What is "SaaS sprawl" (and why is it costing your KSA business?)
If your company has more software tools than you can count, you're not alone.
SaaS sprawl refers to the uncontrolled growth of software subscriptions across your business. It starts innocently; Marketing signs up for analytics tools, HR adds a new onboarding app, and IT manages security platforms.
Before long, you’re paying for:
- Multiple tools with overlapping features
- Subscriptions no one is using
- Duplicate licenses across departments
Without oversight, this leads to overspending, complexity, and risk, especially for fast-growing companies in Saudi Arabia navigating rapid digital transformation.
The 3 dangers of using one card for all subscriptions
Most businesses in KSA still rely on a single corporate card for all recurring SaaS payments. On the surface, it seems efficient.
But in reality, it creates serious vulnerabilities.
Danger 1: you're paying for "zombie" subscriptions
A team member leaves. But their software license, let's say 200 SAR per month, continues getting charged to the company card.
No one notices for six months.
Now you’ve spent 1,200 SAR on a tool no one uses. Multiply that across departments and ex-employees, and SaaS sprawl becomes a silent budget killer.
Danger 2: one fraudulent charge = massive disruption
If your central corporate card is compromised, every platform tied to it, CRM, marketing tools, and website hosting, gets suspended.
Until the new card is issued and updated, your business operations are stalled.
This creates urgent pressure on IT, delays across teams, and security headaches.
Danger 3: it's impossible to budget or track by department
Finance gets a monthly statement filled with line items:
- Stripe – 500 SAR
- Notion – 360 SAR
- Zoom – 210 SAR
But there’s no way to know which teams are responsible, how much each department spends, or who approved the tools.
This lack of attribution prevents effective budget planning and creates friction between departments and finance.
The solution: a dedicated Pemo virtual card for every subscription
Pemo gives KSA businesses a smarter way to manage recurring payments: a virtual card per subscription.
This isn’t just convenient; it gives you visibility, control, and security across all your software spending.
Step 1: create a new virtual card in seconds
Need a new tool?
Just log in to Pemo and click Create Virtual Card. Name it “Hubspot - Marketing” or “Canva - Design Team.” Done in seconds.
Each card has its own:
- Unique 16-digit number
- Assigned owner
- Controls and limits
You no longer have to rely on one shared card for everything.
Step 2: set specific monthly limits
Set a precise monthly budget for each card.
If a tool costs 500 SAR/month, set the card limit to 500 SAR.
- No surprise charges
- No billing mistakes
- No hidden price bumps going unnoticed
This creates financial certainty and allows finance to control spend before it happens.
Step 3: assign to an employee & freeze instantly
Assign each card to an owner, like a department manager or team lead.
If they leave the company or change roles, you just freeze their virtual card. Every other subscription continues without disruption.
This helps you stop zombie subscriptions and stay compliant without digging through old spreadsheets.
See all your recurring spend in one central dashboard
With Pemo, finance teams get access to a full central dashboard that shows:
- All active SaaS subscriptions
- The virtual card tied to each tool
- Assigned owner
- Renewal dates
- Monthly spend
This makes it easy to:
✅ Identify duplicate tools
✅ Cancel unused subscriptions
✅ Spot sudden price hikes
✅ Prepare budgets by department
✅ Collaborate with team leads on stack optimization
It’s the simplest way to move from chaotic SaaS management to structured, strategic oversight.
Conclusion: stop wasting money on software you don't use
The average mid-sized business wastes 20–30% of its SaaS budget on duplicate or unused tools.
Don’t let that be your company.
With Pemo, you can:
- Eliminate overspending
- Stay secure
- Make software spending predictable and accountable
Book a demo to see how our virtual card solution helps KSA companies bring SaaS under control and finally stop subscription sprawl.
