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Why modernize your subscription business?

by | Sep 9, 2022 | Applications & Technology, Subscription Billing and Revenue Management

The subscription economy is a constantly evolving space. Earlier, subscription models were mostly restricted to magazines, newspapers, utilities, and telecommunication services. But, subscription offerings have grown exponentially over the years. Today, a robust subscription management platform is critical to start growing your subscription business. And, a Zuora partner is the rest you need to bring out the best from the same.

The global subscription and billing management market is expected to reach $10.5 billion by 2025.

Technology has been a game-changer in how subscription businesses are managed worldwide. It has transformed how recurring revenue businesses monetize billing and streamline revenue. More and more businesses are digitizing their subscription activities today. So in times such as these, it becomes pertinent to know: how to modernize my subscription business. In other words, it becomes pertinent to zero in on a subscription management platform.

Read the case study: Estuate modernizes subscription services of a supply-chain-risk-management global leader
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How to modernize your subscription business?

  1.  Engage the power of e-commerce
  2. Make personalized offerings
  3.  Adopt a faster quote-to-cash mechanism
  4. Implement seamless subscription billing
  5.  Automate subscription revenue generation
  6.  Improve payment mechanisms
  7. Leverage enhanced analytics

1. Engage the power of e-commerce

The global subscription e-commerce market size is expected to reach $904.2 billion by 2026. Subscription businesses are entering into e-commerce through web-based subscription sites and mobile applications. Online stores allow businesses to offer more products and services and engage more customers. This results in a win-win situation for both sellers and buyers. Being a proven method for lead generation, this is an excellent way to modernize subscription businesses. A Zuora partner can help get you there via synchronized adaptations.

2. Make personalized offerings

Technology has made subscription businesses highly flexible. Now you can offer weekly, monthly, or annual subscriptions for your products and services based on customer preferences. Also, it is much easier today to cancel, renew, or upgrade subscriptions anytime. By automating subscription management, you modernize your subscription business. You don’t have to worry about keeping a track of your customer’s preferences or changes in plans. It results in higher customer satisfaction as well as simplicity in operations.

Today’s subscription market is a high-competition one. Here are some handy tips to get robust ROI from your subscription business despite the changing field dynamics.

3. Adopt a faster Quote-to-Cash mechanism

Traditional subscription models involve lengthy and time-consuming processes to convert orders to cash. Modern subscription management solutions automate your Quote-to-Cash process. It helps you manage orders, leverage workflows, and join the dots faster from order to cash. This in turn enables faster revenue recognition.

Watch: Overview of Zuora: The world’s only subscription Order-to-Cash platform

4. Implement seamless subscription billing

New-age subscription models are designed to manage recurring billings effectively within a single platform. Automated subscription management helps you generate invoices, notify customers, deduct payments, and customize subscriptions as required. Also, they allow you to manage a range of product categories and billing cycles effortlessly with end-to-end subscription management features.

A PCI-DSS-compliant Zuora partner can bring forth synchronization in your billing and revenue operations while simultaneously adhering to the payment card industry regulations. It a smart move to modernize your subscription business with industry-efficient operations.

A subscription management platform can help you achieve all of these and more.

5. Automate subscription revenue generation

Easy revenue recognition speeds up ROI generation. A Zuora Revenue partner can help you automate your revenue operations. It helps you modernize all quarters of your revenue management process from consulting to deployment. This facilitates smooth audits of functional, technical, and conversion design documents. You can configure your revenue management systems and opt for inbound and outbound data integrations. A capable Zuora partner can also streamline incident tracking and issue resolution for you.

Read the case study: Estuate streamlines closing (accounting) and collection processes for Mindvalley
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6. Improve payment mechanisms

Gone are the days when you lost revenues because of failed payment mechanisms. Modern subscription platforms help you monetize your recurring billings and manage revenues effectively. Today, you can introduce multiple payment options and adopt more efficient payment gateways. You can also notify your customers immediately when a payment has failed and reprocess it in time.

7. Leverage enhanced analytics

Traditional subscription models lack a mechanism for tracking daily operations and analyzing business performance. With the best practices in subscription management, you can generate custom reports, measure the performance of individual product lines, and improve decision-making. With advanced analytics, you can modernize your subscription business, channel your marketing strategies, and improve performance to achieve business goals efficiently.

Zuora is the world’s leading subscription management platform

Zuora is the subscription economy pioneer and is the most robust subscription management platform in the world. Choosing a Zuora partner for streamlining your subscription business is an ROI-driving decision.

Estuate is the most trusted Zuora implementation partner

We at Estuate host a dedicated Zuora center of excellence. We are PCI-DSS compliant. And, our Zuora-certified experts are champions in driving digital transformation in subscription businesses across verticals, around the world. Be it for Quote-to-Cash management needs or recurring revenue automation support, we are equipped to modernize your subscription business. We are Zuora’s most trusted consulting and implementation partner.

Watch: Seamless subscription management with Estuate’s Quote-to-Cash solutions

Check out our Zuora Billing services, visit us here

For our Zuora Revenue solutions, drop in here

So if you need any help in archiving your ERP data, know that we’re just this click away.

What are you doing to make your subscription business model stand out? Do you think a subscription platform enabler can help? Let us know on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. We would love to hear from you!

Download the FREE E-book – The Subscription Economy: An Executive Overview
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Selling subscription services online? Pro tips to follow!

by | Jun 3, 2022 | Applications & Technology, Subscription Billing and Revenue Management

The art of selling subscription services online has come a long way. Consumers in today’s subscription economy are more aware than ever before. That’s in part because millennials make up a large portion of the consumer-facing market. Being tech-savvy and financially smart, they prefer the convenience of use over ownership any day. So if you want to spur your recurring revenue business growth, understanding today’s consumer psyche is paramount. And say, you are running your subscription business through a platform like Zuora, make sure to plug in a reliable Zuora billing and revenue partner. Brownie points if this Zuora partner is compliant with PCI-DSS.

The subscription economy is currently worth $275bn USD. Over the past decade, the subscription business model has shown 5-8x faster growth vis-à-vis the traditional revenue models. No wonder they say that the subscription economy is on the rise. But this also means that the timing is conducive to boost your recurring revenue business growth. The key lies in identifying the channels right.

Read: Reasons to modernize your subscription business

What are the best tips for selling subscriptions online?

  1.  Make your customers see value
  2. Make your pricing flexible
  3.  Make friends with freemiums
  4.  Make smart use of social media
  5.  Don’t make it too salesy
  6.  Don’t forget about buyer experience
  7.  Don’t put off customer service

Like we said at the very onset, the new-age customer is smart. With hordes of options all around offering a similar bundle of conveniences, the interest span of the average customer is dangerously short today. From clicking to reordering, a smooth experience is non-negotiable for today’s buyer experience. This necessitates a smooth quote-to-cash process for you to grow at scale. Here is what you can do:

  • Leverage a robust subscription platform handler (if you use Zuora subscription solutions, then it must be a Zuora billing and revenue partner company)
  • Ensure the compliance-fitment of the Zuora partner (a PCI-DSS compliant Zuora partner is deemed best)
Read: Why do subscription businesses need a PCI-DSS compliant IT partner?

The world of throttling competition in subscription commerce may also lure you to enter the infamous ‘race to the bottom’. You start lowering your prices to attract new buyers, and at some point, you will have to start compromising on quality. But, no recurring revenue businesses can see growth in the face of such qualitative and quantitative losses. The way out? Apply a few tricks to the way you sell subscription services online. Here is how you can get started:

1. Make the customers see value in your subscription packages

Do you know how your customers perceive your services? Do you know their exact pain points? Creating and analyzing the ideal buyer persona can help you with the answers. With soaring subscription commerce, consumers are becoming increasingly subscription-curious. They try and test offerings from various subscription providers and cancel those that fail to thrill. So, analyze what extra value you can provide that your competitors do not – and add the same to your bundle.

When it comes to selling subscriptions and signing-up customers online, the wind also blows in the direction of value bundling. Create value-for-money combinations of complementary products and services using your existing offerings.

2. Make pricing flexible for selling subscriptions online

Consumers today want flexible pricing options, custom payment methods, multiple billing frequencies, and everything that suits their convenience. Especially to satisfy the needs of millennials and bridge millennials, offer different price plans and convenient billing cycles. A sturdy Zuora billing and revenue partner company can help scale your recurring revenue business growth. A PCI-DSS compliant Zuora partner will further ensure the stringent safety of your credit card data.

Read: the 360-degree approach to online retail success

3. Make friends with freemiums for recurring revenue

Who doesn’t like free stuff? To put the recurring in your recurring revenue business, you first need to build a solid foundation for why your customers should stick with you. Pull them in first by offering a freemium strategy. If they see the value you offer as personal and unique, they will most likely convert. Almost 80% of retail subscribers who converted during the early pandemic period were lured by the availability of the first-free-trial option.

Recently, the Financial Times conducted an experiment to test the power of freemiums. It reduced the number of free articles for non-subscribers from 3 to 0. Website visits dropped by 30% and there was a marked reduction in new subscribers. So, regardless of the power of your brand and the potential benefits, selling subscription services online today needs freemiums to be a regular feature.

Master the art of selling subscription services online
The top tips for increasing your recurring revenue subscriber base

4. Make smart and skillful use of social media platforms

The world today lives and breathes social media. With competition intensifying, it’s no longer enough to just have a profile on digital channels; you need to gain a foothold there. Though the conversion rate from social media may not be impressive, you can use this marketing channel to draw your target market closer. Create awareness and engage with your audience to keep your offerings at the top of the consumers’ mind. Be it informational blog posts or updates about your subscription packages, staying active on social media is synonymous with staying relevant today. Recurring revenue business growth can get truly recurring if social media is utilized skillfully.

5. Sell subscriptions but don’t make it too salesy

Everyone is selling something today. Ask yourself: how do you stand out? Shifting from a transactional mindset to a value-driven mindset needs a culture change altogether. It may sound confusing, but when selling subscription services online, do not focus entirely on selling! Create value instead – be it in terms of customer experience or customized offerings or something else you see fit. This will not only help you acquire new subscribers but also retain the existing ones for the long term.

Citing another example pertaining to the Financial Times: with the shift of focus from mainstream news from print to digital media, FT needed to improve its value proposition for its user base. The company tied up with a European media organization to bring in more customer-centricity. This saw a 29% rise in subscriber base with a 6-month timeline.

6. Sell subscriptions but don’t forget about buyer experience

A seamless buying experience will always be an unmatched quality. From easy-to-use UIs to guest checkout options, always look for adding that extra convenience for your users. Turn these users into subscribers by empowering them with the option to start, restart, pause, and even edit their subscription purchases.

According to a SUBTA study, the modern subscriber is highly focused on getting exclusive access. People sign up when they find high-quality content that is not available anywhere else. For growing your recurring revenue business, revaluate your present offerings and see if such capabilities can be added.

7. Sell subscription but don’t put off customer service

As competition soars in the market, a tiny bad experience can be detrimental to your recurring revenue business growth. Always communicate your product/service-related updates, post detailed guarantee and cancelation policies, and make your privacy policy very clear. Train your CRM team to go beyond the minimum and build relationships with the clients. Selling subscriptions online today demands emotional engagement. It increases the lifetime value (LTV) of your products/services.

Understandably, the subscription economy is expanding rapidly with a rise in both seller and buyer bases. Having a unique product/service bundle is the bare minimum today for spurring your recurring revenue business growth. You must ensure the entire experience you hand out – from the first site visit to the repeat order fulfillment – everything is squeaky clean. Platforms like Zuora can be the single touchpoint for your order-to-revenue process.

Zuora is the world’s leading subscription management platform

Reinvent your quote-to-cash and revenue management with the world’s most reliable subscription management platform. Leverage Zuora’s SaaS solutions for your recurring revenue business growth. The subscription economy evangelist has been simplifying subscription businesses worldwide since 2007. Join forces with a Zuora billing and revenue company to ace the art of selling subscription services online.

Read the e-book – The Subscription Economy: An Executive Overview

Estuate is a PCI-DSS compliant Zuora billing and revenue partner

We at Estuate host a dedicated Zuora center of excellence. We are proud to be the most trusted Zuora billing and revenue partner company. We have the following Zuora capabilities in our ambit:

  • Advisory Services:We help you transform your business – from strategy consulting to implementation – and provide expert guidance with tangible business benefits.
  • Implementation and integration services:Our experts help businesses connect their systems to the Zuora ecosystem and transition from traditional systems to subscription models.
  • Billing Revenue and operations:Our certified consultants have deep industry insight and proven experience with cloud billing solutions with a long track record of delivering Zuora solutions.

    • With over 400 Zuora implementations and extensive Zuora billing and revenue experience, we are successful in maintaining a CSAT level of 9.7 over the last 9+ years.

Watch: seamless subscription management with our Quote-to-Cash solutions

Do you know that we are also the first Zuora ecosystem partner to achieve the PCI-DSS certification? This accreditation underscores our already stringent security standards for protecting the customers’ credit card data.

To learn more about us, please visit our Zuora page here

What are you doing to make your subscription business model stand out? Do you think a subscription platform enabler can help? Let us know on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. We would love to hear from you!

Why do subscription businesses need a PCI-DSS compliant IT partner?

by | May 6, 2022 | Applications & Technology, Subscription Billing and Revenue Management

PCI-DSS compliant IT partner: A subscription economy growth catalyst
Security is no secret sauce – especially if you are one of today’s subscription businesses. It is probably the first thing your customers think of when they give you their payment data. What’s more, the data is often shared with third-party integrators who manage your subscription management platform. The smart save? Cue in credit card data security solutions with a PCI-DSS compliant IT partner. For instance, if you use Zuora for your subscription management needs, it’s smart to seek support from a Zuora implementation partner that is PCI-DSS compliant. The accredited IT firm will take care of your payment information security via its secure credit card processing. It’s that simple.

What does PCI-DSS compliance mean for an IT company working with credit card data?

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of stringent global security requirements to ensure the safety of credit card data. Any organization that handles, processes, stores, and/or transmits cardholder data must be PCI-DSS compliant.

PCI-DSS is administered by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), an autonomous body formed by five international banking moguls (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB).

In today’s subscription climate, businesses need a modern implementer for their subscription management platform. For top-notch solutions, this IT partner company needs to access your customer base’s credit card data. Herein, a PCI-DSS compliant IT partner can be key.

Zuora is the world’s leading subscription management platform. A PCI-DSS compliant Zuora implementation partner can be a game-changer for your subscription business.

What qualifies as tough credit card data security solutions?

PCI-DSS compliance is the single global standard for cardholder data safety. Any enterprise stamped with this accreditation is treated as a world-class provider of credit card data security solutions. Not to forget, this is a payment data security standard mandated by five major players in the international banking field. Hence, a PCI-DSS compliant IT partner is the sturdiest padlock you can find for ensuring your subscription payment data’s security. And in today’s subscription climate, a PCI-DSS compliant Zuora partner might just be what you are looking for.

PCI-DSS involves a rigorous twelve-step action plan. Organizations eyeing secure credit card processing and vying to be PCI-DSS compliant partners must meet the following requirements.

What are the twelve steps to becoming a PCI-DSS compliant partner?

1. Install and maintain a firewall configuration
2. Implement strong settings for passwords
3. Ensure the security of stored cardholder data
4. Encrypt data transmitted over public networks
5. Use anti-virus programs and update them regularly
6. Maintain and update all systems and applications
7. Limit access to cardholder data on a need-to-know basis
8. Assign a unique ID to each person with system access
9. Restrict physical access to payment information data
10. Track and monitor all network and cardholder data logs
11. Regularly audit security systems for vulnerabilities
12. Maintain an enterprise-wide information security policy

The ultimate goal of each of these steps is to ensure credit card data security. Here is a brief run-down:
1. Install and maintain a firewall configuration – Properly placed firewalls and router policies control incoming and outgoing data. To be PCI-DSS compliant, partners must install such configurations in, out, and around the card data environment.
2. Implement strong settings for passwords – Devices such as routers and POS systems typically ship with factory-set passwords and usernames. The manufacturer’s default settings are easily hackable, so a strong password configuration of all operating devices and systems is non-negotiable for secure credit card processing.
3. Ensure the security of stored cardholder data – Partners who wish to be PCI-DSS compliant must be clear about the scope, location, and retention period of the payment information data they intend to store. Data must also be truncated, tokenized, or encrypted using acclaimed algorithms (like AES-256, RSA 2048). For the safety of PAN card data, the partner should regularly run data discovery tools like PANscan or PIIscan.

These actionable insights on how to avoid data breaches can also come in handy.

4.  Encrypt data transmitted over public networks ­– Cardholder data is primarily passed to payment gateways and processors for transaction processing. TSH, SSH encryption, etc. can prevent the possibility of data theft and secure credit card processing.
5.  Use anti-virus programs and update them regularly – An up-to-date anti-virus routine helps keep malware at bay. Anti-virus and anti-malware programs on a PCI-DSS compliant partners site must always be active, using the latest versions, and generating timely logs.
6.  Maintain and update all systems and applications – PCI-DSS certification calls for applications regularly updated with the latest security patches. For secure credit card processing, all pathways in the PCI-DSS landscape – from browsers to operating systems to POS terminals – must be covered under the updates.
The 12-point requirement for a PCI-DSS compliant partner
Required actions to become a PCI-DSS compliant partner
7. Limit access to cardholder data on a need-to-know basis – Role-based access control (RBAC) must be in place in the PCI-DSS compliant partner’s ecosystem. Names of team members with access to data along with their respective roles must be documented.
8.  Assign a unique ID to each person with system access – All team members with organization-provided system access must have a unique and complex password. Remote employees must adhere to multi-factor authentication.
9.  Restrict physical access to payment information data – Physical pathways to locations where cardholder data resides must be secured using electronic access controls like CCTVs. A potential PCI-DSS compliant partner establishes electrical access controls to distinguish authorized employees from general employees and workplace visitors.
10. Track and monitor all network and cardholder data logs – All systems in the PCI-DSS landscape must have updated audit policies. They must also be connected to a centralized Syslog server. The latter must be reviewed daily to detect and address anomalies and ensure secure credit card processing.
11.  Regularly audit security systems for vulnerabilities – Security audits like wireless analyzer scans, quarterly examination of external IPs and domains (by PCI ASV) along with annual application & network penetration tests, and internal vulnerability scans must be an integral part of the PCI-DSS compliant partner’s security routine.
12. Maintain an enterprise-wide information security policy –The IT company’s information security policy must be reviewed annually and shared with all stakeholders. This will maintain the basis for secure credit card processing. Alongside, there should be an annual risk assessment identifying all critical assets, threats, and vulnerabilities.

Does your credit card data service provider really need PCI-DSS certification?

Yes, it does! Tying up with an IT partner known for the most secure processing of credit card data brings numerous benefits to your business table. A PCI-DSS compliant partner not only helps you build better customer trust, but also arrests data breaches, threats, and losses.

A PCI-DSS compliant Zuora partner that keeps itself updated with the latest industry trends on payment data security is the perfect fit. The partner must be aware of the evolution of credit card data security over the ages. Watch this video by PCI Security Standards Council for a perspective.

The stringent security checks mandated by PCI-DSS ensure holistic payment card data security. With subscription economy on the rise, this can be a trailblazer for your subscription business.

A modernized subscription business ultimately is the key to the world of customer engagement.

Estuate is the first-ever Zuora partner to receive the PCI-DSS certification

We are the first global system integrator in the Zuora ecosystem to receive PCI-DSS certification. Numerous businesses around the world rely on us for the security and governance of their data, including payment and credit card information. The PCI-DSS certification is an added layer of protection to ensure the secure processing of credit card data.

Ensuring compliance with PCI-DSS is one of the strategic initiatives of our Zuora practice team. Over the past 9+ years, this group of Zuora-certified consultants has driven 400+ successful Zuora implementations worldwide.

To reach our Zuora center of excellence, click here.

Check all our certifications in detail, click here

Does pairing up with a PCI-DSS compliant IT partner sound smart to you? What else do you look for in a subscription platform enabler? Let us know on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. We would love to hear from you!

Subscription Economy on the Rise: A Business Point of View

by | Jul 19, 2021 | Subscription Billing and Revenue Management

In the modern milieu, subscription business is the new gold rush. Thanks to the advent of a certain subscription economy, subscription billings and bookings have undergone revolutionary changes in recent times. Today, not only do customers have multiple service options to choose from, but businesses can also fall back on subscription revenue models for predictable and recurring revenue streams.

Let’s take a real-world example.

Imagine a day in the life of a typical consumer, Bob. Bob starts his day by quickly scanning headlines on his subscription news app. He then proceeds to pay his weekly fee for online grocery delivery. Next, it would be time for scheduling the day’s workout and meal plans on a health monitoring application. After this, he would dash for office on a subscription-based shuttle car.

No wonder, in today’s age of digitization, subscription models are everywhere.

Dawn of the Subscription Economy

This term coined by enterprise software company Zuora aptly captures the essence in which conventional pay-per-product services are increasingly shifting toward subscription-based revenue models. The subscription economy has disrupted the traditional way of doing business by paying close attention to how the modern consumer buys. So from streaming to healthcare to SaaS industries and beyond, subscription billing business has become today’s new normal.

And, digital technology has been its catalyst. Businesses can now swiftly process recurring payments without making colossal investments. In the wake of the subscription revenue model, exponential scale has become a reality. R&D is practically free; you just need to continually analyze the consumers’ behavioral patterns. Such servitization makes your business customer-centric leading to better engagements and higher margins in the long-run. So there are good reasons why you should modernize your subscription business as the iron has never been hotter.

However on the flip side, this also means that there are multiple players in the field today – often for similar products/services – competing against each other for grabbing (and retaining) the user’s attention.

In such a scenario, what can you possibly do to make your subscription business stand out?

Think Like Your Customer: Turn Users into Subscribers

The hallmark of a robust subscription revenue model lies in its value propositions. What would you like your existing and potential subscribers to think about your offerings?

The modern consumer is represented by a cohort of smart millennials. They continually compare experiences across the large number of monopolistic offerings. This behavior has in fact given rise to a class of ‘serial switchers’ – consumers who change brand preferences after a few bad interactions.

So to win the customer, you have to think like the customer. Read about these 7 great ways to sell subscription to millennials.

Consistency in the following areas can help in long-term retention:

  • Customer analytics – When consumers get used to agile and seamless subscriptions, they value them as a part of their daily lives. You need to fuse real-time data with AI and predictive analytics to keep on delivering up to the consumers’ expectations.
    Effective subscription management platforms can achieve this easily by maintaining a clean master data set procured by streamlining customer data with field telemetry, social intelligence, and real-time customer feedback.
  • Seamless experience – The subscription economy rides on the back of rich CX. Your software application needs to plug in a hassle-free CX – right from onboarding, adoption, retention, renewal, expansion to contextual recommendations.
    According to Harvard Business Review, a new customer acquisition is 5-25% costlier than retaining an existing one. So it is important that you expand your subscription business not only extensively by getting new subscribers, but also intensively by caring for the existing ones, and for this, stellar customer service is key.
  • Sustainable pricing – Subscribers can stop sticking around if you offer the same bundle of services as your competitor but at a higher price. This often triggers the infamous race to the bottom, where competitors try to undercut each other in terms of price while forgetting about quality altogether.
    The pricing must be profitable for you, but sustainable for your customers. The right assistance during your quote-2-cash process can help you in scaling up just right.
  • Cohesive KPIs – Effective customer management reflects in consistent KPIs. Opt for an enterprise solution that facilitates timely dashboards backed by product utilization, quality, and support metrics. Results must be easily interpretable for your technical and non-technical teams alike for measuring results across the value chain.
    Similarly, it is also important that your dashboard is customized as per your business needs. For instance, support-side metrics can be customer effort, tickets, time-to-resolution, survey scores, service requests, etc. Product and business metrics should also be monitored.
  • Robust architecture – All subscription models that succeed have one thing in common: they are in constant touch with their customers. Outdated legacy processes can often create a roadblock between you and your target segment. A digital transformation in terms of upgrading to a modern operating environment can streamline your traditional information silos.
    With a 360-degree view of real-time customer data, you would be empowered to address your customers’ concerns firsthand – and even predict their next move. With time, you will be also able to pair up your customer success teams with your sales team to promote cross-selling.

Stay Ahead of the Curve with Zuora CoE

Zuora Founder & CEO, Tien Tzuo, coined the term ‘Subscription Economy’ back in 2007. He then went on to build a highly acclaimed subscription management platform that can power any form of subscription business and solve the respective subscription billing structure, no matter how complex.

Grow your subscription business with a world-class subscription management and solution partner.

Estuate is Zuora’s Most Trusted Implementation Partner

In the realm of subscription economy, we offer the following customized services to businesses:

  • Advisory consultation
  • Zuora implementation & integration
  • Subscription billing & operation supervision
  • Quote-2-cash management

Our technical know-how in and around the subscription market reflects in our consistent KPIs. We leverage our in-house Zuora certified consultants to drive insightful decisions for businesses.

  • 380+ successful implementations
  • 250+ person-years of experience
  • 15+ innovative accelerators
  • Vast cross-industry expertise
  • Consistently high CSAT

So if you are looking to take your subscription business to the next level, we’re right here to help.


What’s your take on the subscription economy? Do you think it’s here to stay?

Is Blockchain the future of Retail?

by | Apr 10, 2018 | Digital Transformation, Subscription Billing and Revenue Management

Blockchain is turning out to be the biggest technology revolution of the decade. This article digs deeper into the concept of Blockchain and explains why it is a game-changer for the retail industry.

Blockchain and Bitcoin have been the biggest buzzwords in the market lately. There have been massive investments in Bitcoins at a breathtaking pace worldwide. It is today one of the most popular and widely explored financial instruments, with a global market value worth $8,409 as of April, 2018. However, despite the huge worldwide spending on Blockchains and Bitcoins, many of us still have our doubts and questions.

This article tries to simplify the whole concept of Blockchain and brings out its use cases beyond money transfer, especially in the retail industry.

What is this Blockchain? Blockchain is the technology behind Bitcoin. In simple words, Blockchain is a ledger or record of digital transactions; each record known as a “Block”. It is a distributed database that maintains a continuously growing list of data records, known as a “Chain”.

So, who can use Blockchain? Blockchain is an open source network of computers connected to carry out digital transactions using virtual currency like Bitcoins; so practically anybody with an internet connection can use Blockchain.

And how does it work? Let’s assume A wants to send some money to B digitally. He communicates the intention through to a peer-to-peer network using a Public Key. He adds money to a digital wallet (say Bitcoin) and allows the money to be sent using an encrypted (protected) digital signature. Once this information is received by the computers in the connected network, they verify and validate the transaction. Once approved, the money is moved to B.

But why all the hype? Blockchain is a revolutionary technology that is reshaping the world of finance. One of the prime reasons for its popularity is the fact that it is an open source technology that brings transparency to financial transactions. It reduces the possibility of fraud to a great extent. Also, it is a convenient and faster mode of carrying out transactions, compared to regular banking, which has its own limitations.

Is there more to it than money transfer? Absolutely! The Blockchain technology runs the world of cryptocurrency. But, it has several other uses beyond digital currency transfer. Some of the key industries, including banking, insurance, supply chain management, healthcare and retail are using Blockchain extensively for varied purposes.

How is Blockchain impacting Retail?
Blockchain is significantly changing the face of Retail. The retail industry is getting digitized every day with technology seeping into all its critical aspects. Here are 4 ways in which Blockchain is hugely influencing the retail industry.

Authenticity
Since consumers today do not settle for less, Blockchain helps retailers establish authenticity of their products in the market. The Chain system allows retailers to track down the product right from the point it was manufactured. It gives a clear picture of what materials were used, what steps went into producing a product and what measures were taken in the packaging too. Especially in an e-commerce set up, where consumers make a purchase only after a thorough research of a product, Blockchain ensures retailers offer only quality products to their customers.

Logistics
Whether it is a bulk order or single product, Blockchain is widely being used to track product shipment. Every logistical stage of a product’s journey including the information on who handled it, where and when in real time it is being transported can be visualized. It also results in reduced loss and damage of goods. Consumers too can track the movement of products they ordered online through mobile applications.

Payments
As mentioned before in this article, Blockchain enables easy, secure and fast payments. Retailers are using Blockchain to accept Bitcoin or Cryptocurrency payments, allowing them to carry out international transactions effectively. They are also widely using Blockchain to procure goods from overseas and make hassle-free, easy payments to global vendors.

Proof of Ownership
One of the biggest advantages of using Blockchain in retail is the fact that it establishes a proof of ownership, reducing the possibility of theft and misplacing of retail products. By tracking product information from the source of manufacture, till the point it reaches the end user, Blockchain allows retailers to ensure that the product reaches the rightful consumer through a proper channel of delivery, leading to improved customer satisfaction and branding.

The Blockchain market is growing at an alarming rate, and is expected to soar to $20 billion by 2025. It is one of the most disruptive technologies of the decade, and is here to stay for many more decades to come. How long until you embrace Blockchain to drive your business and achieve significant tangible benefits?

7 great ways to sell subscription to millennials

by | Dec 5, 2017 | Subscription Billing and Revenue Management

We live in a world where millennials form a major chunk of the consumer centric market. They’re technologically savvy and financially smart.  They prefer access to ownership and crave for convenience. And that’s why they’re totally attracted to subscription models. Today, 92% millennials have active subscriptions.

As much as they love subscribing for stuff, they’re not easy to please. With tons of similar products all around, attracting millennials to subscribe for you is a tough nut to crack. Moreover, with so many overwhelming alternatives, especially with ecommerce sites, it is difficult to ensure loyalty from a millennial for a long time. And, they come with extremely high expectations. They will not settle for anything ordinary. You have to be on your toes to keep them happy with your service.

However, bring value to the table, and they’ll be your most loyal and long term customers. In this article, we’ll discuss the 7 best ways to sell subscription to millennials.

1.     Offer value, not just a product or service

The consumer today is not impressed by what you’re selling, but by how your product or service is going to benefit him. Bring out the value for money in your offerings. Design a customer avatar, your ideal target market and define how he can benefit with your subscription. The more benefits or solutions you can offer, the more irresistible it is to subscribe for you.

2. Build relationships instead of pitching for sale

Building relationships is the best strategy in closing successful, long term sales. It becomes more crucial in a subscription business, because you want your customers to stick around. Millennials are too smart to avoid sales pitches. So if you want them to subscribe and stay loyal to you, do not rush to close the sale. Instead, take time to build a connection and then make your move.

3.     Flexible pricing options

Millennials seek convenience everywhere. They want flexible pricing options, custom payment methods, multiple billing frequencies, and everything that suits their convenience. To satisfy the needs of the millennial generation, offer different price plans and convenient billing cycles. Companies like Netflix and Zipcar follow flexible pricing strategy to keep their customers satisfied.

4.     Smart advertising on social media

The youth today wakes up to social media and feeds on it. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram are huge influencers. To boost your subscription business, you must have some social media presence. Smart and unique advertising on social media attracts a massive customer base, most of which are millennials.

5.     Easy renewals and updates

Today’s generation is time poor. It’s all about giving them an effortless experience while they sit back and enjoy your service. Make it easier for your customers to renew, update and upgrade to their subscriptions. You can go for a good subscription management software that will take care of all renewals, upgrades and cancellations effectively.

6.     Give away freebies

Give your millennial customers the privilege to use your products and services free of charge for a limited period. Let them try it before they buy it. If they love your product or service, there are thin chances that they would stop using it. Many businesses like Mailchimp and Amazon have significantly profited by adopting a freemium strategy.

7.     Focus on customer service

In a world where customers are flooded with alternatives for almost all services, the last thing you want to do is turn them off with poor customer support. Make sure your customer support team is capable of resolving customer complaints effectively, offer valuable suggestions and engage them in meaningful conversations. At the end of the day, the customer needs to be happy with you.

Millennial customers are intelligent, curious and cautious shoppers. They will only spend their time and money where they get the value they expect. Studies reveal that by 2020, the expected turnover from millennials is going to be over $2.4 trillion. Your subscription business can certainly soar high if you succeed in attracting millennial customers and continue to deliver excellent service in the long run.

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