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Forbes
17-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Preparing Finance Leaders For Software Pricing Changes
Scott Woody is the Cofounder & CEO of Metronome, a leading usage-based billing platform. When companies change how they price their product, everything in the company is impacted—especially the finance team. In the software industry, usage-based pricing, also known as UBP, is gaining popularity rapidly as AI and other rapidly growing software providers adopt it or offer it alongside more traditional subscription-based pricing models. With UBP, companies pay for software as they use it. Subscription means they pay per user or a flat fee. Almost half of software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers now use UBP or a hybrid approach, industry research shows. Our own research found that 77% of the largest software companies have some form of UBP. The first mistake companies can make when switching to UBP is to assume it is a simple change in revenue recognition. Nothing in pricing is simple. If a pricing change is not managed effectively, especially by the finance team, companies can experience increased billing errors, customer distress, missed opportunities and unmet revenue targets. Here are five key challenges that finance leaders will face during a transition from subscription to UBP, or to a hybrid approach, along with ways to mitigate them. Many companies still rely on manual tracking and reconciliation processes. This can be especially difficult with UBP. That's because billing amounts can vary by day, week, month and quarter as usage ebbs and flows. Without accurate tracking, revenue leakage and billing errors are more likely. Solution: Automate revenue recognition to minimize manual processes and reduce human errors. Whether a UBP solution is purchased or built in-house, integrate it with other financial systems to ensure accurate revenue tracking in real time. With subscription-based pricing, companies have a clear understanding of the revenue they can expect each month, quarter, or year. That enables them to plan ahead on how to invest that revenue and most traditional forecasting methods are built for predictable revenue. With UBP, revenue becomes highly variable. It depends a lot on the customers using the software, their success in the market, and other factors that the software provider doesn't control. Solution: To improve a CFO's ability to accurately predict revenue when using UBP, having a single source of truth for data pertaining to revenue and usage will be key. Also, machine learning and AI can help analyze factors that impact revenue, such as patterns around product use and broad economic factors, such as recession threats. Finally, teams need to share insights on the pace of sales, whether customers are expanding or shrinking use and updated forecasts. Legacy financial systems were probably not designed for high-volume, real-time and granular usage data. This can lead to data silos, reconciliation delays and operational inefficiencies. Solution: A data-first mindset is critical. Whether you buy it or build it, having data in a centralized warehouse and having standardized data pipelines will help keep financial data consistent and accurate across all teams. With traditional subscription models, payment is upfront, so the risk to the software provider is low that they won't get paid. With UBP, companies pay after they use the software. That shift in cash flow introduces new risks and requires new safeguards. Solution: To guard against defaults, consider 'prepaid commit' features so companies pay for usage upfront and then draw down on that usage. If enterprise customers have strong creditworthiness, postpaid commit pricing—which means they agree to spend a minimum over a set period of time—also reduces risk. In AI-driven SaaS, prepaid models with automatic balance reload mechanisms have also helped prevent service disruptions while protecting against fraudulent consumption spikes. For virtually any business, products need to be well priced to meet customer expectations for value. Hitting this sweet spot involves a lot of moving pieces. UBP introduces new metrics that teams in finance, sales and product need to understand to keep the pricing/value recipe in sync. Being able to closely tie pricing to value and switch it as the equation changes is one of the big benefits of UBP. With subscription pricing, a software provider may not notice that their product isn't being used until it is too late to win the customer back. With UBP, falling usage can be spotted immediately. Everyone can be made aware and help resolve the problem. Solution: Educate all teams about key usage indicators, such as consumption trends and revenue per usage metric, that help align pricing with customer value. The same applies to prepaid commitment pricing, which can be strategically offered to enhance engagement. Also, clearly define KPIs and review cycles to keep your pricing in sync with customer value. Pricing can be a make-or-break moment for companies. The finance team plays a crucial role in ensuring success. By aligning financial operations with real-time customer data, companies can successfully navigate the shift to UBP, ensuring financial stability, customer trust and long-term scalability. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Gizmodo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
We Might Be Waiting Even Longer For That ‘Constantine' Sequel
Plus, Colin Trevorrow heads to Area 51 for new movie. Ralph Ineson teases the scale and aloofness of his Galactus. Joe Locke says he's in the MCU for the long haul. Plus, Wednesday's creative team plays down season 2's horror, and what's coming on the next Rick & Morty. Spoilers get! Untitled Area 51 Movie Deadline reports Colin Trevorrow is attached to direct a currently untitled film 'set in the late 1980s' that follows 'the local Las Vegas TV news journalist who first broke the story of Area 51.' Trevorrow will produce the project through his Metronome banner with the help of Ryan Reynolds' Maximum Effort. Constantine 2 In conversation with The Direct, Peter Stormare suggested Keanu Reeves is unhappy with the current script draft for Constantine 2. It's a lot of back and forth, because… I think Keanu [Reeves], which I know pretty good, is not so happy with the scripts and usually what comes out of the studios… Because the first one wasn't that successful in the beginning, it became a sleeper and became a cult movie, and now it is one of the biggest cult movies ever. But to do a sequel, the studios want to have, you know, cars flying in the air. They want to have people doing flip-flops and fighting action scenes. It turns into an action movie, and not like going deeper and deeper into the characters. I think he wants to do his character again, Constantine, as grounded as it was in the first one. It took a long time for you to become a cult movie, it really worked, and it will work on the audience again. You don't have to add a lot of action and shootouts. You have other movies. Don't turn it into big Marvel… [Don't turn it] into us flying around in harnesses all the time and shooting each other up. Don't bring in the big guns. Let it be. Fantastic Four: First Steps In conversation with Empire, Ralph Ineson revealed he prepared for his role as Galactus by standing atop 'a lot of tall buildings.' He's a cosmic force. He's a god, of sorts. [I drove through the tunnels of Mont Blanc] 'just imagining that as his windpipe and his trachea. I also went to a lot of tall buildings. We went to a wedding at the top of the Gherkin building in London, and I spent most of the afternoon just staring out, ruminating. I got in trouble with my wife — she was like, 'You've got to say hello to the bride and groom at some point!' Ready or Not: Here I Come During a recent interview with Comic Book, Ready or Not screenwriter Guy Busick stated the upcoming sequel 'isn't even the same genre' as the first. Things that we reference … Radio Silence, the producers, Ryan and myself … over and over again are Aliens and Terminator 2. How do you blow it up in a way that isn't even the same genre, but hits all the notes and has the same DNA? Here I Come is a horror movie with humor, just like the first one. But what's the crazy, bigger world of it? A Bright Future In an ant-infested future specifically tailored to the needs of the elderly, chosen young people are shipped to 'The North' to make their families proud in the trailer for A Bright Future. Agatha All Along Speaking with The Playlist, Joe Locke discussed his forseeable contractually obligated future with Marvel, suggesting Billy Maximoff could be around for a good while yet. Kevin Feige doesn't ring you up, but when I signed my contract, I signed for my whole life. But so you sort of wait for them. You're in limbo to them, which is, there are worse things to be in limbo for. Ms. Marvel Meanwhile, Red Dagger actor Aramis Knight told Screen Rant he believes his time in the MCU is officially over. Referring to a potential second season of Ms. Marvel, Knight answered: I don't think so. I mean it's been a long time now, so I am not really sure. I mean I would love to. I was supposed to make appearances and other things but it didn't end up working out and some logistical stuff and COVID stuff and I think also creative stuff. But I mean that was also an amazing show, but I dunno, I'm still waiting for the call to be honest. Wednesday In conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Wednesday co-creator Miles Millar reiterated the show's more horror-focused second season will still be family friendly. Season 2 definitely has some moments which are more straightforward horror, and we're very aware that the show is watched by everybody in terms of the age groups. So we want to make sure that it's never torture porn, but that there's enough bite to it that it feels that there are real stakes and that people die in this world, and it's scary at moments. And I think that's the great tonal shift that the show makes between comedy and horror. Rick and Morty Finally, Space Beth's plan to assassinate the Gromflomite Queen goes awry in a clip from this Sunday's episode of Rick and Morty.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Shaolin Heroes', Martial Arts Format From Denmark, Lands First International Adaptations
EXCLUSIVE: Banijay Entertainment's adventure reality format Shaolin Heroes has kung fu-kicked its way on to networks in Belgium and the Netherlands. Banijay Benelux has struck a deal with broadcaster VTM for a version of the Danish show in Belgium, and RTL Nederlands has handed SimpelZodiak, another Banijay production house, a greenlight in the Netherlands. More from Deadline Studiocanal Reveals First Images & Details For Gilles De Maistre's Sahara-Set 'The Desert Child' Ahead Of EFM Launch 'Bergerac': Euro Pubcasters Buy Detective Drama Reimagining Ahead Of London TV Screenings Banijay Entertainment Promotes Steve Matthews & Johannes Jensen In Global Scripted Rejig The deals mark the first international adaptations for the format, which was originally created by Banijay's Danish label Metronome for local broadcaster TV2 last year. The format sees celebrities embark on a transformational journey to master the ancient martial art of the Shaolin warrior monks. Under the guidance of two Shaolin masters, they face intense trials that test their mental and physical boundaries. In Denmark, where Season 1 surpassed its prime-time slot average by 31%, a second season is set to launch later this month. Banijay Belgium is behind local versions of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Hunted Fear Factor and travel format Starstruck, while SimpelZodiak has a slate including Good Luck Guys, Hunted, Survivor, SAS: Who Dares Wins, Temptation Island and fact-ent format Banged Up. 'Metronome's Shaolin Heroesis an adventure reality format unlike any other, taking the audience on an immersive and transformational journey,' said Isabelle Dams, Managing Director at Banijay Belgium. 'Bringing this unique format to Belgium with VTM is an exciting step, and we know viewers will be enticed by its intensity.' Justine Huffmeijer, Managing Director at SimpelZodiak, added: 'Shaolin Heroes is a bold and unique format which respectfully highlights the Shaolin tradition. Enjoying a solid performance in Denmark, we are eager to launch the Dutch version and watch these celebrities embark on this challenging, yet rewarding experience.' Shaolin Heroes was a Deadline Hot One for MIPCOM in October, with Banijay's Chief Creative Officer, Development, James Townley saying Townley it had 'all the makings of a traveling success' thanks to 'responsible story-making at its heart, relatable celebrities and authentic representation of the Shaolin community, paired with stunning visual effects and the production know-how of our teams.' Looks like we picked well. 'This premium adventure reality series is a testament to the creativity and ambition of the Metronome team, blending stunning scenery and human endurance,' said Tina Christensen, Managing Director at Metronome today 'Shaolin Heroes has all the key elements to captivate global audiences and it's exciting to see this original format expanding its international footprint, while returning here in Denmark for another thrilling season.' The deal comes ahead of Banijay's London TV Screenings event later this month. Best of Deadline 'Severance' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Land On Apple TV+? 'Captain America: Brave New World' Primer: What To Remember Ahead Of The First Marvel Film Of 2025 The 25 Highest-Grossing Animated Films Of All Time At The Box Office
