How to Launch Your Digital Platform

Publication Date: April 01, 2015

The ubiquity of internet access has caused a sharp rise in the number of businesses offering platforms that connect users for communication or commerce. Entrepreneurs are particularly drawn to these platforms because they create significant value and have modest operating costs, and network effects protect their position once established–users rarely leave a vibrant platform. But these businesses also raise significant start-up challenges. Every platform starts out empty. Platforms need to immediately attract not only many users but multiple types of users. For example, it’s not enough that many customers want to book taxis by smartphone. Drivers must also be willing to accept smartphone bookings. Harvard Business School professor Ben Edelman has been studying the dynamics of platform businesses and the strategies for launching them for 10 years. In this article he draws on research on dozens of platform sites and products to offer a framework for building a successful platform business. It involves asking five basic questions: (1) Can I attract a large group of users at once? (2) Can I offer stand-alone value to users? (3) How can I build credibility with customers? (4) How should I charge users? (5) Should my platform be compatible with legacy systems?

Pages: 9

To download this product after your purchase, simply sign-in to hbr.org and visit the “Purchases” area of your account.

Educators: Register as a Premium Educator at
hbsp.harvard.edu
, plan a course, and save your students up to 50% with your academic discount.

Students: Tell your instructors about the savings at
hbsp.harvard.edu.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order.

When you place your first order on HBR.org and enter your credit card information and shipping address, ‘Speed-Pay’ ordering is enabled. ‘Speed-Pay’ is a service that saves the credit card details from your most recent purchase and allows you to re-use that card for future purchases. If you click the Speed-Pay button on any product detail page, your order will be charged to the most recent credit card information attached to your account and shipped (if applicable) to the last address we have on file for you. For more details

Educators: Register as a Premium Educator at hbsp.harvard.edu, plan a course, and save your students up to 50% with your academic discount.

Students: Tell your instructors about the savings at hbsp.harvard.edu.

Note: Quantity pricing discounts will be reflected at Checkout, prior to submitting your order. If you need to make additional copies to distribute, please purchase copyright permission.

Ebook: A digital book provided in three formats (PDF, ePub, and Mobi) for the price of one. Accessible within “My Library” upon purchase.

Hardcopy, paperback, softbound, magazine: Physical copy shipped from our warehouse to your requested shipping location.

PDF: PDF digital file. Accessible within “My Library” upon purchase.

Bundle: A themed collection containing two or more items at a special savings.

Note: Some of our products are available in other languages besides English, for example a “Spanish PDF” format means you will receive a PDF in the Spanish language.

A security code is added protection against credit card fraud. It is a 3 or 4 digit number appearing on the front or back of your credit card. See examples below.

Visa and Mastercard
The security code has 3 digits and appears on the BACK of the card in the signature panel.

American Express
The Card Identification Number (CID/4DBC) is a four-digit, non-embossed (flat) number that is printed on every American Express Card.

The CID/4DBC is ALWAYS located ABOVE the embossed (raised) account number on the face of the card. In some instances, the CID/4DBC is located on the left side of the card, but is always above the account number. Some cards have a four-digit number embossed below the account number, but this is not the CID/4DBC

If you have a promotion code, please enter it below. This promotion code field is case sensitive so please type all capital letters.

This product is intended for individual use only. To learn more about volume discounts for organizations and license opportunities for consultants, contact Lindsey.Dietrich@harvardbusiness.org.

Unable to locate your subscription account #?

Click here

How to Launch Your Digital Platform

Research & References of How to Launch Your Digital Platform|A&C Accounting And Tax Services
Source

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us