According to a report in China Daily on February 14, 2026
As Chinese companies expand overseas, software monetization is emerging as a critical tool for building trust, ensuring compliance, and scaling operations globally, according to Thales, a leading global cybersecurity and software licensing firm.
Damien Bullot, Vice President of Thales Software Monetization, highlighted at the APAC Partner Summit in Guangzhou that Chinese enterprises face growing challenges when going global: data sovereignty, intellectual property protection, operational complexity, and cultural differences.
“Effective software monetization allows companies to operationalize trust across borders,” Bullot said, emphasizing that firms are increasingly exporting not just hardware but hardware-software integrated products, and even pure software solutions. This shift moves value from physical devices to the software layer, unlocking new business models for global markets.
Strategic Importance for Investors
Global Competitiveness: Proper software licensing and monetization enhance product trustworthiness and long-term market adoption.
Emerging Tech Integration: AI, IoT, and low-altitude economy applications increasingly rely on secure, flexible, and scalable software platforms.
Untapped Value: Many hardware manufacturers are still early in software monetization strategies, offering potential upside for firms that manage software licensing effectively.
Sustainable Growth: Software monetization supports revenue models, recurring services, and global compliance, enabling firms to expand efficiently in international markets.
Bullot noted that Asia-Pacific’s mature industrial chains and large installed base of devices provide fertile ground for companies to monetize software while strengthening global customer trust.
Takeaways for Global Investors
Software licensing and monetization are not just compliance tools, but key engines of growth for Chinese tech exporters.
The integration of software and hardware elevates product competitiveness and positions firms to capture value in AI, IoT, and smart industrial applications.
For investors, companies effectively leveraging software monetization may see enhanced global adoption, higher margins, and scalable business models.
The Thales summit underscores the growing recognition that trust, transparency, and monetization of software are central to the next phase of Chinese technology firms’ international expansion.