How dependent are you?
Dependency measures reliance between customers and products. It is distinct from simply identifying the largest customer or product.
Imagine this business
If 85% of a product’s recorded revenue comes from one customer, that product is closely tied to the relationship. The existing platform uses a transparent 70% threshold to surface these cases.
Consider both directions
The proportion of a product sold to one customer can differ greatly from that customer’s proportion spent on the product.
Treat the threshold as a flag
The platform’s 70% threshold surfaces reliance for investigation, not a prediction of failure.
Two situations. Different implications.
Illustrative comparison — not actual customer data or a platform-calculated result.
| Measure | Product A | Product B |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | $200k revenue | $200k revenue |
| What's different? | One customer purchases $180k (90%) | Largest customer purchases $30k (15%) |
Product A has greater customer-specific reliance despite the same revenue. A's 90% crosses the platform's 70% evidence threshold; that is a flag, not a judgement.
Team discussion: Sales and Product teams can review demand continuity and alternative relationships.
Compare before you conclude
Compare a product's share sold to its largest customer with that customer's share spent on the product; these are different denominators.
Who could act on this?
Teams: Sales and Product Management.
Sales manages relationship concentration; Product Management assesses exposure of individual SKUs.
Ideas worth testing
Develop account continuity plans, identify replacement demand and review supplier/product alternatives.
Watch the trade-offs
The 70% flag indicates reliance, not that the relationship is unsafe.
Now ask a better question
What happens to this product if the relationship changes, and is the dependence deliberate?
What should I consider?
Identify what the numbers establish, what they do not establish, and which additional evidence you need before acting. Make a note of one question to investigate.
Try this with your own data
Where to look in your diagnostic
Dependency
Data needed: Customer ID + Product ID + Revenue.
What to investigate: Review reliance between counterparts in both directions and the transparent 70% evidence threshold.
Open the sample or run the free diagnostic, then find the named dashboard section. Sections appear only when your data supports them; some deeper investigation and exports require Professional access. Check Evidence & Coverage before drawing conclusions.
Numbers provide evidence. Good decisions require context and judgement. Treat this lesson as a starting point for investigation, not an instruction to change your business.