Within user manufacturing, a customer is both the manufacturer and the consumer. As an example, an online platform provides the customer with the necessary support in order to design and merchandise the product, e.g., product design software, manufacturing services, or an online shop to sell the product. Thus, the company only supports the customers in their undertakings and benefits from their creativity. The customer benefits from the potential to realize entrepreneurial ideas without having to provide the required infrastructure. Revenue is then generated as part of the actual sales.
How they do it: Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia based on a model of openly editable content is one of the most popular websites. All its content is created by its users. Time magazine stated that the open-door policy of allowing anyone to edit had made Wikipedia the biggest and possibly the best encyclopedia in the world and it was testament to the vision of Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia’s Founder.
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How they do it: Pepsi MAX, the low-calorie, sugar-free cola brand, leveraged user generated content to craft a new brand image. The company created a campaign urging customers to share reasons they prefer Pepsi MAX to Coke Zero, asking customers to share pictures on Instagram and other social networks, as well as a mini-site that was specific to the promotion. The best entries were eligible for numerous prizes, including a year’s supply of free Pepsi MAX. Unsurprisingly, the campaign turned out to be very popular.
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How they do it: Using the Lego Digital Designer (LDD) people could design their own 3-D virtual model, and submit it for purchase using the shop-at-home division. Factory was also designed to enable users to view and purchase other users custom creations, you could add or remove bricks from creations at will, and then purchase for yourself. Factory sets arrived in custom packaging that showed a users model and name, and included all of the LEGO elements needed to build the virtual design in physical form.
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How they do it: Next to its standard collections Nike started a program called ”Nike ID”. This allows customers to individualize their products such as shoes and shirts. Individualization can include choice of colors or sticking a personal message.
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How they do it: The AppStore is open to all independent users and developers, meaning every private or commercial developer can publish its own app to the store. After certification and approval from Apple, all other users can then access the apps.
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