM, AI, Digital Transformation

Instrumental in setting up Salesforce COE at Woolworths. Easy to work with, keeps people informed, great sense of humour.

Henri Fanda

Henri Fanda

Senior Data Analyst (direct report)

One of the best project managers—calm, assuring, keeps team on track. Goes extra distance to remove roadblocks.

Andrew Zybenko

Andrew Zybenko

Fire Safety / Business Operations

Determined optimal roadmap for new Salesforce instance in complex corporate IT. Expertise imperative for viable, robust architecture.

Yarlini Aravindan

Yarlini Aravindan

Managing business/applications (direct manager)

Exceptional professional—excels at big picture architecture and right tech solutions. Charismatic leadership elevates entire team.

Nikesh Lalchandani

Nikesh Lalchandani

Payments / Fintech Author

Highly knowledgeable, exceptionally positive. Combines technical depth with collaborative approach—pleasure to work with.

Rachel de los Santos

Rachel de los Santos

Senior Test Analyst

Truly valuable asset—immense energy, positive atmosphere. Vast Salesforce knowledge huge advantage to entire project.

Misha Petrov

Misha Petrov

Senior SAP Project Manager, Woolworths

Enterprise Architect who sees beyond the horizon, identifies opportunities and anticipates challenges

Abe Diamond

Abe Diamond

Forward Deployed Engineering Leader

Experience and technical skills mixed with energetic but relaxed outlook - great senior addition to any project

Jeroen Brejaart

Jeroen Brejaart

Senior Technology Leader, Digital Transformation

Very structured, disciplined, delivery oriented and dynamic

Damon Hayhow

Damon Hayhow

Recomposer Creator

One of the most innovative thinkers - rare ability to communicate technological business solutions in easy-to-understand manner

Ian Carpenter

Ian Carpenter

Founder | Startup Investor | Tech Strategy Advisor

Implemented SaaS solutions for organisations wishing to commercialise and productise their IP

Steve Harris

Steve Harris

Cutting edge programmer and innovative thinker with a broad portfolio of solutions covering extremely wide range of business scenarios

Janina Harper

Janina Harper

Partner, Technology Consulting, KPMG Australia

Brings great energy, amazing technical leadership and never-say-no attitude working as Salesforce Architect

Kapil Shah

Kapil Shah

Co-Founder @Wizly | Design Leader | UX | Product

Immense knowledge in Salesforce architecture - huge asset in UX research process

Maelle Polak

Maelle Polak

Salesforce Solution Architect, 14x Certified

Acquired international experience in business analysis and consulting - very valuable problem solver

John Stapleton

John Stapleton

Marketing Director, DrivenAction.com (direct report)

Runs projects with real focus on ultimate users - exceptional team leadership

Damien Ryan

Damien Ryan

Distinguished Solution Engineer, ANZ Public Sector, Salesforce

Approachable personality and thorough knowledge of the Salesforce platform - absolute pleasure to work with

Brandon Bruce

Brandon Bruce

Co-founder Uncat, Co-founder 121 Tech Hub

Knows how to get the most out of Salesforce for clients

Brett Greathouse

Brett Greathouse

President, Touchpoint Solutions - Healthcare AI/Salesforce

Knows Salesforce.com and how to get the most from it

Misha Petrov

Misha Petrov

Senior SAP Project Manager, Woolworths

Always comes up with out-of-the-box ideas and knows how to bring them to life

Abe Diamond

Abe Diamond

Forward Deployed Engineering Leader

Confidence and communication allows him to be in a room with any C-level to most junior staff

Jeroen Brejaart

Jeroen Brejaart

Senior Technology Leader, Digital Transformation

Makes understanding complex processes and situations look easy, then puts hard work into getting it done

Damon Hayhow

Damon Hayhow

Recomposer Creator

Makes technology relevant to solving real business problems

Ian Carpenter

Ian Carpenter

Founder | Startup Investor | Tech Strategy Advisor

Practical, direct and very experienced - results speak for themselves

Janina Harper

Janina Harper

Partner, Technology Consulting, KPMG Australia

Provided client with confidence leading them through complex ambitions over 12 months

Kapil Shah

Kapil Shah

Co-Founder @Wizly | Design Leader | UX | Product

Core architectural principles are strong - absolute pleasure to work with

Maelle Polak

Maelle Polak

Salesforce Solution Architect, 14x Certified

Not afraid to take new challenges - strong soft skills, very professional with clients

John Stapleton

John Stapleton

Marketing Director, DrivenAction.com (direct report)

Depth of practical Salesforce.com application knowledge in the real business world

Brandon Bruce

Brandon Bruce

Co-founder Uncat, Co-founder 121 Tech Hub

Maximises technology return on investment for the organisations he serves

Brett Greathouse

Brett Greathouse

President, Touchpoint Solutions - Healthcare AI/Salesforce

As a client, he's always acted with integrity

Misha Petrov

Misha Petrov

Senior SAP Project Manager, Woolworths

Will add significant value to projects of any complexity

Abe Diamond

Abe Diamond

Forward Deployed Engineering Leader

Facilitates conversations that tackle project challenges in an effective manner

Janina Harper

Janina Harper

Partner, Technology Consulting, KPMG Australia

Helpful, knowledgeable, and always up-to-date on new technologies and trends

Maelle Polak

Maelle Polak

Salesforce Solution Architect, 14x Certified

Never loses positive attitude - keeps team motivated

Matthew Sutton

Matthew Sutton

Founder | Salesforce Partner | AI Enthusiast (client)

Thoroughly professional with excellent industry knowledge

Charmaine van der Merwe

Charmaine van der Merwe

CIO | MBA, Thinktank Commercial Property Finance (direct report)

Natural leader and great mentor - simplifies complex problems with analytical and critical thinking

Caroline Birch

Caroline Birch

Somatic Coach

Wealth of knowledge and experience - consistently strives to add value and support project team members

Sally Turpin

Sally Turpin

Strategic Leader (client)

Lead Salesforce implementation - receptive to feedback, did everything to ensure project met all needs

Paul Reid

Paul Reid

Change Manager (direct report)

Inspires those around him to tackle any challenge head on, break it down, and resolve any issue

Lance Orsmond

Lance Orsmond

Innovation Facilitator & Incubator (client)

Passionate exploiter of CRM systems for organisations seeing value in transformational change

Chris Franklin

Chris Franklin

Lead Functional Consultant (direct report)

Would make an ideal CIO for any organisation looking to advance their CRM implementation

Yanis Guzel

Yanis Guzel

Program Director, University of Sydney | Business Transformation

Salesforce guru bringing tremendous energy and insight into everything he does

Alan Blair

Alan Blair

CRO Specialist | Experimentation

Knack for distilling complicated ideas into simple, actionable plans to make any business situation better

Yassine El Jouaidi

Yassine El Jouaidi

SaaS Consulting client

Through Adrian's SaaS consulting, we now focus on delivery of our services online, generating extended income from clients

Dylan Byrne

Dylan Byrne

Partner, Business Advisory, BDO Australia

Very good at understanding client needs and applying that knowledge to service delivery

Will Focus

Will Focus

Brand Consultant | Founder

Excellent ability to use systems and resources to properly time manage and direct various production steps

Nicole Watson

Nicole Watson

Process Technician, Rio Tinto

Absolute pleasure to work with - courteous, professional, will always go above and beyond

Matthew Sutton

Matthew Sutton

Founder | Salesforce Partner | AI Enthusiast (client)

Willingness to help others using personal and professional skills - can be trusted in any circumstance

Charmaine van der Merwe

Charmaine van der Merwe

CIO | MBA, Thinktank Commercial Property Finance (direct report)

Sees and understands the bigger picture and value to the customer

Caroline Birch

Caroline Birch

Somatic Coach

Ability to see through complexity and noise, design simple, effective solutions

Sally Turpin

Sally Turpin

Strategic Leader (client)

Deciphered complex entities and simplified things for maximum leverage converting staff to new system

Paul Reid

Paul Reid

Change Manager (direct report)

Brings out the best in others - grants responsibility to get the job done

Lance Orsmond

Lance Orsmond

Innovation Facilitator & Incubator (client)

Fun to work with, professional, knowledgeable and always eager to make a difference

Chris Franklin

Chris Franklin

Lead Functional Consultant (direct report)

Seeks to get the best out of those he works with and help them excel

Yanis Guzel

Yanis Guzel

Program Director, University of Sydney | Business Transformation

Responsiveness and attention to detail - willingness to help makes him a valuable contributor

Alan Blair

Alan Blair

CRO Specialist | Experimentation

Never failed to give me clarity and confidence about a way forward

Dylan Byrne

Dylan Byrne

Partner, Business Advisory, BDO Australia

Excellent research skills finding out about prospective clients and their needs

Will Focus

Will Focus

Brand Consultant | Founder

Made every step in the development process seamless and efficient

Charmaine van der Merwe

Charmaine van der Merwe

CIO | MBA, Thinktank Commercial Property Finance (direct report)

Great interpersonal skills - makes a positive impact on people

Paul Reid

Paul Reid

Change Manager (direct report)

Creates atmosphere of optimism and enthusiasm on every project

Yanis Guzel

Yanis Guzel

Program Director, University of Sydney | Business Transformation

Sees the big picture AND breaks it down into manageable tasks

Alan Blair

Alan Blair

CRO Specialist | Experimentation

Sincere, generous person and a lot of fun to hang out with

Dylan Byrne

Dylan Byrne

Partner, Business Advisory, BDO Australia

Clear BD approach with years of experience consistently produces better results

Adrian Barkus — Fractional CTO

A bit about me

Adrian Barkus

Fractional CTO · Enterprise Architect

19 Years Enterprise ArchitectureThomson Reuters · WoolworthsTOGAF 9.1 CertifiedTop Secret Cleared (Former)

I've spent 19 years solving the technology problems that quietly drain companies dry. From cutting $3.5M in SaaS costs in 40 days, to architecting the systems that enabled a $155M acquisition — I've seen what broken tech costs, and exactly how to fix it. Now I do it faster than ever, using AI-accelerated development to turn 6-month builds into 4-week sprints.

Connect on LinkedIn

The Questions I Get Asked Most

We already have an IT team. Why would we need you?+

Your IT team keeps the lights on. That's their job and they're good at it. What they don't have is the strategic mandate to challenge your entire software estate, the enterprise architecture experience to redesign it, or the AI-accelerated development speed to rebuild it in weeks. I work alongside your team — not instead of them.

How do you justify the cost of the Software Review?+

The Software Review costs £6,750. Every client so far has identified savings that exceed that within the first year — typically by a factor of 10 or more. If I can't find meaningful savings in your software estate, I'll tell you in the first session and we stop there. You keep the findings. No further obligation.

Can you really build a replacement system in 4–6 weeks?+

Yes — because I'm not building for a portfolio of clients or managing a team of contractors. I build solo, using AI-accelerated development tools that compress what used to take months into weeks. The scope is scoped tightly to what you actually use, not what your current vendor sells you. Smaller scope, faster delivery, lower cost.

What if we're locked into a long-term contract with our current vendors?+

That's the most common situation I walk into. We plan around your renewal dates. The Software Review maps every contract expiry, so we sequence the replacements to coincide with natural exit points. You stop paying the moment the contract ends — not a day later than necessary.

What happens to the system after you've built it? Are we dependent on you?+

No — and that's by design. Every system I build is fully documented, hosted in your own repository, and built on widely used modern technology. Any competent developer can maintain or extend it. I can also help you hire someone to take it over internally. My goal is to make you independent, not reliant on another vendor — including me.

How is this different from hiring a development agency?+

Three ways. Speed — agencies take 3–6 months, I deliver in 4–6 weeks. Cost — agencies quote £60k–£100k for what I deliver at a fraction of that. Accountability — with an agency you get account managers and handoffs. With me you get the same senior architect from the first call to the final handover. No middlemen, no surprises.

Don't Wait for Your Next Renewal.

Every week you delay is another week of exposure. A free Software Review takes 45 minutes. The findings could change what you spend on software for the next decade.