1st Edition

Platform Strategy How to Unlock the Power of Communities and Networks to Grow Your Business

    240 Pages 34 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    During the last decade, platform businesses such as Uber, Airbnb, Amazon and eBay have been taking over the world. In almost every sector, traditional businesses are under attack from digital disrupters that are effectively harnessing the power of communities. But what exactly is a platform business and why is it different? In Platform Strategy, Laure Claire Reillier and Benoit Reillier provide a practical guide for students, digital entrepreneurs and executives to understand what platforms are, how they work and how you can build one successfully.

    Using their own "rocket model" and original case studies (including Google, Apple, Amazon), they explain how designing, igniting and scaling a platform business requires learning a whole new set of management rules. Platform Strategy also offers many fascinating insights into the future of platforms, their regulation and governance, as well as how they can be combined with other business models.

    Benoit Reillier and Laure Claire Reillier are co-founders of Launchworks, a leading advisory firm focused on helping organizations develop and scale innovative business models.

    Chapter 1. Introduction to platform businesses 

    Chapter 2. The meteoric rise of platform businesses 

    Chapter 3. What is a platform business?  

    Chapter 4. Economic characteristics of platforms 

    Chapter 5. Platforms as business models 

    Chapter 6. Platform-powered ecosystems 

    Chapter 7. Lifestages of platforms: design  

    Chapter 8. Platform ignition: proving the concept 

    Chapter 9. Platform scaling: reaching critical mass 

    Chapter 10. Platform maturity: defending profitable growth  

    Chapter 11. Platform pricing  

    Chapter 12. Trust, governance and brand 

    Chapter 13. Platforms, regulation and competition 

    Chapter 14. Competing against platforms 

    Chapter 15.The future of platforms

    Biography

    Benoit Reillier and Laure Claire Reillier are co-founders of Launchworks, a leading advisory firm focused on helping organisations develop and scale innovative business models.

    Laure Claire Reillier has worked for a number of high growth start-ups and established tech firms. She was previously a senior executive at eBay Europe. She has a post-graduate degree in computer sciences and telecommunications from Telecom SudParis (France) and holds an MBA from the London Business School.

    Benoit Reillier has been advising the management teams of platforms as well digital and technology companies for the past 20 years. He holds master degrees in information systems, management & telecommunications (Telecom Management/Evry) as well as economics & competition law (King’s College, London). He also holds MBAs from both Columbia University in New York City and London Business School.

     

    "Platforms like BlaBlaCar are reshaping the way people interact and trust one another, unlocking significant potential for collaboration. Platform Strategy provides powerful insights into how to design, ignite and scale a trusted platform. This is a great read for anyone interested in understanding how platforms are changing the world, and the dynamics at play." - FRÉDÉRIC MAZZELLA, founder and CEO of BlaBlaCar

    "Platform Strategy is an essential read for students, academics, entrepreneurs and executives interested in understanding how firms like Airbnb, Apple and Google are redefining the rules of business." - DR. MARIE TAILLARD, L’Oréal Professor of Creativity Marketing, ESCP Europe

    "Platform businesses are unique in that they can connect and match people in an increasingly efficient manner. Yet launching a platform takes a lot of work. Platform Strategy provides unique –and practical- insights for all platform entrepreneurs." - DIDIER RAPPAPORT, CEO of Happn and founder of Dailymotion

    "Over the past 20 years, I have witnessed first-hand how platform businesses like eBay and Turo unlocked the power of communities and created enormous value for millions of people. Platform Strategy provides great insights into the successful implementation of these innovative business models." - ANDRÉ HADDAD, CEO of Turo

    "I have hands-on experience of the challenges of exponential growth at eBay, PayPal and Skype. Platform Strategy is a must read for anyone involved in scaling such innovative business models." - ANNEMIE RESS, Founder/CEO of PurpleBeach,former Senior Director HR eBay, PayPal and Global HR Director at Skype

    "Two-sided businesses are notoriously difficult to scale. Platform Strategy is an inspiring guide packed with deep insights and practical frameworks to help platform entrepreneurs succeed." - STÉPHANE KASRIEL, CEO of Upwork