Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Research and Science, Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Service Research Center, Karlstad University, Sweden.
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Research and Science, Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Service Research Center, Karlstad University, Sweden.
Sci Total Environ. 2014 Aug 1;488-489:512-20. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.02.046. Epub 2014 Mar 4.
Various technologies have been deployed in household devices or micro-water treatment plants for mitigating fluoride and arsenic, and thereby provide safe and affordable drinking water in low-income countries. While the technologies have improved considerably, organizations still face challenges in making them financially sustainable. Financial sustainability questions the business models behind these water technologies. This article makes three contributions to business models in the context of fluoride and arsenic mitigation. Firstly, we describe four business models: A) low-value devices given away to people living in extreme poverty, B) high-value devices sold to low-income customers, C) communities as beneficiaries of micro-water treatment plants and D) entrepreneurs as franchisees for selling water services and highlight the emergence of hybrid business models. Secondly, we show current business model innovations such as cost transparency & cost reductions, secured & extended water payments, business diversification and distribution channels. Thirdly, we describe skills and competencies as part of capacity building for creating even more business model innovations. Together, these three contributions will create more awareness of the role of business models in scaling-up water treatment technologies.
各种技术已被应用于家庭设备或微型水处理厂，以减轻氟化物和砷的含量，从而为低收入国家提供安全且负担得起的饮用水。虽然这些技术已经有了很大的改进，但组织在使它们在财务上可持续方面仍然面临挑战。财务可持续性质疑这些水技术背后的商业模式。本文为氟化物和砷化物缓解方面的商业模式做出了三项贡献。首先，我们描述了四种商业模式：A）向生活在赤贫中的人们免费提供低价值设备，B）向低收入客户销售高价值设备，C）将社区作为微型水处理厂的受益者，以及 D）企业家作为销售水服务的特许经营商，并强调了混合商业模式的出现。其次，我们展示了当前商业模式的创新，如成本透明化和成本降低、有保障和扩展的水费支付、业务多元化和分销渠道。第三，我们将技能和能力描述为建立更多商业模式创新的能力建设的一部分。总之，这三项贡献将提高人们对商业模式在扩大水处理技术规模方面的作用的认识。
