Business Model Design
Developing robust business models from ideas
We support our clients from the initial idea development to the finished prototype and the first implementation of the business case.
To achieve this, we combine the customer perspective, strategic options, and economic logic, and assess the viability of assumptions early on. If needed, we contribute additional specialist and cross-industry expertise, for example, in digital, platform, and ecosystem business models.
In this way, an idea gradually evolves into a more robust foundation for deciding what should be further developed, modified, or deliberately discontinued.
Do you want to develop a new business model, refine an idea, or further develop an existing one?
What business model question would you like to clarify?
Tell us what you would like to develop, change, or review. In a no-obligation consultation, we will work together to determine which questions should be addressed first and what a meaningful development process could look like.
What aspects of your business model would you like to develop or review?
Business model design can begin with an initial strategic idea, build upon existing concepts, or specifically develop an existing business model.
Develop a new business model
You start with a strategic question, a market opportunity, or an initial idea. We structure the development process, develop business model variations with you, and test the key assumptions.
To concretize a business idea
An idea exists, but key questions regarding customer benefits, target groups, value creation, and the revenue model remain unanswered. We connect the relevant building blocks and highlight which assumptions should be clarified and tested first.
Further develop an existing business model
Changing customer needs, technologies, or market conditions can challenge individual components of an existing business model. Together, we examine where adjustments are necessary, where new opportunities become interesting, and what consequences these changes will have for the overall model.
Validating a business model
The business model has already been developed, but important hypotheses have not yet been sufficiently tested. We are developing suitable tests, incorporating feedback from customers and the market, and thus creating a more solid basis for decisions regarding further development.
This will allow you to evaluate and develop business models on a more informed basis.
Business model development connects questions about customer benefits, the market, value creation, and profitability. A structured approach helps to identify connections earlier and to focus resources more effectively on promising options.
Sharpening relevant customer benefits
We examine which problem an offer solves for specific customer groups and whether a convincing value proposition can result from it.
Consider the business model as a whole.
Customer segments, offerings, channels, value creation, partners, and revenue and cost logic all influence each other. Analyzing them together reveals where a model is effective and where gaps still exist.
New business options are unlocked,
Business model design means testing and further development.
Whether a business model will work cannot be reliably predicted at the outset. Therefore, we treat key assumptions as hypotheses that are tested as early as possible. Insights from these tests are directly incorporated into the next development phase.
MAKING ASSUMPTIONS AND HYPOTHESES EXPLICIT:
We make explicit the assumptions about customer benefits, target groups, demand, value creation, or profitability that underlie an idea. This clarifies which questions are particularly relevant for further development.
TESTING WITH CUSTOMERS AND THE MARKET:
Feedback from real customers helps replace assumptions with concrete insights. We develop suitable test formats and examine how target groups react to value propositions, offers, or initial solutions.
MAKING IDEAS CONCRETE WITH PROTOTYPES
Prototypes make a planned offering tangible and discussable at an early stage. This allows key elements to be tested and further developed before significant resources are invested in full implementation.
INSIGHTS IN BUSINESS MODEL AND BUSINESS CASE:
Tests are only valuable if their results lead to action. We use new insights to adjust hypotheses, further develop business model variants, and refine the foundation for prototypes and business cases.
A viable business model combines customer benefits, value creation, and economic logic.
A business model describes more than just a product or a good idea. It shows for whom value is created, how this value is generated and reaches the market, and how the company can operate profitably with it.
Depending on the specific question, we use methods such as Business Model Generation and Value Proposition Design .
Customer benefits and target groups;
For whom does the business model create relevant benefits? What tasks, problems, or needs does the offering address? A precise value proposition helps to align performance promises with customer requirements.
channels and customer relationships;
How does the product or service reach its customers, and what kind of relationship is required? Sales, communication, and interaction must align with the target group, the product or service, and the business logic.
value creation, resources and partners;
What activities and skills are necessary to develop and deliver the service? What resources are needed, and which partners play a key role in value creation?
revenue model and cost structure
How are revenues generated and what costs are associated with the business model? Revenue and cost logic must be considered together with customer benefits and value creation so that an attractive idea can become an economically viable model.
Rethinking business model design
Business Model Generation
Using the Business Model Canvas, we can collaboratively rethink the key building blocks of a business model.
Change topics at a glance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is business model design?
Business model design is the systematic development or refinement of the logic by which a company creates value for customers, delivers that value, and generates economic value from it. This includes, among other things, customer segments, value propositions, channels, value creation, partners, and revenue and cost structure.
How does a business idea become a viable business model?
The starting point is an idea, market opportunity, or strategic question. From this, assumptions about customer benefits, target groups, value creation, and economic logic are developed and tested step by step. The findings are then incorporated into the further development of the business model, prototype, and business case.
When should an existing business model be further developed?
A review can be beneficial when customer needs, technologies, competition, or market conditions change, or when new opportunities for products, services, and value creation arise. Business model design helps identify which components are affected and what consequences these changes have for the overall model.
Why should a business model be tested early on?
Initially, many decisions are based on assumptions about customers, the market, and economic relationships. Early testing helps to verify critical hypotheses before significant resources are invested in full development or implementation.
What role does the Business Model Canvas play in business model design?
The Business Model Canvas is a conceptual tool that allows the key components of a business model to be considered together. It visualizes how customer value, target groups, channels, value creation, and revenue and cost logic are interconnected and identifies critical assumptions or open questions.
What is the difference between value proposition design and business model design?
Value proposition design focuses on the alignment between customer needs and the value offered. Business model design additionally considers how this value is created, brought to market, and sustained economically. Value proposition design can therefore be an important component of business model development.
Does cidpartners also support the entire business model development process?
Yes. cidpartners provides support from idea development through the elaboration and validation of the business model to the prototype and the initial implementation of the business case. Depending on the specific requirements, additional specialist and cross-industry expertise can be integrated.
Does cidpartners also support digital, platform, and ecosystem business models?
Yes. Depending on the project, cidpartners contributes experience and expertise in digital business models as well as platform and ecosystem logics and can integrate additional expertise from its own network into the development process.