Now , the golden age of the collaborative economy has already passed. Most of the content related to it was written 5, 8 or 10 years ago. The discussion has cooled down.
However, at the same time, collaborative economy initiatives created in this pre-pandemic boom are still in operation today, with a large number of users.
A classic example: rental bicycles, which have been online russian phone number present in any metropolis for at least a decade.
At the same time, we are living in a scenario in which consumers and workers themselves are waiting for progress in this regard. Progress that, in many cases, is slow and slow to arrive.
In today's text, we're going to talk a lot about the post-pandemic collaborative economy. You'll notice that the focus of the discussion is a little different from what it was 10 years ago.
Today, the guidelines are more practical and mature, taking into account not only the consumer's experience with the brand, but also the brand's experience with itself and with the planet.
We will also talk to you, entrepreneur, who is looking to invest in the collaborative economy in some way: whether opening a start-up, a traditional business or even transforming a brand that is already in operation.
To do this, we need to start from the beginning:
The collaborative economy in corporate reality — recap and what exists today
The first advances in the collaborative economy took place at the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century — between 2010 and the beginning of the pandemic.
The main examples are, of course, service sharing applications that were previously reserved for suppliers with a CNPJ, and are now provided as services by individuals to other individuals.
In this consumer relationship, the platform — in this case, the apps — were the mediators, profiting either from a percentage of the payment, or just from advertisements.
The strongest examples of this relationship still exist today and are already part of the global cultural zeitgeist : Uber and AirBnB.
However, we can also understand sales platforms, such as eBay and its Latin counterpart Mercado Livre, as the very first examples of the applied collaborative economy.
Apps like OLX and Facebook Marketplace have gone the route of total democratization — they don't take a percentage of sales, functioning as a democratic catalog. You only pay if you want more visibility for your products.
All of this is very well explained in the seminal book on the collaborative economy with a corporate focus — What's Mine is Yours , by Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers.
The book brings a corporate and market approach to the collaborative impulse that people have always had.
According to Botsman and Rogers, this collaborative drive was facilitated by social technologies and applications, which made viable a business model that was previously very complicated to put into practice.
Over the years, the collaborative economy with a marketing and marketing focus has been transforming. I have brought some examples in addition to these to better understand what it is becoming:
Turo
Turo is a car-sharing platform that allows owners to rent out their vehicles directly to other people.
The service works as an alternative to traditional rental companies, offering more affordable prices and a greater variety of models.
Owners control availability, price and terms of use, while users find vehicles that meet their specific needs , from economy options to luxury models for special occasions.
Business model: the platform receives a commission on each rental.
Transformation: democratizes access to transportation without the need for your own fleet.
This is the marketplace model. You will notice that most platforms that operate under the principles of the collaborative economy today follow this pattern.
TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit connects people who need help completing everyday tasks with “taskers” willing to do them.
Tasks range from furniture assembly and minor repairs to moving and cleaning. The platform facilitates direct contact between contractors and workers, eliminating traditional intermediaries.
Business model: TaskRabbit charges a fee per transaction.
Transformation: Expands access to on-demand services and encourages the use of individual skills.
The system is simple: contractors describe the service needed, choose from available Taskers, and agree on prices and schedules.
This is the marketplace model of services, which promotes what is called the gig economy , a term that is somewhat pejorative when evaluating this type of initiative as something intrinsically bad for the contracted party.
However, it is undeniable that this type of service has always been in demand, even before platforms like TaskRabbit.
In the US with Craigslist, and here in Brazil with the famous Husbands for Hire, who were already advertising their services in newspapers, pamphlets and posters well before Facebook Marketplace.
Vinted
Vinted is a platform focused on buying, selling and exchanging second-hand clothes and accessories.
With an intuitive interface, users can list items they no longer use, offering them to a global audience interested in sustainable and affordable fashion.
Vinted's goal goes beyond commerce: it promotes the reuse of items, reducing the environmental impact caused by the fashion industry.
Business model: optional fee for additional services, such as increased visibility in ads.
Transformation: promotes sustainability and offers a global market for used products.
Sellers control the price of their items and can negotiate directly with buyers.
Additionally, the platform offers payment and shipping tools, simplifying transactions.
The circular economy in fashion has existed since the beginning of time. Thrift stores are a great example of this — in fact, the name “thrift store” comes from Belchior, the Portuguese man who opened the first second-hand store in Brazil in the 19th century.
And speaking of Brazil, Enjoei has been a great example of circular economy for many years, being practically synonymous with the resale of used products (usually high-end).
BlaBlaCar
BlaBlaCar is a carpooling platform that connects drivers with available seats with passengers who need to travel in the same direction.
Its name reflects the service's unique feature: the ability to choose travel companions based on preferences , such as the level of conversation during the journey (from “Bla” to “BlaBlaBla”).
This personalization creates a more social and collaborative experience.
Business model: commission per trip completed.
Transformation: reduces transportation costs and optimizes the use of private vehicles.
The service is advantageous both for drivers, who can share fuel and toll costs, and for passengers, who find travel economical and convenient.
Additionally, the platform contributes to sustainability by reducing the number of cars on the road, reducing carbon emissions and encouraging resource sharing.