AI as a Multiplier for Pricing with Emanuel Martonca

AI as a Multiplier for Pricing with Emanuel Martonca

Emanuel Martonca, founder of Soft Fight, reveals how agentic AI is solving one of the biggest challenges in IT services: coordinating pricing decisions across hundreds of people in decentralized organizations.

After his career journey from product management to sales management to discovering pricing at a Simon Kucher workshop, Emanuel shares how his bootstrapped company evolved from traditional consulting to building AI-powered pricing agents that act as an ever-present pricing manager- coaching teams, improving proposals, and recommending pricing models without sending a single byte of data outside the client's infrastructure.

In this episode, learn why AI should augment rather than replace pricing teams, why deterministic calculations still matter, and how to quantify value in IT services without universal quality standards.

Why You Have to Check Out Today's Podcast:

  • Discover how AI solves coordination problems in large IT services companies where hundreds of people make pricing decisions without pricing expertise.
  • Learn why AI should augment pricing teams, not replace them, and why deterministic calculations still matter more than probabilistic AI outputs.
  • Understand how to quantify value in IT services using measurable quality attributes instead of universally accepted standards.

“Pricing is leverage. It allows you to have an impact with very few actions, with little effort."

– Emanuel Martonca

Topics Covered:

01:32 -Emanuel's transformational discovery of pricing at a Belgian retail bank workshop that revealed a world he didn't know existed—launching 18 years of pricing-focused work.

02:37 - Why pricing is the ultimate leverage tool, especially in B2B tech where "it's just communication"—what you write in Excel, on websites, and in proposals.

03:28 - How the pandemic transformed Emanuel from a globe-trotting sales manager into a pricing consultant, then bootstrapped Soft Fight to solve the value extraction gap in tech companies.

04:41 - How large IT companies lose money when hundreds of non-experts across five functions (finance, marketing, sales, delivery, executives) make pricing decisions on every custom project.

06:59 - The evolution from deterministic SaaS pricing rules to AI-augmented agents installed in client infrastructure—solving pricing problems in hours instead of years without sending data externally.

08:00 - Why new deals lack technical depth and renewals lack value articulation—and how AI coordinates knowledge without restructuring organizations.

11:00 - Eight AI agents (four for understanding, four for justifying) with access to all systems but zero external communication—no security or privacy risks.

13:00 - All pricing calculations remain deterministic because AI makes too many mistakes—it's used only for reading RFPs, emails, and meeting notes to improve value communication.

14:17 - How AI acts as a coach recommending pricing models with ready-made arguments, eliminating months of change management—with email as the main interface.

16:17 - Why determining "how long will this take?" is unpredictable and varies by person and timing—and how AI solves the costliest unknown in custom projects.

18:00 - Mark's perspective on why costs matter less than value, and why companies avoid alternative pricing models despite knowing hourly billing hurts both sides.

21:00 - When AI tools cut development time, hourly pricing becomes self-defeating: "You're cutting your own revenue"—forcing the industry to finally sell value, not time.

21:56 - Starting with measurable quality attributes on invented scales that competitors can't compare—getting 80% of the way just by having the quantification discussion.

23:00 - Mark's framework for B2B value and why results translate to economic impact through customer KPIs like reduced complaints, not abstract "quality" metrics.

25:00 - Unlike automotive suppliers with nanometer specs, IT services vendors can define their own quality metrics—putting them two steps ahead of alternatives.

26:00 - The necessity of industry knowledge for value conversations (increase revenue, reduce costs, mitigate risk) and how AI enables understanding of new sectors that would've taken years.

27:30 - Final Advice: AI as Your Pricing Force Multiplier Using AI for research, analysis, and domain understanding when teams are too small or mandates unclear—plus how to connect with Emanuel on LinkedIn.

Key Takeaways:

"AI is a huge multiplier for pricing experts—not for calculating prices, I agree with you on that, it's not there yet. But for everything else around pricing, whether we want to call it product management, analysis, or research, it can help us overcome typical challenges." - Emanuel Martonca

"Pricing is a change management problem. It can be done, it'll take months, sometimes years, and they have to experiment and they have to make mistakes." - Emanuel Martonca

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Emanuel Martonca:

Connect with Mark Stiving:

Jaksot(500)

Blogcast: Unlocking Portfolio Value Through Strategic Price Increases

Blogcast: Unlocking Portfolio Value Through Strategic Price Increases

This is an Impact Pricing Blog published on December 9, 2024, turned into an audio podcast so you can listen on the go. Read Full Article Here: https://impactpricing.com/blog/unlocking-portfolio-value-through-strategic-price-increases/ If you have any feedback, definitely send it. You can reach us at mark@impactpricing.com.  Now, go make an impact.   Connect with Mark Stiving: Email: mark@impactpricing.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stiving/

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Joshua Lowe is a solution-focused pricing professional with a proven track record in pricing (10 years) and pricing transformation (3+ years). He also has an expertise in implementing and utilizing PriceFX, a cloud-native pricing management software.  In this episode, Joshua discusses the evolution of pricing in the auto parts industry, explaining how his company is transitioning from traditional cost-plus pricing to more market-based and value-driven strategies. He highlights the role of data analytics and predictive modeling in optimizing pricing decisions while maintaining fairness and customer retention.    Why you have to check out today’s podcast: Learn how a major industry player is shifting from cost-plus pricing to market-based and value-based approaches. Discover how analytics and data science shape pricing strategies, ensuring competitiveness and profitability. Understand why leaving some value on the table fosters long-term customer relationships and repeat business.   "You've got more pricing power than you might realize." - Joshua Lowe   Topics Covered: 01:31 - Joshua describing his journey into pricing 02:55 - Clarifying that Napa Auto Parts is a wholly owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company and sharing why he has stayed with Napa Auto Parts 04:27 - How his pricing strategies not only capture value but also reinvest in growth and detailing his role in setting nationwide retail, wholesale, and resale pricing frameworks  06:37 - The evolution of market segmentation in pricing, highlighting shifts between regional and nationwide pricing models and the factors influencing those changes 08:53 - Explaining customer segmentation in pricing, emphasizing the importance of transaction data, value drivers, and willingness to pay 11:27 - Pricing strategies based on delivery distance, emphasizing relationship-based pricing over cost-to-serve 13:09 - Explaining product segmentation and how Napa Auto parts sources products 15:56 - How cost increases from suppliers generally flow through their own pricing 17:03 - The role of cost-plus pricing in the industry and its gradual shift toward market-based and value-based pricing 21:31 - How Napa Auto Parts structures pricing 24:59 - Joshua's best pricing advice   Key Takeaways: “There's a lot of price moves that you use in pricing to extract value, but a lot of times too, you're trying to figure out ways to reinvest those wins back into sales so that you can grow.” - Joshua Lowe “You never try to extract a hundred percent of the value of any single transaction because you might actually start losing customer retention over time. You want to leave 10, 20% on the table. I've always kind of kept that in the back of my mind as we do certain activities of how we keep the fairness in play as we make pricing actions.” - Joshua Lowe   People/Resources Mentioned: Gates Corporation: https://www.gates.com/us/en.html Genuine Parts Company: https://www.genpt.com/ Napa Auto Parts: https://www.napaonline.com/   Connect with Joshua Lowe: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-lowe-42034746/   Connect with Mark Stiving: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stiving/ Email: mark@impactpricing.com

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This is an Impact Pricing Blog published on December 2, 2024, turned into an audio podcast so you can listen on the go. Read Full Article Here: https://impactpricing.com/blog/what-is-value/ If you have any feedback, definitely send it. You can reach us at mark@impactpricing.com.  Now, go make an impact.   Connect with Mark Stiving: Email: mark@impactpricing.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stiving/

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Navigating the Complexities of Healthcare Pricing and Technology Integration with Dave Brown

Navigating the Complexities of Healthcare Pricing and Technology Integration with Dave Brown

Dave Brown is a CEO / Founder of QiiQ Healthcare which is developing an AI assistant for healthcare workers, to invigorate the deep sense of fulfillment in delivering high quality care - frictionlessly. In this episode, Dave shares how AI can improve healthcare by providing clinicians with actionable insights from patient data, making consultations more efficient. He highlights the challenge of adopting new technologies in healthcare due to risks and the complexity of changing established systems. Brown also shares insights on the economic impact of healthcare innovations and stresses the importance of doing thorough homework when entering the healthcare market.   Why you have to check out today’s podcast: Explore the impact of AI in healthcare and how it can improve healthcare outcomes and reduce doctor-patient interaction. Gain insights on healthcare pricing challenges and how understanding stakeholder decisions can lead to more effective solutions. Learn to navigate the massive, evolving healthcare industry and the challenges of making a meaningful impact through technology and pricing strategies.   "Do your homework. You cannot wander into this [healthcare] with youthful vigor and expect to change the world easily. And it's certainly not easy to come up with a pricing model that everybody understands and likes." - Dave Brown   Topics Covered: 01:46 - How he got interested in pricing and why it mattered to him 03:13 - Detailing how QiiQ Healthcare technology works and what makes pricing for it complicated 10:58 - Sharing how QiiQ is driven by a social mission, as well as mentioning the real challenge in healthcare technology 13:49 - How QiiQ Healthcare technology is demonstrating its value in a leading Parkinson’s clinic 15:29 - Addressing patient willingness to pay and the impact of chronic diseases on society 18:34 - How QiiQ technology streamline doctor-patient interactions and save time 21:06 - Using the trolley problem to illustrate the complexity of decision-making in change management 23:31 - Highlighting the challenge of adopting new technology despite its potential, due to uncertainty and mental workload 25:34 - Discussing the challenges of accepting AI in healthcare, drawing analogies to self-driving cars and the risks involved 28:40 - Explaining how the relationship between cost reduction and profits in healthcare is complex and not solely driven by cynicism 29:45 - Dave's best pricing advice   Key Takeaways: “Everybody that's working with me is driven by a social need or a social urge. It's extremely common in the healthcare industry. But part of what you're hearing [challenges] is motivated by a deeper grasp of the challenge in adoption. Without adoption, you generate no value.” - Dave Brown   Connect with Dave Brown: Website: https://www.qiiq.health/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davecbrown/   Connect with Mark Stiving: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stiving/ Email: mark@impactpricing.com

3 Helmi 32min

Blogcast: Confused Buyers Don’t Buy: A Case Study In How to Align SaaS Pricing with Customer Value

Blogcast: Confused Buyers Don’t Buy: A Case Study In How to Align SaaS Pricing with Customer Value

This is an Impact Pricing Blog published on November 24, 2024, turned into an audio podcast so you can listen on the go. Read Full Article Here: https://impactpricing.com/blog/confused-buyers-dont-buy-a-case-study-in-how-to-align-saas-pricing-with-customer-value/ If you have any feedback, definitely send it. You can reach us at mark@impactpricing.com.  Now, go make an impact.   Connect with Mark Stiving: Email: mark@impactpricing.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stiving/

31 Tammi 3min

Strategic Price Increase: How to Plan, Communicate, and Succeed with Mark Peacock

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Mark Peacock helps B2B Tech & Consulting firms expand margin & revenue growth with tailored pricing solutions & sales enablement. In this episode, Mark shares practical strategies for implementing price increases effectively, including a two-stage communication process to manage customer expectations and reduce resistance. He emphasizes the importance of segmenting clients by price sensitivity and value to tailor pricing strategies and build confidence. Mark also highlighted the need to treat price increases for existing customers with the same care as new business pricing to maximize business impact.   Why you have to check out today’s podcast: Learn proven strategies to implement price changes confidently without losing customer trust or loyalty. Discover an innovative approach to preparing customers for price increases minimizing resistance, and maximizing acceptance. Explore techniques for segmenting clients, leveraging value-based pricing, and fostering long-term relationships.   “Treat price increases for existing customers with the same importance that you do pricing for new business, because it can have such a profound impact on your business and it's nothing to be scared of.” - Mark Peacock    Topics Covered: 01:48 - Describing his pricing journey 02:58 - The transformative power of smart pricing strategies 06:13 - Check out Mark's article in LinkedIn, ‘Raise Prices Without Raising Eyebrows’ 06:52 - The importance of putting as much effort into planning and communicating price increases with existing customers as devoting to winning new business 09:21 - The two-stage process to make price increase more acceptable to your customers   12:34 - The third step to communicating your price increase 14:49 - Explaining the value reasons why customers should stick with you [the fourth step] 16:55 - Communicate your 'investment story' [fifth step] 18:44 - Give your customers the options and do away with hard sell [sixth step] 21:53 - Talking about frictionless approach to price increase [seventh step] 23:22 - Important thoughts on the 'do something nice' strategy 26:45 - One top tip to help you segment customers based on price sensitivity and stop churn 27:59 - More techniques for customer segmentation 28:59 - Mark's best pricing advice   Key Takeaways: “Communicating a price increase is a sales task, and you would never use negative language in a sales activity.” - Mark Peacock “The most important thing about a price increase communication is that there is no hard sell.” - Mark Peacock “You need to provide them with some ways to come back to you however they want, either to approve it, to reject it, to discuss it, or if you've got upgrade or downgrade paths as well.“ - Mark Peacock “Be as open and transparent as possible so that the buyer has total agency and control over that decision, and you are making it entirely their decision because that's how you build trust.” - Mark Peacock   Connect with Mark Peacock: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-peacock-pricemaker/   Connect with Mark Stiving: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stiving/ Email: mark@impactpricing.com

27 Tammi 30min

Blogcast: Perfect Pricing Is Impossible (and That’s OK)

Blogcast: Perfect Pricing Is Impossible (and That’s OK)

This is an Impact Pricing Blog published on November 18, 2024, turned into an audio podcast so you can listen on the go. Read Full Article Here: https://impactpricing.com/blog/perfect-pricing-is-impossible-and-thats-ok/ If you have any feedback, definitely send it. You can reach us at mark@impactpricing.com.  Now, go make an impact.   Connect with Mark Stiving: Email: mark@impactpricing.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stiving/

24 Tammi 4min

Rebates as a Strategic Tool in Pricing: Transforming Customer Behavior and Driving Profitability with Mark Gilham

Rebates as a Strategic Tool in Pricing: Transforming Customer Behavior and Driving Profitability with Mark Gilham

Mark Gilham is an experienced senior executive with a proven track record in finance, strategy, and consulting. He brings deep expertise in driving commercial success, improving operational efficiencies, and influencing industry best practices.  In this episode, Mark shares the transformative power of rebates as tools for driving both customer behavior and operational efficiency, rather than just cost-cutting mechanisms. He highlights the importance of designing rebates that align with business goals, such as incentivizing desirable customer actions, improving operational processes, and fostering long-term loyalty.    Why you have to check out today’s podcast: Learn how rebates can go beyond simple cost-cutting to solve operational challenges, enhance customer loyalty, and drive profitability for your business. Gain insights into how rebates can incentivize customer behaviors that benefit both parties, creating a more collaborative and sustainable business relationship. Discover innovative ways to use rebates to optimize your operations, create efficiencies, and stronger partnerships with customers.   "Get out from behind your desk; get away from the spreadsheet and understand your business. Understand what makes your business tick." - Mark Gilham   Topics Covered: 01:11 - How he transitioned from accountancy to pricing 02:24 - Explaining why accountants' focus on cost-plus pricing 03:52 - Highlighting how understanding pricing enables finance professionals to interpret data more effectively and influence business outcomes 05:35 - Strategic role of rebates in B2B, their challenges, and how they differ from traditional incentives and discounts 08:18 - Importance of structuring rebates and balancing discounts and rebates in B2B to maintain margins 11:11 - Dynamics of incentivizing end consumers versus channel partners 14:59 - Optimizing rebate structures 20:40 - Sharing how rebates can incentivize operational efficiency 25:55 - Advocating for pricing teams to lead rebate strategies to create lasting customer relationships and reduce reliance on discounting 28:11 - Highlighting the potential of rebates to address operational inefficiencies   Key Takeaways: "Immature pricing practices tend to be that cost-plus. And when I say immature, it's not that it's bad, it's just they don't know what good looks like or what's better." - Mark Gilham "A good rebate is a rebate that a manufacturer or supplier wants to pay out." - Mark Gilham "I believe pricing have the tools and the skillset to, and it should be on the sell side, to equip salespeople to go out, not to win an order, but to kind of win a relationship. And make that relationship sticky so that discounting actually is not, it's always going to be important, but hopefully you can take a little bit of that pressure off the table." - Mark Gilham "If you want a better deal from your supplier, think about all the things you could do to make their life easier and ask them, ‘What's that worth to you?’ And that's a far better way of getting a bit of extra money out of the contract than just saying, ‘I want my product for less.’" - Mark Gilham   People/Resources Mentioned: Enable: https://www.enable.com   Connect with Mark Gilham: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgilham/ Email: mark.gilham@enable.com   Connect with Mark Stiving: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stiving/ Email: mark@impactpricing.com

20 Tammi 30min

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