A platform is a foundation upon which other hardware and software are constructed. Its primary purpose is to allow for recombination and reconfiguration so that the system can better respond to changing demand. It also allows for a degree of autonomy and ownership for application teams, as well as the ability to scale and grow quickly. The three most valuable brands in the world, Apple, Google, and Facebook, are all platforms.
To be successful, a platform must be easy to use for application teams. It must be flexible and scalable so that it can be adapted to different business models and requirements. It must also be able to handle multiple users and use cases. Finally, a platform must enable the business to respond to change and new opportunities, rather than being constrained by legacy infrastructure or rigid processes.
Another key factor in the success of a platform is that it must have an open architecture that allows developers to plug and play. It must be modular so that components can be added and removed easily, without requiring the business to completely rethink its technology infrastructure.
The other key challenge is to move away from project thinking and toward a more long-term product strategy. This means shifting some or all of the run responsibility to application teams, which may not be possible while centralised operations and support are still in place. It also means balancing the desire to allow for autonomous diversification against the need to ensure that the platform is compelling enough to drive a broad ecosystem of applications and features. platform