1. Analyze who is using the software application and disable users who don't need it. Every company should run a report to see when was the last time users logged in to the application and disable those who have not logged in for the last 30 days. Why 30 days? Software vendors are selling licenses with agreements that once the user checks out a license, they own it for 30 days, or that month. Thus, run the report at the beginning of the month, confirm users don't need the license and disable well in advance before the month is over. Why spend $500-1000 per month on a license that is not being used? BTW, this requires a simple access request process as well.

2. Analyze the license server logs to see who is using what features. Software vendors sell bundles of features to enable certain application modules. It probably feels complicated and annoying to you. Develop a license log report tool to report what features are being used and what bundles. What percentage of the features is being used from each bundle? Then, try to see what bundle makes more sense to buy or keep going forward. Please simplify the number of bundles you have and how to switch between them. Ask designers to use the most advanced bundle because they use CAD day in and day out. Engineers should use less complex/expensive bundle or other software, see next activity.

3. Find the right tool for the right end user community. Some engineers may use the CAD software just to view the part, thus they don't need an authoring license. Instead, try promoting visualization software or get a CAD read-only license, these are cheaper. Visualization tools/licenses are designed with better tools to interrogate a part and consume the part or BOM definition. Let's pair the right tool to the person/role.

I need to cover one more. If your license model is floating, please be sure your support model is not limited to number of users or software installs. This does not make sense at all to me, but it happens.

In summary, run reports to audit users who are not using the software but are consuming a named user license. Analyze logs to determine which bundles are used the most by staff and eliminate those you don't need. And finally, lets give a visualization tool to those who are not designing parts with the CAD package.

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