Accounting Policies | 2. Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and footnotes include the accounts of Appian and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) as contained in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) for interim financial reporting. In the opinion of management, the interim financial information includes all adjustments of a normal recurring nature necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations, financial position, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The results of operations for the current period are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year or the results for any future periods. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 15, 2024. Use of Estimates The preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in these condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Although we believe the estimates we use are reasonable, due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making these estimates, actual results reported in future periods could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates embedded in the condensed consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, revenue recognition, income taxes and the related valuation allowance established against deferred tax assets, the amortization period of deferred commissions, the amortization period of the cost to obtain the judgment preservation insurance (as discussed in Note 12), and stock-based compensation. Revenue Recognition Refer to Note 3 for a detailed discussion on specific revenue recognition principles related to our major revenue streams. Concentration of Credit and Customer Risk Our financial instruments exposed to concentration of credit and customer risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and our short- and long-term investments. Deposits held with banks may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits; however, we believe the financial institutions holding our cash deposits are financially sound and, accordingly, minimal credit risk exists with respect to these balances. With regard to our customers, credit evaluation and account monitoring procedures are used to minimize the risk of loss. Revenue generated from government agencies represented 21.7% and 20.5% of our revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, of which the top three U.S. federal government agencies generated 4.5% and 4.2% of our revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Additionally, 37.2% and 33.4% of our revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, was generated from international customers. No single end-customer accounted for more than 10% of our total revenue in the three months ended March 31, 2024 or 2023. As of March 31, 2024, we had one customer whose balance comprised 12% of total accounts receivable. Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash We consider all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, as well as overnight repurchase agreements, to be cash equivalents. Restricted cash consisted of cash designated to settle an escrow liability stemming from a holdback agreement related to our acquisition of Lana Labs GmbH. We paid the remaining amount owed on August 11, 2023. The following table presents a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as presented in the consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands): As of March 31, 2024 December 31, 2023 March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Cash and cash equivalents $ 170,108 $ 149,351 $ 198,679 $ 148,132 Restricted cash, current — — 2,280 2,249 Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash $ 170,108 $ 149,351 $ 200,959 $ 150,381 Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Accounts receivable are stated at realizable value, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on our assessment of the collectability of accounts and incorporates an estimation of expected lifetime credit losses on our receivables. We regularly review the composition of the accounts receivable aging, historical bad debts, changes in payment patterns, customer creditworthiness, and current economic trends. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in their inability to make required payments, additional provisions for doubtful accounts would be required and would increase bad debt expense. The allowance for doubtful accounts totaled $2.3 million and $2.6 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. Deferred Commissions We capitalize costs of obtaining a contract with a customer, which consist of sales commissions paid to our sales team, and the associated incremental payroll taxes. These costs are recorded as deferred commissions in the consolidated balance sheets. Costs to obtain a contract for a new customer or upsell an existing customer are amortized over an estimated economic life of five years as sales commissions on initial sales are not commensurate with sales commissions on contract renewals. Commissions paid relating to contract renewals are deferred and amortized over the related renewal period. We determine the estimated economic life based on both qualitative and quantitative factors such as expected renewals, product life cycles, contractual terms, and customer attrition. We periodically review the carrying amount of deferred contract acquisition costs to determine whether events or changes in circumstances have occurred that could impact the estimated economic life. Costs to obtain a contract for professional services arrangements are expensed as incurred as the contractual period of our professional services arrangements are one year or less. Amortization associated with deferred commissions is recorded to sales and marketing expense in our consolidated statements of operations. Total commission expense was $11.4 million and $11.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Property and Equipment Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Significant additions or improvements extending the useful life of an asset are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance costs which do not significantly improve the related assets or extend their useful lives are charged to expense as incurred. The estimated useful lives of our property and equipment are generally 3 years for computer software, computer hardware, and internally developed software, 5 years for equipment, and 10 years years for office furniture and fixtures. Leasehold improvements have an estimated useful life of the shorter of the useful life of the assets or the lease term. Severance Costs In the past, we have incurred severance costs related to involuntary reductions in our workforce designed to right-size our employee base and improve operations. For involuntary termination benefits not provided under the terms of ongoing arrangements, we record severance costs once the terms of the arrangement have been established and communicated to employees. Costs related to benefits provided in accordance with mutually understood and ongoing agreements are recognized when an obligation has been incurred, it is probable the benefits will be paid, and the amount to be paid can be reasonably estimated. We did not incur any such severance costs during the three months ended March 31, 2024, while severance costs related to actions totaled $4.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Treasury Stock We account for treasury stock under the cost method. When treasury stock is reissued at a price higher than its cost, the difference is recorded as a component of additional paid-in-capital (“APIC”) in our consolidated balance sheets. When treasury stock is reissued at a price lower than its cost, the difference is recorded as a component of APIC to the extent there are previously recorded gains to offset the losses. If there are no treasury stock gains in APIC, the losses upon reissuance of treasury stock are recorded as an increase to accumulated deficit. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted We have not adopted any new accounting guidance in 2024 that has had a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements or disclosures. Not Yet Adopted In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvement to Reportable Segment Disclosures (ASU 2023-07), which enhances the disclosure requirements for operating segments in our annual and interim consolidated financial statements. The new guidance is effective for us beginning with our annual reporting for fiscal year 2024 and for interim period reporting beginning in fiscal year 2025 and will be applied on a retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The new ASU requires public companies to disclose significant segment expenses and other segment items on an annual and interim basis and provide in interim periods all disclosures about a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets that are currently required annually. Additionally, it requires public companies to disclose the title and position of the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”). The ASU does not change how a public entity identifies its operating segments, aggregates them, or applies the quantitative thresholds to determine its reportable segments. This guidance also applies to public entities that have only one segment. This ASU will only impact our disclosures with no impacts to our results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition. In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Tax (Topic 740): Improvement to Income Tax Disclosures (ASU 2023-09), which requires public companies to disclose, on an annual basis, a tabular rate reconciliation using both percentages and currency amounts, broken out into specified categories with certain reconciling items further broken out by nature and jurisdiction to the extent those items exceed a specified threshold. In addition, all entities are required to disclose income taxes paid, net of refunds received disaggregated by federal, state/local, and foreign and by jurisdiction if the amount is at least 5% of total income tax payments, net of refunds received. The new guidance will be effective for our annual reporting for fiscal year 2025 on a prospective basis with the option to apply the standard retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. This ASU will only impact our disclosures with no impacts to our results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition. In March 2024, the SEC issued its final climate disclosure rule, which requires the disclosure of material Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions and other climate-related topics in annual reports if they are reasonably likely to have a material impact on the Company’s business. For large accelerated filers, disclosure requirements will begin phasing in for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. Subsequent to issuance, the rules became the subject of litigation, and the SEC has issued a stay to allow the legal process to proceed. We are currently evaluating the impact these rules will have on our financial statements and related disclosures and will monitor the litigation progress for possible impacts on the disclosure requirements under the rules. |