Collaborative economy has enormous potential in Spain

Spain is among the top five European Union countries with the greatest potential for growth in the collaborative economy. According to a survey by the consulting firm Nielsen, 55% of Spaniards are interested. This movement promotes the exchange and use of goods and services in exchange for sharing expenses.

 

According to Forbes magazine, the sharing will grow 25% over 2015 worldwide, with a volume of 3,100 million euros. By products, Nielsen estimates that consumers' favorite products are: training, with 29%; tools, with 23%; and electronics, bicycles and cars, with 19, 18 and 17%, respectively.

This potential could be a turning point in the economy. For experts from the Global Corporation Center of EY and IE Business School, these data configure a new business scenario, in which collaborative consumption will beá the key, asú n has been discussed at a conference on Sharing Economy held last week and disseminated by Europa Press.

The main incentives for consumers to bet on this type of economy are, according to a researcher at the Global Corporation Center and associate dean of IE Business School, Kiron Ravidan, the cost reduction, the model sustainable of new businesses, the intensive use of technology, some new values and the mentality of acting in community, as well as the desire to share without being owners and to help those in need.

EY digital transformation partner Pablo González highlightedó that this economy is “a great opportunity” for startups and entrepreneurs, but also for large established companies. “This phenomenon makes transparency, speed and sharing a priority”.

Among the world's most successful cases of this type of company are the platforms Uber, which connects unlicensed drivers with passengers, or Airbnb, which allows individuals to offer their accommodation in any corner of the world. Traditional companies criticize their difficult fit with the law and denounce, like cab drivers, that they compete unfairly.