A horizontal domain groups subdomains that provide shared capabilities to a platform consumed by multiple other domains. Used appropriately, it can reduce organizational cost and complexity while shortening time to market for platform consumers. section 9.3.3
Evaluate a horizontal grouping against its main trade-offs:
- It can create bottlenecks when many consumers request enhancements that teams cannot deliver within the desired timeframe. section 9.3.3
- Poor interfaces or unreliable horizontal capabilities can cause downtime for consuming domains. section 9.3.3
- It contrasts with product-focused or service-focused domains, whose subdomains serve one product or service. section 9.3.3
Uber fulfillment platform
Uber’s fulfillment platform illustrates a horizontal domain: it supports more than 10 products and services, including UberX, Food, Groceries, Taxi, and Package, while handling over a million concurrent users and a billion trips per year. section 9.3.3
