Software Platform Consulting

MAY 6, 2019

There are many great articles about SaaS metrics on the web (e.g., see here , here and here.) There are also great resources for metrics specific to marketplaces (see here ). But much of my work is with a special kind of network, where one side of the platform is an enterprise buyer (or supplier) and on the other side is their supply base (or customers). Typically one side’s enterprises tend to be much larger than the other side’s. That’s why I call them enterprise-driven.

Metrics 53

Metrics Compensation Enterprise B2B 53

Software Platform Consulting

JUNE 25, 2019

Change Healthcare is going public (again). The IPO provides another opportunity to examine a massive B2B inter-enterprise network, Change Healthcare’s Intelligent Healthcare Network. I previously wrote about this network when it was called Emdeon ( see here ). It’s a story of how a small EDI player became an impressive company through acquisition and organic growth. Every network entrepreneur should know this great story.

Healthcare 50

Healthcare Government Scaling Consulting 50

Software Platform Consulting

OCTOBER 9, 2019

As taxpayers, we should want to know how well our dollars are spent. At the Federal level, most of these dollars are spent on social security, healthcare, and defense (see below). Articles about spending in these areas are easy to find, but the price of F-35s or my dad’s medicare is too complex for this blog. Instead, let’s focus on the prices paid for common commercial catalog items that we can all relate to. Government Catalog Spend.

Government 46

Government Healthcare AI Education 46

Software Platform Consulting

MAY 28, 2019

Source: [link]. This is the third in my series on SaaS Metrics for Enterprise-Driven B2B Networks. I spend very little time on issues of compensation on this blog. But it turns out, this is a really important issue for Enterprise-Driven B2B Networks. As discussed in the prior post , many networks of this type, subsidize one side of the network, to make money from the other side.

Enterprise 50

Enterprise Compensation B2B Metrics 50

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Revenue

Software Platform Consulting

MAY 8, 2019

Fleetcor (FLT) closed on its acquisition of privately-held nvoicepay on April 1, 2019. Fleetcor’s first quarterly earnings report since the acquisition provides insight into the economics of the B2B payments space. Nvoicepay. Nvoicepay is interesting, in part, because it is a pure-play payments provider. The company takes a payment file from a buyer. It then disburses the funds to the buyer’s suppliers in a manner nvoicepay has determined in negotiation with the supplier.

B2B 50

B2B Acquisition Banking Consulting 50

Software Platform Consulting

AUGUST 5, 2019

Gartner recently published its 2019 Magic Quadrant for Procure-to-Pay Suites. Once again , I have superimposed valuation information onto the Magic Quadrant. (I I still don’t understand why Gartner has not varied the size of the “dots” to add more information to the charts. For instance, each vendor’s dot could be sized in proportion to their NPS scores, revenue, or valuation. See Spend Matters’ Solution Maps.).

Machine Learning 40

Machine Learning AI Revenue Consulting 40

Software Platform Consulting

JULY 1, 2019

My last post was partly about healthcare payments in the form of Change Healthcare’s Intelligent Healthcare Network. I did not set out to write another post about healthcare payments, but reading Phreesia’s S-1 compels me to. Phreesia has three “businesses” in one: SaaS applications, payments, and life sciences advertising. Phreesia Threat #1: SaaS Applications. If you have been to a doctor you have some idea of what Phreesia’s SaaS applications do!

Advertising 40

Advertising Consulting Subscription SaaS 40

Software Platform Consulting

JUNE 3, 2019

Welcome to the last, and most important, in my series of posts on metrics unique to Enterprise-Driven B2B Networks. The last metric, buyers per supplier, is easy to calculate if your platform is architected as a network. (If If you did not architect your platform so suppliers have one account for all buyers, shame on you.). Suppliers Per Buyer. Every enterprise-driven B2B network proudly tells you they are great at enabling your enterprise’s suppliers.

Enterprise 40

Enterprise B2B Metrics Consulting 40

Software Platform Consulting

MAY 20, 2019

Fiverr, a marketplace for freelancers just joined the parade of software companies going public. The Fiverr filing sets up a comparison of Fiverr versus Upwork, the grand-daddy of freelancer marketplaces. Upwork went public last year.) (See See here and here ). Upwork Versus Fiverr: A Different Approach to Services. The most basic difference between Upwork versus Fiverr is fascinating. On the Upwork platform, buyers issue RFQs for projects and invite freelancers to bid on those projects.

SMB 40

SMB Business Model Consulting Pricing 40

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Metrics

Software Platform Consulting

MAY 14, 2019

Last week I wrote a post about Fleetcor’s acquisition of Nvoicepay. The acquisition represented an opportunity to learn more about the economics of B2B payments. The acquisition also prompted me to review Bottomline’s financial reports. Bottomline owns Paymode-X, the largest B2B payment network in the US. Paymode-X boasts payments of more than $200 billion annually and over 400,000 payees. Nvoicepay, by contrast, processed payments of approximately $20 billion annually.).

Technology 40

Technology B2B Acquisition Banking 40

Software Platform Consulting

JUNE 26, 2018

Yesterday, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of American Express (Amex) in an antitrust case 11 states had brought against Amex (see here ). If you are interested in two-sided markets, platforms, and pricing you will want to read the Supreme Court’s decision written by Justice Thomas and the dissent written by Justice Breyer (see here ). Full disclosure: There’s a fair bit of legalese, so I skimmed it. But, it sounds cool to say I read a Supreme Court opinion.)

Business Model 43

Business Model Consulting Branding Business 43

Software Platform Consulting

MAY 9, 2017

Established in 1995, Angie’s List was the pioneer in the home services marketplace. Home Advisor (IAC) announced last week it is acquiring Angie’s List (ANGI) for more than $500 million. This price represents a 44% premium over Angie’s List’s depleted closing stock price (see below)). I am sad to see Angie’s List go. Triumph of the One-Sided Pricing Plan. Angie’s business model was a prominent differentiator from its competition in the home services market.

Business Model 48

Business Model Advertising Consulting Business 48

Software Platform Consulting

MAY 16, 2017

I love the word “oligoply” It’s a fancy word for a market structure in which a few companies have the large majority of market share. The recent news reminds me just how many markets are becoming oligopolistic–especially those dominated by platform software. Before We Get to Software… Warren Buffett recently announced that he was buying airline stocks. This is a man whose greatest quotes include many disparaging remarks about the airline industry (see here ).

Wireless 40

Wireless Software Healthcare Airlines 40

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Revenue

Software Platform Consulting

SEPTEMBER 27, 2016

Early (and Fuzzy) Saas Metrics From B2B Networks. Until a B2B Network catches on, the metrics can be gloomy. (The The first few years of the Ariba Network were pretty dismal, for instance.) The result is that for the first few years of a B2B network’s life you tend to see silly press releases from these networks touting their growth in all manner of odd metrics: percentage growth versus growth in absolute numbers (always huge when you start from zero). new partnerships. awards.

Metrics 40

Metrics Consulting Enterprise Finance 40

Software Platform Consulting

SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Sunday’s Business Insider had a great article on, Cargomatic, a company promising (as do many others) to be the “Uber for Truckers” By that, Cargomatic means it will match shippers with goods to ship with truckers with excess capacity. On paper it is a great idea in a huge market: less than truckload (LTL) shipping.

B2B 40

B2B Consulting Marketing Technology 40

Software Platform Consulting

MARCH 23, 2016

Three separate events last week reminded me that every spend category has its “dirty little secrets” Suppliers can exploit these “dirty little secrets” to squeeze a little more from buyers than buyers bargained for. Not all of these secrets are nefarious, but all reflect the inherently deeper category knowledge suppliers have and the limited resources buyers have to “sweat the details” in every category.

Airlines 40

Airlines Transportation Travel Machine Learning 40

Software Platform Consulting

MARCH 7, 2016

For those of us who follow pricing strategy in two-sided markets, last week was a milestone. Angie’s List, which invented the home services marketplace (in 1995) announced it would drop its “paywall” The paywall charged buyers to search its directory and reviews before communicating with contractors. Angie’s List will now offer a freemium model for homeowners (buyers) and will continue to offer a freemium model to contractors/service providers.

Pricing 40

Pricing Business Model Advertising Consulting 40

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Software Platform Consulting

AUGUST 6, 2015

The two questions I’m most often asked are: 1. How do you keep your hair looking so lush and luxurious? How much can a B2B Marketplace or Multi-Sided Platform charge for its services? Some folks call this the platform’s “take rate” ). The answer to the former question will need to remain a mystery, but the answer to the latter follows. B2B Marketplace Services.

B2B 40

B2B Consulting Communication Finance 40

Software Platform Consulting

NOVEMBER 25, 2014

The vast majority of tech press is about B2C software companies or software for IT department (e.g., databases, security, performance monitoring and other stuff) that does not excite me. But, there are a few good b2b blogs and newsletters those of you interested in enterprise cloud business applications should follow for inspiration. My nominations, in no particular order, are as follows: Price intelligently.

B2B 40

B2B B2C Software Consulting 40

SaaStr

JANUARY 24, 2021

“My CEO Told Me To Stop Selling So Much” Recently, I met with a sales leader I’ve known for years, and he told me The Most Curious Story. His SaaS CEO asked him to stop selling so much. Slow down. You are doing too good of a job, the CEO said. We can’t afford it.

Scaling 261

Scaling Construction Banking Investment 261

SaaStr

JANUARY 20, 2021

One thing that is great in SaaS, from a 20,000 foot perspective at least, is You Can See The Future. It’s the benefit of a recurring revenue stream in a B2B model.

Metrics 273

Metrics SaaS Sales Revenue 273

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Onboarding

SaaStr

JANUARY 17, 2021

In theory, many things can kill a SaaS startup after $4m-$5m ARR. In practice, quitting is the only thing. In theory, many things can stop a SaaS startup after $4m-$5m ARR from getting to $100m. In practice, high churn is the only thing. — Jason BeKind Lemkin (@jasonlk) January 17, 2021.

Customer Success 285

Customer Success SaaS Venture Capital Churn 285

SaaStr

JANUARY 17, 2021

Don't pick a cofounder that. – has something better to do – wants to see how it goes – has a clear backup plan – sees it as risky – argues over who should be CEO – doesn't 100% believe. You'll see. — Jason BeKind Lemkin (@jasonlk) July 18, 2020.

Acquisition 277

Acquisition Leadership SaaS Software 277

SaaStr

JANUARY 25, 2021

Early in my career, I was a bit skeptical of big analyst firms like Gartner. Was it all sort of some sort of game in enterprise software? But like many things, time goes on and I learned. Yes, sometimes a vendor recommendation from Gartner can seem a bit circular.

Enterprise 206

Enterprise Cloud Software Trends 206

SaaStr

JANUARY 13, 2021

Burnout is a real risk in SaaS. Not usually in the early days. But as time marches on — It’s a huge risk. . One piece of “evidence” — a lot of fairly successful SaaS startups all sell at about the same point in time … about 5 years in.

SaaS 285

SaaS Startup Travel Banking 285

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Trends

SaaStr

JANUARY 15, 2021

25% of revenue from professional services may sound high, but it’s a fairly standard ratio in true enterprise software. Importantly, Qualtrics’ margins remain high so it’s not losing money on its services. Gross margins on services are about 35%.

Revenue 259

Revenue Pricing Metrics Enterprise 259

SaaStr

JANUARY 12, 2021

One of the most tiring things for founders can be always being compared to Unicorns and now Decacorns. Certainly sometimes it’s inspirational.

Venture Capital 261

Venture Capital Investment Acquisition Business Model 261

SaaStr

JANUARY 23, 2021

Cloudflare is one of those iconic Cloud companies most of us use, and know about as a product and vendor … but perhaps we don’t think as much about as a public company. And quite an epic one it is, at ~$500m in ARR and a $25B+ market cap!!

SMB 199

SMB Cloud Scaling Enterprise 199

SaaStr

JANUARY 20, 2021

$30B+ Datadog became the great darling of developers and devops years ago, and never stopped pushing on the accelerator. It’s expanded its product portfolio to build an incredible observabillity engine approaching $1B ARR.

Cloud 217

Cloud Revenue Engineering Development 217

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Data

SaaStr

JANUARY 19, 2021

One of the most important operating metrics in your SaaS start-up, if you aren’t predictably cash-flow positive, is your Zero Cash Date (“ZCD”). You hear a lot about SaaS metrics, but this one doesn’t often come up.

Banking 221

Banking Metrics SaaS Revenue 221

SaaStr

JANUARY 24, 2021

2021 will be the year SaaS sales evolves the most since the Appexchange ecosystem started to take off ~15 years ago, which spawned the entire notion of a true sales app stack. What’s the change? The permanent move to distributed sales teams.

Compensation 186

Compensation SaaS Sales Management 186

SaaStr

DECEMBER 26, 2020

As we begin strategic planning season for next year, there one topic a lot that comes up a lot: Should We Just Let Our Smallest Customers Go?

Marketing 277

Marketing SMB Pricing Onboarding 277

SaaStr

JANUARY 13, 2021

We’ve done so much great content with Atlassian over the years, with CEO Michael-Cannon Brooks to Trello Founder and CEO Michael Pryor to ex-President Jay Simons, and the learnings are always amazing.

Enterprise 237

Enterprise Scaling Branding Revenue 237

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Development