Emerging Revenue Models for Personal Data Platform Operators: When Individuals are in Control of Their Data

Purpose: This paper identifies emerging revenue models for personal data platform operators that facilitate the exchange of resources between an individual and a service provider for their mutual benefit. Context of this study is human-centered personal data management, which refers to individuals being able to control the use and access of their personal data for third-party services.

Design: This research is conducted by analysing qualitative questionnaire data from 27 organizations from 12 different countries that are considered as forerunners in creating services in this context.

Findings: Our study shows that personal data platform operators can generate revenue by combining transaction-, service-, connection- and membership fees. The study also reveals context-specific propositions for the foundation of revenue model creation. Monetising personal data in the form of advertising like we know it today is explicitly avoided among personal data platform operators.

Research limitations/ implications: This study calls for further research about how does providing control over personal data to individuals influence on business models of platform operators and other service providers in the market.

Practical implications: For practitioners, this research offers new insights on revenue models that are being developed by the forerunners of human-centered personal data management approach in the European market.

Originality/ Value: Revenue models for personal data platform operators when taking a human-centered approach to personal data management. Propositions to consider when creating revenue models in this context.