From Gig to Great: Success in the B2B sharing economy

The sharing economy, also known as the ‘crowd’, ‘gig’, ‘peer-to-peer’, or ‘on-demand’ economy, is transforming business practices. In essence, the shared economy is a usership model where consumption is based on utilisation rather than ownership. It is focused on collaborative consumption and enables more cost-effective and often environmentally-friendly use of assets and services, without outright ownership. 

Some of the world's largest brands, like Uber and Airbnb, have successfully adopted this model. Uber operates as the world’s largest taxi company without owning any cars, and Airbnb is the largest accommodation provider without owning properties.   

In the UK alone, the sharing economy is projected to be worth £140 billion by 2025. However, while it is a fast-growing phenomenon across numerous consumer-facing sectors, the B2B world has been slow to embrace resource sharing despite its many advantages. That may not be the case for long, however. 

So, what exactly are the benefits on offer from the sharing economy to B2B organisations? 

Greater value: Sharing assets among companies is inherently cost-effective, creating value in multiple ways. For example, businesses can save on office space by renting desks in co-working spaces, which can be adjusted based on demand. This creates significant revenue opportunities for the owners of properties on one hand, while also allowing users of the space to forgo the need for inflexible real estate as they scale. 

 More sustainable: The sharing economy promotes more efficient use of resources, reducing waste and energy consumption. This is achieved through shared use of existing assets - whether that be space, services, vehicles or machinery - thereby reducing the overall demand and need for new products and infrastructure. 

Broaden reach and scope: The sharing economy fosters new, innovative thinking. Collaborative working, for example, offers diversity, global perspectives, and inspiration. The model also allows entrepreneurial leaders to spread risk when it comes to investing in innovation and new opportunities. 

How fulfilmentcrowd is embracing the sharing economy 

We’re proud to be at the forefront of the B2B sharing economy.  

Traditionally, logistics providers build warehouse space to meet uncertain projected demand, often leading to underutilisation. Our sharing economy model reimagines this dynamic by instead developing an impressive network of partnerships with warehouse owners, which allows us to access unlimited amounts of unused space in existing facilities and connect them through our advanced technology platform.  

Everyone’s a winner with the model. We can better support our clients by enabling quicker entry into new markets and offering much more scalable and flexible solutions as demand changes. Our network partners, meanwhile, gain extra income for space that was previously lying dormant. Most importantly, the environment benefits from fewer new warehouses being constructed or existing warehouses being operated sub-optimally.  

Our approach demonstrates how leveraging shared resources can lead to better asset utilisation, lower energy consumption, and reduced environmental impact. It has also supported consistently faster growth for both us and our customers. Indeed, our flexibility has allowed us to meet skyrocketing demand right across the glove without the constraints of fixed capacity. 

A shared future 

The B2B sharing economy is rapidly evolving, with an increasing range of shared services becoming available in areas ranging from loans to software. As the model matures and more businesses come to recognise the many benefits of collaborative consumption, we predict that it will continue to gain momentum and venture into new avenues. 

 This B2B sharing revolution has the potential to disrupt industries while also fostering more regenerative and inclusive ways of doing business. That can only be a good thing; as our experience has taught us, the B2B sharing economy not only optimises resource use and reduces wastage (helping the environment), but it also turbocharges growth and productivity gains (helping the economy). 

As the B2B sharing economy continues to evolve, the potential for brands to reap significant benefits grows. To learn more about how our innovative model can help your business achieve greater flexibility, sustainability, and growth, read more about our model here. Discover how fulfilmentcrowd is leading the charge in transforming the B2B landscape through shared resources and collaborative consumption.