Multi-Sided Platforms (and Platform Economies)

  • Establishment of platforms to enable creation of value by people other than those who developed the platform
  • Combination of shared central resources and develop-specific innovations
  • Core of modern business models behind iOS, Android ecosystems, many others
  • Allows innovation at both the core and edges of an enterprise
  • Allows solving of very complex problems at enterprise scale and often leaves market, distribution, integration or feature-specific innovations to smaller developers

Examples:

  • iOS App Store
  • Google Play Store
  • Amazon
  • Etsy