If you’ve ever looked at your data tool spend and thought, “Why are we paying this much for this little?”, you’re not alone.
Across sales and marketing teams, a quiet shift is taking place. It’s not about buying more tools, it’s about using better models. Specifically: switching from seat-based licenses to credit-based enrichment.
Here’s how it works and how companies like Clarify have already used Stakki’s approach to cut costs and double their reach.
Step 1: Stop Paying for Every SDR to Have a Full License
Most data tools charge per user. But the truth is, not every rep needs a full license. And in most teams, only a few power users actually use those tools regularly.
Instead: Audit which reps actually use what. Then shift to tools that only charge when data is used, not just when someone logs in.
Step 2: Switch to a Credit-Based Model
Credit-based or “consumption” models let you pay only for what’s enriched. That means you can:
- Centralize usage through one or two tools
- Track spend more accurately
- Cut unused licenses
One great example is Upcell, a tool that allows SDRs to use a simple Chrome extension to create contact records in your CRM, while your data team controls enrichment in the background.
Tools like this create one workflow for reps, while giving ops the flexibility to reduce tool sprawl and move to a cost-effective credit model.
Step 3: Repurpose Budget Across More Tools, Not Just One
By saving on license bloat, you can redistribute that budget toward multiple tools that hit different segments or regions more effectively.
Use Apollo for breadth, Kaspr or FindyMail for mobile-first enrichment, or Surfe to sync LinkedIn activity back to CRM.
The goal: coverage, not complexity.
Real-World Example: How Clarify Did It
Clarify needed global data at scale, without bloating their stack. After a conversation with their CEO about rising enrichment spend, Stakki introduced them to Upcell’s CEO directly.
Within weeks, Clarify had:
- Enriched 500,000+ contacts
- Doubled their data coverage
- Cut costs by 61%
- Sped up prospecting by 40%
They kept the SDR workflow simple, but moved to a model where they only paid for what they used. That’s the modern way to scale.
Build with Stakki:
- Upcell – Credit-based enrichment and free Chrome extension to simplify SDR workflows
- Kaspr, FindyMail, Apollo – Used for region-specific coverage and data quality
- Surfe – For syncing LinkedIn prospecting directly into CRM without adding new tabs or extensions
Want to build a more efficient, cost-effective sales stack?
We help teams like Clarify find tools that scale with them—not slow them down.
- Visit Stakki to explore smarter sales tools
- Build with Stakki to create your stack, with expert input and trusted partners
James Donaldson
Founder, Stakki
james@stakk.io
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