Difference between revisions of "Business Patterns"
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− | Since Fab7 there is talk (and questions) about the 7 "business models" we have identified -- I'd rather call them business design patterns, since they revole around some basic thoughts how a FabLab could generate enough income to sustain itself. | + | Since Fab7 there is talk (and questions) about the 7 "business models" we have identified -- I'd rather call them business design patterns, since they revole around some basic thoughts how a FabLab could generate enough income to sustain itself. |
− | + | Labs typically use a mix of these models. A typical combination is grant-based plus access fees or education-based plus access fees. Some real world examples can be found in the research material collection: | |
− | + | * [http://wiki.fablab.is/wiki/Fab_business#Fab_Lab_Vestmannaeyjar_.281_Feb_2011.2C_John_Boeck.29 Vestmannaeyjar] | |
− | + | * [http://wiki.fablab.is/wiki/Fab_business#Barcelona_.286_Apr_2011.2C_John_Boeck.29 Barcelona] | |
− | + | * [http://wiki.fablab.is/wiki/Fab_business#History_of_FabLab_Amersfoort_.2817_May_2011.2C_9_Aug_2012.29 Amersfoort] | |
− | # | + | |
− | # | + | |
− | # | + | |
− | + | A summary of the empirical findings from the 2010/2011 Fab Business study can be found in [http://wiki.fablab.is/images/e/ef/Factsheet_LabSustainability_Fab7.pdf this presentation] to Fab7 in Lima, Peru. | |
− | + | The 7 patterns are:<br> | |
− | + | == grant-based == | |
− | Main | + | Main income stream: public (or private) funding |
− | + | Main service provided: solving some problem the funding body has allocated money for | |
− | Main | + | Main advantage: running costs covered typically for several years |
− | Main | + | Main disadvantage: dependent on goals of funding body which are outside the control of the lab |
− | == | + | == embedded in (educational) institutions == |
− | Main income stream: | + | Main income stream: none, but running costs are covered by parent institution |
− | Main service provided: | + | Main service provided: adding to the (core?) activities of parent institution (e.g. education, providing a workshop, enabling certain activities) |
− | + | Main advantage: if part of core business of parent institution a view to long-term sustainability | |
− | Main | + | Main disadvantage: institutions and open access are often hard to combine |
− | + | == co-x (co-working, sharing infrastructure,...) == | |
− | + | Main income stream: little to none, but running costs are covered by other use | |
− | Main | + | Main service provided: making idle infrastructure and equipment available |
− | Main | + | Main advantage: cross-innovation between host and lab use |
− | + | Main disadvantage: hard to set-up from scratch as one has to implement two businesses | |
− | + | == operating as a prototype shop == | |
− | Main | + | Main income stream: work for hire |
− | + | Main service provided: building prototypes according to specification, ideally together with the customer | |
− | Main | + | Main advantage: FabLab can play in the innovation field |
− | Main service provided: access to knowledge, access to "official" cirquit of labs | + | Main disadvantage: helping "inventors" can absorb large portions of lab's staffing time |
+ | |||
+ | == access fees == | ||
+ | |||
+ | Main income stream: hourly, monthly or yearly access fees ("gym model") | ||
+ | |||
+ | Main service provided: access to workshop | ||
+ | |||
+ | Main advantage: stable income stream | ||
+ | |||
+ | Main disadvantage: possible conflict with open access principle | ||
+ | |||
+ | == educational activities == | ||
+ | |||
+ | Main income stream: course and workshop fees | ||
+ | |||
+ | Main service provided: (ideally: officially approved/accredited) educational activities, lead by FabLab instructors | ||
+ | |||
+ | Main advantage: stable income stream | ||
+ | |||
+ | Main disadvantage: relatively high barriers for entry into the market (accreditation), dependent on money avaliable for external activities in the education system | ||
+ | |||
+ | == techno tourism == | ||
+ | |||
+ | Main income stream: event or activity based fees | ||
+ | |||
+ | Main service provided: leasurely encounters with digital manufacturing technology | ||
+ | |||
+ | Main advantage: relatively stable income stream | ||
+ | |||
+ | Main disadvantage: dependent on tourism economy | ||
+ | |||
+ | == gurus for hire == | ||
+ | |||
+ | Main income stream: consultancy or support fees | ||
+ | |||
+ | Main service provided: access to knowledge, access to "official" cirquit of labs | ||
+ | |||
+ | Main advantage: relatively stable income stream as long as number of labs keeps growing | ||
+ | |||
+ | Main disadvantage: even with rapid growth there is only room for a small number of "gurus for hire" labs; potential accusation of creating a ponzi scheme (see http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Business-models-Fab-Labs-89815.S.47978844) | ||
+ | |||
+ | <br> | ||
<br> | <br> |
Latest revision as of 12:30, 12 October 2012
Since Fab7 there is talk (and questions) about the 7 "business models" we have identified -- I'd rather call them business design patterns, since they revole around some basic thoughts how a FabLab could generate enough income to sustain itself.
Labs typically use a mix of these models. A typical combination is grant-based plus access fees or education-based plus access fees. Some real world examples can be found in the research material collection:
A summary of the empirical findings from the 2010/2011 Fab Business study can be found in this presentation to Fab7 in Lima, Peru.
The 7 patterns are:
Contents
grant-based
Main income stream: public (or private) funding
Main service provided: solving some problem the funding body has allocated money for
Main advantage: running costs covered typically for several years
Main disadvantage: dependent on goals of funding body which are outside the control of the lab
embedded in (educational) institutions
Main income stream: none, but running costs are covered by parent institution
Main service provided: adding to the (core?) activities of parent institution (e.g. education, providing a workshop, enabling certain activities)
Main advantage: if part of core business of parent institution a view to long-term sustainability
Main disadvantage: institutions and open access are often hard to combine
co-x (co-working, sharing infrastructure,...)
Main income stream: little to none, but running costs are covered by other use
Main service provided: making idle infrastructure and equipment available
Main advantage: cross-innovation between host and lab use
Main disadvantage: hard to set-up from scratch as one has to implement two businesses
operating as a prototype shop
Main income stream: work for hire
Main service provided: building prototypes according to specification, ideally together with the customer
Main advantage: FabLab can play in the innovation field
Main disadvantage: helping "inventors" can absorb large portions of lab's staffing time
access fees
Main income stream: hourly, monthly or yearly access fees ("gym model")
Main service provided: access to workshop
Main advantage: stable income stream
Main disadvantage: possible conflict with open access principle
educational activities
Main income stream: course and workshop fees
Main service provided: (ideally: officially approved/accredited) educational activities, lead by FabLab instructors
Main advantage: stable income stream
Main disadvantage: relatively high barriers for entry into the market (accreditation), dependent on money avaliable for external activities in the education system
techno tourism
Main income stream: event or activity based fees
Main service provided: leasurely encounters with digital manufacturing technology
Main advantage: relatively stable income stream
Main disadvantage: dependent on tourism economy
gurus for hire
Main income stream: consultancy or support fees
Main service provided: access to knowledge, access to "official" cirquit of labs
Main advantage: relatively stable income stream as long as number of labs keeps growing
Main disadvantage: even with rapid growth there is only room for a small number of "gurus for hire" labs; potential accusation of creating a ponzi scheme (see http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Business-models-Fab-Labs-89815.S.47978844)