The term platform model is particularly at home in the areas of digital marketplaces, digital transformation, eCommerce and digital commerce. A platform model describes a digital structure that directly connects suppliers and buyers. Companies, service providers or even private individuals can offer and find products or services via a shared platform.
Instead of selling goods itself, the platform provides a suitable environment in which others can become active. Companies such as Amazon and Airbnb are great examples of the platform model. Amazon not only sells its own products, but also provides a platform for many other retailers to sell their goods. Airbnb, on the other hand, connects travellers with people who offer free accommodation.
The great advantage of a platform model is that it can grow very quickly and gives many people access to new markets. This structure can therefore be particularly exciting for companies: they can expand or modernise their business model by offering a platform and benefiting from the fact that many different users come together. This creates a dynamic network that benefits everyone involved - without the platform itself always having to offer its own products.
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