New Business Models Based on New Production Methods.

All too often are The Long Tail discussions about online commerce limited to expanding the selection of mass-produced goods.

Far more interesting, however, is the enhancement of the product range by various forms of (mass) customization, being driven at the moment especially by Amazon.

In particular, future changes to production processes will provide more possibilities for novel and exclusive product offerings, to the benefit of specialized and smaller providers primarily.

"The next decade will see a fundamental shift in how we view and define manufacturing.

Just as advances in information technology have changed how we accomplish and define knowledge work, new manufacturing technologies and methods will change the nature of producing goods.

Small business will reclaim a significant segment of on-demand, specialized manufacturing, enabling knowledge artisans, craftspeople, and others who ‘make things’ [J1] to expand their markets and be viewed as ‘manufacturers’."

The report (PDF) from the Institute for the Future covers a wide range of topics: from Open Source equipment, to mass customization (also up-and-coming in the electronics area!), to sales and distribution platforms like Etsy or Amazon.

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Originally posted in German, translated by Jason Soo