Microsoft Licensing in Transition

Microsoft’s commercial model is entering a new paradigm…

• Volume discount bands have been removed
• Pricing is fragmenting by product, component and region
• Some costs are rising sharply; others are coming down
• Enterprise Agreements are evolving and for some organisations, disappearing altogether

For large organisations, particularly those with direct engagement models, traditional negotiation levers are disappearing, while cost and complexity naturally continue to rise. These shifts are resulting in:

• Reduced discount flexibility
• AI-driven licensing expansion
• Renewals with fewer commercial safeguards

As organisations face renewals, many are seeking answers to a crucial question:

What are we paying today and what will we need to pay next time?

In this webinar, Gareth Redshaw (Senior Director of Mega Vendor Optimisation & Negotiation, Livingtone) will uncover what’s really going on behind the changes. Drawing on over 20 years of Microsoft licensing experience, he’ll explain why they represent some of the most significant transformation in Microsoft’s commercial strategy in a generation.

What Gareth will cover:

• What’s driving Microsoft’s latest pricing adjustments and programmatic discount removals
• How product-level price increases, regional changes and component pricing are reshaping budgets
• What Microsoft’s evolving go-to-market strategy tells us about future negotiation leverage
• The impact of the direct model has on large enterprises
• Why these changes reflect Microsoft’s growing confidence and how they increase customer lock-in
• What organisations should be doing now to prepare for 2026 renewals and beyond

This webinar is designed for anyone seeking clarity and control as Microsoft licensing becomes tougher to manage, and where renewal mistakes could lock in higher costs for years. Save your space now to find the answers you’re looking for.

Microsoft Licensing in Transition is presented by our trusted partner Livingstone, the independent global provider of software & cloud asset management & optimisation services. Livingstone is a Leader in 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for SAM Managed Services – its fifth consecutive year.