Enterprise software firms adopt consumption-based AI pricing models
Updated
Updated · The Information · Apr 26
Enterprise software firms adopt consumption-based AI pricing models
9 articles · Updated · The Information · Apr 26
By end of 2025, 79 of 500 tracked firms, including HubSpot, Adobe, and Salesforce, shifted to usage-based AI fees, more than doubling 2024’s figure.
This move follows rising costs from increased AI usage and concerns over fewer subscriptions as AI agents replace employees. Firms like ServiceNow, Workday, and Atlassian are implementing or planning similar models.
Some, such as Google, still offer flat-fee deals, while others like Anthropic and OpenAI have also adopted usage-based pricing. Outcome-based pricing is emerging but faces skepticism over fairness and predictability.
Could predictable flat-fee AI subscriptions make a comeback to win over large enterprises?
As AI costs spiral, how can companies prevent unpredictable 'bill shock'?
Will paying per AI query stifle the innovation and experimentation of developers?
Who is legally liable when an outcome-based AI fails to deliver its promised results?
Is 'outcome-based' pricing truly about value, or just a new way to charge more?
How SAP’s 2026 AI Pricing Pivot is Reshaping SaaS Economics and Enterprise Budgets
Overview
In early 2026, SAP announced a major shift from subscription to consumption-based pricing for its AI services, effective July 2026, driven by the growing role of AI agents automating complex tasks. This change challenges customers with unpredictable costs and complicates SAP's revenue visibility, triggering a sharp stock decline. The rise of agentic AI is disrupting traditional SaaS pricing, pushing vendors to adopt consumption, outcome, or hybrid models to better align costs with value amid rising AI compute expenses. Enterprises face hurdles in budgeting and linking AI spend to ROI, prompting new financial controls and vendor strategies focused on transparency, cost governance, and flexible contracts to sustain growth in an evolving AI-driven market.