Self-service 45#
A part of the value creation is transferred to the customer in exchange for a lower price of the service or product. This is particularly suited for process steps that add relatively little perceived value for the customer, but incur high costs. Customers benefit from efficiency and time savings, while putting in their own effort. This can also increase efficiency, since in some cases, the customer can execute a valueadding step more quickly and in a more target-oriented manner than the company.
Examples: Iconic Cases
How they do it: User can locate and pick-up the company’s cars via a smartphone app. There is no need to register with a rental car person before every use. After usage, the user can drop and return the car in public parking zones in a pre-defined urban area., which is then ready to be picked up by the next user.
Learn more about Car2Go →
How they do it: Instead of table service, customers at McDonalds have to order at a counter and carry the food to their table. Through this, the food can be offered at competitive prices through decreased labour costs in the service part of the restaurant.
Learn more about McDonald's →
How they do it: Initially, Ryanair did not offer customers the possibility of contacting them by email or webform, only through a premium rate phone line, by fax or by post. Also, customers are directed to self-check-in terminals or online check-in – if they opt to check in at the airport, they are liable to a $45 surcharge. On the flight, no food and beverages are distributed, they must be purchased on demand, further reducing customer service and customer interaction expenses.
Learn more about Ryanair →
How they do it: Cewe customers can either create their individual products at home on their computer or at Cewe stores / machines, which can be used without any support from personnel.
Learn more about CEWE Color →
How they do it: Most of Google’s products can be set-up fully independently of any Google employees, allowing the company to scale their products regardless of their personnel. The company also provides a lot of content and a peer-to-peer community to support each other in the use of Google products.
Learn more about Google →
Below, the top industries for the pattern "Self-service" are displayed, in order to get insights into how this pattern is applied across different industries. We've collected data from 5 firms using this pattern.
Top Industries
18% of firms using pattern
11% of firms using pattern
5% of firms using pattern
All Industries
Below, the pattern "Self-service" is analyzed based on co-occurrence, in order to get insights into how this business model pattern is applied in combination with other patterns within the firms we studied.
Top Co-Occurrences
5 pattern co-occurrences
4 pattern co-occurrences
3 pattern co-occurrences