ML Retention Prediction Model for Subscriber Churn

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Solution Overview

Problem

Subscription-based services face challenges in accurately predicting subscriber retention and churn, particularly for newer subscribers, due to insufficient training data and understanding which subscriber data impacts retention likelihood, leading to ineffective retention strategies.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system using a machine learning classification model trained with historic subscriber data to generate predicted likelihoods of retention for current subscribers, including binning predictions and identifying adjustable behavior indicators to improve retention chances through targeted actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a machine learning model is trained with limited historic subscriber data, then the model can be deployed quickly, but the prediction accuracy for subscriber retention is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprediction accuracyVSAvoidtraining data volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously collecting and storing subscriber data in advance, creating a comprehensive data repository before prediction is needed. This allows the model to access sufficient training data when making retention predictions, resolving the contradiction between having enough training data and deployment readiness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the prediction task by creating separate machine learning models for different subscriber cohorts (e.g., new subscribers vs. established subscribers). Each model is trained on specifically relevant historic data, improving prediction accuracy for each segment while efficiently utilizing the available training data volume

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If generic retention strategies are applied to all subscribers, then implementation is simple, but retention effectiveness is low due to lack of personalization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretention effectivenessVSAvoidstrategy complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by generating personalized retention strategies tailored to each subscriber's specific characteristics, behavior patterns, and predicted churn risk. Instead of uniform treatment, each subscriber receives customized interventions based on their individual profile, thereby improving retention effectiveness without requiring overly complex manual processes through automated ML-driven personalization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive subscriber data is collected to improve prediction accuracy, then more features are available for modeling, but data privacy concerns and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodel feature completenessVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the most relevant and high-impact features from the comprehensive subscriber data for model training. By identifying and extracting key predictive features (such as engagement metrics, payment history, and usage patterns) while excluding less relevant data, the system maintains prediction accuracy while reducing processing complexity and privacy concerns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4156065A1Subscriber retention and future action prediction
Publication Date: 2023.03.29 INTUIT INC
  • EP4156065A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4156065A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4156065A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods of subscriber retention analysis are disclosed. A system is configured to obtain an instance of a current subscriber data for the first current subscriber subscribed to a product for a first amount of time and configured to provide the first instance of the current subscriber data to a machine learning (ML) classification model. Training the ML classification model is based on a plurality of data sets as training data. Each data set includes an instance of historic subscriber data over the first amount of time of a subscription for a historic subscriber. The system is also configured to generate, using the ML classification model, a predicted likelihood in retaining the first current subscriber based on the first instance of the current subscriber data.