Microsoft & Adobe License Rationalization for a Construction Enterprise

(How we reduced renewal spend by 28% through utilization mapping and role-based allocation)

Context:
This multi location manufacturing group had grown rapidly through acquisitions. Each plant had its own way of buying software — multiple resellers, disconnected procurement teams, and zero visibility. Microsoft 365 and Adobe renewals had become pure guesswork. The CFO asked us to build a clear, data-driven view before signing the next renewal.

Challenge:

  • 1,000+ inactive Microsoft 365 and Adobe accounts consuming active licenses.
  • Overlapping entitlements from different reseller contracts.
  • No integration between HR, procurement, and Active Directory data.
  • No consistent provisioning or reclamation policy.
  • Renewals driven by vendor quotes rather than usage analytics.
  • Lack of centralized reporting or license ownership clarity.

Aatxe Analytics Approach:

  • Consolidated all entitlements from Microsoft Volume Licensing and Adobe Admin Console.
  • Extracted user activity logs from Azure AD, Active Directory, and Adobe APIs.
  • Built a cross-plant utilization dashboard showing usage by department, function, and product family.
  • Flagged dormant users and duplicate subscriptions for immediate reclamation.
  • Designed a license reallocation policy that tied provisioning to HR exits and transfers.
  • Integrated license tracking into existing ITSM workflows for automation.
  • Provided SKU optimization recommendations (e.g., M365 E3 → Business Premium).
  • Coached procurement on data-driven renewal forecasting.

Results & Impact:

  • Annual renewal costs reduced by 28%.
  • Over 1,000 dormant licenses reclaimed within 30 days.
  • Created a single, authoritative view for Microsoft and Adobe entitlements.
  • Enabled cross-department transparency for budgeting and forecasting.
  • Procurement empowered with verified usage data for negotiations.

Closing Reflection:
This engagement proved that the easiest savings come from clarity. By grounding renewals in usage truth, we gave the client back control — not just over spend, but over their entire software decision-making rhythm.