Best Examples of Key Activities in Business Model Canvas in 2025
In the rapidly evolving business landscape of 2025, understanding the core components of a business model is crucial for startups and entrepreneurs. One such component is the Key Activities section of the Business Model Canvas (BMC), which outlines the essential tasks and operations that a business must perform to deliver its value proposition and achieve its objectives. This article delves into the best examples of Key Activities in a Business Model Canvas and provides practical insights to help you define and optimize these activities for your business.
Try our FREE AI Business Model Canvas generator to automatically create a BMC by answering just two questions. You will get an editable Google Presentation and an extensive guide on what to do next.
Insightful Introduction
Key Activities in a Business Model Canvas are the actions that are necessary for a company to operate effectively and deliver value to its customers. These activities vary depending on the industry and specific business model but generally include tasks such as production, marketing, sales, and customer service. By identifying and focusing on these activities, businesses can ensure they are efficiently allocating resources and maximizing their potential for success.
According to a recent Impact Business Model Canvas study, aligning business and impact activities can significantly enhance both commercial and social outcomes. Additionally, Visual Paradigm highlights how companies like Uber utilize specific key activities (e.g., driver recruitment and app maintenance) to dominate their market segments.
Main Part: Top Examples of Key Activities
Here are some top examples of key activities from various industries in 2025:
1. Production Management
For manufacturing companies, key activities include managing the production process, maintaining equipment, and ensuring quality control. For example, IKEA's reliance on third-party contracts with local furniture factories represents a crucial activity for their business model.
2. Platform Development and Maintenance
Businesses like Uber and Airbnb must continuously improve their platforms to provide seamless user experiences. This involves software development, user interface design, and regular updates to the application.
3. Marketing and Sales
Creating marketing campaigns, managing sales channels, and fostering customer relationships are essential for businesses across all sectors. Companies use various strategies, from digital marketing to personal selling, to achieve their sales targets and build strong brand identities.
4. Customer Service
Providing exceptional customer service is fundamental for retaining customers and enhancing brand loyalty. This includes managing support centers, training staff, and implementing customer feedback systems.
5. Supply Chain Management
For retail companies, managing the supply chain efficiently is critical. This involves sourcing materials, coordinating logistics, and ensuring timely delivery of products to customers.
6. Research and Development (R&D)
Investing in R&D to innovate and improve products or services is vital for maintaining a competitive edge. This includes laboratory research, prototype development, and market testing.
7. Content Creation and Curation
For media and entertainment companies, key activities consist of creating, curating, and distributing content. This involves production, editorial work, and engaging with the audience across multiple platforms.
8. Financial Management
Maintaining financial health through activities like budgeting, accounting, and financial planning ensures that the business can sustain operations and invest in growth opportunities.
9. Partnership Management
Collaborating with strategic partners can enhance a company's capabilities. Managing these partnerships involves negotiating terms, coordinating efforts, and ensuring mutual benefits.
10. Regulatory Compliance
Ensuring compliance with local, national, and international regulations is crucial for avoiding legal issues and maintaining a good reputation. This includes regular audits, training, and implementing best practices.
Statistics
A 2025 survey indicated that 78% of successful startups identified and prioritized their key activities effectively, leading to improved operational efficiency and faster growth.
How to Guide: Defining and Optimizing Key Activities
Step-by-Step Guide
- Identify Core Functions: Outline the main tasks required to deliver your value proposition.
- Analyze Competitors: Study successful competitors to understand their key activities.
- Prioritize Activities: Focus on activities that directly impact your value creation and delivery.
- Allocate Resources: Ensure adequate resources (time, budget, personnel) are allocated to key activities.
- Implement Tools: Use tools like the F/MS AI Business Model Canvas Tool to streamline the process.
- Monitor and Adjust: Continuously monitor the effectiveness of your key activities and make adjustments as needed.
Most Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Neglecting Key Activities: Failing to identify and focus on essential activities can lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities.
- Overcomplicating Processes: Simplify processes to avoid unnecessary complexity, which can hinder productivity.
- Ignoring Feedback: Regularly collect and act on feedback to improve key activities.
- Underestimating Resources: Ensure you have sufficient resources allocated to critical tasks to avoid disruptions.
Deep Insights
Understanding and optimizing key activities in the BMC can provide a significant competitive advantage. Companies that successfully align their key activities with their overall strategy are better positioned to deliver value efficiently and adapt to changing market conditions.
Conclusion
Defining and optimizing the key activities in your Business Model Canvas is crucial for achieving operational excellence and delivering value to customers. By learning from successful examples and continuously refining these activities, startups and entrepreneurs can enhance their business models and achieve sustainable growth in 2025 and beyond.
For those looking to streamline their process, consider using the free F/MS AI Business Model Canvas Tool. It offers a personalized, easy-to-follow approach to building your business model, ensuring you focus on the right activities from the start.
By taking these insights into account and leveraging the right tools, you can effectively navigate the complex landscape of 2025 and set your business up for long-term success.
FAQ
1. What are Key Activities in a Business Model Canvas?
Key Activities are the essential tasks and operations a business must perform to deliver its value proposition and achieve objectives.
2. Why is identifying Key Activities important for startups in 2025?
Identifying Key Activities ensures efficient resource allocation and maximizes potential for success in a rapidly evolving business landscape.
3. Can you give an example of Key Activities for manufacturing companies?
For manufacturing companies, Key Activities include managing the production process, maintaining equipment, and ensuring quality control. Learn more about IKEA's reliance on third-party contracts
4. Why is platform development and maintenance crucial for businesses like Uber and Airbnb?
Continuous improvement of platforms through software development, user interface design, and regular updates is essential for providing seamless user experiences. Explore Business Model Canvas examples
5. What role does marketing and sales play in Key Activities?
Creating marketing campaigns, managing sales channels, and fostering customer relationships are crucial for achieving sales targets and building strong brand identities.
6. How important is customer service as a Key Activity?
Exceptional customer service is fundamental for retaining customers and enhancing brand loyalty by managing support centers, training staff, and implementing feedback systems.
7. What are some Key Activities involved in supply chain management for retail companies?
Sourcing materials, coordinating logistics, and ensuring timely delivery of products to customers are critical supply chain management activities.
8. Why should companies invest in Research and Development (R&D)?
Investing in R&D to innovate and improve products or services helps maintain a competitive edge through activities like laboratory research, prototype development, and market testing.
9. What are Key Activities for media and entertainment companies?
Key Activities include creating, curating, and distributing content, involving production, editorial work, and engaging with the audience across multiple platforms.
10. How can companies avoid common mistakes with Key Activities?
Ensure you identify and focus on essential activities, simplify processes, regularly collect and act on feedback, and allocate sufficient resources to avoid disruptions and inefficiencies. Deep dive into Key Activities
