How many times have you seen your software bill climb just because you brought in specialist contractors who need to access your system? For too long, enterprise software pricing has rewarded headcount, rather than the value brought by the industrial operation. That approach might have worked in the age of spreadsheets and desktops, but it doesn’t reflect how industrial organizations actually run. There is absolutely no denying that we are no longer in the world of the 1990’s. 

Industrial Operations Have Outgrown Legacy Models 

It’s time to hit the reset button. In asset-intensive industries, business impact comes from assets, manufacturing production, and operational scale. Headcount is no longer the best measure of value. Yet, most pricing models still cling to the past, creating friction for organizations that want to innovate and grow at the pace we are now living in. To quote our CEO, Mark Moffat, speed is life, and that really does ring true for industrial organizations that want to survive and grow in our current climate. But not speed for its own sake. Listening, deciding, and delivering value faster is what separates winners from the rest in mission-critical environments and that’s what we are doing. 

AI Has Changed the Economics of Work 

The rise of Industrial AI and automation is fundamentally changing how work gets done. As technology takes on more operational tasks, the old model of pricing by user becomes increasingly disconnected from real value creation. Industrial Value Pricing is designed for a world where AI, automation, and digital workflows drive outcomes. It removes the financial barriers that have traditionally limited AI adoption, giving organizations the freedom to apply AI wherever it drives operational value. 

I’ve seen too many organizations stall their digital transformation because every new user triggers another licensing headache. That’s why we’re introducing a new pricing model, Industrial Value Pricing. Instead of tying software investment to the number of users, we align it with the operational units that matter: assets, fleets, infrastructure, and production environments. Pricing should reflect how work is performed and where value is created. This shift supports how industrial companies actually scale and challenges long held assumptions about how industrial software should be packaged and priced. 

A Predictable Model Built Around How Operations Actually Run 

Seat-based pricing often means costs rise with headcount, budgets become unpredictable, and expanding automation or digital workflows increases licensing costs. That disconnect can limit growth and efficiency. A model tied to operational footprint enables predictable budgeting and a more direct link between technology investment and business outcomes. Our model removes a longstanding tradeoff in enterprise software: choosing between investing in your operations and controlling software costs. 

Industrial Value Pricing introduces a new economic model for industrial software, one that scales only when a customer’s operational footprint grows. An increase in employees, contractors, or additional processes does not increase cost. Instead, organizations invest in based on the operational work being managed through operational metrics that are defined upfront and designed to be measurable, auditable, and provide greater transparency. This approach ensures software spend aligns directly with real operational value. As IFS technology increasingly drives the work and outcomes inside industrial operations, the pricing model now reflects where that value is created.

IFS technology now directly drives industrial work and outcomes, which means the pricing model must match the reality of where value is created. 

Consider an airline that pays based on the aircraft or fleet assets being maintained. A utility pays based on the grid infrastructure and service assets it operates. A manufacturer pays based on production assets or plants. As operations grow, you can budget in a predictable and transparent way.  

IFS Cloud software captures these operational structures natively, making Industrial Value Pricing practical and scalable.  

Ready to Rethink 

Organizations that stick with legacy pricing often face hidden costs and slower innovation, especially as automation and asset complexity increase. Moving to operational pricing gives leaders the freedom to invest in what drives business outcomes and scale without barriers. 

Is your pricing model holding back your ambitions? How would pricing based on operational footprint change your approach to digital transformation? I invite you to share your perspective below or reach out to start the conversation. 

If you’re ready to align your software investment with the real drivers of value in your business, contact us to learn more.