Since this product is already monetizing, I am skipping the litmus test.
Everest Group is a leading research and advisory firm that helps organizations make confident, data-driven decisions. With over three decades of experience, we empower service providers and enterprises through actionable insights, benchmarking tools, and industry expertise. Our services span multiple industries, including Banking, Insurance, Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing, and more, giving us unparalleled expertise in IT/BPO services.
Historically, we’ve catered to Tier 1 and Tier 2 IT/BPO service providers and enterprises, offering both research memberships (annual subscriptions that include reports, analyst inquiries, and workshops) and custom projects (tailored engagements, primarily with marquee service provider clients). For this project, I’ll focus on the BFSI service line and the onboarding process for research membership—a standardized offering across our service lines.
Within the BFSI service line, Everest Group offers seven research membership products, including marquee offerings and newer, emerging solutions. For this exercise, I’ve chosen INS ITS, our marquee product, which I handle directly and have extensive expertise in. This focus allows me to dive deeper into defining the Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) and optimizing pricing for this specific product.
Product Name | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
INS ITS | Marquee Product | Flagship product offering deep insights on insurance IT services. |
InsurTech | Emerging Offering | New product focusing on innovative insurance technologies; still maturing. |
Retirements Tech | Emerging Offering | New product focused on retirement-specific technologies; still maturing. |
BFS IT | Marquee Product | Comprehensive research on IT services in banking and financial services. |
INS BPO | Marquee Product | Flagship product providing insights on insurance BPO services. |
BFS BPO | Marquee Product | Key offering for BPO services in banking and financial services. |
Financial Crime and Compliance | Emerging Offering | Newer product addressing financial crime and compliance challenges; still maturing. |
Criteria | ICP1: Service Providers | ICP2: Technology Providers | ICP3: Enterprises (BFSI) |
---|---|---|---|
Name | BFSI Service Providers | BFSI Technology Providers | BFSI Enterprises |
Company Size | 250-10,000 employees | 1,000-5,000 employees | $1B-$50B+ annual revenue |
Location | Global, with operations in English-speaking regions | Headquarters in English-speaking or English-dominant countries | Global, heavily skewed toward North America and EMEA |
Funding Raised | Not applicable | Series C and beyond or established businesses | Not applicable |
Industry Domain | BFSI IT/ITES, outsourcing, offshoring | BFSI Technology solutions (cloud, AI, cybersecurity, etc.) | Banking, Financial Services, Insurance |
Stage of the Company | Established or high-growth | Mature, scaling, or innovative disruptors | Mature enterprises |
Organization Structure | Divisional/Matrixed, focused on outsourcing/GBS models | Product-focused or solution-focused | Functional/Matrixed |
Decision Maker | CXOs, Heads of Strategy, GBS Leads | CTOs, CIOs, Heads of Product/Innovation | CFOs, CIOs, Risk Management Heads |
Decision Blocker | Middle management, legal, compliance teams | Budget committees, vendor evaluation teams | Procurement teams, legal teams |
Frequency of Use Case | High (weekly research needs) | Moderate (monthly for strategic insights) | Moderate (quarterly or project-driven insights) |
Products Used in Workplace | Industry reports, benchmarks, outsourcing cost calculators | Technical whitepapers, trend analysis, competitive insights | Risk assessments, benchmarking reports |
Organizational Goals | Optimize delivery costs, increase outsourcing effectiveness | Gain a competitive edge with technology insights | Improve operational efficiency, risk management |
Preferred Outreach Channels | Email campaigns, webinars, personalized consultations, executive briefings | Industry webinars, tech events, whitepapers | Executive briefings, direct consulting, reports |
Conversion Time | Short (3-6 months) | Long (6-12 months) | Moderate (5-7 months) |
GMV | High | Moderate | High |
Growth of Company | Steady growth | High growth | Stable growth |
Motivation | Cost efficiency, scalability | Innovation, technology adoption | Operational effectiveness, risk mitigation |
Organization Influence | High in outsourcing decision-making | High in technology procurement | High in overall corporate strategy |
Tools Utilized in Workspace | Vendor management tools, project management software | Collaboration tools, analytics dashboards | ERP systems, risk management tools |
Decision Time | Medium | Short to Medium | Long |
Criteria | ICP 1: Service Providers | ICP 2: Technology Providers | ICP 3: Enterprises (BFSI) |
---|---|---|---|
Adoption Rate | High | Moderate | Moderate |
Appetite to Pay | High | Moderate | High |
Frequency of Use Case | High | Moderate | Low |
Distribution Potential | Moderate | High | High |
TAM (number of firms) | 1200-1300 | 1500-1600 | 900-1000 |
From the prioritization framework, ICP 2 (Service Providers) should be the focus for onboarding strategies. Additionally, Advisory and research are critical for Service Providers (SPs) because they operate in highly competitive and rapidly evolving markets. These insights enable SPs to:
These segments demonstrate:
Customers pay for Everest Group’s INS ITS product because it delivers:
Why Customers Pay:
Everest Group’s INS ITS product stands out through 4 key differentiators
Differentiator | Description | Why It Matters |
---|---|---|
1. BFSI-Specific Expertise | Tailored insights for BFSI service providers, focusing on IT/outsourcing strategies, compliance, and market trends. | Competitors (e.g., Gartner, Forrester) lack this granularity for BFSI operations. |
2. High-Touch Engagement | Frequent analyst interactions, quarterly connects, and workshops ensure ongoing alignment with client priorities. | Builds long-term trust and ensures clients achieve their desired outcomes. |
3. Granular Benchmarks | Detailed cost, operational, and performance benchmarks for BFSI-focused IT services. | Enables clients to measure success and identify areas for improvement. |
4. Customization | Flexibility to provide tailored reports, data cuts, and personalized advisory based on specific challenges. | Meets unique client needs, making Everest Group a strategic partner rather than a generic research provider. |
Substitute/Factor | Flexibility to Use | Effort Required | Pricing | Core Users | Core Value Proposition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Everest Group (INS ITS) | High – On-demand portal, custom advisory | Low – Minimal effort required | $45,000/year | CXOs, SL Leads, Innovation Heads | BFSI-specific, granular benchmarks and actionable insights. High-touch engagement ensures consistent alignment with business goals. |
Gartner | Medium – Generalized insights | Medium – Requires contextualizing insights | $30,000/year | CXOs, Strategy Leaders | Broad technology and market coverage but lacks depth in BFSI-specific IT services. |
Forrester | Medium – Strong IT trends focus | Medium – Focus on technology trends | $28,000/year | Marketing Heads, IT Decision-Makers | Offers broader IT trend analysis but lacks operational recommendations and BFSI relevance. |
ISG (Consulting) | Low – Heavily consulting-driven | High – High touch but costly | $50,000/project | Service Delivery Leads, Consulting Teams | Consulting-focused engagements with limited flexibility for ongoing insights or broader benchmarking. |
Internal Benchmarking | Low – Limited external insights | High – Resource-heavy | Internal resource cost | Strategy Teams, Operations | Internal teams can benchmark based on internal data but miss out on competitive insights, external trends, and actionable recommendations. |
To justify premium pricing for Everest Group’s INS ITS product, it is critical to break down what customers are paying for, why they would pay, and how Everest differentiates itself in the market. Here's a more granular analysis:
Feature/Aspect | Everest Group | Gartner/Forrester/ISG |
---|---|---|
Depth of BFSI Expertise | - Industry-leading focus on BFSI outsourcing and IT services. | - Broader focus across multiple industries; BFSI often treated as a secondary priority. |
Customization | - Tailored benchmarks, data cuts, and advisory aligned to client needs. | - Limited flexibility; reports are generalized for broader audiences. |
Granularity | - Detailed, actionable insights specific to operational efficiency, cost reduction, and compliance. | - High-level insights with minimal actionable recommendations for BFSI-specific problems. |
Engagement Model | - High-touch quarterly connects, analyst inquiries, and thought leadership workshops. | - Limited engagement touchpoints; substitutes often provide broader yet less frequent interactions. |
Practicality | - Insights designed to be directly implemented, reducing internal resource dependency for clients. | - Requires significant contextualization by clients to make insights actionable, increasing time and effort. |
ROI Demonstration | - Clear connection between insights and business impact (e.g., cost savings, deal wins, operational improvements). | - Substitutes focus more on market trends and strategic overviews, often lacking ROI-driven advisory services. |
To maximize revenue and justify premium pricing, Everest Group should focus on value-based pricing. Below are the specific elements and pricing approaches:
Package | Features Included | Price (Annual) |
---|---|---|
Core Membership | Research portal, 5 analyst inquiries, 1 custom data cut, and 2 quarterly connects. | $45,000/year |
Premium Membership | Everything in Core Membership + PEAK Matrix Licensing, additional custom data cuts (3 total), and 3 extra inquiries. | $55,000/year |
Enterprise Membership | Everything in Premium Membership + unlimited inquiries, unlimited data cuts, and on-demand quarterly connects. | $75,000/year |
This approach segments Everest Group’s users based on their roles—ARs (Marketing/Analyst Relations), Delivery Heads, and CXOs (Strategy/Business Leaders)—to define pricing strategies using RFM (Recency, Frequency, Monetary) analysis.
Role | Recency | Frequency | Monetary Value | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
ARs (Marketing/AR) | Low – Log in for specific needs occasionally. | Low – 1-2 engagements per quarter. | Low – Entry-level spend. | Primarily interested in thought leadership reports and webinars for external messaging. |
Delivery Heads | Medium – Regular engagement. | Medium – 5-6 engagements per quarter. | Medium – Moderate spend. | Utilize benchmarking reports and analyst inquiries to inform day-to-day operational improvements. |
CXOs | High – Frequent, ongoing engagement. | High – 10+ engagements per quarter. | High – Largest spend. | Leverage custom data cuts, strategy workshops, and executive connects for strategic decisions. |
Role | Price Elasticity | Churn Rate | Revenue Gain | Pricing Strategy |
---|---|---|---|---|
ARs | High – Price-sensitive. | High (~30%). | Moderate (~$20,000/user). | Offer affordable, entry-level plans tailored to marketing needs, focusing on reports and webinars. |
Delivery Heads | Medium – Balanced sensitivity. | Medium (~15%). | High (~$45,000/user). | Retain mid-tier pricing with bundled add-ons (e.g., inquiries + reports). |
CXOs | Low – Least price-sensitive. | Low (~5%). | Very High (~$75,000/user). | Charge a premium for all-inclusive enterprise plans with unlimited inquiries and workshops. |
Role | Plan Name | Features Included | Price (Annual) |
---|---|---|---|
ARs (Marketing/AR) | Entry Plan | Portal access (limited reports/month), 1 inquiry/year, access to industry webinars. | $20,000 |
Delivery Heads | Professional Plan | Full portal access, 5-10 inquiries/year, benchmarking reports, quarterly workshops (optional add-ons). | $45,000 |
CXOs | Enterprise Plan | Unlimited portal access, unlimited inquiries, quarterly executive connects, custom data cuts, PEAK Matrix licensing. | $75,000 |
Recency (R) | Frequency (F) | Monetary (M) |
---|---|---|
ARs | Low | Low |
Delivery Heads | Medium | Medium |
CXOs | High | High |
The ideal moment to introduce monetization is when the perceived value of Everest Group’s offerings surpasses the perceived price. Below is a detailed framework for identifying the Aha Moments, mapping the user journey, and plotting perceived value and price to determine the right monetization points.
Aspect | Value Provided | Example Feature |
---|---|---|
Money Saved | Clients save significant costs by optimizing outsourcing/offshoring strategies. | Custom benchmarks to identify cost-cutting opportunities. |
Time Saved | Quicker decision-making by accessing ready-to-use data, insights, and advisory. | Research portal with curated, on-demand reports. |
Increased Efficiency | Improved workflows by leveraging Everest Group’s insights for operations and decision-making. | Analyst inquiries offering actionable guidance. |
Credibility Boost | Enhances market positioning for BFSI service providers with external validation and insights. | PEAK Matrix licensing for competitive differentiation. |
Feature | Everest Group | Gartner | Forrester | ISG |
---|---|---|---|---|
Customization | High – Tailored insights, benchmarks, and inquiries. | Low – Generalized insights. | Medium – Limited customization. | Medium – Consulting-heavy. |
BFSI-Specific Expertise | Deep focus on BFSI service providers. | Broad industry focus. | Broader IT trends. | Limited BFSI-specific capabilities. |
Portal Convenience | High – User-friendly with on-demand reports and insights. | Medium – Requires manual filtering. | Medium – Focus on IT teams. | Low – Primarily consulting-focused. |
Engagement Model | High – Quarterly connects, frequent analyst interactions, and thought leadership workshops. | Medium – Less frequent touchpoints. | Medium – Periodic, broader insights. | Low – Primarily one-off engagements. |
Adjusting the timeline for a full year provides a more comprehensive view of how perceived value evolves and aligns with the user journey. Below is the updated user journey, perceived value mapping, and milestones for monetization.
Month | User Action | Perceived Value | Touchpoints |
---|---|---|---|
Month 0 (Day 0) | Portal access and first report download. | Users experience initial value with access to industry-relevant insights. | Onboarding email and portal walkthrough. |
Month 1 | Downloads benchmarking reports and explores portal features. | Value increases as users explore actionable insights, such as cost benchmarks or competitive data. | In-app prompts to highlight advanced reports. |
Month 2 | Submits first analyst inquiry for custom insights. | Significant value perceived when receiving tailored recommendations addressing specific business challenges. | Email follow-up post-inquiry submission. |
Month 3 | Participates in the first quarterly connect or thought leadership workshop. | Users realize long-term value by aligning Everest’s insights with their strategic priorities. | Invitations and post-session summaries. |
Month 4-5 | Begins consistent use of portal features, including additional benchmarking reports and inquiries. | Perceived value stabilizes with frequent engagement and tangible outcomes in operations and strategy. | Automated reminders and personalized insights. |
Month 6 (Mid-Year) | Engages in a custom strategy workshop or uses custom data cuts for a specific project. | Value peaks as insights directly impact significant decisions, such as cost reduction or market expansion strategies. | Portal notification for custom data availability. |
Month 7-8 | Continues using premium features (inquiries, workshops) and evaluates ROI from previous decisions. | Perceived value remains high as users leverage insights for new challenges. | Email updates on ongoing impact and next steps. |
Month 9 | Receives quarterly insights or custom benchmarks for an evolving market need. | Users remain engaged by applying insights to strategic initiatives (e.g., compliance or risk mitigation). | Analyst check-ins and updated benchmarks. |
Month 10-11 | Uses PEAK Matrix licensing or participates in an additional custom workshop. | Perceived value spikes again due to external validation and alignment with upcoming goals (e.g., annual budgeting). | Premium feature promotion tied to ROI-focused outcomes. |
Month 12 | Reviews annual outcomes (cost savings, deal wins, operational efficiencies). | Users evaluate the full ROI of their membership and renew for continued value delivery. | Renewal discussions with usage and ROI summaries. |
Month | Perceived Value | Perceived Price | Key Milestone |
---|---|---|---|
Month 0 | Low | Low | Portal access and first report download. |
Month 1 | Medium | Low | Downloads benchmarking reports and explores features. |
Month 2 | High | Medium | First analyst inquiry submission. |
Month 3 | High | Medium | Participates in first workshop or quarterly connect. |
Month 6 (Mid-Year) | Very High | Medium | Uses custom data cuts or strategy workshop for key decisions. |
Month 9 | Very High | Medium | Applies quarterly insights to new challenges. |
Month 12 | Extremely High | High | Evaluates full ROI from insights and advisory. |
Time Period | Segment | Action | Monetization Strategy |
---|---|---|---|
Month 0-1 | ARs, Casual Users | Portal exploration and initial report downloads. | Free trial with upgrade nudges tied to report access limits. |
Month 2-3 | Delivery Heads, CXOs | First inquiry and workshop participation. | Introduce mid-tier ($45,000/year) and premium plans ($75,000/year) based on engagement level. |
Month 4-6 | All Segments | Regular use of inquiries, workshops, and benchmarking reports. | Bundle premium features (e.g., data cuts + workshops) for higher-tier plans. |
Month 7-9 | Delivery Heads, CXOs | Quarterly connects and market insights for evolving challenges. | Promote high-value add-ons like PEAK Matrix licensing ($15,000/year). |
Month 10-12 | CXOs, Power Users | Annual review of ROI and renewal discussions. | Focus on renewing high-value users with case studies demonstrating cost savings and efficiency. |
To determine what to charge for, Everest Group must align its core value proposition with the appropriate pricing model. The key is to focus on the perceived value for different user types (ARs, Delivery Heads, CXOs) and choose a model that reflects the product's core currency.
"Providing actionable insights, tailored benchmarks, and strategic advisory services to BFSI service providers, enabling them to optimize costs, improve operational efficiencies, and drive competitive advantage."
Feature/Aspect | Category | Reason to Charge | User Type |
---|---|---|---|
Research Portal | Time/Access | Consistent, on-demand access to insights and industry trends. | ARs, Delivery Heads, CXOs |
Analyst Inquiries | Output | Tailored recommendations for specific challenges; high-impact outcomes. | Delivery Heads, CXOs |
Quarterly Workshops | Time/Access | Scheduled, high-value sessions aligning Everest insights with client strategy. | Delivery Heads, CXOs |
PEAK Matrix Licensing | Output/Shareability | External validation and competitive positioning shared across multiple stakeholders. | CXOs, ARs |
Custom Data Cuts | Output | Granular insights tailored to specific business needs or strategic initiatives. | Delivery Heads, CXOs |
Thought Leadership Content | Shareability | Co-branded whitepapers or exclusive insights distributed internally or externally. | ARs, CXOs |
Category | Feature | Pricing Model | Target Segment |
---|---|---|---|
Time-Based | Annual Membership | $20,000-$75,000/year depending on tier. | ARs, Delivery Heads, CXOs |
Output-Based | PEAK Matrix Licensing | $15,000 per license (add-on to membership). | CXOs, ARs |
Custom Data Cuts | $3,000 per custom report. | Delivery Heads, CXOs | |
Individual Workshops | $12,500 per session. | Delivery Heads, CXOs | |
Access-Based | Enterprise Portal Access | $75,000/year for unlimited organization-wide access. | CXOs |
Shareability-Based | Thought Leadership | $50,000-$75,000 per co-branded whitepaper. | ARs, CXOs |
Category | Core Value Delivered | Perceived Value |
---|---|---|
Time-Based | Consistent access to actionable insights and ongoing advisory. | High for users who need frequent updates and alignment (e.g., ARs, Delivery Heads). |
Output-Based | High-value, outcome-driven deliverables (e.g., PEAK Matrix, custom reports). | High for users looking for specific ROI from individual deliverables (e.g., CXOs, Delivery Heads). |
Access-Based | Organization-wide availability of insights, enabling cross-team collaboration. | High for large organizations that require scalable solutions (e.g., CXOs). |
Shareability-Based | External and internal distribution of content for branding and positioning. | High for marketing and AR teams using Everest’s insights to enhance credibility (e.g., ARs, CXOs). |
To determine how much to charge, we’ll explore three pricing strategies based on user segments and value delivered. Each strategy uses tailored approaches to maximize revenue while aligning with perceived value and willingness to pay.
User Category | Average Cost Savings from Insights | Time Saved (hours) | Value of Time Saved (at $200/hour) | Suggested Price/Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
ARs (Marketing/AR) | $50,000/year | 20 hours/year | $4,000 | $20,000 |
Delivery Heads | $200,000/year | 50 hours/year | $10,000 | $45,000 |
CXOs | $500,000/year | 100 hours/year | $20,000 | $75,000 |
User Category | Cost Savings or Revenue Gains | Percentage of Savings Charged (10%) | Suggested Price/Year |
---|---|---|---|
ARs (Marketing/AR) | $50,000 | $5,000 | $20,000 |
Delivery Heads | $300,000 | $30,000 | $45,000 |
CXOs | $1,000,000 | $100,000 | $75,000 |
Plan | Features | Target Segment | Price (Annual) |
---|---|---|---|
Entry Plan | - Portal access (limited reports/month). | ARs | $20,000 |
- 2 analyst inquiries/year. | |||
Professional Plan | - Full portal access. | Delivery Heads | $45,000 |
- 10 analyst inquiries/year. | |||
- Quarterly workshops (optional add-on). | |||
Enterprise Plan | - Unlimited portal access, inquiries, and workshops. | CXOs | $75,000 |
- Custom data cuts and advanced benchmarks. |
Approach | Target Segment | Price/Year | Advantages |
---|---|---|---|
Time-Saved-Based | ARs, Delivery Heads, CXOs | $20,000-$75,000 | Quantifies value based on efficiency gains and cost savings, aligning with perceived value for each user segment. |
Outcome-Based | ARs, Delivery Heads, CXOs | $20,000-$75,000 | Directly ties pricing to ROI, making it easier to justify premium plans for high-value users. |
Feature-Tiered Pricing | ARs, Delivery Heads, CXOs | $20,000-$75,000 | Simplifies decision-making for users, offering clear differentiation between plans based on feature access. |
At Everest Group, our pricing is presented during a proposal call as part of our tailored onboarding process. This approach ensures that our clients receive a customized pricing structure aligned with their unique business needs and strategic objectives. By integrating the pricing discussion into the proposal call, we can provide detailed explanations of our value proposition, address client-specific requirements, and ensure complete transparency. This high-touch method reflects our commitment to delivering personalized solutions that drive measurable outcomes for our clients.
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To enhance the effectiveness of Everest Group's slides, I recommend the following revisions and improvements:
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