So…What Does IP Commerce Do?
As Platform Evangelist for IP Commerce, I am keenly interested in, and involved in defining, the messaging that we employ both with our partners and in the market in general. Over the last 3 years, I’ve seen the company evolve as any startup does. One of the key points in that process of evolution is answering the “So…What do you do?” question. In early stage companies, particularly when solving difficult market problems, that answer is lengthy and often convoluted. It, typically, involves a technology description…a business model discussion…some measure of analogy usage…follow by a lengthy question and answer session.
This is uniquely problematic for a platform company. Serving a multi-sided market necessitates focus on ensuring each member of the ecosystem understands how they are impacted by participation in the network. As a result, confusion about the entirety of the corporate message can become cloudy.*
However, as the model is proven, the technology proven, and true examples are created, the process of discussing the purpose of the company becomes substantially easier.
I will spend each day this week describing elements of what IP Commerce does, and it is easy to understand.
In advance, I encourage you to take a gander at the updated website for IP Commerce. This is one of those activities that I alluded to in earlier blog posts, a complete site refresh.
If you’ve followed the blog for a lengthy period of time, you will know that IP Commerce serves several constituent audiences. The detail for each can be found on the site. Some particular highlights are:
- Developers – Simplify Payment Integrations
- Sales Channels – Custom Solutions Marketplace
Not surprisingly, perhaps my favourite element of the site deals with the IP Commerce Platform in particular – The Collaborative Commerce Network
In order to answer the “What Do You Do?” question, you must first answer the “Why do you exist?” question. That answer, while capable of involving a lengthy “state of the industry” discussion, can be distilled. IP Commerce solves the market challenges of:
- Payment enabling any software
- Activating multiple payment services concurrently
- Addressing the needs of compliance & security
I will expand upon each (in both general and specific) as I discuss what, exactly, IP Commerce does for each network participant.
What’s your perspective? Agree? Disagree? Anything to add? Critiques? The comment form is below. . .
*I suspect** this is due, in part, to the human desire to explain everything. The excitement with doing something new tends to create the desire to share the excitement. And to explain the complexity of implementation/solution in painful*** level of detail.
**Believe may be more appropriate
***As in, “ouch. it hurts”
October 14, 2008