The modern world is changing at an incredible speed: new technologies, economic instability, and growing consumer expectations dictate their conditions. Businesses need to be flexible to survive and grow. Traditional, rigid business models often fail to meet the challenges. Experts from the agency “Your Personnel Advisor” talk about approaches to management that should be taken with you in the new year.
In 2024, global business witnessed an accelerated transformation – the development of technology, a change in consumer behavior, and an increase in global challenges. Companies seeking to adapt are adopting innovative business models. Consider those that have become the most popular in 2024, as well as the prospects for their development in 2025.
2024 Business models
Platform ecosystems
Many companies have moved from traditional supply chains to ecosystems that bring producers, suppliers and customers together on a single platform. Examples include OZON, Alibaba, and the booming industry platforms in healthcare and education. The solution allowed you to scale and reduce transaction costs quickly.
Platforms bring together many members to share goods, services or information. Unlike traditional businesses that focus on providing a product or service, platform ecosystems organize interaction between participants, creating added value for all parties.
The main characteristics of platform ecosystems are:
- Central platform: digital or physical infrastructure that connects participants. For example, OZON connects sellers and buyers, Airbnb connects homeowners and tenants.
- Multilateral market: ecosystems involve different types of users. For example, content creators and viewers (Rutube), app developers and users (OstApp), buyers and sellers (PayPal financial platform).
- Network effect: the more participants use the platform, the more valuable it becomes for everyone. For example, VKontakte becomes more useful with an increase in the number of users.
- Scalability: platform ecosystems can grow rapidly without significant costs, as users generate content, services or goods themselves (for example, drivers in Uber).
Due to the large amount of data, platforms can provide personalized recommendations; today it is an undoubted advantage.
DTC models (Direct-to-Consumer)
Direct sales to customers through own online channels are gaining popularity again after certain social networks and aggregators are turned off in different countries. Brands such as Tesla, for example, actively use this model, bypassing intermediaries. Among the advantages there are control over interaction with the client, and reducing dependence on third-party retailers.
Brands use their own online stores and mobile applications to sell products. It helps control everything from marketing to delivery and feedback. By removing intermediaries, companies often reduce logistics costs. In addition, DTC allows to collect information about customers, their preferences and behavior to improve personalization and strategy. However, in this model, businesses have to compete with more experienced retailers.
Subscription models continued to expand in 2024: from streaming services (Netflix, Spotify) to software (SaaS, like Adobe Creative Cloud) and even subscriptions to everyday goods (for example, food).
Services like Uber are categorized as sharing economy models, they also show their effectiveness by offering access instead of ownership.
Promising business models 2025
Sustainable production and circular economy
In 2025, according to experts, companies will build their business on recycling and reusing materials. This model is promising, as it is economically profitable and meets strict environmental standards.
DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) based models
DAO provides the ability to manage business collectively through blockchain. This is especially promising for creative industries, finance and public initiatives. The model is characterized as transparent and democratic, since it does not have a governing body. Decisions are made by a majority vote, such as a group of investors.
Exponential technologies
Companies using quantum computing, genomic editing and next-generation AI technologies will continue to grow in 2025. They are likely to create unique value propositions. In this category we have: virtual assistants, Big Data, drones, blockchain and many others.
B2B2C model
Companies will begin to use actively strategies where interaction with the end consumer occurs through partners. For example, manufacturers of mobile devices sell their goods through telecom operators, restaurants sell products through food delivery sites.
Business model success factor 2025 – flexibility
A flexible business model is an approach to business organization and management that allows you to respond quickly to changes in the external environment. For example, the ability to diversify products and services or quickly recruit personnel for specific tasks using experienced outstaffers. Outstaffing will remain one of the main tools for working with personnel, allowing businesses to be flexible. Under this partnership model, the team performs the tasks set by the head, but is formally listed in the staff of the outstaffing organization, which takes responsibility for compliance with labor legislation and administrative functions.
Flexibility is not just a trend, but a prerequisite for the survival and prosperity of a business
AI, automation and digitalization are transforming entire industries. Fast-growing startups and global corporations are making the market more saturated. In these conditions, it is important for business not to be afraid to experiment with new models and look for ways to improve all processes – this is exactly what will become the key to success in the new year.