You may have come across a situation where your development team is racing to meet a critical launch deadline. To save time, they implement a few quick fixes—workarounds that “get the job done for now.” The release is successful, but beneath the surface, these shortcuts accumulate. Months later, your team struggles with slow development cycles, fragile code, and mounting maintenance costs. This is technical debt in action.
In software development, speed often takes precedence over structure. But much like financial debt, technical debt compounds over time, making future progress harder and more expensive. The challenge isn’t just in recognizing its existence but in managing it strategically—turning what many see as a liability into a growth enabler.
Gartner defines technical debt as work that is “owed” to an IT system when teams “borrow” against long-term quality by making short-term sacrifices, taking short cuts, or using workarounds to meet delivery deadlines. These debts can impact system performance, scalability or resilience.
Organizations often recognize the risks of accumulating technical debt but may overlook the benefits of proactive management. By systematically addressing technical debt, businesses can accelerate product development, improve cost efficiency, and enhance customer satisfaction.
Reducing technical debt simplifies the codebase and removes bottlenecks in development, leading to faster feature releases. A McKinsey report found that companies with effective technical debt management practices often see higher revenue growth—a clear competitive advantage.
Unchecked technical debt leads to escalating maintenance costs. The Scrum.org blog explains:
“Every shortcut taken today adds to tomorrow’s workload, making future changes more difficult and expensive.”
Addressing technical debt early minimizes long-term expenses and improves the return on investment (ROI) for software projects.
Performance issues, security vulnerabilities, and frequent system failures often stem from technical debt. According to Gartner,
“An excessive amount of technical debt makes the software unstable, leading to customer dissatisfaction and increased support costs.”
By prioritizing system reliability and code quality, organizations build trust and deliver a seamless digital experience.
At Axelerant, technical debt is systematically tracked in a dedicated backlog, derived from:
For example, upgrading underlying platforms like Drupal to its latest version often takes precedence, enabling us to build new features more efficiently and securely. We also handle code deprecations in next major versions proactively with our CDM packages.
Once we have the Technical debt backlog, we prioritise Technical debt with Technical Debt Mapping.
Effective management requires structured prioritization, balancing technical improvements with business goals. Axelerant employs technical debt mapping to visualize the impact of outstanding issues.
Technical debt can slow innovation by increasing development complexity. We assess:
What if there are no features planned and the client wants to keep the site up with minimal efforts? These engagements typically fall under Sustain package.
In this case, we map the Technical debt to higher maintenance costs, typically in the form of:
This mapping approach enables clearer communication with stakeholders and better decision-making on which debts to address first.
Debt mapping provides an actionable representation of technical liabilities, making it easier to align technical and business priorities. It also helps communicate the cost and benefits of addressing technical debt in terms that clients can understand. This transparency is crucial for securing buy-in.
Addressing technical debt often competes with feature development in client priorities. The key to securing buy-in is framing the conversation in business terms—faster releases, reduced costs, and lower risks.
At Axelerant, we integrate technical debt resolution into regular development cycles to maintain progress without overwhelming the team.
Rather than attempting an extensive overhaul, we:
By embedding technical debt resolution into our Agile processes, we enhance long-term stability, maintain productivity, and future-proof our clients' platforms.
Technical debt should not be viewed as an unavoidable liability—it’s a strategic element of software development. Businesses that actively manage technical debt position themselves for:
By prioritizing technical debt alongside feature development, organizations unlock efficiency, scalability, and long-term success. At Axelerant, we ensure that our client's digital platforms remain adaptable, secure, and future-ready.
Now is the time to rethink technical debt. Managed well, it becomes a powerful asset, driving innovation and long-term business growth.
Reach out to Axelerant’s digital experience experts to discuss a strategic approach to technical debt management.