Running a hybrid model
A critical aspect of the transition to the platform model is that you will be running in a hybrid model for quite some time. Sometimes, it will be your long-term strategy to run the business in a hybrid model as a linear product and as a platform. In some cases, running both in parallel will be a short-to medium-term approach until you transition entirely. Let's look at the logistics business example that we touched upon earlier in detail to understand what that transition will look like.
We discussed in the example that there is an existing logistics business that contracts and hires delivery personnel to fulfill the online orders taken by different manufacturers. Later, the business expands and starts accepting online orders and continues with the fulfillment service for orders taken elsewhere. We discussed in this scenario that when the business decides to transition to a platform model, it should first focus on platforming the fulfillment service...