Pricing Strategy and Profitability Analysis for a SaaS Platform Example SaaS Platform: EasyChair Important Note: Please use EasyChair as the SaaS platform for this case study. Analyses based on other platforms will not be considered during evaluation. Step 1: Pricing Strategy & Cost Estimation You are required to design a logical and structured pricing strategy. Clearly explain how you arrive at the final selling price. 1. Cost Estimation (Project Cost Breakdown) Estimate the total project cost, considering (but not limited to): Manpower Cost o Product management o Software development o QA/testing o Support & operations Third-Party & Technology Costs o Cloud infrastructure (AWS/Azure) o Tools & licenses (MS Suite, analytics tools etc.) Fixed & Variable Costs Legal & Compliance Costs Marketing & Sales Costs SG&A Costs (Sales, General & Administrative) After-Sales Support & Maintenance Costs Miscellaneous & Contingency Costs Alternative Cost Scenarios (best case / realistic / worst case) Assumptions must be clearly stated and logically justified. 2. Pricing Model & Selling Price Define the pricing model o Subscription-based o Cost per user o Tiered pricing o Hybrid model (if applicable) Derive the final selling price Explain why this pricing model is suitable for the platform and market Step 2: Profitability & Business Metrics Perform a profitability analysis and clearly explain the logic. Key KPIs to include: Revenue Turnover Gross Margin & Net Margin (estimated) ROI (Return on Investment) Also present: Estimated customer base Expected margins Scalability of the business model Step 3: Business Model Overview Briefly explain: Current or proposed sales/business model Target customers Value proposition Monetization strategy Step 4: Presentation Requirements Maximum 10 core slides with clear message Additional backup slides allowed for explanation Slides must be: o Clear o Sharp statements and facts o Logic-driven o Well-structured Step 5: Interactive Dashboard (Mandatory) You must create a functional and interactive dashboard covering: Pricing strategy Cost structure Profitability KPIs (Revenue, ROI, Margins, etc.) Dashboard Expectations: Must be interactive Must be demonstrable Focus on logic, structure, and usability Must be user friendly Preferred Tools: Python Power BI Excel Any other user-friendly tool You may also build your own tool The dashboard must be accessible