Service Usage Estimation for Trial-to-Paid Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulty in accurately estimating charges for services after switching from a free trial version to a paid product version, especially when usage of associated services changes.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that acquires usage data from both the trial and paid versions, calculates estimated usage and charges based on defined relationships between services, and outputs this information to help users understand potential costs after switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If usage of associated services is assumed to remain unchanged after switching from trial to paid version, then estimation process is simple, but accuracy of estimated charges deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring usage data during the trial period before the actual switch to paid version. This preliminary data collection and analysis enables accurate prediction of post-switch usage patterns without requiring complex real-time calculations after the transition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from actual trial period usage data to continuously refine and update the estimated usage amounts. By comparing predicted usage with actual usage during the trial, the system adjusts its estimation model to improve accuracy for the paid period while maintaining a manageable process complexity.
2Device complexity
If trial version places restrictions on number of licenses and functions, then service complexity is reduced for trial, but user cannot accurately estimate total charges after switching
Solution Approach 1:
The system adds a new dimension of estimation by not only calculating charges for the trial service itself but also predicting charges for associated services that may be used after switching to paid version. This multi-dimensional approach provides comprehensive cost information that single-service estimation cannot deliver.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of usage patterns during the restricted trial period to predict usage in the unrestricted paid period. This preliminary action captures behavioral data that informs accurate charge estimation across all services, compensating for the limitations of trial restrictions.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to acquire a first usage of a first service by a user and a second usage of a second service in a first use mode in which the second service is trialed for free of charge by the user, the second service being associated with the first service, calculate, using the first usage and an amount of change in the usage of the first service, a first estimated usage of the first service by the user during a period after switching from the first use mode to a second use mode in which the second service is used for charge, the amount of change corresponding to use of the second service and being obtained based on the second usage in accordance with a defined relationship, and output information indicating a first estimated charge for the first service during the period and a second estimated charge for the second service during the period, the first estimated charge corresponding to the first estimated usage, the second estimated charge corresponding to the second usage.