Tracking Microsoft NCE Licenses: A Business Intelligence Guide for MSPs and IT Providers

Microsoft's New Commerce Experience (NCE) has introduced welcome improvements to subscription management—but it’s also brought complexity.

For Managed Service Providers (MSPs), IT consultants, and software resellers, keeping track of client licenses across multiple tenants, varying terms, renewal dates, and billing cycles can feel like untangling a digital spaghetti junction.

So how can you simplify the chaos?

Enter: Business Intelligence for MSPs

In this blog, we’ll explore how smart BI solutions help MSPs take control of Microsoft NCE license management—turning tangled data into clear insights your clients can trust.

💡 Why NCE License Tracking Has Become a Headache

Under the NCE model, Microsoft now offers subscriptions on monthly, annual, and multi-year terms, with price differences depending on the commitment. Customers can mix and match, cancel only within a limited window, and face penalties for mid-term changes.

For partners and resellers, this means:

• Different license types per client (and even per user)

• Multiple billing cycles

• Disconnected data across Microsoft, Pax8, Halo PSA, and invoicing tools

• A growing risk of undercharging or overcharging clients

Manual tracking just doesn’t cut it anymore. You need more than spreadsheets. You need visibility.

📊 Business Intelligence to the Rescue

A modern business intelligence platform helps MSPs build a clear, real-time picture of every client’s licensing setup.

With the right BI tool, you can:

• Aggregate data across Microsoft Partner Center, Pax8, and PSA tools like Halo or Autotask

• Visualise license breakdowns by client, product, renewal date, and cost

• Automate reports that show which licenses are active, unused, or near expiry

• Forecast costs and revenue based on client usage and subscription changes

• Flag risks or anomalies before they impact billing or compliance

This not only saves hours of admin—it enhances your professionalism, improves invoicing accuracy, and gives clients confidence in your services.

📁 Real-World Example: Automating NCE License Insights

Let’s say you manage licenses for 25 clients, each with a mix of Microsoft 365 plans, Power Platform tools, and security add-ons.

Before BI:

• You’re pulling CSV exports from Pax8, cross-referencing spreadsheets, and hoping nothing gets missed.

After BI:

• Your dashboard shows all active licenses, renewal timelines, billing types, and client-specific breakdowns—automatically.

• You can send tailored monthly reports to each client showing exactly what they’re paying for.

• You can identify unused licenses or duplicated SKUs instantly, creating upsell or cost-saving opportunities.

🧠 Why BI Makes Business Sense

Aside from operational efficiency, using business intelligence to track NCE licenses makes commercial sense.

✔ Improved margins – Spot under-utilised or misaligned licenses

✔ Stronger relationships – Provide clear, proactive reporting to clients

✔ Better forecasting – Plan cash flow with predictable billing data

✔ Audit readiness – Stay compliant and confident with Microsoft’s CSP rules

BI platforms also integrate with tools beyond Microsoft—meaning you can expand your reporting to include antivirus, backups, hosting, and more.

🛠️ What You Need to Get Started

To get started with NCE tracking via BI, you’ll need:

• Access to Microsoft Partner Center, Pax8, or your licensing provider’s API

• A BI platform like Power BI or a tailored MSP solution (like Hydrogen BI)

• Clear goals: what reports do you need, and who’s the audience?

From there, a developer or BI consultant can help map your data sources and build customised dashboards that align with your services.

🚀 Don’t Just Sell Licenses—Add Value with Intelligence

Managing Microsoft NCE licenses doesn’t have to be frustrating. By using business intelligence tools, MSPs and IT providers can turn license management into a value-added service—something that sets you apart in a crowded market.

No more chasing spreadsheets. No more guesswork. Just smarter systems for growing businesses.

Need help building a license tracking dashboard?

We help MSPs connect the dots between Microsoft, Pax8, and PSA tools with custom BI integrations that save time and drive clarity.

Let’s talk about how we can help you and your clients stay in control.