Evaluate the client operating model
An agency needs to know how a platform fits its actual client work. The important questions include workspace separation, supported sources, client-specific expectations, report preparation and who owns the follow-up. A visually consistent report is useful only when its underlying evidence is appropriate for each client. Start with a representative client and a complete reporting cycle. Ask the provider to demonstrate the evidence, interpretation and handoff rather than selecting software solely by integration count.
A multi-client requirements checklist
| Requirement | Demonstration to request |
|---|---|
| Workspace boundaries | How the correct client context is selected and maintained |
| Source fit | Supported accounts and feeds required by that client |
| KPI configuration | Which client-specific targets and thresholds are supported |
| Reporting period | Completed-month records versus current activity |
| Review workflow | How a reviewer reaches underlying evidence |
| AI assistance | What the assistant can explain and what still needs verification |
| Delivery responsibilities | What platform access includes versus separately scoped work |
| Commercial terms | Included workspaces, additional cost and usage conditions |
Treat white labeling, client permissions, exports and unusual integrations as explicit requirements to verify. Do not assume them from the word “agency.” Record unsupported or unverified needs before choosing the product.
Demonstrate a client conversation
Use the report to explain a material category change, then inspect the underlying KPI and an appropriate next action. Keep each client’s target rationale and source coverage visible. The synthetic demo is a rehearsal environment, not a client case study. The agency should also decide how assignments are tracked in its operating process. A reporting platform can inform the discussion without necessarily being the team’s complete project-management or CRM system.
Calculate the workspace cost correctly
SharkBlade’s agency option is $999 per month for five workspaces, plus $199 per additional workspace per month. Six workspaces total $1,198; eight total $1,596. Agency pricing is monthly only, with strategist reviews and execution scoped separately. These examples describe the listed workspace model, not a promise that the package includes every client service. Confirm usage, access needs and delivery terms in the proposal. The expert marketing team option uses Contact for Pricing because the work depends on scope.
Use a limited evaluation exercise
- Choose one representative client and one completed reporting period.
- List the evidence and integrations that are essential to that client.
- Request a demonstration of the full review workflow.
- Record open requirements and who will resolve them.
- Compare total operating cost, including interpretation and delivery needs.
The generic reporting-software guide provides the broader requirements framework. The agency client-review guide addresses the conversation after selection. Together they keep procurement distinct from the day-to-day discipline of explaining evidence and assigning useful work.