Consulting Consulting
Back to overview
Expert case by
Cristian

Poliglot Language App Needs Users

Case Prompt:

Let’s assume our client is Poliglot, a popular language app. Poliglot is five years old, originally from the US, but available worldwide. The app currently offers the possibility of learning over twenty languages for free, with extra benefits (e.g., no ads, additional exercises) available to premium members.

Historically, the app has been very successful and has seen significant growth over the past few years. However, over the past year, the app noticed a stagnating usage and app adoption. Considering that the market is very competitive, the client expects a decline in the customer base unless the root causes are identified and addressed. 

As a consequence, the CEO of the company that owns the app asked us to support them in figuring out the reasons for the decline and laying out a plan for growth. 

Overview of All Exhibits
Practice makes the difference
Practicing alone helps – with a partner it’s even better. Solve this case in a realistic mock interview.
Schedule on Meeting Board

Question 1

What are some of the reasons for why the app has seen a stagnating trend within its customer base?

Show solution Hide solution

Question 2

To help us get a better understanding of the small fluctuations in the customer base, the client has shared with us an exhibit containing the number of active users in the customer base over the course of a year. What are some of the insights that you can generate based on this chart?

Show additional information Hide additional information
Show solution Hide solution

Question 3

The client is inspired by the insights you shared earlier and is letting us know that the peaks in the active customer base indeed coincide with promotional campaigns they are running over social media. They agree that these campaigns have had limited effect in terms of converting the additional customers into premium customers or even retaining them as long-term active users on the platform. 

What are the three-four levers they could pull to maximize the revenue out of their active base of customers? 

Show solution Hide solution

Question 4

The client decided they would like to focus within the coming year on increasing their overall app adoption and number of premium users, in an effort to fun other qualitative upgrades there are developing for the app. 

Currently, they have 5 million downloads of the app. 4 million of these lead to actual users opening the app, out of which 3 million make an account. 0.5M sign up for a premium plan. The leadership team in charge of the app claims they developed a set of measures to increase the total downloads to 7 million, as well as increase the conversation rate between those who open the account and who end up creating an account by 15 p.p. They would like to understand by how many percentage points does the conversion rate have to increase between those who create an account and who purchase the premium plan in order to reach a total base of 1.2 million users with a premium plan. 

Show solution Hide solution

Question 5

The CEO drops by for a short update from the team. Considering the work done until know, what is your recommendation at this stage?

Show solution Hide solution
Practice This Case With Peers Who Are Currently Looking for Interview Partners.
Do you have questions on this case?
Ask our community and receive answers and tips directly from our experts.
Ask a question Ask a question
Related Case Interview Basics Articles
Design Thinking
Common Terms of Business
Design Thinking is more than just an approach or a method – it's a non-linear, iterative process that places creativity and problem-solving at its core. To understand this mindset, let's look at the three essential elements of Design Thinking: People, Process, and Place. These elements form the foundation for applying Design Thinking in business consulting.
To the article
Why Math Matters
Case Math
Math is more than just a handy skill in consulting — it’s often a game-changer. Whether you're analyzing complex business challenges, building solid recommendations, or backing up your advice with hard data, strong math skills frequently set you apart in this field.
To the article
4P Framework
Frameworks
The 4P Framework – consisting of Product, Price, Place, and Promotion – is one of the fundamental marketing strategies that helps companies successfully position their products or services in the market, a classic task often encountered in case interviews. It provides a structured approach to consider all critical aspects of a product or service and ensure they are optimally aligned with customer needs. 💡 By the way: In our Case Interview Basics, you can find all the essential frameworks you need for case interview preparation. Check it out!
To the article
The Kanban Framework
Common Terms of Business
In your journey to becoming an efficient consultant, understanding various work management systems is crucial. One such system that has made a profound impact, particularly in the world of technology and services, is Kanban. Before we dive into the current applications of Kanban, it's important to acknowledge its origins. Kanban was born in the late 1940s within the walls of Toyota's manufacturing plant in Japan. Taiichi Ohno, an industrial engineer at Toyota, introduced Kanban to improve manufacturing efficiency. The word 'Kanban' translates to 'billboard' or 'signboard' in English, emphasizing the visual nature of the system. Ohno was inspired by the supermarket model of product replenishment, where stock is replaced as soon as it depletes. He applied the same principle to Toyota's production lines, effectively aligning inventory levels with actual parts of consumption. The implementation of Kanban led to significant improvements in Toyota's productivity and efficiency, setting the foundation for what we now call 'Lean Manufacturing'. Fast-forward to the present, Kanban has evolved beyond manufacturing and found its way into the technology and services industries. The system, still true to its origins, is designed to maximize efficiency, limit work in progress, and, most importantly, visualize your work. Derived from the Japanese word for 'visual signal', Kanban is an effective tool for making intangible or invisible work more understandable. By understanding the roots and evolution of Kanban, you, as a consultant, can better appreciate its applicability across industries and harness its principles to improve operational efficiency on diverse projects. It is also important to realize that Kanban is a process management system that aids decision-making in a collaborative manner.
To the article
Unique Value Proposition (UVP)
Common Terms of Business
As an aspiring consultant, you will quickly realize that a company's success is closely linked to its ability to differentiate itself from the competition. Here, just like the business model, the Unique Value Proposition (UVP) plays a crucial role. Understanding and applying the UVP in various contexts, especially in case interviews, can give you a significant advantage in grasping problem situations. [The Unique Value Proposition at the intersection of customer needs, company strengths, and competitor strengths.]
To the article
Practice makes the difference
Practicing alone helps – with a partner it’s even better. Solve this case in a realistic mock interview.
Add invitation
Do you have questions on this case?
Ask our community and receive answers and tips directly from our experts.
Ask a question Ask a question