UP42 Storage: Case Study: UP42 Storage Pricing & User Uploads

Define a short-, mid-, and long-term strategy for user uploads and pricing within UP42’s Data Management solution—turning it into a revenue-generating feature.

 
 

Why Build It?

  • Key Goals:

    • Enable users to upload their own scenes via API and Console.

    • Design a pricing model (subscription/usage-based) aligned with UP42’s monetization goals.

    • Ensure security, format compliance, and metadata validation for uploaded data..

Solution

Phase 1: Discovery (No high-fidelity designs, pure research)

  • Stakeholder Alignment: Worked with Strategy, Finance, and Tech Teams to:

    • Understand business goals (revenue, user retention).

    • Address security risks of direct uploads.

  • User Research:

    • Conducted 5 customer interviews to gauge needs (e.g., metadata flexibility, pricing fairness).

    • Desktop Research: Analyzed competitors’ upload/pricing models (e.g., AWS S3, Sentinel Hub).

Phase 2: Technical Deep Dive

  • Collaborated with engineers to define:

    • API/Console Upload Flows: How users submit scenes.

    • Validation Rules: Strict format/metadata requirements.

    • Security Screening: File scanning for malware/corruption.

    • Pricing Service: Credit deduction logic (per GB? Per scene?).

Key Sub-Features Explored

  1. User Uploads

    • API endpoint + Console UI for scene submission.

    • Metadata templates (e.g., STAC compliance).

  2. Security & Processing

    • File screening + driver implementation for ingested data.

  3. Pricing Model

    • Credit-based (e.g., pay-per-upload vs. subscription tiers).

    • Integration with UP42’s billing system.