NedGraphics | Modernizing Software Licensing
Rethinking Software Licensing: How NedGraphics Evolved Beyond the License Dongle
NedGraphics is the leading provider of textile design and CAD / CAM software solutions for the apparel, home furnishings, flooring, and other textile markets.
The company supports a global customer base with an extensive suite of textile-specific products and a well-established international footprint, making it a trusted technology partner for large-scale, complex textile operations.
Products Using 10Duke
Clients Worldwide
Designs Created Per Year
The Challenge
The Problem
For years, NedGraphics relied on traditional licensing methods to control access to its software:
Hardware dongles
Static license keys
On-Premise license servers
While these approaches were once standard in the industry, they increasingly created friction for both users and administrators.
The Impact
As remote work and cloud collaboration became the norm, the limitations of these legacy systems became more apparent:
Software locked to a single machine
Lost or damaged dongles caused downtime
Static keys were prone to errors
Ongoing server maintenance and overhead
Security risks
For NedGraphics, it became clear that continuing with traditional licensing was holding the business – and its customers – back.
The Solution
To modernise licensing and improve the user experience, NedGraphics adopted 10Duke’s cloud-based licensing platform and introduced NEDKey, a secure, user-centric login system for its end users.
- No more dependency on physical dongles or static keys
- Access for desktops, laptops and tablets without interruptions
- Centralised view of all licenses & simplified management
- Customer-facing portal via secure NEDKey login
- Maintains NedGraphics branded experience
- Best-in-class cloud licensing capabilities behind the scenes
This approach eliminated the dependency on physical dongles and static keys for most customer segments, while ensuring existing use cases still remain fully covered in segments such as manufacturing that require offline licensing.
Key Benefits
NEDKey serves as the customer-facing implementation of 10Duke’s licensing technology, allowing NedGraphics to maintain its branded experience while leveraging best-in-class cloud licensing capabilities behind the scenes.
1
Freedom and Flexibility for Users
Users can work from any location - office, home, or on the go - without worrying about lost dongles or misentered keys. The flexibility to move across devices mirrors modern workflows and removes friction from the creative process.
2
Effortless License Management for Admins
Administrators can view, grant, revoke, or transfer licenses instantly via a centralised portal, reducing downtime and support requests. Managing access is straightforward and efficient, freeing IT teams to focus on higher-value work.
3
Future-Ready Security
Through 10Duke, NEDKey delivers a modern, forward-looking approach to authentication, ensuring access remains seamless, resilient, and aligned with evolving security expectations.
4
Sustainable Approach
By eliminating the need for physical dongles and on-premise servers, cloud-based licensing reduces shipping emissions and energy usage. Leveraging energy-efficient data centres, this approach contributes to a more sustainable software delivery model.
The Outcome
Using 10Duke’s cloud-based licensing platform, delivered through NEDKey, NedGraphics now provides flexible, secure, user-centric workflows that match the way design teams work today.
Licensing is no longer a behind-the-scenes constraint - it’s a reliable foundation that enables productivity, strengthens security, and supports long-term growth. Users benefit from uninterrupted creative workflows, administrators can manage access effortlessly, and NedGraphics was able to position itself as a forward-thinking partner for its customers.
With this modern approach, NedGraphics is able to provide frictionless licensing, demonstrating how 10Duke’s cloud-based, identity-driven licensing can transform software delivery, improve user satisfaction, and provide a scalable solution for the future - while also fully supporting existing use cases in customer segments that require offline licensing.
“Moving away from dongles and static license keys was an important part of modernising our platform. With 10Duke, we were able to modernise our licensing without compromising on security or offline use cases. NEDKey gives our users a seamless, flexible experience, while giving our teams a centralised, cloud-based foundation that’s far easier to manage and evolve.” - Frank Maeder, President of NedGraphics and Optitex
