Are we seeing the end of Platform business models…

Brands and manufacturers are fighting back…

The past two decades the Platform Business Model has had a good run.

Interesting to think over the past few decades everyone at one time or another was trying to move to a ‘platform based model’ in response to competitive threats and changing market conditions… But actually they weren’t. Platforms were the way to disrupt markets from outside and not from within.

A question — are platforms just a fad? Do they really deliver value or are they a bit like Digital Transformation the promise sounds good but the reality is nothing really changes. Yes it sounds good, reads well in the Annual Report and CEOs statement. A Digital Transformation to what exactly? It’s a bit like the ‘emperors new clothes’, will anyone come clean and admit they don’t work. Then let’s look at the concept of a cheaper price when things go wrong, and the often do, you need support to find there is nothing behind the cheap price!

There are different types of platforms of course. Platforms that behave as markets matching buyers and sellers to trade their wears — eBay, AliBaba and Amazon spring to mind. Platforms to promote yourself that offer influence and reach — Instagram. However the bulk seem to be aggregation sites offering price…