Commoditisation: meaning, definitions and examples

Used mainly in British English to describe the process by which a product or service becomes indistinguishable from similar offerings and is primarily differentiated by price. It is often used in economic and business contexts.

• The commoditisation of the smartphone market has led to intense price competition.
• As industries undergo commoditisation, companies must find new ways to stand out.

Describes the process of implementing and developing technical standards. It is commonly used in manufacturing and engineering to ensure consistency and quality across products and services.

• Standardization of parts helps to improve the efficiency of production processes.
• By adopting international standardization, companies can ensure their products meet global quality standards.

Refers to the process by which diverse elements are made uniform or similar, often used in cultural, social, and economic contexts. This can have a negative connotation as it implies a loss of individuality or uniqueness.

• Globalization often leads to the homogenization of cultures, with local traditions being replaced by international norms.
• The homogenization of food products has resulted in a loss of regional culinary diversity.

Used in American English, it has the same meaning as 'commoditisation'. It refers to the process by which goods or services become generic and are bought based on price rather than brand.

• The commoditization of internet services has resulted in lower prices for consumers.
• Due to commoditization, many IT services are now seen as standard offerings.