About Standards Australia
Standards Australia is an independent, not-for-profit organization responsible for developing Australian standards. Standards Australia aims to improve Australia’s economic efficiency and international competitiveness while creating a safe and sustainable environment for all Australians.
About Daniel Chidgey
Daniel Chidgey leads Standards Australia’s Commercial Partnerships team. He collaborates with aggregators and innovators to execute successful standards distribution and partner initiatives.
Daniel has twenty years of experience in business development, stakeholder engagement, policymaking, and driving commercial success.
While PDF and hard copies may be practical in certain situations, we should consider fit-for-purpose alternatives…A world of innovation is waiting to transform how we deliver vital standards information to users.
As Head of Commercial Partnerships at Standards Australia, what have been some of your challenges in innovating and building partnerships in Australia and abroad?
We face intricate and somewhat outdated structures in the complex world of standards.
At Standards Australia, we have recognised the challenge and introduced various new pricing models designed to meet diverse customer needs and use cases.
The lineup includes:
- Named User Subscription
- Small Business Sets
- Mobile-Only Subscriptions
- Licensed Practitioner Model
These models have been excellent in modernizing pricing structures and increasing accessibility. However, not everyone was thrilled. Some potential SaaS partners have shown some resistance.
Why, you ask? Well, adapting to these new commercial models has proven challenging for them. Understandably, tweaking a successful business plan isn’t really their thing. We also understand that using a rigid structure can be difficult because it may not take into account market conditions or customer demand.
Standards Australia has listened to the feedback and is implementing a strategy to provide complimentary access, setting a new rhythm in licensing and innovative partnerships.
At a high level, we allow our partners to use any part of our licensed content in their offerings without strict limitations on the amount of content they can use and how it is used.
They determine their retail prices, and we split the returns based on an agreed-upon rate. The partner also commits to a minimum payment to reduce financial risks.
If you think about Standards Australia content becoming a VIP in the product without disrupting its existing success.
The complementary approach is a significant shift and is much more attractive to potential SaaS partners.
Standards Australia has been a leader in innovative pricing models, but what are your thoughts on standards pricing in print and PDF?
Until now, our standards have primarily been in the static confines of PDFs or hard-copy documents.
While these formats have their place, a world of innovation is waiting to transform how we deliver vital standards information to users.
For instance, adherence to project design procedures, codes, and standards is non-negotiable in engineering. Ensuring these requirements are met and well-documented for future use is paramount.
As projects grow in complexity, so does the tedious nature of this process. Picture this: large infrastructure projects, with their intricate designs, cutting-edge materials, and integration with various disciplines, can amass a staggering 250,000 requirements for systems, structures, and components.
Now, envision the frustration experienced by engineers manually sifting through many PDFs or paper documents.
The productivity of these engineers takes a hit. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate more effective and flexible methods to provide standards.
While PDF and hard copies may be practical in certain situations, we should consider fit-for-purpose alternatives to improve user effectiveness and overall customer experience.
What recommendations or tips would you offer other SDOs or NSBs thinking about their business model?
At the 2023 Standards Publishing Advisory Board event hosted by Accuris, I vividly recall a message from one of the industry panelists.
They expressed that standards bodies desire progress, but there’s a noticeable absence of individuals willing to step up as quarterbacks and make the crucial throw. It stuck with me.
As a collective standards community, the urgency to propel ourselves forward is evident; otherwise, we risk being left behind.
In the spirit of collaboration, Standards bodies do not need to navigate this journey in isolation. Let’s embrace collaboration, share insights, and collectively refine our business models.
Together, we can continuously evolve to meet market needs and ensure the safety and efficiency of our communities.
Do you have other thoughts on the standards industry and where things are headed?
Nowadays, in a blink-and-you-miss-it world of technological strides, Artificial Intelligence has transcended the realm of futuristic dreams—it’s not knocking on our digital doorstep. The rise of AI chatbots has already seamlessly blended into our online existence.
Yet, in this rapidly evolving landscape, one currency reigns supreme: trustworthiness. Standards bodies play a pivotal role in laying the groundwork for trust amid the constant flux of information.
In a world where reliability is the new currency, we must continue to be the architects of a gold standard that promises to replace the prevailing uncertainty in the market. As technological waves crash, the dependable content is a beacon of assurance.
As a standards community, we must navigate the currents and maintain a solid foundation of consistency and trust.
