Hubspot Value Chain Analysis Guide

A Hubspot approach to value chain analysis helps you break down how your business actually creates value, so you can lower costs, improve differentiation, and build a sustainable competitive edge.

Based on the classic framework from Michael Porter, this guide walks you through how to replicate the value chain method used in the original Hubspot value chain article and apply it directly to your own organization.

What Is Value Chain Analysis in Hubspot Terms?

In simple terms, value chain analysis is the process of mapping every activity that turns raw inputs into finished value for your customers.

Using a Hubspot-inspired approach, you group those activities into two broad categories:

• Primary activities that directly create, sell, deliver, and support your product or service.
• Support activities that enable the primary work by providing infrastructure, people, and technology.

The goal is to see exactly where you can cut costs, streamline work, or add extra value that customers will pay for.

Core Components of a Hubspot-Style Value Chain

To mirror the method described in the Hubspot resource, start by understanding the standard structure of a value chain.

Primary Activities in a Hubspot Value Chain

Primary activities sit at the center of how value is created and delivered.

• Inbound logistics – receiving, storing, and handling materials, information, or inputs.
• Operations – transforming inputs into the finished product or service.
• Outbound logistics – warehousing, order fulfillment, and distribution.
• Marketing and sales – promoting your offer, generating demand, and closing deals.
• Service – post-sale support, onboarding, and customer success.

In a Hubspot-influenced process, each primary activity is examined for both cost efficiency and its impact on the customer experience.

Support Activities in the Hubspot Framework

Support activities make the primary work possible.

• Firm infrastructure – leadership, finance, legal, and overall management systems.
• Human resource management – hiring, training, performance, and culture.
• Technology development – software, tools, automation, and R&D.
• Procurement – purchasing materials, tools, and services.

A Hubspot-style analysis emphasizes how improvements in support activities can cascade into better performance across the entire chain.

Step-by-Step Hubspot-Inspired Value Chain Analysis

Follow these steps to perform your own value chain analysis using the structure mirrored from the Hubspot article.

Step 1: Define Your Business Scope

Begin by deciding which part of your business you will map.

• Entire company
• Specific business unit or product line
• Single service or program

Be precise; clarity at this stage keeps the rest of the analysis focused and actionable.

Step 2: List All Primary Activities

Map your primary activities in order, from intake of inputs to post-sale support.

1. Write down how you source and receive inputs.
2. Describe how those inputs are transformed into value.
3. Document how you store and ship the output.
4. Detail how you attract and convert customers.
5. Capture what happens after the sale to retain and delight customers.

Think in concrete steps instead of vague functions. For example, instead of just “operations,” list activities such as assembly, quality checks, or configuration.

Step 3: Identify Support Activities

Next, identify how your support activities power the primary work.

• What systems and leadership decisions set strategy and allocate resources?
• How do you recruit, onboard, and develop people for each activity?
• Which technologies, tools, and data systems underpin the work?
• How do you purchase software, materials, or outsourced services?

Draw clear links between each support activity and the primary activities it enables.

Step 4: Analyze Costs and Value Drivers

With the activities mapped, evaluate where you spend the most and where you create the most value.

• List major cost drivers for each activity (labor, technology, materials, time).
• Identify where customers perceive the most value (speed, reliability, features, support).
• Flag bottlenecks, rework, or manual tasks that increase cost without adding value.

In a Hubspot-style process, this is where you begin to spot leverage points for optimization and differentiation.

Step 5: Look for Competitive Advantages

Use your analysis to pinpoint specific advantages you can strengthen.

• Cost advantage: Can you deliver comparable value at a lower cost?
• Differentiation: Can you offer a unique benefit that justifies a premium price?
• Focus: Can you narrow the scope to serve a niche better than broad competitors?

Competitive advantage usually comes from a combination of activities that reinforce each other, not just a single isolated improvement.

How Hubspot-Style Value Chain Analysis Drives Strategy

When you view operations through this structured lens, strategic decisions become much clearer.

Aligning Activities With Customer Expectations

A Hubspot-inspired framework pushes you to connect internal activities directly to customer outcomes.

• Tighten handoffs between inbound logistics, operations, and delivery to shorten lead times.
• Coordinate marketing, sales, and service to create a consistent experience.
• Use technology and automation to remove friction at each stage.

The value chain becomes a blueprint for both efficiency and customer delight.

Prioritizing High-Impact Improvements

Instead of chasing random optimization ideas, you can prioritize improvements that reshape key links in your chain.

• Automate low-value, repetitive tasks.
• Invest in training where human interaction matters most.
• Redesign processes that cause delays or errors.

This approach ensures that changes in one area support performance gains in others, reinforcing your overall strategy.

Practical Tips to Apply a Hubspot Value Chain Approach

To put this methodology into action, combine structured analysis with practical experimentation.

• Run workshops across departments to map activities collaboratively.
• Visualize your value chain on a single page for clarity.
• Set measurable targets for cost, speed, and satisfaction at each stage.
• Review and refine your chain regularly as your market evolves.

If you need expert help turning your value chain map into an executable growth plan, consider partnering with a consulting firm such as Consultevo.

Next Steps: Implementing a Hubspot-Inspired Value Chain

To move from theory to practice, choose one slice of your value chain and run a focused experiment.

1. Select a specific activity, such as onboarding or order fulfillment.
2. Document the current process in detail.
3. Identify one clear change that reduces cost or adds value.
4. Test the change with a small segment.
5. Measure results and decide whether to scale.

By iterating in this way across your chain, you build a compounding advantage similar to what is outlined in the Hubspot value chain analysis framework.

Over time, this disciplined approach will reveal where your business can stand out, where you should streamline, and how every activity contributes to the overall value you create.