Overview
A manufacturing company based in Ohio, with 11,000 employees, identified a significant Oracle Java licensing exposure of $907,000 per year. The organization had been using Java across various critical systems without fully understanding the impact of Oracle’s new per-employee licensing model, which required payment for all employees regardless of actual Java usage.
Challenge
The company relied on Java for factory automation systems, supply chain management software, and internal business applications. Under Oracle’s updated per-employee licensing model, companies with 10,000–20,000 employees must pay $8.25 per employee per month, leading to an unexpected compliance risk of nearly $1 million annually.
A routine software audit revealed that the organization was unintentionally non-compliant, exposing it to a massive financial liability.
Solution
With the assistance of Redress Compliance, the company conducted a detailed Java usage review. The assessment uncovered several opportunities for cost savings:
✔ Replacing Java in non-essential systems with OpenJDK, reducing dependency on Oracle’s licenses.
✔ Identifying and removing unused Java installations, eliminating unnecessary licensing costs.
✔ Clarifying Oracle’s licensing requirements, ensuring the organization only paid for actual usage.
The company significantly reduced its Oracle Java licensing liability and optimized its IT spending through these optimizations.
Outcome
By implementing a Java license optimization strategy, the manufacturing company successfully lowered its Java-related costs by more than 75%, transforming what was initially a $907K financial risk into a manageable, predictable expense while maintaining full compliance.
Client Testimonial
“Oracle’s Java licensing changes posed a serious financial risk for us. With the expertise of Redress Compliance, we were able to optimize our licensing, drastically reduce costs, and ensure compliance moving forward.”
— VP of IT, Manufacturing Company in Ohio
