What was said
What this says
As at Fri 9 Oct 2026Chief Executive Asif Rauf will not sign until the figure is in writing and a trial view on Cottingley Software's own data is done. Holly Garside champions it. Signing before the end of November depends on the trial.
What happened: Tom Ashdown put a Growth subscription to Asif and Holly. Asif asked for the number, the term and the proof, and Tom confirmed none of them from memory.
Customer view: Holly says the usage view is not built yet and she wants to see it before committing. Asif said Tom had been straight with him so far.
Commercial: Tom said the deal sits at sixty-two thousand on BG-Demo's side. Neither the exact split nor the contract length was confirmed, so it is an open figure, not a quote.
Watch: Holly wants someone from finance close to the figures, and Asif said he would sort that. Asif asked for the written terms to be sent to him directly.
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 figure and contract terms to Asif Rauf directly and to Holly.
- Tom Ashdown to get the trial booked with the solutions team that week.
- Holly Garside to own the trial on the customer side and bring in someone from finance.
Risks
As at Fri 9 Oct 2026- The Chief Executive will not sign until the written figure and the trial are both delivered.
- The exact price split and contract length were not confirmed on the call.
- The timetable of signing before the end of November depends on the trial going well.
Opportunities
As at Fri 9 Oct 2026- A Growth subscription covering renewals and ticket work for several teams, with Holly Garside as champion.
- A trial view on the customer's own data can show renewals against tickets and usage on one screen.
Transcript
- Tom AshdownMorning Holly, morning Asif. Can you both hear me? Good.
- Holly GarsideMorning Tom. Yes, all good. Asif's just dialling in, he had another call.
- Asif RaufMorning. Sorry. Carry on, I've got about thirty minutes.
- Tom AshdownThanks Asif. Holly, do you want to start with the renewal list or with what you're deciding?
- Holly GarsideLet's start with the decision, since Asif's here. Then the detail.
- Asif RaufGood. Tom, what am I actually buying? Keep it short.
- Tom AshdownYou're buying a Growth subscription, which covers several teams. Renewals and ticket work sit on it, and the connectors cover your core systems.
- Asif RaufAnd what's the number?
- Tom AshdownThe deal's sitting at sixty-two thousand on our side. I'd rather not quote from memory, so I'll confirm the exact split in writing.
- Asif RaufRight. Is sixty-two the whole thing, or does it carry on after the first year?
- Tom AshdownI'm not going to guess that, Asif. I'll confirm what's one-off and what's ongoing, and send it to you and Holly.
- Asif RaufFine. That's the bit I need. Holly, what's the cost to us if it doesn't work?
- Holly GarsideGood question. Honestly, the cost is the team's time, and that's what I'd want to measure. We're tracking renewals by hand already.
- Asif RaufSo what does the usage say today? Not what you think it says.
- Holly GarsideFair. We've got the tickets and the renewal dates, but the usage view isn't built yet. That's what I want to see before we commit.
- Tom AshdownThat's why the demo's worth it. You'd see renewals against tickets and usage on one screen.
- Asif RaufHm. I'm not signing off on something I can't see working. Can we do a trial view on our data?
- Tom AshdownYes. Our solutions team can set up a trial view on your data before the order form, and Holly and I can plan that.
- Holly GarsideThat's sensible. I'd want that before my chief executive commits to anything, so yes.
- Asif RaufGood. Holly, you're the champion, so you'll own it on our side?
- Holly GarsideI will. I'm happy to own the renewals, and I'd like someone in finance close to the figures.
- Asif RaufI'll sort finance. Tom, I'm not signing anything until the figure is in writing and the trial's done.
- Tom AshdownCompletely fair. You'll have both in writing.
- Asif RaufRight. Contract length and termination. Is it the usual?
- Tom AshdownOur standard terms apply and the order form sets the length. I'll confirm the exact terms in writing rather than give you a number now.
- Asif RaufThat's the same answer I'd give. Fine.
- Holly GarsideLet's keep moving. Tom, what does the trial look like in practice?
- Tom AshdownWe'd pick two or three agencies, load the data, and check the answers against what your team already knows. Then we review it together.
- Asif RaufWho on your side does the setting up? I don't want to find that out at the wrong moment.
- Tom AshdownOur solutions team does the set-up, and I'd be the named contact on the commercial side.
- Asif RaufGood. Tom, you've been straight with me so far, I'll say that.
- Tom AshdownThanks, Asif. I'd rather be slow and right.
- Holly GarsideNow the timetable. We'd like it signed before the end of November, if the trial goes well.
- Asif RaufAmbitious. Let's see the trial first.
- Tom AshdownAgreed. I'll get the trial booked this week and the written figure to you after this.
- Asif RaufOne more thing. Who else in the group would need to see the renewal list?
- Holly GarsideOperations, mainly. I'll keep it to my team for now.
- Asif RaufKeep it there. Right, I need to go in a minute.
- Tom AshdownSo to recap. The written figure and contract terms go to you both, the trial set-up is with Holly, and we review after that.
- Asif RaufYes. Send it to me directly, not via the team.
- Tom AshdownWill do, Asif. Thanks for your time.
- Asif RaufThank you. Goodbye.
- Holly GarsideThanks both. Speak soon.
- Tom AshdownCheers Holly. Speak soon.