How to Audit and Deprecate Zombie Integrations for B2B SaaS

In the B2B SaaS integration landscape, there is a persistent debate about which integrations to develop, but an equally important discussion often overlooked is which existing integrations should be discontinued. While integration breadth is generally seen as beneficial, with requests for more integrations coming from customers and sales teams, the maintenance of rarely used or obsolete integrations, known as "zombie integrations," can become a liability. These integrations, despite being technically functional, deliver little to no value and consume resources, presenting security risks and complicating customer decision-making. To maintain a healthy integration catalog, companies should regularly audit their integrations, examining usage data, customer alignment, and maintenance burdens to identify and address these zombies. Deprecation decisions should be handled with transparency and strategic consideration to uphold customer trust and optimize development resources. Ensuring that each integration has a clear owner and setting criteria for their continued inclusion in the catalog are vital steps in preventing the accumulation of zombies, ultimately allowing businesses to focus on integrations that align with their growth strategies and customer needs.