The Five Domains of Platform Business Models

The Bizcloud Framework resources include comprehensive domain patterns and artefacts to facilitate systematic and adaptable platform development. 

The Five Core Domains

  1. Formation Domain

Establishes the foundation for platform success by creating the environment where value exchange can occur.

Strategic Role:

• • • Enables network effects through participant onboarding

    • Creates barriers to entry through community building

    • Establishes platform credibility and trust

    • Reduces friction in participant adoption

Value Creation:

• Efficient participant onboarding

• Community development

• Trust building

• Network effect initialization

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2. Discovery Domain

Facilitates efficient matching between supply and demand, reducing search costs and enabling value discovery.

Strategic Role:

• • • Enables market efficiency through smart matching

    • Reduces transaction costs through search optimization

    • Creates network effects through successful matches

    • Builds platform liquidity

Value Creation:

• • • Efficient market matching

    • Reduced search costs

    • Enhanced value discovery

    • Quality curation

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  3. Contract Domain

Converts discovery into commitment, managing the formalization of value exchange agreements.

Strategic Role:

• • • Reduces transaction risk through standardization

    • Enables trust through clear agreements

    • Creates platform stickiness through formal relationships

    • Facilitates value capture opportunities

Value Creation:

• • • Reduced transaction uncertainty

    • Standardized agreements

    • Clear expectations

    • Risk management

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4. Delivery Domain

Ensures value realization through efficient exchange execution and quality management.

Strategic Role:

• • • Builds platform reputation through reliable delivery

    • Creates competitive advantage through quality assurance

    • Enables platform differentiation through value-added services

    • Strengthens network effects through successful exchanges

Value Creation:

• • • Reliable value exchange

    • Quality assurance

    • Enhanced user experience

    • Service optimization

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5. Settlement Domain

Completes the value exchange cycle and enables platform sustainability through value capture.

Strategic Role:

• • • Enables platform monetization

    • Builds trust through reliable settlement

    • Creates platform loyalty through fair value distribution

    • Supports platform growth through reinvestment

Value Creation:

• • • Efficient value transfer

    • Fair compensation

    • Platform sustainability

    • Transaction security

View detailed pattern definition of the Settlement domain...