Internal platforms have become very important for scaling software development, streamlining operations, and enabling innovation. But too often, these platforms fail to live up to their potential due to a fundamental misunderstanding of their true nature.

I’ve said it multiple times and firmly believe that platforms should be treated as products. Not as technical solutions, not as side projects, but as products with customers, value propositions, and roadmaps.

The Customer is (Almost) Always Right (Even When They’re Engineers)

The most successful products are those that solve a real problem for their customers. This is true for consumer products, enterprise software, and yes, even internal platforms.

In the case of platforms, your customers are often other engineers within your organization. They have deep domain expertise in their respective areas, and they know their requirements better than anyone else.

If your approach is to force them to change their architecture or workflows to fit your platform, you’re setting yourself up for failure. This is not a recipe for adoption but for resistance.

The Product Mindset Shift

So, what does it mean to treat a platform like a product? It involves a fundamental shift in mindset:

  • Customer-Centricity: Start by understanding the needs and pain points of your platform’s users. Conduct interviews, surveys, and usability tests to gather feedback and insights.
  • Value Proposition: Clearly define the value that your platform brings to its users. What problems does it solve? How does it make their lives easier?
  • Roadmap: Develop a roadmap for your platform based on customer feedback and business goals. Prioritize features that deliver the most value to your users.
  • Marketing and Communication: Don’t assume engineers will magically discover your platform. Actively promote its benefits and features through demos, documentation, and training sessions.
  • Continuous Improvement: Gather feedback from your users regularly and use it to iterate and improve your platform.

Benefits of the Product Approach

Adopting a product mindset for your platform can yield significant benefits:

  • Increased Adoption: When engineers see that the platform is designed to meet their needs and make their lives easier, they’re more likely to embrace it.
  • Improved Productivity: A well-designed platform can streamline workflows, reduce manual tasks, and accelerate development cycles.
  • Innovation: By empowering engineers to build on top of a solid foundation, you can unlock new levels of innovation and creativity.
  • Competitive Advantage: A strong internal platform can be a differentiator, attracting and retaining top talent.

Real-World Examples

Many successful companies have embraced the platform-as-a-product philosophy. For example:

  • Spotify: Their Backstage platform empowers engineers to manage the entire lifecycle of their microservices, from development to deployment.
  • Airbnb: Their Data Portal provides a centralized platform for data discovery, exploration, and analysis, enabling data-driven decision-making.
  • Netflix: Their platform team focuses on building tools and services that empower developers to build and operate their microservices at scale.

Conclusion

The platform paradox is this: Platforms are often built by engineers for engineers, yet they frequently fail to consider the needs and perspectives of their users. By shifting to a product mindset, you can break this cycle and create platforms that truly empower your engineering teams to innovate and deliver value.

Remember, the success of your platform isn’t just about the technology, it’s about the people who use it. By treating your platform as a product, with a focus on customer-centricity, value proposition, and continuous improvement, you can create a thriving ecosystem that drives productivity, innovation, and ultimately, business success.

Ultimately, a platform is more than just a collection of tools and services. It’s a strategic asset that can enable your organization to adapt, scale, and thrive in the digital age. By treating it as such, you can unlock its full potential and empower your teams to achieve amazing things.