Your communication, distribution, and sales Channels comprise your company's interface with customers. Your Channels are customer touch points that play an important role in the customer experience. Your Channels serve several functions, including:
Finding the right mix of Channels to satisfy how customers want to be reached is crucial in bringing a Value Proposition to market. You can choose between reaching your customers through your own Channels, through partner Channels, or through a mix of both.
Owned Channels can be an in-house sales force or a Web site, or retail stores owned or operated by the organization. Owned Channels have higher margins, but can be costly to put in place and to operate.
Partner Channels are indirect and span a whole range of options, such as wholesale distribution, retail, or partner-owned Web sites. Partner Channels lead to lower margins, but they allow an organization to expand its reach and benefit from partner strengths.
Learn about Business Model Design & Strategies with our Online Course: Mastering Business Models