Pricing model shifts from headcount to assets to support broad AI deployment and increasing industrial demand

IFS, the leading provider of Industrial AI software, today announced a new pricing model that fundamentally changes how enterprise AI is bought and deployed. This shift allows organizations to deploy Industrial AI wherever it creates value, without the constraints of traditional “per user” licensing or the fear of escalating costs.

Disrupting the ‘Per User’ Legacy

IFS is moving away from user-based licensing to a model grounded in operational reality: Asset-Based Pricing. Under this model, investment aligns with the physical assets a company manages—such as vessels, production lines, or infrastructure—rather than the number of employees or contractors accessing the data.

For example, an energy company managing 400 offshore assets will pay based on those 400 units, regardless of whether 12,000 people or machines interact with the system. This ensures predictable costs that scale with operational output rather than headcount.

Why the Industry is Rethinking Pricing Now

Industrial organizations are entering an era of unprecedented productivity driven by Industrial AI. IFS argues that software costs should not act as a “tax” on automation. By tying costs to assets, IFS technology directly aligns its commercial success with the operational success of its customers.

Key Benefits of the New Model:

• Broad Adoption: Encourages the use of AI across all departments without rationing seats.
• Transparency: Metrics are measurable and auditable, ensuring companies pay for operational value.
• Growth-Friendly: Enterprises can expand projects and add contractors without recalculating software budgets.

Executive and Analyst Perspectives

“This is a clear message to our customers: rather than rationing users, IFS wants you using AI everywhere you can,” said Mark Moffat, CEO of IFS. “We’re not pricing the workers. We’re pricing the work.”

Mickey North Rizza, Group VP at IDC, noted: “IFS’s new pricing model helps companies operationally scale their investment to the value levers it needs to run the business.” Aly Pinder Jr, Research VP at IDC, added that asset-centric organizations now expect technology vendors to align partnerships for shared benefit and flexibility.