New technologies and the Internet have led to new systems that allow us to connect with the world. Up until a few years ago we couldn’t have imagined using portals that would give an impulse to developing new businesses and promoting social participation, in order to have a positive effect on our society.
The sharing economy – also called collaborative economy, collaborative consumption or peer-to-peer economy – consists of sharing or exchanging a series of products, goods or services, through the use of electronic platforms. Rather than selling, this is mainly about sharing. Today’s article by ShBarcelona will tell you more.
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What are sharing economy platforms. How do they work?
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Sharing economy platforms are the logic result of the many electronic platforms in today’s world, especially the ones that are designed for the exchange of goods and services. Given the trend, the number of platforms has been increasing, and they are even starting to compete with traditional business formats.
Platforms like Uber, Wallapop, Airbnb and BlaBlaCar have been taking over the sector, as many people find that these platforms improve their quality of life. This does not mean, however, that there is no controversy. Take for instance Uber, an application based on a transport service between individuals. It has caused for professional taxi drivers to file an official complaint, because they are no longer able to compete with Uber due to the license.
The sharing economy appeared in Spain in 2012. It was first introduced in the tourist accommodation sector, then in the real estate industry and passenger transport services. According to data obtained in 2017 by the CNMC (Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia, or the National Commission on Markets and Competition), at least 25% of the Spanish population had used one of these platforms at least once that year.
The main reason for people using it is saving money. Only when it concerned carrying out specific services or a specific task, they said the reason for using it was being able to adapt better to their timetable and/or requests.
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You can find more information about platforms in the Directorios del Consumo Colaborativo (or Sharing Economy directories), and on the list you can see bicycle sharing services, train ticket services and vehicle sharing or parking services.
Some of the most well-known platforms are based on selling and buying all kinds of second-hand goods, like Vibbo, Wallapop, Tablón de Anuncios and Chicfy. Other platforms that many people are interested in are offering a room in their home or some other type of accommodation, like Rentalia, Airbnb, Workaway and Bed y Casa, among many others.
Platforms that offer car services if you need to travel between cities are Voy en Coche, Shareling, Amovens and the well-known Blablacar. If you are looking for ways to travel within the city, then platforms for this purpose are Taxi Sostenible, Cabify, MokMokCars and Carpling. The last platform for travelling is Yescapa, but this is in case you need to rent a caravan or RV for your holiday.
A totally different platform is crowdfunding, where the internet gives people the opportunity to collect funds for projects or other goals. The bigger your network, the quicker you achieve your financial target to execute the project. This way of getting resources is very popular, and projects vary greatly, from creative ideas to starting a business or collecting money for charity.
There are different crowdfunding platforms, like Potlatch and Lanzanos, and they help many people achieve their goals. Besides collecting money, you can also find work or exchange services through platforms like Trabeja, Swapsee and Etece. And last but not least, there are also platforms for environmental projects, like Greenfunder, Sunfunder and Mosaic.
Do you have other interesting information about sharing economy platforms?
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