An aggregator collects content or products from various sources and presents them in one place, such as a news website or a marketplace. An integrator, in contrast, is a company or person that combines different services or systems to create a single, unified solution, like a logistics company offering a full supply chain service or a parent company providing resources to its subsidiaries. The key difference is that an aggregator provides access to multiple external sources, while an integrator creates a cohesive whole by incorporating internal and external components.
Aggregator
Function: Collects and presents content or services from third-party providers in a central location.
Model: Acts as a middleman between customers and the actual providers.
Examples:
A news website that pulls stories from different publishers.
An online marketplace like Amazon or eBay.
A travel site that shows flights from many airlines.
Goal: To provide a wide selection and convenience by aggregating the best options from others.
Integrator
Function: Combines different services, systems, or businesses into one unified solution or company structure.
Model: Manages the entire process or a significant part of it, often by providing the core services or supporting resources itself.
Examples:
A logistics company that handles warehousing, transportation, and fulfillment.
A parent company that provides technology, compliance, and an investment team to its advisors, who still operate under their own brand.
Disney, which creates its own content and integrates it across its various platforms.
Goal: To create value through control, a streamlined customer experience, or by removing complexity for users.