Platform Revolution

By: Geoffrey G. Parker, Marshall W. Van Alstyne, Sangeet Paul Choudary

Narrated by: James Foster

Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's Summary

An inside look at the revolutionary business power of the platform - from the experts who helped discover how it works.

Facebook, PayPal, Alibaba, Uber - these seemingly disparate companies have upended entire industries by harnessing a single phenomenon: the platform business model. Platform Revolution delivers the first comprehensive analysis of how platforms use technology to match producers and consumers in a multisided marketplace, unlocking hidden resources and creating new forms of value. When a company like Uber connects drivers with passengers, everybody wins - except traditional cab companies, which are scrambling to survive. Assumptions about operations, finance, strategy, and innovation all change. Platform Revolution explores the what, how, and why of this revolution and provides the first "owner's manual" for creating a platform marketplace. Revealing the strategies behind some of today's rising platforms, the authors explain how entrepreneurs - and traditional companies - can thrive in this new world. In cases as diverse as shoes, spices, dating, energy, home appliances, and education, Platform Revolution provides the essential guide to unlocking the potential of an economic landscape transformed.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2016 Geoffrey G. Parker, Marshall W. Van Alstyne, and Sangeet Paul Choudary. (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Great book

This was a great book. The only downfall is that it is so jam packed with talking points, it probably needs to be purchased as a physical book, so that one can reference it much easier.

15 of 15 people found this review helpful

Finally a book that just gives you the info.

This is a text book. It is not exciting, it does have interesting examples of all the principles it's covering but it is not meant to enthrall. As someone who just wanted the information about what drives the platform industry and the differences between it and the traditional model, this book was fantastic. I find most tech books are written as self serving the author just trying to highlight they're own "world changing" theories on business. Almost like most fitness books are mostly written to help build a fitness brand for the author first, and help the reader second. This book is not those. Just info, data, examples, perspective, guidance, history and prediction. It's boring and it's perfect. I'm actually going to go through the whole thing it again.

12 of 12 people found this review helpful

Fantastic source of knowledge

With a fairly sound knowledge of platforms already, I was interested to see what the book would teach me. I've been blown away by the detailed encyclopedia of information, from what a platform represents, how they operate, how to attract suppliers and users from both sides, to how they are changing the world. The authors use plenty of examples of companies that we are all familiar with, to demonstrate their practical applications in each chapter. This has been the best book I've read all year. A complete playbook for anyone involved in a platform initiative and a complete platform encyclopedia for everyone.

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Amazing Book!

I took me nearly 4 months to complete this book - not because it was boring - but because there is alot of truth in it! Definately a must-listen for anyone looking to be part of the future of platforms and to those that want to challenge the old systems by disrupting them for the betterment of human kind.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Platforms, the disrupters of the network economy

What did you love best about Platform Revolution?

The book does a great job of explaining platforms form an economist's viewpoint

Any additional comments?

It does not provide too much background, however on the technological underpinnings of this revolution, nor on the difference between closed platforms managed by single operators and fully decentralized platforms. It is appreciable that the book does not only mention the well-known examples like Uber, but also future platforms that have yet to materialize as such and disrupt their own markets, like smart grids,

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

A Little Tech, A Little Business

As an IT nerd at heart, what I enjoyed about this book was how the authors were able to efficiently establish IT-cred and then deluge me with the business considerations in platforms. They carefully handle both the decision side of platform adoption, the management side of an existing platform implementation and the ways existing relationships might change under this new paradigm of business systems. I recommend that you follow (or precede) this read with "Blockchain Revolution".

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Comprehensive. Readable. Credible.

Not everyone is going to launch an earth shaking platform. But we all better understand how they work. The authors know the subject from multiple angles, and they pull this complex and diverse topic into a coherent treatise. Which is from what I've read else where so far is the best on the subject.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Fascinating!

Highly recommended for all innovators and entrepreneurs.
A fascinating glimpse into the present and future of technology, society and economy

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

2 sided

Excellent book on 2 sides markets and network effects. it clearly explains how platforms function and how they will continue to dominate future economics.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

worth a third listen

Great outlook on the future of technology and the roles platform technologies will play in that future.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

just what i was looking for.

I loved it. As an entrepreneur building a multi sided platform, this was spot on.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Inspirational

Insightful and like a user manual. But still takes huge imagination to create a platform business. I hope I have that imagination as I start my journey

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

The network effect classic chicken-and-egg problem

The authors include specific advice and recommendations about platform architecture, stressing that design should always start with a core interaction which defines the heart of the enterprise. Some of the examples are outdated and may not be relevant for the next decade.
to quickly summarize it a platform is a business that connects people through technology, making an ecosystem that allows value to be created and exchanged. Includes strategies for the classic chicken-and-egg problems.

Best book I've read on the topic and very insightf

Very well structured and thought evoking, exactly what I needed as a CTO of a platform startup company. I have recommended it to partners and managers on the business.

some great examples

well structured examples touching on most of your big platforms Uber Airbnb and the likes

Great read - very accurate, informational and straight to the point

The book covers all the is necessary to consider when thinking about and building platforms. However, the narrator is a bit robotic so it is a bit difficult to keep concentration and enjoy. Great listen otherwise though

A Real ‘Learning’ Treat!

The deep dive into the origins, lives, growth, innovation and disruption tendencies of platforms, is explored with great knowledge by the authors. No stone is left unturned in the exploration of both the positives and negatives derived from platform activities. This is definitely one of the books I will read again - as, there is so much to learn, predict and potentially innovate from the knowledge of the authors!! Thanks for a great read!

Sack the reader

Interesting book but the person reading it is soo dull. I'm really struggling because of him

a reference piece

although the volce is dull it's a must listen for those who want to create or improve platforms

I learned lot - very interesting

Great explanation, examples bring it alive, and teaches business beyond the core concept too. A lot to think about!