Salesforce introduces consumption-based pricing for AI agents, moving away from per-user fees as shares fall 33% in 2026.
Salesforce is overhauling its revenue model to focus on AI agents, charging businesses based on tasks completed rather than per-user licenses. The company’s stock has dropped to near $165, down 8% in five days and 33% year-to-date, as investors remain skeptical of the transition.
For decades, Salesforce relied on a per-seat licensing model, but AI-driven automation threatens to reduce the number of human users. The new strategy includes “Headless 360,” allowing AI agents to integrate with third-party software, and “Flex Credits,” a pay-as-you-go system tied to agent activity.
The shift aims to sustain revenue growth as traditional software adoption slows, though market reaction has been cautious amid broader tech sector volatility.