In 2026, the software landscape feels like a tug-of-war. On one side, major vendors are pushing hard for SaaS and named-user models. On the other, the reality of high-cost specialty software—like Autodesk, Bentley, and ArcGIS—means that organizations still demand the flexibility and efficiency of the concurrent license.
While many predicted the “death” of the floating model, it remains a cornerstone for engineering and research firms that need to maximize expensive assets across global teams.
What is a concurrent license?
A concurrent license (often called a “floating” or “network” license) allows a specific number of users to access software simultaneously from a shared pool. Instead of buying a seat for every employee, you buy a capacity.
Think of it like a library. The library might own 10 copies of a high-demand book. Any of the 500 members can read it, but only 10 people can have it checked out at the same time. In the software world, once a user closes the application, the license is instantly returned to the pool for the next person to use.
Additional Read: Take control of Autodesk named-user licensing with OpenLM
Why companies prefer the concurrent model in 2026
Even as vendors like Esri retire concurrent models for specific products, the preference for this model persists due to three critical factors:
Superior cost optimization
Specialty software is expensive. Purchasing a named-user subscription for an occasional user who only needs a tool twice a month is a significant waste of budget. With a concurrent license, you pay for peak usage rather than total headcount, often supporting 3 to 5 users per single license.
Global “follow-the-sun” workflows
For organizations with teams in different time zones, a concurrent model is the gold standard for efficiency. A license used by an engineer in London during their day is automatically released and ready for a designer in San Francisco as they start their morning.
Reduced administrative “resource drag”
Managing individual identities for hundreds of SaaS applications can create a “resource drag” on IT departments. Concurrent models simplify this by focusing on capacity rather than constant manual reassignment of accounts.
Managing the hybrid reality with OpenLM
As we navigate 2026, most enterprises operate in a hybrid environment. You likely have on-premise legacy tools sitting alongside modern cloud subscriptions. This is where concurrent and specialty license management solutions such as OpenLM become essential.
OpenLM supports over 130 license managers—including the industry’s highest number of engineering-specific managers (90+)—giving you a single source of truth for your entire portfolio.
Real-time intelligence with the new platform
The latest version of OpenLM Platform has introduced a modern architecture featuring Kafka and Spark to provide near real-time visibility into your license usage. This allows you to:
- Identify license hogs: Automatically detect and reclaim licenses from idle processes, ensuring your pool stays open for active users.
- Bridge the gap to SaaS: Use the Subscription Optimizer to apply the efficiency of concurrent management to your cloud-based tools.
The current version of Subscription Optimizer is available for Autodesk Cloud and LinkedIn Sales Navigator; we are rapidly expanding our support for other Saas platforms.
- Automate workflows: Integrate directly with ServiceNow to automate ticket creation when license denials or expirations occur.
Additional Read: Mastering the DNA of ITAM: A deep dive into ISO/IEC 19770
The 2026 perspective: Capacity vs. identity
The industry is shifting from managing capacity to managing identities. However, the goal remains the same: ensuring your team has the tools they need without overspending. Whether you are sticking with traditional concurrent pools or migrating to “user types,” you need data-driven insights to “right-size” your environment and avoid the budget shocks typical of the current licensing era.
FAQ
Is concurrent licensing more expensive than named-user?
Initially, a concurrent license may have a higher unit cost, but because one license can support multiple users, the total cost of ownership (TCO) is typically much lower for teams with intermittent usage.
What happens if all licenses in the pool are taken?
The next user who tries to launch the software will receive a “license denial.” Using a tool like OpenLM helps you monitor these denials in real-time so you can decide when it is actually time to purchase more capacity.
Can I manage both SaaS and concurrent licenses in one place?
Yes. Modern platforms like OpenLM Annapurna are designed to monitor both on-premise floating licenses and web-based SaaS applications, giving you a unified view of your software ROI.
