Across the NHS, clinicians are being asked to deliver the same level of care, or improved care, with the same level of resources. One way to do this is to begin using innovative technologies, which can save resources in terms of staff time and improved decision making. This article examines how a new protease test, which allows practitioners to measure elevated protease activity within the wound bed, can potentially result in better-informed cost decisions, avoidance of unnecessary interventions, shorter overall treatment duration and earlier recognition and prevention of wound complications.