Products solve problems. Platforms let others do it.
A platform grows when other people build on it. That's powerful, but only once someone actually wants to.
Product
You Create The Value
- You build what users need
- Direct relationship with users
- Grows by adding capability
- Simpler to run and change
Platform
Others Create Value Too
- APIs, integrations, partners
- Value grows with the ecosystem
- Needs docs, stability, governance
- Harder to change once others depend on it
Earn the right to be a platform.