Platform Revolution by G.G. Parker, M.W. Van Alstyne and S.P. Choudary

The Platform Revolution: How Networked Markets Are Transforming the Economy--And How to Make Them Work for You describes how network markets differ from traditional pipeline markets.   Markets that rely on the ability to connect customers with products often don't need heavy investment in brick and mortar infrastructure.  The Uber transportation service relies on cars provided by other individuals.  Airbnb relies on other people's homes instead of large hotels for lodging.

The authors predict that platform revolution will have a disruptive effect on higher education.  Once the certificates from Coursera or other platforms become accepted by employers as evidence of competency, the monopoly of access to higher education by gatekeepers and economic condition will be broken.  Some higher education institutions are moving into this area.  Language acquisition, traditional social science, mathematics and liberal arts degrees will be the first to transition.  I predict that research areas that require extensive laboratory work will not translate well into the platform environment.

Energy, transportation and labor markets will also be disrupted.  A society of freelancers will be built up and displace the centralized industries that are unionized.  Decentralized power generation for home owners and small businesses will increase as battery storage (Tesla and Panasonic) is centrally integrated into intermittent power generation.

I've read that Walmart will be cooperating with Uber and Lift to set up home delivery networks for groceries and other items.  Walmart will taken advantage of an existing platform system and not have to invest in the cost of transport vehicles or the cost of employees with benefit packages.  Both Target and Walmart have been laying off people as computer algorithms are replacing the knowledge base of back office workers.

The platform revolution has the potential to transform consumers into producers.  Readers of Amazon Kindles can now be authors without having to go through the publishing world where gatekeepers make bets on which books will be popular.  J.K Rowling has a long list of rejection letters as proof that the current crop of publishing gatekeepers is far from infallible.

Platform Revolution - Geoffrey Parker - 52 min.

Data Driven Business - Sangeet Paul Choudary - 61 min.