specificationVersion: "1.0"
name: Clever FinOps Framework
description: >-
  FinOps guidance for organizations integrating with the Clever API platform.
  Clever pricing is primarily district-facing (SaaS tiers) and partner-facing
  (custom integration agreements). Cost optimization centers on selecting the
  right integration type, minimizing unnecessary API calls via event-driven
  sync patterns, and right-sizing support and consulting add-ons.
framework: FinOps Framework 1.0 (FOCUS-aligned)
currency: USD
costDimensions:
  - dimension: District License Tier
    description: >-
      Districts pay for platform access based on the tier selected: Secure
      Access (free), Protect Plus (custom quote), or Elevate (custom quote).
      Costs scale with the number of schools and features required.
    category: Subscription
    managementTip: >-
      Start with the free Secure Access tier to evaluate fit before committing
      to Protect Plus or Elevate. Negotiate multi-year agreements for better
      pricing on paid tiers.
  - dimension: Application Partner Integration Fee
    description: >-
      Application partners integrating Secure Sync Rostering, Clever LMS
      Connect, or Clever SSO negotiate custom pricing with Clever. The Clever
      Library integration is free. Costs depend on the integration type,
      number of districts connected, and student seat count.
    category: Usage-Based / Custom
    managementTip: >-
      Start with the free Library integration to validate the integration
      pattern before committing to paid Secure Sync or LMS Connect agreements.
      Negotiate based on expected district and student volume.
  - dimension: Professional Services
    description: >-
      À la carte services including Live Training ($500/session), Technical
      Consulting ($1,200/engagement), and Premium Support ($4,000+/year).
      These are optional but may accelerate time-to-launch for new integrations.
    category: Professional Services
    managementTip: >-
      Use Clever Academy (free online training) and self-service developer
      documentation before purchasing live training or consulting. Reserve
      Premium Support for production integrations with strict SLA requirements.
  - dimension: API Call Volume
    description: >-
      While Clever does not publish per-call pricing, excessive API polling
      can trigger rate limiting and degrades integration reliability. Using
      the Events API for delta syncs reduces overall call volume and
      operational risk.
    category: Operational Efficiency
    managementTip: >-
      Implement event-driven sync via the Events API rather than full roster
      polling. Cache frequently-accessed data (district, school metadata) with
      appropriate TTLs. Monitor 429 response rates and adjust polling intervals
      accordingly.
costOptimizationRecommendations:
  - title: Use the Events API for Incremental Sync
    description: >-
      The Clever Events API delivers delta changes (creates, updates, deletes)
      rather than requiring full roster pulls. This dramatically reduces API
      call volume and is the recommended pattern for production integrations.
    impact: High
    effort: Medium
  - title: Leverage Free Tiers Before Upgrading
    description: >-
      The Clever Library integration and Secure Access district tier are free.
      Validate integration patterns at zero cost before negotiating paid
      partner agreements or district upgrades.
    impact: High
    effort: Low
  - title: Use Clever Academy for Training
    description: >-
      Clever Academy provides free self-service training for both district
      administrators and application developers, reducing the need for
      paid live training sessions ($500+) during onboarding.
    impact: Medium
    effort: Low
  - title: Consolidate Support Tier Investment
    description: >-
      Premium Support ($4,000+/year) is only cost-effective for high-volume
      production integrations. Community forums and self-service documentation
      cover most common integration scenarios at no cost.
    impact: Medium
    effort: Low
  - title: Right-Size Integration Scope
    description: >-
      Request only the data scopes (districts, schools, students, teachers,
      sections, courses) that your application actually needs. Narrower scopes
      reduce compliance surface area and may affect pricing negotiations.
    impact: Medium
    effort: Medium
budgetingGuidance:
  - category: Initial Integration
    recommendation: >-
      Budget $0 for API access during development using sandbox/test district
      tokens. Budget $1,200-$2,400 for optional technical consulting if the
      integration is complex. Allow 6-12 months for Clever certification and
      going-live with districts.
  - category: Production Operations
    recommendation: >-
      Factor in partner agreement fees negotiated with Clever based on the
      number of districts and students served. Premium Support ($4,000+/year)
      is recommended for integrations serving large district counts. Budget
      for annual API version updates (major versions released at most once
      per year).
focusAlignment:
  version: "1.0"
  dimensions:
    - name: BilledCost
      notes: >-
        Partner integration fees and district tier upgrades constitute primary
        billed costs. Professional services are billed separately per
        engagement or annually.
    - name: UsageQuantity
      notes: >-
        API call volume is not directly billed but affects rate limiting and
        integration reliability. Student seat count and district count are
        the primary usage dimensions for pricing negotiations.
    - name: ResourceType
      values:
        - Clever Data API (rostering, events)
        - Clever SSO API (identity, OAuth)
        - Clever LMS Connect API (gradebook)
        - Clever Library Integration (free)