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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
How People and Platforms Are Inventing the Collaborative Economy and Reinventing Capitalism
Peers Inc by Robin Chase explores the new economic model of the sharing economy and how businesses can leverage technology to work collaboratively with their customers. It highlights the benefits of a two-sided platform, where companies can co-create value with their users.
You’re probably familiar with the expression “sharing is caring,” right? Well, it’s not just a lesson for preschool kids anymore; today, it’s valid for the modern business economy too.
The concepts of sharing and collaborating are the backbone of a successful new business model that relies on excess capacity.
Excess capacity refers to anything owned that isn’t being used all the time, or to its full capacity. This might be a car, a second apartment or even tools and appliances that are just sitting in storage.
When looked at critically, owning is an inefficient concept. It comes with costs and hassles, and the phenomenon of everyone owning one of everything is pushing the planet’s resources to the limit. Clearly, it’s time to find a better way.
The benefits of a sharing economy can perhaps best be seen by looking at car ownership. You have to pay for parking, insurance and maintenance. Plus, every car adds to the traffic jams and toxic emissions that already plague most major cities.
So why own a car when you can share it? This is the question that the author, Robin Chase, asked in 1999. Chase had realized that people didn’t use their cars to their full capacity and launched Zipcar to help them share this resource.
But having an excess capacity of something is only the root of a good collaborative model. There also needs to be a platform to make sharing easy and efficient.
After all, people borrowed cars from friends long before Zipcar was around. But coordinating that exchange wasn’t always easy. Zipcar’s platform offers a simple way to find out when every nearby car is available.
In conclusion, a successful sharing platform will do two things: identify the excess capacity and provide the necessary hardware and software to make it easy to share that resource. In this way, the business becomes a valuable service that does something that would take individuals a lot of time and money to do themselves.
Peers Inc (2015) provides an insider’s look at how the modern sharing economy is changing the way companies and consumers do business. It also explains how this economy may be a cure for the planet’s many ills, from rising temperatures to dwindling resources.
Peers Inc (2015) explores the power of collaboration between traditional organizations and the sharing economy, offering unique insights into the future of business. Here's why this book is worth reading:
In all cases, leveraging excess capacity comes at a far lower cost than buying raw material.
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Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get startedBlink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
What is the main message of Peers Inc?
The main message of Peers Inc is that collaboration between individuals and corporations can lead to innovation and success.
How long does it take to read Peers Inc?
The reading time for Peers Inc varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Peers Inc a good book? Is it worth reading?
Peers Inc is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the power of collaboration and the future of business.
Who is the author of Peers Inc?
The author of Peers Inc is Robin Chase.