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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Automatic Customer summary
John Warrillow
Creating a Subscription Business in Any Industry
18 mins
Brief summary
The Automatic Customer by John Warrillow explains how businesses can create a subscription-based revenue model and build long-term, profitable relationships with their customers. It provides actionable advice for entrepreneurs seeking to maximize customer lifetime value.
Table of Contents
The Automatic Customer
Summary of 9 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 9
Subscription-based services are a major part of today’s business world.
You may have noticed that a lot of the companies you’re familiar with are suddenly offering subscription services. Subscription services are certainly very hot at the moment. Why?
There are three main reasons the subscription model is going through a renaissance.
First, there’s the rise of the access generation. The access generation favors access to material rather than ownership of it.
Second, people aren’t afraid to make financial transactions online anymore. In the dawn of the internet most people only trusted big companies with their credit card information. Those days are long gone.
Finally, data has become a key asset in today’s economy – and subscription-based companies rely on data collection even more than most other businesses do.
These changes have convinced a number of the world’s most successful companies to shift their business strategies and make more use of subscriptions. Apple, for example, launched Joint Venture in 2011. Through Joint Venture, Apple helps companies transition to using Mac products in exchange for a yearly subscription.
Microsoft did something similar by offering their Office software through subscription rather than distributing it in stores.
The new subscription economy also allows businesses to offer specialized services, which adds new competition to the marketplace.
Amazon, for instance, has had a lot of success with subscription through Amazon Prime. Amazon Prime allows subscribers to pay $99 a year to stream movies and get free two-day shipping on most purchases. Prime subscribers often prefer to buy a pair of running shoes on Amazon instead of at the local sports store.
They’ve also just opened a grocery service called AmazonFresh, where customers can have grocery purchases over $35 delivered to their home with no shipping charge.
Amazon’s subscription services allow it to compete with small businesses and big businesses alike. They can now compete with major companies like Walmart and Target.
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What is The Automatic Customer about?
From groceries to ski-slope access to MP3s – today all kinds of businesses operate by subscription, and everyone from giants like Amazon to small local firms are benefitting. The Automatic Customer breaks down the multiple models you can use to tap into the power of subscriptions, explains how to measure your new success, and gives you tips on keeping up the good work.
The Automatic Customer Review
The Automatic Customer (2015) is an insightful book that reveals the power of subscription-based business models and how they can transform your company. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- With practical strategies and real-life examples, it provides a step-by-step guide to help you build a subscription-based business and create a reliable revenue stream.
- You'll discover the advantages and challenges of subscription models, as well as actionable tips on pricing, marketing, and customer retention.
- The book dives into the psychology of recurring revenue and how it can benefit both entrepreneurs and consumers, making it an engaging and thought-provoking read.
Who should read The Automatic Customer?
- Entrepreneurs and anyone interested in business
- Anyone interested in implementing a subscription service
- Anyone who wants to understand the subscription economy
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The Automatic Customer FAQs
What is the main message of The Automatic Customer?
The main message of The Automatic Customer is to create a business that generates recurring revenue.
How long does it take to read The Automatic Customer?
The reading time for The Automatic Customer varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Automatic Customer a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Automatic Customer is a valuable read for entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses. It offers practical insights and strategies for building a subscription-based company.
Who is the author of The Automatic Customer?
The author of The Automatic Customer is John Warrillow.
What to read after The Automatic Customer?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Automatic Customer, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Subscribed by Tien Tzuo with Gabe Weisert
- Legendary Service by Ken Blanchard
- Selling the Invisible by Harry Beckwith
- The Membership Economy by Robbie Kellman Baxter
- The Idea Is the Easy Part by Brian Dovey
- Sell Like Crazy by Sabri Suby
- This is Service Design Thinking by Marc Stickdorn and Jakob Schneider
- The Leader In You by Dale Carnegie
- The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki
- Slow Productivity by Cal Newport