Unicornic | Understanding Business Models

This episode covers the business model - Pay What you want business model as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

In this business model, you as a buyer have liberty to decide the price you want to pay for a given product or service. You may also opt to offer Zero price. In some cases, a minimum floor price may be set, and/or a suggested price may be indicated as guidance for the buyer.

This episode covers the business model - Open Business as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

In open business models, the central source of value creation lies in collaborating with partners in the ecosystem. Openness refers to the inclusion of outside partners - suppliers, customers, or complementors into research and development process. Open business model involves exchange of technologies, ideas, production capacities, distribution networks and brands. Companies pursuing the Open Business model try to leave profitable niche for potential partners within the model to enable them to engage in independently gainful business activities. 

This episode covers the business model - Target the Poor as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

In target the poor business model, the companies design its product or service offering for the customer positioned at the base of the pyramid. Customers with lower purchasing power benefit from affordable products. The company generates small profits with each product sold, but benefits from the higher sales numbers that usually come with the scale of the customer base.

This episode covers the business model - Ultimate Luxury as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

Ultimate Luxury Business Model pattern describes the strategy of a company to focus on the upper side of society's pyramid. This allows a company to distinguish its products or services significantly from others. High standards of quality or exclusive privileges are the main focus to attract these kinds of customers. The high price charged by these companies allow it to generate high margins, thereby meet its business re-investment needs.

This episode covers the business model - Robinhood as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

In Robin hood business model, the Company provides the same product or service to 'the rich' at a much higher price than to 'the poor'. As a result, the Company generates a maximum of its profits from the wealthy customer base. Serving 'the poor' at a low is not profitable per se, but creates economies of scale, which other providers cannot achieve. Additionally, it has a positive effect on the Company's image.

This Episode covers the business model - Pay per use as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

The pay per use business model tracks actual usage of a service or product. The customer pays based on what he or she effectively consumes – i.e. rentals are charged based on usage or say on a pro-rata basis.

This episode covers the business model - User Design as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

User Design is especially promising in industries with comparatively simple products that appeal to customers on account of their design. User design business model feeds into the idea of social communities in which people are increasingly seeking interactivity: they want to help generate ideas, as well as comment and build on the existing ideas and solutions of others.

This Episode covers the business model - Open Source as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury - https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

The Open Source pattern has made a myriad of research initiatives successful. The greatest challenge is not to ‘create’ value, but to ‘capture value’. When designing such a business model, it is important to ensure that at least part of the created value stays within the originating company.

This Episode covers the business model - Auction as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m 

Auctioning means selling a product or service to the highest bidder.

This Episode covers the business model - Barter Business Model as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

The Barter is one of the oldest business models in human history. Barter is a method of exchange in which goods are given away to customers in return, the customer provides something of value to the sponsoring organization. The transaction takes place without the exchange of actual money. The exchange does not have to show any direct connection and is valued differently by each party.

This episode covers the business model - Trash to Cash Business Model as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

Trash to Cash is not a new concept since it borrows heavily from traditional raw material and scrap metal merchants.

Trash to Cash results in a win-win situation for both the supplier and the manufacturer: for the supplier of waste products, the waste disposal cost is reduced, and the companies following Trash to Cash business model get cheap resources with are later transformed into products.

This episode covers the business model - Cash Machine Business Model as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

In the Cash Machine concept, the customer pays upfront for the products sold to the customer before the company covers the associated expenses. This prepayments by customers results in increased liquidity which can be used to amortize debt or to fund investments in other areas. The Cash Machine pattern involves running a business with a negative cash conversion cycle.

This episode covers the business model - Franchising Business Model as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

Franchising model is widely popular in food and beverage industry. Well-known restaurant chains including Subway, Pizza Hut, and KFC have successfully implemented Franchising model to expand its operation globally.

This episode covers the business model - Layer Player as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

A layer player is a specialized company whose services are limited to the provision of one value-adding step among different value chains. This step is typically offered within a variety of independent markets and industries. The company benefits from its ability to specialise in terms of efficiency gains, multiplying know-how and intellectual property rights. These economies of scale enjoyed by layer player companies often enhances its efficiently. Further, the established expertise can result in a higher quality process.

This episode covers the business model - Make More of it as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

In the Make More of It business model, a company’s resources are not only used to build own products, but also offered to other companies. In this manner, ‘slack’ resources help to generate revenue in addition to the core value proposition of the company.

This episode covers the business model - Reverse Engineering as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

Reverse Engineering business model refers to obtaining a competitor's product, taking it apart, and analyzing its technology, functionality and input components that were used to develop the product. These learnings are then applied to build a similar or compatible product.

This episode covers the business model - Reverse Innovation as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m 

Reverse innovation is the process whereby goods developed as inexpensive models to meet the needs of developing nations are then repackaged as low-cost innovative goods for Western buyers. The underlying logic is that many products developed for emerging economies or lower-income countries have to meet very stringent requirements from cost prespective. For customers to afford products, costs must be a fraction of similar products in higher-income countries. At the same time, they must display functionalities that meet the standards in developed markets.

This episode covers the business model - Affiliation as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

In the Affiliation business model, the company’s focus lies in supporting other parties to market products to benefit from successful transactions. With this the company gains access to a diversified customer base without additional sales and marketing efforts.

The affiliate revenue model is based on commissions. In simple words, if you resell an items from the other retailers on your site. You are rewarded for driving new customers to the merchant who is selling the item. The customer tracking is through coded affiliate links. Affiliates usually operate on the basis of pay-per-sale or pay-per-display system and this model is generally implemented on an online platform.

This episode covers the business model - Fractional Ownership as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

Fractional ownership describes the sharing of a certain asset class amongst a group of owners. Typically, this Factional ownership business model is popular among the asset that is capital intensive but only required on an occasional basis. In fractional ownership, the customer benefits from the rights as an owner, but they are not required to provide entire capital. This gives the customer's the possibility of purchasing products or services that they otherwise could not afford.

This episode covers the business model - Shop in Shop as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

The Shop in Shop business model refers to the practice of retailers or service providers establishing an independent store in another company’s retail space. Instead of opening new branches, a partner is chosen whose branches can profit from integrating the company's offerings in a way that imitates a small shop within another shop (a win-win situation).

This episode covers Long Tail as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m 

The Long Tail business model concentrates on selling small quantities of a very large range of products, in contrast to a 80-20 rule - which states that 80% of revenue is generated from 20% of products. With Long tail business model, niche products can even bring in a larger share of the revenue than mass products.

This episode covers the business model - Add-on as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

In Add On business model, the core offering is priced competitively, however, there are numerous extras that drive the final price up. In the end, the customer usually pays more than initially assumed.

This episode covers the business model - Lockin as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m 

Lock In business model is based on principle that keeping existing customers is cheaper than creating new ones. The Customers are locked into a vendor's world of products and services.

This episode covers the business model - From Push to Pull described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

The From Push to Pull pattern Business Model focuses on the ‘customer is king’ paradigm, making it central to all decisions within the enterprise, be they related to research and innovation, new product development, production, logistics or distribution

This episode covers the business model - Digitisation as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

A two-sided market business model facilitates interactions between multiple interdependent groups of customers for mutual benefits via its platform.

This episode covers the business model - Direct Selling as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

Direct selling refers to a scenario whereby a company's products are not sold through intermediary channels but are available directly from the manufacturer or service provider to its customers. In this way, the company skips the retail margin, or any additional costs associated with the intermediates. These savings can be forwarded to the customer and a standardized sales experience established. Additionally, such close contact can improve customer relationships.

This episode covers the business model - Experience Selling  as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

Today, Retailers no longer interested in just selling their products; as they are facing a tug-of-war scenario to win the hearts of customers. Experience Selling presents a major step towards achieving just that. A Retailer can differentiate itself from its competitors and forge a direct bond with its customers by providing a holistic experience.

The retail industry has done exceptionally well with Experience Selling.

This episode explains business model - Flat Rate as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

In Flat rate business model, customers pays lumpsum amount for a service or a product for and they are free to use it to heart’s content. The main advantage for customer is unlimited consumption with full control of their costs

This episode covers the business model as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

The business model when a company takes a product manufactured by other company and puts its name and logo on it is termed as White Label. In other words, White Label goods are not given a specific name after being manufactured, but are sold by different companies under different names and in different market segments.

This episode covers the business model - Customer Loyalty as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

In the Customer Loyalty model, customers are retained and loyalty is rewarded by providing value over and above the basic products or services (e.g. through incentive-based programmes). Here customer’s purchases are recorded and corresponding reward is calculated. The rewards take the form of either physical products or rebates on future purchases, with special offers or discounts. In this way, customers are voluntarily bound to the company, which discourages them from opting for competitors’ products and services and thus protects the company’s revenue.

Rewards earned by customer under loyalty programme encourages them to make additional purchases as rewards generally covers part of product prices. Also it enables a company to profit from sales that it would not otherwise have been able to make.

This episode covers the business model - Guaranteed Availability as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m 

The essential aim of the Guaranteed Availability business pattern is to reduce the costs incurred by the breakdown on account of technical failures by ensuring almost zero downtime

The implementation of guaranteed availability business models generally involves a Flat Rate contract entitling customers to all the services necessary to guarantee constant product availability.

This episode covers the business model - Crowd funding as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

Crowdfunding business model involves outsourcing the financing of a project to the general public. You can raise capital by tapping into large pool of individuals—primarily online via social media and crowdfunding platforms

This episode covers the business model - Freemium as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

The term ‘freemium’ is coined by combining word ‘free’ and ‘premium’. The users get basic features of product at no cost while premium version having additional richer features is chargeable for user.

Here, the free version is offered to establish and grow customer base, from which it is hoped that enough customers will desire to shift to premium version later. One of the chief purposes of freemium is to attract new users.

This episode covers the business model - Cross Selling as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

In cross selling business model, the retailer are offering products and services beyond a customer’s requirement. Here the retailer may be trying to educate customers about related products, offer complementary products or enhance customer experience. But the ultimate objective of the retailer is to encourage existing customer to buy more.

This episode covers the business model - Crowdsourcing as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

Crowdsourcing is the technique of outsourcing specific tasks to external people. The aim of Crowdsourcing is to extend the company’s sources of innovation and knowledge, and open up possibilities to develop cheaper and more effective solutions. Crowdsourcing tasks varies from generation of innovative ideas to the solving of specific problems. Crowdsourcing is suited to discovering more about customer wishes and preferences for future products.

This episode covers the business model - Aikido Business Model as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

Aikido is a Japanese martial art in which the strength of an attacker is used against him or her. As a business model, Aikido allows a company to offer something diametrically opposed to the image and mindset of the competition. This new value proposition attracts customers who prefer ideas or concepts opposed to the mainstream.

This episode covers the business model - Peer to Peer Business Model as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

Peer-to-Peer business model (commonly referred to as P2P) is based on the principle of cooperation. The Company offers a meeting point, i.e., an online database and communication service that connects these individuals. This services could include offering personal objects for rent, providing certain products or services, or the sharing of information and experiences.

A major advantage of Peer-to-Peer business models is that customers can make use of private products and services in much the same way as they would use commercial offerings. Additionally, customers value the social aspects of Peer-to-Peer networks. A company’s success implementing this business model will hinge on whether it is able to establish a trusted image of the various offerings. For while users appreciate the opportunity to purchase privately produced products and services, they also want the simplicity and ease of commercial transactions.

This episode covers the business model - Razor and Blade as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

Razor and Blade Business Model, the company sells not just basic products, but also ups potential revenues associated with future sales of complementary products. To capitalise on this potential, companies usually build in exit barriers, to prevent customers from purchasing complementary products from competitors

This episode covers the business model - Leveraged Customer Data as described in the book - Business Model Navigator by Oliver Gassmann, Karolin Frankenberger and Michaela Choudury  https://amzn.to/2wHKa7m

Leveraging customer data business model serves as an extraordinarily powerful tool to aid decision making. The concept is mirrored in frequently used statement – Data is new Oil

Organisation are using these data to carry out real-time market analyses for evaluating customer habits thereby generate effective advertisements and lower customer acquisition cost.

The use of leverage customer data business model is industry agonistic. Whether it is the manufacturing, energy, finance or healthcare industries all use ‘big data’ applications to study, evaluate and analyse customer’s habit.

In this vides, we describe how companies from varied sectors are applying Leverage Customer Data Business Model into their operations