The complexity of the modern Esri licensing landscape
As your spatial data needs grow, managing your Esri environment becomes a challenge of balancing performance with unpredictable costs. Esri has transitioned from traditional concurrent desktop licenses to a complex hybrid model centered on ArcGIS Online and Named User access.
The “credit trap” and visibility gap
The shift to ArcGIS Online introduced a new currency: credits. Every geocoding task, spatial analysis, and map tile storage consumes credits that can quickly drain your budget. Without a dedicated ArcGIS Online credit tracking tool, you cannot easily see which departments or users are responsible for high consumption until the bill arrives.
The “hidden cost” of orphaned extensions
Budget leaks often occur through “orphaned extensions.” Many organizations pay for expensive ArcGIS Pro extensions—like 3D Analyst or Spatial Analyst—that are assigned to users but never actually opened. Without granular ArcGIS Pro license management, you pay for premium capabilities that provide zero ROI.
Quick summary: OpenLM for ArcGIS Online
OpenLM empowers you to optimize your Esri software investments by transforming raw usage data into actionable strategy.
- ArcGIS Online credit tracking: Monitor credit burn rates in real time to prevent budget overruns.
- ArcGIS Named User monitoring: Identify inactive users and reclaim seats for active team members.
- Hybrid GIS license management: Manage your on-premises ArcGIS Desktop and cloud-based ArcGIS Online licenses in a single pane of glass.
- Automated seat reclamation: Automatically flag accounts for removal if they haven’t been accessed for a specific period.
- Predictive forecasting: Use historical data to right-size your next Esri Enterprise Agreement (EA).
Comprehensive solution framework
OpenLM provides a three-layered approach to help you reduce Esri software costs and maximize efficiency.
The visibility layer
Gain full transparency into your ArcGIS Online and Portal for ArcGIS environments. See exactly who is active, which apps they are using, and how many credits they are consuming. This applies whether your team is working in the field or at the office.
The intelligence layer
Use advanced analytics to prepare for your next renewal. By analyzing engagement patterns, you can determine if your organization actually needs high-tier “Professional” licenses or if “Viewer” or “Editor” roles are sufficient for specific users.
Technical details: Esri license optimization
OpenLM uses a secure, API-driven approach to capture every detail of your Esri environment, supporting both ArcGIS Pro and legacy ArcGIS Desktop.
Seamless cloud and on-prem integration
- Direct API connectivity: OpenLM connects directly to your ArcGIS Online organization or Portal for ArcGIS via secure APIs.
- Workstation-level precision: The OpenLM agent monitors the “heartbeat” of ArcGIS Pro on the user’s machine to distinguish between a background task and an active session.
- Directory sync: Seamlessly map usage data to your Active Directory or LDAP for departmental chargeback reporting.
Advanced reporting and analytics
- Denial tracking: For organizations still using concurrent licenses, OpenLM logs every time a user is turned away.
- Credit consumption by group: See which projects or departments are the most “expensive” to support.
Strategic ROI and business value
Organizations using OpenLM for Esri license optimization often see a 15–25% reduction in annual software spend.
- Procurement support: Use “actual usage” data to negotiate your next Enterprise Agreement (EA) instead of relying on “assigned seat” counts.
- Chargeback transparency: Automatically calculate and export billing data based on project or department usage for internal accountability.
- Audit-ready stance: Maintain a continuous record of seat assignments and usage to ensure you stay within your contractual limits.
