Open Data — Business Model Canvas
Ever since the inception of open data, most of the effort of the government agencies focus on releasing more open data to adhere to open data principles namely
- Transparency
- Trust
- Free & timely access to machine-readable data
To understand how the stakeholders of open data program are using the dataset and also identify at components of open data program, a business model canvas can greatly help. A business model canvas consists of
- Key Partnerships
- Key Activities
- Revenue Streams
- Value Propositions
- Channels
- Key Resources
- Customer Relationships
- Cost Structure
Once we map out the element in the business model canvas, Government agencies can understand how to deliver a successful open data program. The business model canvas also provides a concise overview of how your operational processes link up with one another in achieving unique value proposition to its stakeholders. So, let’s start
- Key partners
The key partners of the local businesses, startups, academia, app developers, map providers, vendors, industry and citizen. These key partners either consume your open data or provide more value utilising your open data
2. Key activities
The main activities an agency have to undertake are a) publish open dataset b) maintain the open data portal c) Engage with your key partners
3. Unique Value Proposition
Government agencies provide an intuitive portal to browse and use the open data free of cost and non-proprietary licensing. As private industry/partners have to invest in acquiring lot of dataset by their own, Government open data reduce that investment for many private industry/partners.
4. Customer relationship
Since most of the open data portal supports self-service, government agencies maintain no close relationships. Also many open data portal do not use any AI recommendation engine to suggest new open data that is related, it makes it harder for customers to find new&/related dataset
5. Customer segment
Open data is not meant to serve all as data literacy of many citizens are still evolving. The customer segment is tailored to app developers, map providers, journalist and citizen data scientist (in some instance)
6. Key resources
Brand name, platform (open data portal) and community are essential to deliver the open data value proposition
7. Channels
Hackathons and open data portal are the main channels to reach the customer segment
8. Cost structure
Government agencies spend funding on developing and maintaining the open data platform; Also funding has to be spent on marketing and engagement activities
9. Revenue streams
There is no direct way that Government agencies can generate revenue by publish open data in a non-proprietary licensing model. However it aids economic activity and social good.
The below link provides the business model canvas on open data for Government agencies
By looking at the above Open Data Business Model Canvas, we can explore the following
- Alignment of activities to achieve our unique value proposition
- Prioritising right tactical activity to provide more value to our stakeholders
- Increase customer experience of key partners
- Streamlining current business processes
I will explore the above topics in more details in subsequent posts. Stay tuned.
