Autodesk software will be subscription only from next year

Autodesk has announced that after 31 July 2016 new commercial licenses of most Autodesk Design & Creation Suites and individual products will be available by subscription only. When this takes effect, the company said it will provide new, simplified subscription options so customers can access multiple products and share licenses as they do today.

Earlier this year, Autodesk said it will stop selling perpetual licenses for most individual products after 31 January 2016, with new licenses for these products available as subscriptions. Transitioning the remaining majority of Autodesk’s product portfolio – including Autodesk Design & Creation Suites – to an entirely subscription-based offering represents the next step in this shift.

“Subscription offers a simplified customer experience, lower up-front cost and the ability to pay-as-you-go for Autodesk products and cloud services,” said Autodesk, with multi-year, annual, quarterly or monthly subscription terms. “As a result, companies can adjust more nimbly and with less cost to shifting business environments,” said the supplier.

Andrew Anagnost, Autodesk senior vice president of industry strategy and marketing, said: “The way we design and make things is changing, every industry is being disrupted by changes in production, demand and products.”

He said: “Autodesk is embracing this new norm and evolving our business so that customers can thrive in theirs. Giving customers the flexibility to subscribe to software solutions that precisely match their needs best positions them to compete in this new era.”

To pave the way for a smooth transition, Autodesk says it will offer a choice of simplified subscription plans tailored to the needs of individuals, teams or enterprises. Customers will be able to purchase individual or shared subscriptions to gain access to individual products or a portfolio of products with the option of single user licensing or shared network licensing.

Those who purchase a perpetual license of Autodesk Design & Creation Suites and affected products prior to 31 July 2016, will continue to own and have full usage rights for those licenses. And customers on maintenance for those perpetual licenses will continue to receive corresponding benefits for as long as they continue to renew their maintenance agreement, said Autodesk.