What is the Value Proposition Canvas? - B2B International (2024)

The Value Proposition Canvas is a framework which can help ensure that a product or service is positioned around what the customer values and needs.

The Value Proposition Canvas was initially developed by Dr Alexander Osterwalder as a framework to ensure that there is a fit between the product and market. It is a detailed tool for modeling the relationship between two parts of the Osterwalder’s broader Business Model Canvas; customer segments and value propositions.

The Value Proposition Canvas can be used when there is need to refine an existing product or service offering or where a new offering is being developed from scratch.

What is the Value Proposition Canvas? - B2B International (15)

The Value Proposition Canvas is formed around two building blocks – customer profile and a company’s value proposition.

Video: The Value Proposition Canvas Explained

Customer Profile

  • Gains – the benefits which the customer expects and needs, what would delight customers and the things which may increase likelihood of adopting a value proposition.

  • Pains – the negative experiences, emotions and risks that the customer experiences in the process of getting the job done.

  • Customer jobs – the functional, social and emotional tasks customers are trying to perform, problems they are trying to solve and needs they wish to satisfy.

A customer profile should be created for each customer segment, as each segment has distinct ‘jobs to be done’, pains and gains.

Value Map

  • Gain creators – how the product or service creates customer gains and how it offers added value to the customer.

  • Pain relievers – a description of exactly how the product or service alleviates customer pains.

  • Products and services – the products and services which create gain and relieve pain, and which underpin the creation of value for the customer.

Achieving fit between the value proposition canvas and customer profile

After listing gain creators, pain relievers and products and services, each point identified can be ranked from ‘nice to have’ to ‘essential’ in terms of value to the customer. A fit is achieved when the products and services offered as part of the value proposition address the most significant pains and gains from the customer profile.

Identifying the value proposition on paper is only the first stage. It is then necessary to validate what is important to customers and get their feedback on the value proposition. Further market research and insights can then be used to go back and continually refine the proposition.

Going further: Using the value proposition canvas to identify opportunities for differentiation

An additional step is to investigate the extent to which a company has a competitive advantage in those areas to ensure that the value proposition is unique and sufficiently differentiated.

A matrix can be used to plot each aspect of the value proposition with respect to its value to the customer and the competitive advantage the company has in offering that product or service.

What is the Value Proposition Canvas? - B2B International (16)

This enables core messages and potential areas of improvement to be identified. Core messages are those that are likely to have wide resonance and should feature prominently in marketing literature. Areas for improvement may include hygiene factors, priorities for product refinement or where market education on the company’s offer is needed.

References

Osterwalder, A., Pigneur, Y., Bernarda, G., Smith, A. (2014) Value Proposition Design: How to Create Products and Services Customers Want, John Wiley & Sons.

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What is the Value Proposition Canvas? - B2B International (2024)

FAQs

What is a B2B value proposition? ›

A B2B customer value proposition (CVP) communicates the unique benefits that a customer will experience when they choose your products or services to solve their problems. In other words, figuring out what customers really want and need rather than the features of your product or service offerings.

What is the value proposition canvas? ›

The Value Proposition Canvas is a framework which can help ensure that a product or service is positioned around what the customer values and needs. The Value Proposition Canvas was initially developed by Dr Alexander Osterwalder as a framework to ensure that there is a fit between the product and market.

What are the six parts of the value proposition canvas? ›

The 6 components that are highlighted in the Value Proposition Canvas are the customer jobs, customer pains, customer gains, your products & services, pain relievers and the gain creators.

What are the 3 three categories of value proposition? ›

A “value proposition” can be classified into three types: All Benefits, Favorable Points of Difference, and Resonating Focus.

What are the 4 basic categories in B2B markets? ›

To help you get a better idea of the different types of business customers in B2B markets, we've put them into four basic categories: producers, resellers, governments, and institutions.

What are the 5 different types of value propositions? ›

5 Value Proposition Categories
  • Productivity.
  • Profitability.
  • Image.
  • Experience.
  • Convenience.

What are the 4 questions of a value proposition? ›

We've put together five questions that'll help you arrive at a value proposition you can be proud of.
  • What product or service do you offer? ...
  • Who is your target customer? ...
  • What problem does your product solve for your customer? ...
  • How does your product or service benefit your customer?
Apr 28, 2016

What are the 7 components of business model canvas? ›

The Business Model Canvas consists of nine essential parts: Customer Segments, Value Proposition, Revenue Streams, Channels, Customer Relationships, Key Activities, Key Resources, Key Partners, and Cost Structure.

What are the four elements of value proposition? ›

The value proposition spectrum: primary, prospects, products, and process.

What is the difference between business model canvas and value proposition canvas? ›

The Business Model Canvas helps you create value for your business. Examples of this might be your revenue streams or connections. The Value Proposition Canvas helps you create value for your customers.

What are the 4 categories of value? ›

The four types of value include: functional value, monetary value, social value, and psychological value. The sources of value are not equally important to all consumers. How important a value is, depends on the consumer and the purchase.

What is a value proposition example? ›

The greatest value proposition examples usually include a headline, subheadline, or short paragraph and a visual to add extra interest, such as an image, video, or illustration. After reading value propositions, customers should have no misunderstandings about what a brand stands for and what it can offer them.

What is Starbucks value proposition? ›

To inspire and nurture the human spirit - one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time. With our partners, our coffee and our customers at our core, we live these values: Creating a culture of warmth and belonging, where everyone is welcome.

What is Apple's value proposition? ›

Apple's value proposition is built thanks to its ecosystem. In short, Apple's “implicit promise” is to create a smooth experience, as long as you are within Apple's ecosystem. This is what enabled Apple to become a multi-trillion-dollar company.

What is major B2B business model? ›

B2B (Business-to-business).

In a B2B business model, a business sells its product or service to another business. Sometimes the buyer is the end-user, but often the buyer resells to the consumer. B2B transactions generally have a longer sales cycle, but higher-order value and more recurring purchases.

What is the B2B business model? ›

B2B (business-to-business), a type of electronic commerce (e-commerce), is the exchange of products, services or information between businesses, rather than between businesses and consumers (B2C). A B2B transaction is conducted between two companies, such as wholesalers and online retailers.

What are the 5 distinct buying groups for B2B? ›

There are four basic categories of business buyers: producers, resellers, governments, and institutions. Producers are companies that purchase goods and services that they transform into other products.

What is Amazon's value proposition? ›

In summary, Jeff Bezos called out Amazon's 3 key value propositions as: Low Prices. Fast Delivery. Large Choice of products (and services)

What are the 7 types of values? ›

What are the 7 core values? The seven core values include honesty, boldness, freedom, trust, team spirit, modesty, and responsibility.

What are key value propositions? ›

A value proposition should clearly explain how a product fills a need, communicate the specifics of its added benefit, and state the reason why it's better than similar products on the market. The ideal value proposition is to-the-point and appeals to a customer's strongest decision-making drivers.

What are the most important elements of a value proposition? ›

A strong value proposition understands its target market, offers specific value, and connects with its customers.

What are the 9 strategic factors of a business model canvas? ›

There are nine building blocks in the business model canvas and they are customer value proposition, customer segments, channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key resources, key partners, key activities, and cost structure.

What are the 9 building blocks of the business model canvas? ›

It can be described through 9 building blocks: Customer Segments, Value Propositions, Channels, Customer Relationships, Revenue Streams, Key Resources, Key Activities, Key Partnerships & Cost Structure.

What are the 3 essential components of the business model canvas? ›

The business model canvas, invented by Alex Osterwalder of Strategyzer, is made up of nine building blocks showing the logic of how a company intends to deliver value and make money. The nine blocks cover the three main areas of a business: desirability, viability and feasibility.

What are the two primary aspects of value proposition? ›

In marketing, an ideal unique value proposition must provide the following: Relevancy. Explain how your product solves customers' problems or improves their situation. Quantified value.

What is an example of a value proposition in a business model? ›

Another example might be that a business offers a streamlined product that simplifies a customer's needs, or a travel service that meets low-cost and on-demand needs, such as Uber. Immediacy, convenience, simplicity, these are all the types of terms that should be at the heart of any well thought out value proposition.

What is value proposition model? ›

Your Value Proposition is the reason why customers turn to your company over another. It solves your customer's problem or satisfies your customer's need. Each Value Proposition consists of a selected bundle of products and/or services that caters to the requirements of a specific Customer Segment.

What are the five steps needed to develop a value proposition? ›

Chambers, who advises entrepreneurs in Calgary, suggests following these five steps to create a value proposition that will supercharge your sales.
  • Define your ideal customers. ...
  • Match benefits to customer needs. ...
  • Be specific. ...
  • Be unique. ...
  • Test your value proposition.

What does VPC mean marketing? ›

The Value Proposition Canvas (VPC) is a tool to help entrepreneurs to visualise, design and test how their business creates value for the customers. It is used by businesses to solve problems and satisfy the needs of the customer to create a fit between the customer and the product/service of the company.

What is the difference between USP and value proposition? ›

In other words, while a USP describes for your target market how you're different, a value proposition answers the question: Why should they care about that difference?

Which comes first business model canvas or value proposition? ›

The value proposition canvas is an extension of the business model canvas. It is primarily focused on developing a strong value proposition, which is among the central element of a sustainable business model.

What is the most important in business model canvas? ›

Perhaps the most important part of your canvas is the customer segments. If you don't know who your business is catering to you'll never be able to sell to them. You need to figure out who your customers are and why they would buy from you.

What is the disadvantage of value proposition canvas? ›

The main limitation of the Value Proposition Canvas is managers interpretation of how to use the tool for their project or business.

What are 12 universal core values? ›

Universalism: broadmindedness; wisdom; social justice; equality; a world at peace; a world of beauty; unity with nature; protecting the environment; inner harmony. Benevolence: helpfulness; honesty; forgiveness; loyalty; responsibility; friendship.

What are the 5 customer values? ›

There are five main customer value types: functional, social, emotional, epistemic, and conditional value.

What are the 6 classification of values? ›

Values can be classified as follows by their qualities; (1) individual values and social values, (2) natural values and artificial values, (3) physical values and mental values, (4) instrumental values and intrinsic values, (5) temporary values and permanent values, (6) exclusive values and universal values, (7) lower ...

What makes a strong value proposition? ›

Your value proposition should be relatively short—two or three short sentences, maximum. Every word should improve clarity or make your main selling point more compelling, otherwise it needs to be cut.

What is Google's value proposition? ›

The key value proposition of google search campaigns is the ability to reach many potential customers with your marketing message at a relatively low cost. Google search campaigns are an effective way to drive traffic to your website and generate leads for your business.

What is the value proposition of Coca Cola? ›

Our vision is to craft the brands and choice of drinks that people love, to refresh them in body & spirit. And done in ways that create a more sustainable business and better shared future that makes a difference in people's lives, communities and our planet.

What is the value proposition of KFC? ›

kfc has taken one step to connect to their customers by introducing 'wake up tokfc' to win vouchers. Explains the value proposition for kfc and popeyes is to provide a unique flavor or 'secret recipe' fried chicken with extensive menu at affordable price through all its outlets.

What is the value proposition of Pandora? ›

Users can create multiple personal radio stations that play musical genres they like without paying a cent (or for subscribers, $36 a year). This service introduces users to musicians who are similar to the artists users enjoy.

What is Ikea's value proposition? ›

From a consumer's perspective, Ikea's value proposition is clear and easily summarised. They offer cheap, durable and fashionable furniture at a low price. This comes with the novelty of self-assembly, due to Ikea's flatpack format.

What is Sephora value proposition? ›

Sephora believes in championing all beauty, living with courage, and standing fearlessly together to celebrate our differences. We will never stop building a community where diversity is expected, self-expression is honored, all are welcomed, and you are included.

What is Robinhood value proposition? ›

Robinhood's claimed mission is to “democratize access to the American financial system.” Indeed, Robinhood's primary value proposition is fueled by an investing platform that lets you buy and sell stocks, exchange-traded funds, options, and cryptocurrencies, all commission-free.

What is an example of a value proposition? ›

Here's my value proposition for my copywriting business, for example: I help marketing teams to resonate with their target audiences by communicating with clarity and compassion.

What is a B2B product example? ›

Manufacturing materials, clothing, car parts and semiconductors are B2B examples. These materials are a part of the transactions between two businesses.

What is B2B explain with example? ›

In B2B, a business that manufactures products, services, or software sells to another business that can use them as raw materials. Retailers selling to wholesalers are one of the business-to-business examples. A company that produces and sells automobile parts is also part of business-to-business sales.

What is a B2B business give an example? ›

Key Takeaways. Business-to-business (B2B) is a transaction or business conducted between one business and another, such as a wholesaler and retailer. B2B transactions tend to happen in the supply chain, where one company will purchase raw materials from another to be used in the manufacturing process.

What is the 4 basic elements of value proposition? ›

The value proposition spectrum: primary, prospects, products, and process.

What are the 3 types of B2B purchases? ›

There are three types of buying situations that have an impact on the way that the DMU is organized and how products and suppliers are selected: Straight re-buy, modified re-buy, and new-task purchase.

Is Amazon a B2B company? ›

Amazon Business (B2B) is a marketplace to serve the needs of Business Customers. For sellers, Amazon Business provides one of India's largest opportunities to reach businesses across the country.

Is Netflix a B2B company? ›

By offering curated and self-produced content to viewers, Netflix is performing a B2C transaction.

How do you answer B2B interview questions? ›

Here's what you need to do to make sure that you're at your best for your b2b sales interview.
  1. Research the product and understand the stakeholders involved in purchasing decisions. ...
  2. If you have previous sales experience, speak about your numbers and provide context. ...
  3. Practice introducing yourself. ...
  4. Prepare for a mock pitch.

Is Netflix a B2B or B2C? ›

From a B2C perspective, Netflix is selling entertainment directly to consumers for a small monthly fee. At the same time, the streaming service Hulu incorporates both B2B and B2C in their business strategy. On one hand, they need individual customers to consume their content for a monthly fee.

Is Paypal a B2B company? ›

Global businesses have an array of payment options to choose from for international B2B transactions with Paypal. Paypal's B2B and enterprise options include digital wallet options, cash vouchers, direct banking, bank redirects, credit and debit cards, and the ability to pay with PayPal.

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