Design System
3

Problem Statement

Prove you understand their pain better than they do.

80%+ Auto-Approve60-80% Human Review<60% Research Needed

Key Insight: The best problem statements use the client's own words and data. Quote from discovery calls. Reference their RFP. Show you listened.

Required Data

Current State

  • Current metrics (costs, efficiency)
  • Existing infrastructure/systems
  • Pain points from discovery
  • What they've tried before

Business Impact

  • Quantified cost of inaction
  • Risk exposure (compliance, security)
  • Competitive disadvantage
  • Growth constraints

Industry Context

  • Market trends affecting them
  • Regulatory requirements
  • Competitor benchmarks
  • Industry best practices

RFP Requirements

  • Stated needs from RFP
  • Evaluation criteria
  • Must-haves vs nice-to-haves
  • Timeline constraints

Example Preview

The Challenge

"Our electricity costs have increased 40% in three years, and we're projecting another 12% annually. At this rate, energy will consume 15% of our operating margin by 2028."

— Discovery call, January 15, 2026

Current State

Auckland Warehouse & Distribution Centre operates a 45,000 m² facility running 18 hours daily. Your current energy infrastructure relies entirely on grid power, exposing the operation to:

  • $420,000 annual electricity spend — up from $300,000 in 2023
  • Zero renewable energy mix — below the industry benchmark of 35%
  • No backup power capability — vulnerable to grid outages

Business Impact

$1.2M
5-year cost increase
if rates continue
$85K
Outage risk annually
avg. 2 outages/year
15%
Margin erosion
by 2028 projected

Why Action Is Critical Now

  • →Government solar incentives expire December 2026
  • →Your lease renewal in 2027 requires sustainability commitments
  • →Key customer (Fonterra) mandates supplier carbon reporting by Q3 2026

Quality Checklist