- Agentic AI is not only boosting productivity but also transforming how software companies operate, interact with customers, and especially how they price products.
- Over the past 30 years, software has shifted from on-premise installation to SaaS, with pricing models based on “seats,” users, or transactions.
- This model relies on the assumption of a clear relationship between the user and the software with a relatively stable code base.
- Agentic AI breaks that assumption because AI agents can act autonomously as “users,” orchestrating enterprise systems and performing work on behalf of humans.
- As AI becomes the primary actor, the concept of a “seat” loses meaning, making per-user pricing obsolete.
- Agentic AI requires constant customization, fine-tuning to changing business contexts, turning the software environment into a default “bespoke” system.
- Value-based or outcome-based pricing is proposed but measuring AI’s actual contribution accurately is difficult.
- The new trend could be a hybrid model: part based on objective metrics like transactions, events, or compute intensity; the rest reflecting customization and ongoing support costs.
- The boundary between software companies and service companies is blurring; software needs to integrate consulting and implementation capabilities.
- Function-specific platforms (supply chain, pricing, manufacturing, HR, finance) may replace traditional horizontal platforms.
📌 Agentic AI is shaking the foundation of Software as a Service (SaaS) based on “users” for the past 30 years. AI agents can act autonomously as “users,” orchestrating enterprise systems and performing work on behalf of humans. The concept of “user” loses meaning, making per-user pricing obsolete. As AI becomes a self-operating agent requiring continuous customization, pricing models must shift to a hybrid structure between resource usage and implementation services. The convergence of software and services will alter profit margins, cost structures, and how businesses understand the true value of AI technology.
