Name: Shadow Licensing Uncovered: Smart Control for Unmanaged Software
Start: 2026-02-04T10:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-04T17:00:00+00:00
Location: OpenLM

Autodesk Flex license management with OpenLM

Autodesk Flex provides a pay-as-you-go option ideal for occasional users, allowing access to a wide range of tools like AutoCAD, Revit, and Maya via a token-based system. While this model offers flexibility for specialized or intermittent work, unmatched consumption can lead to unpredictable costs and wasted budget.

OpenLM is your trusted partner, offering deep expertise and granular control to master your Autodesk Flex usage, ensuring your team maintains compliance and continuous access while optimizing token spend.

What is Autodesk Flex: Introducing the token-based licensing model

Autodesk Flex is a “pay-as-you-go” consumption model where organizations pre-purchase tokens that are deducted only when a user opens a product, granting access for a 24-hour period. It is designed specifically for occasional users—typically those who use software fewer than seven days per month—offering a cost-effective alternative to buying full annual subscriptions for sporadic needs. Administrators manage a shared pool of tokens, and users can access a wide range of products without requiring a dedicated seat assignment.

Autodesk Flex licensing schemas: How is it different from other licensing models

Autodesk Flex shifts from fixed seat counts to a consumption-based model, designed to reduce costs for users who access software fewer than seven days a month. However, without strict oversight, the “pay-per-day” structure can become a financial liability.

Token-based consumption: Users consume pre-purchased tokens for a 24-hour access period. Rates vary by product (e.g., Revit costs more tokens per day than AutoCAD).
The “Open Window” risk: A significant cost driver is accidental consumption. If a user opens a tool on Friday and leaves it running over the weekend, tokens are deducted for Saturday and Sunday, tripling the cost of a single day’s work.
Use-it-or-lose-it: Flex tokens typically expire one year from purchase. Overestimating demand leads to sunk costs, while underestimating leads to work stoppages or expensive ad-hoc top-ups.
Detailed reporting: OpenLM’s integration supports monitoring usage by minute, crucial for distinguishing between actual productive work and expensive idle time.

OpenLM's solution for Autodesk Flex optimization

OpenLM provides an informative, clear, and authoritative solution tailored for managing consumption-based licenses like Autodesk Flex. We help you transition from reactive spending to confident, proactive control.

OpenLM capability	Value for Autodesk Flex licenses
Real-time usage monitoring	Get by-the-second visibility into current token usage. Instantly identify which user or project is consuming tokens to proactively prevent budget overruns.
Automated license reclamation (harvesting)	Automatically detect and reclaim licenses from inactive user sessions. This is critical for Flex: closing a session before the 24-hour window resets (or before a weekend) prevents accidental multi-day token charges, directly saving budget.
Hybrid license analysis	Compare actual usage patterns against licensing costs. OpenLM identifies “false” occasional users—those whose frequency of use makes a full subscription cheaper than Flex tokens—enabling you to optimize your license mix.
Granular activity tracking	Track usage with a focus on start time and duration. This detailed usage data is crucial for internal auditing and providing the clear data needed to justify token purchases or subscription conversions during renewals.

Advantages of using OpenLM for Autodesk Flex optimization

OpenLM Platform is robustly built for the specialized challenges of enterprise engineering software. We offer continuous monitoring and management for over 90 unique engineering license managers—the most comprehensive support available—with tailored features to ensure maximum ROI on your Autodesk tools.

Critical demand insight: OpenLM Broker delivers real-time monitoring of license activity. This generates the precise evidence of token demand needed to inform future purchasing decisions and strategic planning.
Immediate resource recovery: Our proprietary automated reclamation system instantly and silently recovers licenses from inactive users. For token-based models, this function delivers immediate, high-value ROI by ensuring tokens are not wasted on dormant sessions.
Unified IT asset view: OpenLM centralizes your Autodesk Flex management with all other license managers (supporting 140+ in total, including both cloud and server-based systems). This provides a single, cohesive platform for confident, strategic software asset governance.