Growing Businesses in the Age of Platforms

March 05, 2018

Read The Full Prompt

One consequence of the digital transformation is that platforms are becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s economy.

Assignment

For this module please pick ONE company/organization and discuss how it creates and captures value in platform markets:

Issues you may want to address (feel free to consider other related issues not listed below):

  • How to scale up platform businesses?
  • How do various factors such as local/global network effects and multi-homing affect competitive dynamics in platform markets?
  • When can an entrant take over market leadership when competing with an incumbent in a platform market?
  • How can product/service-centric firms grow into platform-centric firms?
  • How do firms cooperate and compete with powerful platforms when they serve as complementors and partners of these platforms?

Create an approximately 500-750 word post to make your contribution on d3.harvard.edu/platform-digit by 6pm on March 5. Please create appropriate tags for your post. Please also respond to and comment on three other posts per module. Feel free to use graphics, data, videos and links to other sites to corroborate your points.

Note: Since our third module is on crowd-based business models (business models that leverage collective intelligence from a large number of users), please do not pick crowd-based companies such as Kickstarter and Threadless for this OK blog post.

Submitted (81)

Battle.net, Activision’s Answer to the Age of Platforms
HBS2018
Last modified on May 1, 2018 at 2:08 pm
Activision Blizzard attracts hundreds of millions of gamers every month and has engagement levels that rival those of Facebook. As platform's continue to dominate the global economy, it is important ATVI leverages this amazing fan support to thrive in this [...]
SweepSouth: The Uber for domestic cleaning
Crystal
Last modified on March 6, 2018 at 1:44 am
In a market where households make frequent use of domestic cleaning services, SweepSouth has simplified the process of identifying reliable domestic workers. While the story has been positive thus far, can this business model scale?
The Modalist – Getting Paid for Retail Therapy
MM
Last modified on March 5, 2018 at 8:03 am
Combining the world's top fashion brands and retailers, a robust search engine, and a compelling cash back loyalty program, The Modalist aims to elevate the online shopping experience.
Abs from an Audio App? Aaptiv Seeks to Engage Your Muscles Through Your Ears
Ross Galloway
Posted on March 6, 2018 at 7:42 am
In order to defeat Nike in digital workouts, Aaptiv must evolve from Service to Platform
Tokopedia: Stay ahead!
Nandx
Posted on March 4, 2018 at 5:18 pm
As a developing e-commerce ecosystem in Indonesia, Tokopedia expands its business vertically and horizontally through innovation and keeps staying ahead.
Turo: Airbnb for Cars or Platform of the Future?
ADW
Posted on March 5, 2018 at 9:00 pm
Turo, the 'Airbnb for cars', has been growing rapidly and has set itself up for the future.
The Etsy Way
NT
Posted on March 5, 2018 at 3:39 pm
Etsy is the two-sided platform for arts, crafts, and unique products. But how big can this company grow by only servicing a market more fragmented than SMBs?
MoviePigs = Netflix + LinkedIn for International Film
Al
Posted on March 5, 2018 at 12:41 am
MoviePigs: a mashup of Netflix and LinkedIn for international film, will it succeed to fill the vacuum in the international film-making market?
Shopify – Superior Product to Global Platform
RobD
Posted on March 5, 2018 at 5:47 pm
Shopify burst on the scene in 2004 as a straightforward way for merchants to set up an online store at a hosted domain. The Canadian firm initially gained traction through its product superiority and affordability. Merchants and customers loved the [...]