

As its distribution prowess, market clout, and consumer and product knowledge grew, Amazon evolved its exchange to include other products from independent suppliers, along with Amazon-branded goods. The larger system meets consumer needs in multiple markets through multiple channels and business models.Īmazon, for example, began as a digital exchange focused on one product: books. Like platforms, they also incorporate branded and third-party products and services in an integrated customer offering. Like exchanges, these hybrid models facilitate transactions between third parties and consumers. Sometimes exchange businesses evolve into platforms, or platforms incorporate exchange models. Instead, Target manages the platform and aligns supply with demand to enhance value for its consumers.

Suppliers are not free to sell their wares, and consumers do not transact directly with suppliers.

It curates all offerings and has in-store partnerships with other retailers, such as Apple and CVS. Target, for example, like many other retailers, has built a platform that combines brick-and-mortar stores with a digital presence to sell an array of products and services, including its own private-label brands and third-party offerings. They enhance their value by putting together the right mix of owned, outsourced, or partnered services to create the best offering at the right cost. Unlike exchanges, platform companies curate their offerings to maximize their attractiveness to potential customers. A platform company can be both a producer and an aggregator of supply, aligning offerings from both internal and external sources. Platform companies bundle goods and services to create seamless offerings for consumers. It simply provides a transparent digital exchange where hotels can offer some of their inventory and consumers can select and reserve a room with minimal friction.

It also does not curate, select, or tailor the rooms listed on its service. For example, is a digital exchange that neither owns nor operates hotels. They facilitate exchanges between buyers and sellers in ways that increase transaction ease, transparency, and efficiency. Pure exchanges have no inventory, do not create products, and do not curate or deliver services. To comprehend how new business models unleash market forces, it’s helpful to understand how they work and what differentiates each model.Įxchanges bring suppliers and consumers together to facilitate easier and better transactions.
