Increasing Renewal Rates by 74% for Member-Based Brand

Increasing Renewal Rates by 74% for Member-Based Brand

Early-tenure members were churning and traditional data couldn't explain why.

The Problem

Even with a rich CRM and standard member engagement metrics, our client couldn’t pinpoint why their newest members (0–2 years) were failing to renew at the same rate as longer-tenured ones.

The Approach

We trained predictive models and uncovered the key motivators of the particular segment. We then applied our analytical pipelines against those motivational drivers, layering in Client's CRM data to determine their highest impact interventions.

The Outcome

Based on the top motivator predicting churn behavior, Valuable, the organization projected retention of up to 6,500 additional at-risk members and shared new motivational insights with their board of directors to execute an intervention plan cohesively and effectively across the organization.

The Problem

Early-tenure members were churning—and traditional data couldn’t explain why. Despite having a rich CRM and standard member engagement metrics, our client couldn’t pinpoint why their newest members (0–2 years) were failing to renew at the same rate as longer-tenured ones. They needed more than just analytics—they needed answers that could drive action.
Bar graph of renewal intent vs tenure

The Approach

First, we surveyed a cross-section of existing members using our standardized Apex survey to gather training data for our motivational modelling. This survey was distributed to approximately 3000 people and received 680 responses total. We fed this data into Apex and within seconds, robust motivational insights were available which highlighted that of the 16 key motivators we measure, Valuable was the the highest predictor of churn amongst newer members. Other insights to surface were key topics and themes, prioritized by the top motivators, that customers were experiencing in their interactions with the brand. Next, we combined our behavioral motivators with the client’s existing member data, creating a powerful new view into ‘why’ members’ stay or leave decision making process. Using Apex’s simulation engine, we:
  • Identified “Value for Money” as the top renewal motivator.
  • Mapped motivational drivers to member behaviors across the CRM.
  • Simulated specific actions (like partner offer usage and better service communications) to project impact.
Graph of top motivations vs predictive strength

The Outcome

Many simulations were run by our analysts in minutes to reverse-engineer the highest impact actions based on predictors of churn and variables that drove Valuable ratings higher. Our simulation projected that a single-point improvement in perceived value per member could:
  • Lift at-risk member renewal to match or exceed the broader base.
  • Retain up to 6,500 additional members.
  • Over-index retention gains among younger men—the highest-risk segment.
The client took to their board of directors a clear, ROI-backed roadmap to execute these interventions. The client continually used their access to the Apex web portal for ongoing decision support and confidence.