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Platform Operation Models

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The term “platform” is used in many fields beyond just IT.

The usual sense of “platform” can be divided into roughly three categories.


1. As GM did in the past to mass-produce cars, making a mold and, through a single set of procedures, producing

    large quantities of product — that series of processes is what’s called a platform.

    * Examples — stencils, casting molds, printing plates… 

2. In IT, a similar approach has come into use: 

    A delivery model where a service provider or general user can use the platform in many ways and 

    satisfy their needs through it.

    * If we further divide this: — Dependency model on a platform: groupware, solutions, Photoshop…

                                               — Embed model into a platform: mobile banner ads / are two subtypes. 

3. Lastly, like today’s iPhone App Store, 

    where the platform service provider sets up a single service space, and within it 3rd-party 

    businesses move in and consumers use those (3rd-party) services, together forming

    an ecosystem.

    * Examples — mobile: App Store, Play Store, KakaoTalk Games…

               web: 11st, Gmarket, Cafe24. 

               offline: franchises, the milk-delivery ladies, after-school English tutors, etc. 



Here, the model I want to implement is 2-2 (the embed) and 3 (the ecosystem).

The platforms interoperate with each other, creating a shared currency value or currency unit 

so that users, even when using a different service, can pool their benefits and use them.

   Ex) Create a currency unit like OK Cashback, so when users click a game banner (embed platform) 

         the numeric values (points, scores, etc.) from that action are pooled and usable, 

        and create individual (in-house) services that can actually leverage those values.





This English version was translated by Claude.

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Pleasant Charles — UI/UX researcher at AIT. Keeping notes on design, planning, and slow days here since 2010.

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