Business
Disintermediation
The removal of intermediaries from a supply chain or transaction, connecting producers directly with consumers. Often enabled by technology that reduces transaction costs.
Biological Context
Direct symbioses represent biological disintermediation. Mycorrhizal networks connect trees directly, bypassing the slower process of nutrients cycling through soil. Endosymbiosis brought mitochondria inside cells, eliminating the 'middleman' of external energy exchange.
Business Application
The internet enabled massive disintermediation: direct-to-consumer brands, peer-to-peer lending, online education. However, new intermediaries often emerge (platforms) that provide different value. Disintermediation shifts power and margins within value chains.