Description
Providing access to machines, tools, or other equipment for people and businesses to use
Major variations
Offering a space where people can come and use equipment, versus allowing people to take it away (tool hire – more practical for smaller items)
Potential impacts
- Improving skills – enabling people to learn how to use equipment
- Enabling start-ups – they can test the market for product ideas without having to buy all the equipment first
- Reducing costs for existing businesses – they can access different machines without having to buy them
- Improving quality of locally made products – by providing access to better quality or higher precision tools
Advantages
- If you have machines and other equipment it can make sense to maximise use of these assets
Challenges
- High Startup Costs – buying the equipment is expensive. Some options are to seek donors or sponsorship; partner with equipment manufacturers, share machines with others or build your own machines.
- Maintenance – Find local maintenance expertise or learn how to do it yourself; consider keeping stock of critical spare parts
- Health & Safety – This is very important, you should consider training, monitoring, risk assessment, and accident planning
Business model canvas
Key partners
- Machine Manufacturers / Resellers
- Materials Suppliers
- Government or NGOs who want to support local industry
- Businesses who use these types of machine
Key activities
- Attracting customers
- Machine Maintenance
- Managing Access
Key resources
- The machines / tools / equipment
- An accessible location with power
Value propositions
- Ability to learn skills
- Offering the capability of the machines at a lower cost or lower hassle than buying them
- Ability to test new ideas, products, or processes
- Improved efficiency of production processes
Customer relationships
- Long term relationships with community members
- Partnerships with those who use your machines in their production process
Channels
- Cross-selling from training
- Co-location: put machines next to businesses who will use them
- Referrals – word of mouth can be powerful among artisan communities
Customer segments
- People who want to learn
- Startup businesses who want to prototype and experiment
- Established businesses who use machines in their work (or could do)
- Entrepreneurs who can use the machines to make money e.g. offer training courses
Cost structure
- Machine purchase cost
- Maintenance costs
- Location & power
- Advertising
- Oversight personnel
- Materials & consumables
Revenue streams
- Hourly charge for machine use
- Membership-type access fees including a certain amount of machine time
- Revenue sharing agreements with people who use the machines to offer paid classes or make products for sale
- Cross-selling opportunities to sell training, materials, or other services
Complementary models
Creating shared access to a community and/or other assets (space and equipment)
