Comprehensive Guide to Platform Technologies and Architectures

Platform Technologies

offer a strategic method for the systematic reuse of core components across diverse applications

Strategic Alignment

unified enterprise-wide framework, leveraging shared capabilities for greater impact and consistency.

Design Paradigm

a modular design approach for complex systems, enabling efficient and systematic component interchangeability.

Key Enablers

Addresses barriers to reuse, improves knowledge organization, ensures feasibility of adoption.

Service-Oriented Architecture

building solutions by connecting services from different providers

Complexity Management

moving from standalone solutions to nested, modular, plug-and-play systems.

User-Generated System

empowering end-users to innovate through APIs and open platforms.

Accelerated Development

drawing upon underlying services to avoid reinvention, fostering rapid deployment.

Platform Technologies Definition

a group of technologies as a base for other applications (hardware + OS)

Power of Abstraction

products are remixes of services from platforms, enabling bundling.

Dynamic & Innovative Growth

demonstrate rapid, ecosystem-driven growth, examples like App Store and eBay

Universal Applicability

platform concept extends beyond IT, applying to any layered system.

CPU & Machine Code

early applications were tightly coupled, demanding specific CPU architectures and machine-level programming

Layered Systems

platforms distribute systems into distinct abstraction levels to manage complexity

Core Layer

provides fundamental, reusable services, establishing the platform's foundation.

Application Layer

builds user-facing features by consuming core services.

Non-Platform Technology

Hammer - Homogeneous, Single-purpose system

Platform Technology

Automobile Chassis - common base for diverse vehicles, engines, and interiors.

Design for Interoperation

built to connect and exchange data with diverse systems

Unforeseen Applications

innovations not anticipated by creators

Non-Excludable & Non-Rivalrous

dematerialized nature fosters cooperation and shared use without depletion.

External Value Creation

value is generated by external parties building on or connecting to the platform

Product Emergence Structure

platforms enable diverse products without introducing new processes.

Building Blocks

core components are defined for flexible bundling into various solutions.

Rapid Development

combines existing services for swift creation

Dynamic Product Evolution

platform models drive continuous innovation and shorter development cycles

Optimized Resource Utilization

minimize financial and technological burdens

Fostering Open Collaboration

promotes inclusivity and shared innovation across the technology landscape

Operating Systems

provide the basic services required to use hardware

Computing Platforms

platforms built on top of operating systems that provide computing functionality in areas such as cloud computing and virtualization

Database Platforms

cloud platforms for deploying and managing various types of database such as relational, NoSQL and in-memory databases.

Storage Platforms

scalable storage of objects and files including APIs and value-added services that is backed up in multiple locations

Application Platforms

environments and toolkits for developing and deploying applications

Mobile Platforms

mobile operating systems and environments for building mobile apps

Web Platforms

provide services that are useful to websites and web-based software as a service

Content Management Systems (CMS)

for publishing and managing content, media and documents

Media Platforms

for media publishing and analysis with tools (video transcoding, streaming, and recognition)

API Platforms

for deploying APIs that are typically built around an API gateway that performs functions like load balancing, latency reduction and rate limiting.

Analytics Platform

for capturing, processing, analyzing and visualizing data

Security Platform

firewalls, identity & access management, directory services, certificates, compliance reporting, encryption, key management and threat detection

Robotics Platforms

may include an operating system for robots with a framework for developing and deploying backend systems and services for robots on cloud infrastructure.

Internet of Things (IoT)

may include an operating system for devices and a cloud platform with specialized APIs for internet of things

AI Platforms

services that are based on AI (voice synthesis service) and tools for building your own AI (machine learning API)

Game Platform

environments that are optimized for running game services such as backends for mobile games or massively multiplayer online games.