This guide walks you through the Driver Studio — one editor for creating and refining the formulas that power your business cases. New here? Read What is a value driver? first.
Three ways to start#
Open Value model → Drivers in the sidebar and click "+ New value driver". The Build value driver screen opens. Choose Describe it or From a solution at the top right. Prefer full manual control? Click Start from a blank driver.
Describe it — the fastest path. Write the benefit in plain language:
"Our remote access tool reduces the need for on-site technician dispatches. Each dispatch costs $150–$300 and takes 2–4 hours…"
Click "Draft my driver" and Val drafts the whole driver — name, inputs, formula, example values — for you to review and edit. Hover the button to see the cost.
From a solution — pick the solution this driver supports and click "Generate driver candidates". Val proposes a handful of driver ideas for that product. Click "Review" to open one in the editor, or tick the ones you want and click "Create N selected". Hover either button to see what it costs. Any driver that lands without a finished formula shows an "Incomplete" tag in the library. Click "Finish setup" on its row.
The Studio, section by section#
What is this driver?#
Name it in buyer language ("Dispatch cost avoidance"), pick a value category (cost reduction, productivity, risk, revenue…), and write a description. The description is saved with the driver — and Val uses it for context, so a good one makes every later AI assist sharper.
Inputs#
Add a row per variable the formula needs. Each input has a label ("Dispatches per
month"), an auto-derived key (dispatches_per_month), a type, a unit, a display format,
and an Example value. Example values show how the formula works. Each business case
uses its own account's facts; improvement assumptions and conversion constants carry
over.
Formula#
Write the annual value as plain arithmetic over your input keys — click a variable button to insert it:
dispatches_per_month * cost_per_dispatch * deflection_rate * 12
The operators are + − * / and parentheses. As you type, the Example calculation box
shows the annual value at your example values, with the step-by-step trace. If the number
looks wrong here, it'll look wrong in front of a buyer, so tune it now.
Applies to solutions#
Tick the solutions this driver belongs to, or leave all unchecked to make it portfolio-wide.
Refining with Val#
Click the Val button (or press ⌘J / Ctrl+J) to open the copilot. Tell it what to change:
- "Tighten this formula — is the economic shape right?"
- "Make the example values more conservative"
- "Add a ramp-up factor for year one"
Val applies changes to the editor only — nothing saves until you do, and Val remembers the conversation, so follow-ups work. Each request uses AI credits; saving is always free. Drafting with Val and saving need a Member, Admin or Owner role.
Save it#
The Ready to save? checklist on the right tracks Named, Inputs defined, Formula valid and Defaults set. Click "Ask Val" next to any open item for help. When every item is ticked, click "Save to library". When you edit an existing driver, the button reads "Save changes".
Editing a driver that's already in use#
If a driver appears in existing business cases, the Studio tells you — for example, "Used in 5 business cases." Your edits apply only to cases that add the driver from now on; existing cases keep their frozen numbers. That's the snapshot guarantee — see What is a business case?.
Finding drivers later#
The search box at the top of the Value drivers page searches name, description,
or formula, so you can find every driver that uses cost_per_dispatch. Use the
Status filter (All, Complete, Incomplete) to find drivers that need setup.
To filter by solution or value category, click Filters and add Solution or
Category.