B2B Anticipates The On-Demand Business Model

Consumers have fueled the surge in new apps and tools that offer on-demand services, with Uber and GrubHub emerging as some of the most visible success stories. Less visible, however, is the enterprise-focused on-demand market.

A recent panel on the topic, “On-Demand, B2B,” held at the On Demand Conference last month, suggests that enterprise-facing apps that offer such services are headed our way.

Uber and GrubHub, among others, already offer versions of their on-demand services that target corporations. But according to experts, the Bring Your Own Device and cloud revolutions are increasingly making B2B on-demand apps a more attractive market for both the developers and corporate users.

Reports from TechCrunch describe the trend as an inevitable one. Startups like Shiftgig and Rocketmiles are attracting investors by servicing other businesses but offering consumer-like interfaces and experiences. According to experts, the emerging market is already showing a diverse array of segments, including on-demand marketplaces for temporary work like technical repair people, as well as service scheduling and equipment rentals or sharing.

Research by CBInsights found that $4.1 billion in funding was pumped into the on-demand mobile services market by backers in 2014. While that included Uber’s own fundraising round, an impressive $1.7 billion emerged for non-Uber on-demand app developers. Reports said that funding is likely to double this year.

Temporary staffing is an especially lucrative with a value of about $115 billion, as is events planning and services and executive assistance, reports said. There are other segments that are less developed, but according to experts, have the potential to be wildly successful among businesses. Reports highlight on-demand sales services, which require a shift in corporate mindset to embrace the outsourcing of sales efforts.