Capabilities
Everything you need to optimize Microsoft licensing
From data intake to executive narrative — one platform for your organization's Microsoft licensing audit, not license resale.
Optimization capabilities
Service-style framing for modules your team runs every audit cycle.
License intake
Import CSV and Excel from M365 admin center, Azure, and SAM tools. Field mapping and validation — vendor-neutral, no reseller lock-in.
License intake
Import CSV and Excel from M365 admin center, Azure, and SAM tools. Field mapping and validation — vendor-neutral, no reseller lock-in.
SKU analysis
Normalize Microsoft SKUs across M365, O365, Teams, Entra, Azure, EA, and CSP. Surface overlap, tier sprawl, and unused premium licenses.
SKU analysis
Normalize Microsoft SKUs across M365, O365, Teams, Entra, Azure, EA, and CSP. Surface overlap, tier sprawl, and unused premium licenses.
Savings & rightsizing
Ranked opportunities with dollar impact and confidence. Harvest inactive users, duplicates, and zombie accounts — typical 10–40% recoverable spend.
Savings & rightsizing
Ranked opportunities with dollar impact and confidence. Harvest inactive users, duplicates, and zombie accounts — typical 10–40% recoverable spend.
Compliance health
Traffic-light health signals for overspend, inactive users, and compliance risk — actionable before the audit letter arrives.
Compliance health
Traffic-light health signals for overspend, inactive users, and compliance risk — actionable before the audit letter arrives.
Utilization insights
Detailed usage of Teams, OneDrive, and premium add-ons so right-sizing matches real adoption — not guesswork.
Utilization insights
Detailed usage of Teams, OneDrive, and premium add-ons so right-sizing matches real adoption — not guesswork.
Renewal readiness
Track EA true-ups and renewal windows with findings that finance can act on before the call.
Renewal readiness
Track EA true-ups and renewal windows with findings that finance can act on before the call.
Executive reports
Board-ready PDFs with vendor-neutral narrative for IT and finance stakeholders.
Executive reports
Board-ready PDFs with vendor-neutral narrative for IT and finance stakeholders.
Stakeholder review
Share findings so finance and leadership can approve recommendations and track progress.
Stakeholder review
Share findings so finance and leadership can approve recommendations and track progress.
Recommendations engine
50+ optimization patterns with confidence scores — E5 vs E3, Teams add-ons, Azure hybrid benefits.
Recommendations engine
50+ optimization patterns with confidence scores — E5 vs E3, Teams add-ons, Azure hybrid benefits.
Deep-dive modules
Each module includes the full workflow — not add-on upsells. Built for IT and finance owners running Microsoft licensing audits.
Audit intake & normalization
Upload · mapping · validation
What's included
- CSV and Excel from M365 admin center, Azure, Entra ID
- Automatic SKU normalization across EA, CSP, and direct
- Field mapping wizard for non-standard exports
- Vendor-neutral — no CSP or reseller integration required
Rules & savings engine
50+ patterns · confidence scores
What's included
- Inactive user reclamation and E5 vs E3 right-sizing
- Teams add-ons, Azure hybrid benefits, EA true-up alignment
- Dollar impact ranked by confidence and implementation effort
- Typical 10–40% recoverable spend identification
Compliance & reporting
Health signals · executive PDF
What's included
- Traffic-light health for overspend and compliance risk
- Board-ready executive summaries with savings narrative
- Stakeholder review for approval and tracking
- Independent audit language — not license resale quotes
Spreadsheet vs Vortex
Why IT and finance teams move beyond Excel for Microsoft licensing audits.
| Capability | Spreadsheet audit | Vortex Optimizer |
|---|---|---|
| SKU normalization | — | ✓ |
| 50+ optimization rules | — | ✓ |
| Confidence-scored findings | — | ✓ |
| Traffic-light health | — | ✓ |
| Executive PDF export | Manual | One click |
| Stakeholder review access | — | ✓ |
| Renewal tracking | Ad hoc | Built-in |
Use cases by industry
Microsoft licensing complexity varies by sector. Vortex adapts rules and reporting for common vertical patterns.
Healthcare
HIPAA-sensitive tenants with strict compliance requirements. Right-size E5 security SKUs, reclaim inactive clinical licenses, and align EA true-ups before renewal.
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Industry
Healthcare
HIPAA-sensitive tenants with strict compliance requirements. Right-size E5 security SKUs, reclaim inactive clinical licenses, and align EA true-ups before renewal.
Financial services
Regulated environments with premium tier sprawl. Audit Teams Phone, Power Platform, and Azure spend alongside M365 — vendor-neutral insight for procurement.
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Industry
Financial services
Regulated environments with premium tier sprawl. Audit Teams Phone, Power Platform, and Azure spend alongside M365 — vendor-neutral insight for procurement.
Manufacturing
Distributed workforces with mixed E3/E5 and frontline worker licenses. Identify overlap between F3, E3, and Teams Essentials across plants and offices.
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Industry
Manufacturing
Distributed workforces with mixed E3/E5 and frontline worker licenses. Identify overlap between F3, E3, and Teams Essentials across plants and offices.
Professional services
Project-based billing and variable headcount. Reclaim licenses from departed staff and right-size premium add-ons between engagement cycles.
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Industry
Professional services
Project-based billing and variable headcount. Reclaim licenses from departed staff and right-size premium add-ons between engagement cycles.
Try it on sample data first
One-click into Contoso’s licensing audit — seeded findings, savings, and reports. No signup required.