Five steps of maturity are identified in the model. The fifth step, optimising, should be considered an ideal. The optimising step represents an aspiration that may never be perfectly satisfied in practice. The description of each step reflects many observations of how revenue assurance has matured in different businesses combined with a forward-looking extrapolation of how it might continue to mature. Each upward step involves a shift of emphasis from reactive to proactive revenue assurance.
- No revenue assurance process, only arbitrary ad hoc reactions to circumstances as motivated by the prejudices of individuals and what data they obtain by accident.
- Revenue assurance processes are developed at the level of individual projects, products and implementations. Flaws are identified and remedial action taken.
- Revenue assurance processes are developed for the whole organisation. Organisational priorities for revenue assurance are understood and guide proactive deployment of resources.
- Revenue assurance processes provide consistent quantitative measures. Measures drive planning and control.
- The measures, planning and controls implemented in order to improve the business not only improve the business, but also themselves become the subject of planned, methodical and measured continual improvement.
