A hub is the connection point in a computer device where data from many directions converge and are then sent out in many directions to respective devices. A hub may also act as a switch by preventing specific data packets from proceeding to a destination. In addition to receiving and transmitting communication data, a hub may also server as a switch. For example, an airport acts much like a hub in the sense that passengers converge there and head out in many different directions.
Suppose that an airline passenger arrives at the airport hub and is then called back home unexpectedly, or receives instructions to change his or her destination. The same may occur with a computing hub when it acts as a switch by preventing specific data packets from proceeding to a destination, while sending other data packets on a specific route.
Where packets are sent depends on attributes MAC addresses within the data packets. A switch may also act as a hub. Finding tools that can also play nice together can be downright overwhelming. Enter the platform. A platform is a set of software and a surrounding ecosystem of resources that helps you to grow your business. A platform enables growth through connection: its value comes not only from its own features, but from its ability to connect external tools, teams, data, and processes.
With a platform as the foundation of your business ecosystem, you don't have to limit yourself to one suite of products -- you can add and subtract new applications and tools as your business grows and changes, without having to start from scratch again or deal with messy migrations. As Scott Brinker, VP, Platform Ecosystem at HubSpot explains , it can be helpful to imagine a platform as a central place where different products connect:.
A platform, however, plays a more active role in coordinating how multiple products work together. You can picture a platform as a hub, with spokes connecting other products to its center.
The hub binds those disparate products together and orchestrates them in a common mission. A platform creates a stable center of gravity for your tech stack ". A Platform enables growth through connection: its value comes not only from its own features, but from its ability to connect external tools, teams, data, and processes. In simple terms, a software product is a set of tools from one company that comes in one package. Everything contained within that package is designed to work together, but it can be challenging to add on new tools that didn't originally come in the package.
For example, if you wanted to add a new help desk tool that works directly with your existing CRM, you'd need to build an integration that can connect the new tool to your existing product suite. The help desk tool wasn't originally designed to work with your product suite, but an integration can effectively enable them to pass information back and forth. One-off integrations are useful if most of the tools you need already exist within your product suite, but they can get complicated fast and become difficult to troubleshoot.
As your business grows, your needs will inevitably change, and the tools that worked for you originally might not be enough to keep you up and running. You'll need to supplement your original product suite with more outside tools -- and that means more integrations. If you're just launching a business, it can be tempting to start small and purchase a contained set of basic tools in a software product suite.
But if you plan on growing your business -- and I bet you do -- the tools that get you started are not the tools you'll need down the line. Please rate your experience Yes No. Any additional feedback? Submit and view feedback for This product This page. View all page feedback.
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