The sharing economy is a relatively recent advent of the digital age that has given millions of people the opportunity to make money utilizing their own personal resources. Indeed, there are currently nearly 10,000 companies participating in the sharing economy. Even if you have not heard the phrase “sharing economy” before, you have undoubtedly heard of some of the corporations that are contributing to it.
Companies like AirBnB and Uber are giving private citizens the opportunity to make money off of common assets such as their cars or homes. Big data contributes in many ways to the growth of these industries, and today we will be taking a look at how that is so. Read on for the five ways that big data is fueling the sharing economy.
Meeting Needs
On a very basic, one on one level, data is the foundation of most of the services that make up the sharing community. Consumers express what they are interested in, that data is transmitted into the world, and then subsequently responded to by the service provider.
On a larger scale, big data algorithms are able to connect people with the more specific aspects of what they are looking for. These algorithms use data such as GPS locations, as well as other personalized points of data to connect consumers with the providers that most comply with their needs.
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Indeed, it is this efficiency that makes services like Uber so popular. Consumers appreciate the potential to have their precise needs met with the click of only a few buttons on their phones.
It Gives Startups A Chance
Big data is also the way in which start ups can affordably enter into the marketplace. Data gives startups the opportunity to easily interpret and anticipate the needs of consumers. This, in turn both informs the quality of service provided, and even enables startups to receive ample and widespread support from the “crowd funding” communities.
Crowdfunding sites like “GoFundMe” or “Kickstarter” are key pieces of the sharing economy, in which private citizens are able to invest in the ideas of creators in order to see them become reality. Crowd funding sites have been used to fund everything from films to businesses but when it comes to services, potential businesses can use key data points to determine what potential investors are looking for in an investment. They can then use that data to ensure that their idea enjoys wider appeal, and thus receives more funding.
It Empowers Individuals To Grow Small Businesses
One thing you will notice about many of the corporations that participate in the “sharing economy is that they do not actually provide any services themselves. What they instead provide is a platform. Through these platforms, drivers, writers, real estate owners, and retailers are able to effortlessly grow their own businesses simply by putting their information out on broad platform sites, and having it seen by consumers that re in need of the services that they provide.
As a result, there are many professionals that have complete autonomy over their careers, and easy access to clients and customers that are in need of exactly what they have to offer.
It’s Good For the Consumer as Well
Customers that participate in the services that constitute the sharing economy often find that they prefer them to traditional businesses. In fact, 60% of travelers that use AirBnB prefer it to the traditional hotel experience.
However, while the people that utilize these services do enjoy them they are less loyal to them consumers of traditional services are. Eighty-three percent of consumers that are frequenting businesses within the sharing economy say that they would take their business elsewhere to get lower prices.
Sites like Uber and AirBnB keep things competitive. Customers are given many price points when they browse through these servers and are therefore empowered to be certain that they are doing business with the most affordable option available.
It Ensures The Survival of the Fittest
Whether you are buying a used good online, hiring a writer to work for your blog, or simply hailing a cab using an app, you are going to have to work with a complete stranger. One of the most important roles that big data plays in the sharing economy is the way in which it enables customers to read reviews on a freelancer before they are hired.
Sites like Freelancer, Upwork, Uber, and AirBnB all compile reviews on their freelancers and services so that you can have some background information on their work history. This data allows the best workers to shine and connects consumers with the highest quality services possible.
References:
Washington State University online MBA program
Brandeis University’s Online Master of Science in Project and Program Management