Digital media has made its mark in today’s modern society. In the world once known to have televisions with only three channels, the stand digital media has made has evolved at a rapidly growing pace. Today, we have digital platforms. But what exactly is a digital platform and what is their relevance to an organization, such as your own?
Digital Platforms
Digital platforms are a form of software-based infrastructure that enables its users to network with each other, distribute data, and handle transactions. They provide a groundwork in which other applications and amenities can be erected. Examples of a digital platform is like that of social media websites. Sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn are considered the most commonly recognized digital platforms in existence. Additional examples include Amazon, eBay, Uber, Door Dash, and Lyft.Â
These platforms consist of a set of software tools and services that permit users to interact with each other as well as with the platform source. These tools and services provide access to features like user verification and permission, content management, messaging (and communication), payment processing, and even analytics.
In the recent decade, digital platforms have become increasingly vital in the digital economy. They enable businesses to reach new customers and customer markets plus deliver consumers with access to an extensive variety of goods, services, and information. In some cases, they have also become the subject of governing scrutiny. This is due to growing concerns about competition and data privacy of consumers.
Different Types of Digital Platforms
There is an endless list of digital platforms available today for your organization (professional) or personal utilization. Each offers its own specific features and functions. Given the list could go on for days and never reach the end, we have decided to provide you with the most common forms of digital platforms.
Social Media
Social media platforms enable the user(s) to connect and integrate with each other, share information, create, and consume content (texts/posts, images, videos, reels, etc).
Think: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn
E-Commerce
These platforms enable companies to sell goods and services via online. They often provide features such as payment processing, inventory management, and order fulfillment services.Â
Think: eBay, Amazon, and Etsy
Sharing Economy
Sharing economy platforms permit individuals to distribute services and resources, often with one another, through peer-to-peer transactions.Â
Think: AirBnB, VRBO, and Lyft
Cloud Computing
These platforms provide entry to computing resources and services over the internet. This permits organizations and individuals to store, process, and evaluate data more efficiently.Â
Think: Google Cloud, VMware Cloud on AWS, and IBM Cloud
Online Learning
These platforms deliver access to informative materials and courses online, often with features like interactive quizzes and assessments.
Think: Udemy, Udacity, and Treehouse
Gaming
Gaming platforms facilitate users to play games virtually, often with features like multiplayer support and social distributing.
Think: Xbox Live, Gamers Gate, and Steam
Content Management
Content management platforms permit professional and personal use by allowing individuals to generate, manage, and distribute digital content. This is often accompanied with features like collaboration tools and analytics.
Think: WordPress, Squarespace, and Drupal
Digital Platforms are Beneficial to Business
Regardless of what digital platform you elect to use for professional or personal use, you are enabling a means to reach new customers, expand within their reach, and streamline your operations process. Each digital platform type can be beneficial to organizations and those who are employed underneath their umbrella. Digital platforms can increase visibility, accessibility, improve customer engagement and feedback, and provide you with data analytics to aid in the marketing and success of your business.
One of the primary advantages of using digital platforms is the amount of tools readily available for businesses. This can help reach new customers, as well as customer markets. By leveraging the massive reach of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, businesses can connect with potential customers around the world, regardless of their location or time zone. This can be particularly beneficial for small businesses and/or startups that may not have the resources to launch large-scale marketing campaigns or ascertain a physical presence in multiple markets (yet).
The use of digital platforms also offer organizations a means of streamlining their operations. This can be beneficial in reducing costs. For instance, the use of e-commerce platforms (Amazon, eBay, or Etsy) can enable organizations to sell goods and services through online use only. This reduces the need for brick-and-mortar locations and any associated overhead costs that come with them. Similarly, cloud computing platforms (Google Cloud, VMware Cloud on AWS, or IBM Cloud) provide organizations with access to dominant computing resources and services, without the need to invest in expensive hardware and infrastructure.
Another key advantage of having digital platforms is the knack to engage with customers in fresh and pioneering ways. Leveraging both the interactive and social features of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, businesses can build stronger relationships with their customers, participate in real-time feedback with them, and craft a more tailored and engaging customer experience. This can be particularly valuable for businesses that are looking to distinguish themselves from their competitors while working to build a brand loyal customer base.
Digital platforms serve as a source of wealth of data and analytics. They can be used to make informed decisions and improve performance. By tracking user behavior and customer engagement across multiple platforms, businesses can gain valuable insights into customer preferences, identify areas for improvement, and optimize their marketing and sales strategies. This can be particularly useful for businesses that are looking to scale their operations and expand themselves to new markets.
Closing Thoughts
In conclusion, digital platforms are software-based infrastructure allows people to network across them, distribute data, and handle transactions. There are a wide number of digital platforms on the market to the point that it would take days to list them all. Among them, there are seven common types. Each of these types of digital platforms offer a wide range of benefits for personal and professional use.Â
By leveraging the control of digital platforms, businesses can reach new customers, streamline their processes, and build stronger relationships with their customer base. As modern society continues on a path of digital evolution, digital platforms are likely to become an important part of the business landscape, and those businesses that are able to effectively leverage these platforms will be well-positioned for success.