Technology Commission backs application rationalization after adding KPI and stakeholder-engagement requirements

The City of Austin Technology Commission on Thursday recommended continued funding for a citywide application rationalization process led by Austin Technology Services (ATS), but amended its recommendation to require measurable performance metrics and a structured, inclusive stakeholder engagement process.

Carika Lakey, director of Austin Technology Services and the city's chief information officer, told the commission the phase-1 Gartner assessment identified duplicate functions, inconsistent standards and higher-than-peer spending, and recommended aligning technology staff into ATS to create shared services, strengthen cybersecurity and reduce costs. Lakey said the rationalization work with consultants NEOS and Parzalvo has identified consolidation opportunities for hundreds of applications and is in phase 5, with cost-savings analysis due later this month and final reporting expected in April.

"We began work with Gartner Consulting Services in June 2025," Lakey said. "The goals were to reduce cost, strengthen our governance, streamline and modernize our application portfolio, and improve the overall operational effectiveness of technology." Lakey said most staff would remain embedded with the departments they support, and that a separate operational-technology mapping…