CUSTOMER CASE STUDY TEMPLATE NOTES Customer case studies

CUSTOMER CASE STUDY TEMPLATE NOTES Customer case studies provide potential customers with insight into how another company benefited from your solution. This presentation increases the credibility of your solution and is an indirect customer reference. Once uploaded to OCP Catalog, it may be used by Microsoft sellers to better understand your solution’s value proposition and to pitch your solution to their customers. This template and guidance should make it easy for you to rapidly build a quality case study. You may already have a case study that delivers on this purpose, which you may use instead. Compare your existing case study to this template and guidance to improve the positioning of your solution. To be included in the OCP Catalog, this case study may not be more than 2 -4 pages. Each slide contains place-holder text that explains how to create the case study. To the right of each slide, you will also see a text box that provides additional guidance relevant to that slide (you may need to view the slides at 80% to see these notes to the right). All visual aspects of this template can be adjusted to suit your needs (for example, feel free to replace photography, use different colors, rearrange logo and text placement, etc. ). You may also wish to present your case study in Word document format or by providing a link to a case study on your website instead of using this Power. Point template. PREPARATION Select a Case Study Candidate • Base your Case Study on an issue or topic that will have a significant impact on your audience. • When selecting a case study candidate, identify one that will tell a compelling story about your solution. Consider the following criteria: • Recognizable Brands. Choose a customer that is well-known and respected by your audience. You will benefit from the borrowed credibility. • Success Story. Identify a customer that can tell a story with impressive results. This can be a strong endorsement. • Product Knowledge. Select a customer who knows your solution well and understands how it works. This kind of customer can speak from a position of authority and will connect better with your audience. • Due-Diligence. It is helpful to hear from a customer who has went through the alternatives and selected your solution over the competitors’ offerings. • Obtain permission from the customer you wish to use in the case study. Get permission to use their story, brand names, logos, pictures, trademarks, quotes, and contact information. Ideally, you have this permission documented in writing on a signed release form. • Get customer signoff. When you have a draft of the case study ready, provide a copy to the customer, asking for feedback and edits. Then when you have the final draft prepared, request their final approval.

CUSTOMER CASE STUDY TEMPLATE PREPARATION (continued) Gather Information Conduct an interview which should include a series of custom questions related to the customer's experience with your solution. The interview will yield significantly better results if you have the customer complete a questionnaire in advance so you can better plan the interview. Here are some sample questions to consider: • What challenges or problems were you experiencing before using our solution? • How did you hear about our solution? • What were your goals in using the solution? • How did our solution compare to the competitors’ offerings? • Describe your purchase decision-making process – the buyer’s journey? • How have you benefited from using our solution? (Where it makes sense, also ask for relevant data. ) BEST PRACTICES • Tailor your content to Microsoft sellers and potential new customers/partners. Speak directly to your target audience and use an active, engaging voice. • Stick to two or three easy-to-read fonts (minimum 12 point). Use consistent color palette throughout. • Use high-resolution (minimum 96 pixels per inch for online viewing) graphics and images. • Be concise – avoid run-on. Use formatting to convey the information quickly and with minimal effort from the reader. • Include quantifiable results to underscore the value your solution delivered. Consider including charts, tables, figures, and statistics. • Insert quotes from customers or partners, using names and titles (with permission). • Run a grammar and spelling checker on your content. Test your links to ensure they direct to the correct web pages or content. If you need some examples to get the creative juices flowing, view Microsoft customer case studies. Delete this notes slide once your presentation is complete.

[Your Company Logo] Customer: [Customer Name] [Customer City. State. Country] Industry: [Customer Industry] Needs Expressed: · · [Need #1] [Need #2] Need #3] Need #4] Benefits Realized: · · [Benefit #1] [Benefit #2] [Benefit #3] [Benefit #4] [Your Company Name] [Your Solution Name] [Customer Name] Case Study: [Main Benefit Delivered] [Customer Logo] [Benefit Statement. The goal of this section is to create a better understanding of the company's challenges and goals. Sample topics might include: • How long have they been in business? • How many employees do they have? • What were some of the objectives before implementing the solution? ] Customer Story Situation [or Problem] [The goal of this section is to create a better understanding of the company's challenges and goals. Sample topics might include: • How long have they been in business? • How many employees do they have? • What were some of the objectives before implementing the solution? ] [A 2 -3 paragraph description of the customer's challenges, prior to using your product or service. This section should also include the goals that the customer set out to achieve. ] Background [A 2 -4 sentence summary of the entire story. You'll want to follow it with 2 -3 bullet points that display metrics showcasing success. ] Learn More þ [Your Website] Contact Us: * [Your Email] ( [Your Phone] © 2018 [Company Name] • [Bullet #1] Vestibulum scelerisque tincidunt. Nullam ornare ut orci feugiat bibendum. Vestibulum scelerisque tincidunt. Donec tempor, erat vitae vulputate facilisis, nisl enim porta lectus, eu tempor mauris enim ut felis. Nullam ornare ut orci feugiat bibendum. Vestibulum scelerisque tincidunt. • gravida, lectus vel maximus • Etiam luctus eros ullamcorper, rhoncus risus • Sed lobortis vulputate lobortis. Sed maximus sagittis auctor. Morbi nibh ex, accumsan eget. Donec tempor, erat vitae vulputate facilisis, nisl enim porta lectus, eu tempor mauris enim ut felis. Nullam ornare ut orci feugiat bibendum. Vestibulum scelerisque tincidunt.

[Your Company Name] [Your Solution Name] [Your Company Logo] [Customer Case Study: Name] [Main Benefit Delivered] [Customer Logo] Solution [Describe the recommended solution. This should be a 2 -3 paragraph section, describing how your product or service provided a solution to their problem. ] • A short testimonial that proves how your solution specifically impacted customer and it helped achieve goals. Include numbers to quantify your contributions. • Supporting Visuals or Quotes: Pick one or two powerful quotes and/or a visual that supports the story you are telling. ] Solution in Action [The goal of this section is to better understand how the customer is using your product or service. Sample topics might include: • Is there a aspect of the product or service that you rely on most? Donec tempor, erat vitae vulputate facilisis, nisl enim porta lectus, eu tempor mauris enim ut felis. Nullam ornare ut orci feugiat bibendum. Vestibulum scelerisque tincidunt. Implementation [The focus here should be placed on the customer's experience during the execution process. You might cover topics like: • How long it took to get up and running? • Who was involved in the process? • Were expectations met? • Who is using the product or service? ]

[Your Company Name] [Your Solution Name] [Your Company Logo] [Customer Case Study: Name] [Main Benefit Delivered] [Customer Logo] dum. Vestibulum scelerisque tincidunt. Donec tempor, erat vitae vulputate facilisis, nisl enim porta lectus, eu tempor mauris enim ut felis. Nullam ornare ut orci feugiat bibendum. Vestibulum scelerisque tincidunt. Results [In this section, you want to uncover significant measurable outcomes. Sample topics might include: • How the product or service is helping save time and increase productivity? • In what ways does the solution enhance your competitive advantage? • Specific metrics that show success. ] Donec tempor, erat vitae vulputate facilisis, nisl enim porta lectus, eu tempor mauris enim ut felis. Nullam ornare ut orci feugiat bibendum. Vestibulum scelerisque tincidunt. • gravida, lectus vel maximus • Etiam luctus eros ullamcorper, rhoncus risus • Sed lobortis vulputate lobortis. Sed maximus sagittis auctor. Morbi nibh ex, accumsan eget. • Vivamus id leo metus. In eu mauris orci. Nullam varius eleifend enim et ultricies. Maecenas finibus. • Etiam luctus eros ullamcorper, rhoncus risus Donec tempor, erat vitae vulputate facilisis, nisl enim porta lectus, eu tempor mauris enim ut felis. Nullam ornare ut orci feugiat bibendum. Vestibulum scelerisque tincidunt. [Include a call to action to motivate potential customers to contact you]