The rise of the sharing economy

In this new era access becomes more important than ownership. Sharing is the new having is what we hear a lot from futurists and trend watchers. The sharing economy is because of the mindset and financial crisis on the rise. An economy where we share our products which puts many business models under pressure. We are looking for new opportunities with the use of new technologies and by participating in new business models. We see new value systems and new concepts of growth which could redefine the dominance of money and economic growth. We are becoming aware that a system based on endless economic growth is unsustainable and is only profitable for a small group of people on this planet. 

This new awareness results in a movements where people a looking for new systems of value and new ways of consumption. The rise of the sharing economy is a good example of this. The internet and more connected world is an important aspect of the sharing economy. Many people think that the sharing economy is a thing which will not last. When our economies start to grow we will faal back back to our addiction to ownership. I do not think so. The sharing economy is here to stay and companies better start experimenting with it. 

I believe this because we see a revolution in the way we think like I stated in the beginning of this article. The web gives everyone access to knowledge. It provides us with unlimited access to each other. We can share experiences, opinions, news and stuff with each other. Beside this we are also fed up with the companies seeing us only as consumers. Companies focussing on profits and forget to add value on customer’s lives, our planet etc. The sharing economy provides us with giving meaning in the way we consume. 

But there are also less positive developments within the sharing economy. It seems that we care less about the stuff of others. Will this result in people breaking stuff of others when the share it? I don’t think so.

Initiatives like Zipcar, Ecomodo, The-Hub and Dutch examples like Spullendelen.nl and Snappcar are just the tip of the iceberg when we look at all the start-ups within the sharing economy. The rise of the sharing economy fuels several other trends. like the cooperative consumer and the redefinition of value.