What was said
What this says
As at Fri 9 Oct 2026Tom Ashdown walked Ovenden Software's Chief Executive through a Growth tier proposal totalling £52k. Duncan Greenwood asked about commitment, risk and discount, mentioned a cheaper quote from elsewhere, and wants terms in writing.
What happened: On 9 Apr 2024 Tom presented the Growth tier proposal for one team, with set-up, to Louise Sutcliffe and Duncan Greenwood. The total was £52k, and Tom would not give the split between set-up and yearly fee from memory.
Customer view: Duncan said he wants to know what they are signing and what it costs. He mentioned a cheaper quote from someone else last year, and may bring in his finance director.
Commercial: Terms stated were an annual subscription paid up front with thirty-day notice on changes. No discount was offered, and Tom said any discount would be dated in the written proposal.
Watch: Louise said the ticket and usage view is the part she would miss most. The evidence does not show the competitor or whether the proposal was signed.
Themes
As at Fri 9 Oct 2026Who was there
BG-Demo
Them
Follow-up
Next steps
As at Fri 9 Oct 2026- Tom Ashdown to send the written proposal by the end of that week, with the split, terms and any dated discount.
- Tom Ashdown to arrange a short call after Duncan Greenwood and Louise Sutcliffe have read it.
Risks
As at Fri 9 Oct 2026- Duncan cited a cheaper quote from another provider last year, and price may be challenged.
- The split between set-up and yearly fee was not given on the call, so the £51,600 total could be misread as a yearly figure.
Opportunities
As at Fri 9 Oct 2026- Louise values the ticket and usage view most, which supports the Growth tier case.
- Starting with one team leaves room to add teams or users later.
Transcript
- Tom AshdownAfternoon both, thanks for making the time. Louise, how did the demo land with the team?
- Louise SutcliffeReally well, honestly. Our support operations person has been going through the ticket side ever since. He's got a list of questions.
- Tom AshdownBrilliant. Duncan, you'll want the bit about cost and commitments, I'd guess?
- Duncan GreenwoodI'd like to know what we're signing and what it costs, yes. Then I'll decide whether to bring my finance director in.
- Tom AshdownSounds right. Let me share the proposal. It's the Growth tier, for one team, with the set-up.
- Duncan GreenwoodGo on, then.
- Tom AshdownSo the total on the proposal is £51,600. I'd like to confirm the split between the set-up and the yearly fee in writing, rather than guess it from memory.
- Duncan GreenwoodSo is that a year, or the total?
- Tom AshdownIt's the total on the proposal. I don't want you to take a yearly figure away from this call that turns out to be wrong.
- Duncan GreenwoodFair enough. Can I ask what it's based on? We had a quote from someone else last year that looked cheaper.
- Tom AshdownI'd rather not compare myself to a quote I haven't seen. What I can say is that the main thing for you is the ticket and usage view, which is what Louise and the team have been asking about.
- Louise SutcliffeYes, and that's the part I'd miss most if we didn't have it.
- Duncan GreenwoodOkay. What's the commitment, then? How long are we tied in?
- Tom AshdownThe standard terms are an annual subscription, paid up front, with thirty-day notice on changes. I'll put the detail in the written proposal so it's all in one place.
- Duncan GreenwoodAnnual up front, I'll take that. What's the risk if the first few months don't go well?
- Tom AshdownHonest answer, that's why we start with one team and the implementation has a clear plan. If it isn't working, we'd sit down and look at it together before anything else.
- Duncan GreenwoodFine. I'd like that written down too.
- Tom AshdownAbsolutely. No drama.
- Louise SutcliffeCan I ask about the team? Who'd need training? I don't want to lose the momentum.
- Tom AshdownGood question. It's your team leads first, then the rest. Your support operations person will be a key user on the ticket side, so he'll want the onboarding early.
- Louise SutcliffeYes, that's fine. I'll make sure he's in the first session.
- Duncan GreenwoodRight. Next steps: we get the proposal, we review it, and then what? I want a clear timeline.
- Tom AshdownI'll send the written proposal by the end of the week, with the split and the terms. You review it, then we agree a start date. The implementation is the bit that needs your team's time, so we'd want that booked in early.
- Duncan GreenwoodAnd who's my contact day to day?
- Tom AshdownI'm your contact for the commercial side. After go-live there's one named person on the customer success side who'll look after the day to day, and I'll introduce them properly before we sign.
- Duncan GreenwoodGood. Last question, is there a discount?
- Tom AshdownI'm not going to put a discount on the table today without knowing the terms are right. If there is one, it'll be in the written proposal, and it'll have a date on it.
- Duncan GreenwoodFair. Send it over, and we'll see.
- Louise SutcliffeThanks, Tom. This has been really helpful.
- Tom AshdownPleasure. Leave it with me, and I'll chase by the end of the week if I haven't heard.
- Duncan GreenwoodGood. Thanks, both.
- Tom AshdownJust to close the loop before I go: proposal by the end of the week, split and terms in it, and a short call once you've read it.
- Louise SutcliffeSounds good. I'll be in touch once the team's had a look.
- Duncan GreenwoodFine. Goodbye.
- Tom AshdownCheers, all. Bye.