Platforms

Platforms are foundational systems that enable the creation, deployment, and exchange of products, services, or content. They provide core infrastructure, interfaces, and rules that allow multiple participants—such as developers, producers, and users—to interact. In business and technology, platforms often function as multi-sided markets that coordinate activities through a shared interface.

Technology platforms include operating systems (for example, Windows or Android), cloud platforms (such as AWS or Azure), and development platforms (like Java or .NET). They offer application programming interfaces, software development kits, runtimes, and data services that let third parties build, deploy, and connect products and services. Platform ecosystems rely on network effects: the value of the platform typically grows as more participants join and contribute.

Platform governance and design address access, safety, quality, and trust. This includes terms of service, pricing models, bandwidth or data usage rules, and reputation or rating systems. Openness and interoperability are common goals, often supported by APIs and standardized interfaces, while some platforms opt for more controlled environments to protect quality or security.

Examples of platforms include app stores, e-commerce marketplaces, social networks, content and media platforms, and software ecosystems that enable integrations and workflows. Platform business models generate value by facilitating exchanges, coordinating activities across diverse actors, and capturing a portion of the value created through participation, data, or services. The platform approach remains influential across sectors, shaping competition, innovation, and the organization of digital and physical ecosystems.