Complementary Goods

Products or services whose consumption increases the value of another product. In digital commerce, complements can be apps, integrations, accessories, or content subscriptions that sit alongside a core offering. The availability of strong complements makes the core product more attractive and harder to leave. A platform that facilitates the creation and distribution of complementary goods — through an app store or integration marketplace — can generate substantial revenue indirectly, because the ecosystem of complements drives adoption and retention of the core product.

Example: A smartphone manufacturer sells hardware at a one-time price but earns recurring revenue from app store commissions, where third-party developers offer complementary software that makes the device more useful.