21-08.
Uberisation
Pattern description
Uberisation is a transition to an operational model where economic agents exchange under-utilised capacity of existing assets or human resources (typically through a website or software platform), while incurring only low transaction costs.
The term is derived from the company name Uber. The company developed a mobile application that allows consumers to submit a trip request which is then routed to Uber drivers who use their own cars. The term refers to the utilisation of computing platforms, such as mobile applications, in order to facilitate peer to peer transactions between clients and providers of a service, often bypassing the role of centrally planned corporations. The model has different operating costs compared to a traditional business.
Inventive problems
The customers should visit as few places as possible (it's the best - one place) to contact suppliers, so as not to waste time on the visiting shops and companies' offices.
The customers should visit many different places (shops, companies' offices) to find the most suitable suppliers.
The company should be large and have a complex structure to perform a large number of diverse operations for the development, production, and delivery of a complex product to the customers.
The company should be small and have a simple structure in order to:
- reduce the variety and complexity of the company activities;
- focus on a small number of core operations;
- have a small stuff;
- minimize the cost of development, production, sale, and delivery of products to customers.