[EDRM Editor’s Note: This article was first published here on May 28, 2023 and EDRM is grateful to Rob Robinson, editor and managing director of ComplexDiscovery, for permission to republish and to our EDRM community for your participation.]
[ComplexDiscovery Editor’s Note: ComplexDiscovery regularly conducts non-scientific surveys to gain insight into the business of eDiscovery. These surveys include the quarterly eDiscovery Business Confidence Survey, focused on gaining insight into the current confidence of eDiscovery-ecosystem professionals regarding economic factors impacting the creation, delivery, and consumption of eDiscovery products and services. One of these surveys is the semi-annual eDiscovery Pricing Survey. Initiated in the winter of 2019 and conducted ten times with 761 individual responses, this survey provides a mechanism for cyber, data, and legal discovery professionals to share and consider current pricing for selected eDiscovery-centric collection, processing, and review tasks. Today ComplexDiscovery shares the results of the most recent pricing survey.]
The Summer 2023 eDiscovery Pricing* Survey
Survey Overview
The eDiscovery Pricing Survey is a non-scientific survey designed to provide insight into the general insight into eDiscovery pricing as shared by individuals working in the eDiscovery ecosystem.
The pricing survey is important to cybersecurity, information governance, and legal discovery professionals because it provides insight into the baseline pricing expectations for specific eDiscovery offerings. This information can help these professionals understand and compare pricing against value when making decisions within the eDiscovery ecosystem. The survey was developed through a combination of research, reports, and discussions with industry experts, and it covers a range of pricing models, from volume-based to subscription-based. By providing a snapshot of pricing expectations, the survey can help professionals make more informed decisions and ensure they get the best value for their eDiscovery needs.
The core survey consisted of 24 multiple-choice questions focused on pricing in the areas of collection, processing, and review. Additionally, the survey had three general information background questions to provide context for survey results. The survey also has one optional question for respondent comments and considerations.
Survey Questions
Collection
- What is the per hour cost for an onsite collection by a forensic examiner?
- What is the per hour cost for a remote collection by a forensic examiner?
- What is the per device cost for a desktop or laptop computer collection by a forensic examiner?
- What is the per device cost for a mobile device collection by a forensic examiner?
- What is the per hour cost for investigation, analysis, and report generation by a forensic examiner?
- What is the per hour cost for expert witness testimony (in-person and written) support by a forensic examiner?
Processing
- What is the per GB cost to process ESI based on volume at ingestion for 250 GB or less?
- What is the per GB cost to process ESI based on volume at ingestion for 251GB or more?
- What is the per GB cost to process ESI based on volume at completion of processing for 250 GB or less?
- What is the per GB cost to process ESI based on volume at completion of processing for 251GB or more?
- What is the per GB per month cost to host ESI without analytics for 250 GB or less?
- What is the per GB per month cost to host ESI without analytics for 251 GB or more?
- What is the per GB per month cost to host ESI with analytics for 250 GB or less?
- What is the per GB per month cost to host ESI with analytics for 251 GB or more?
- What is the user license fee per month for access to hosted data for 250 users or less?
- What is the user license fee per month for access to hosted data for 251 users or more?
- What is the per hour cost of basic project management support for eDiscovery?
- What is the per hour cost of advanced project management support for eDiscovery?
Review
- What is the per GB cost to conduct predictive coding as part of a technology-assisted review for 250 GB or less?
- What is the per GB cost to conduct predictive coding as part of a technology-assisted review for 251 GB or more?
- What is the cost per hour for document review attorneys to review documents for an onsite managed review?
- What is the cost per hour for document review attorneys to review documents for a remote managed review?
- What is the cost per document for document review attorneys to review documents for an onsite managed review?
- What is the cost per document for document review attorneys to review documents for a remote managed review?
Background
- In which geographical region do you primarily conduct eDiscovery-related business?
- Which business segment best describes your business in eDiscovery?
- What area best describes your primary function in the conduct of your organization’s eDiscovery-related business?
Survey Results
The summer 2023 survey response period was initiated on May 6, 2023, and continued until May 26, 2023. This was the tenth semi-annual eDiscovery pricing survey conducted by ComplexDiscovery. The survey was highlighted and promoted primarily by direct email from ComplexDiscovery and the EDRM to industry cybersecurity, information governance, and legal discovery professionals operating in the eDiscovery landscape. The survey experienced a strong reply rate, with 60 industry professionals responding.**
While individual respondent answers to the pricing survey are confidential, the anonymized aggregate results for the 24 core pricing questions of the multiple-choice survey and the general information question results are published without commentary.
The results of the survey can be found here.
