Stop Comparing Headline Prices. Start Comparing Real Cost Scalability.
A practical workbook that helps you model and score the true total cost of ownership of both packaged and warehouse-native CDP architectures — so you can make a confident, defensible decision.
Most brands discover the true cost of their CDP architecture six months after signing — when the MTU count is three times what the vendor quoted, a sudden traffic spike from a viral campaign doubled the invoice, and the warehouse-native build is still not in production.
This workbook gives you the framework to model the real number before you commit to either option.
What Is Inside (31-Page PDF)
Find out your MTU gap right now — free sample
Before you decide whether this workbook is right for you, run the number that matters most.
Most vendors quote CDP plans based on your Google Analytics unique user figure. Your real Monthly Tracked User count — once you add email subscribers, Shopify customers, loyalty members, and subscription records — is almost always significantly higher.
The MTU Gap Calculator takes 3 minutes. Enter 5 numbers. See the gap.
- The four-step CDP Architecture Selection Framework applied to cost scalability
- Detailed pricing mechanics for both MTU and event-based packaged CDPs
- The real cost structure of warehouse-native builds (including the commonly missed Reverse ETL layer)
- How to model Year 1 build + Year 2 run-rate costs
- A complete worked example with t-shirt sizing and cost estimates
- Scoring methodology to compare both options against your cost ceiling
What You Will Walk Away With
- A clear methodology to define your own cost ceiling and scale assumptions
- Deep breakdowns of how costs really accumulate in both models (MTU inflation, destination fees, spike exposure, reverse ETL, tool sprawl, engineering maintenance, etc.)
- A worked example using a realistic $5M–$100M D2C company (Glow&Co)
- Specific due diligence questions you must ask vendors and contractors
- A binary scorecard that delivers a weighted, comparable score for each architecture
- Excel-based calculators for quickly calculating packaged/warehouse-native implementation costs
Whos Is This For
Perfect for founders, Marketing Ops leaders, and data teams at $5M–$100M revenue companies who:
- Are evaluating CDP architecture for the first time
- Have received conflicting advice from packaged CDP and composable advocates
- Want a data-driven, defensible cost comparison before making a six-figure decision
This workbook covers Data.C1 — one of 50+ capabilities across five layers in the Datawhistl CDP Architecture Selection Toolkit. Each workbook follows the same structure and produces a scored output that feeds into the final architecture decision.
Still weighing it up?
Drop us a message. We'll tell you honestly whether this workbook fits where you are right now.
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