Digital Ecosystems

Companies once might have kicked off ajoint ventureor astrategic alliancewith a few industry partners to share risks or enter a new market, but now many companies collaborate in digital ecosystems of dozens or even hundreds of partners from several industries to bring their offerings to market.

This new collaboration model isn’t a fad; it’s the future of business. Many of the world’s largest companies are part of vast digital ecosystems that are disrupting not just their industries but broad swaths of the economy.

A digital ecosystem is when many largely independent economic players join forces to create a digital offering that is more valuable than a single company’s product or service. Some digital ecosystems develop solutions—like a connected car or a smart home. Others bring together buyers and sellers on a digital platform.

BCG helps companies looking to develop or participate in a digital ecosystem move from strategy to scale in less than 24 months.

• STRATEGY.To capitalize on the benefits of digital collaboration, companies must craft a forward-thinking digital ecosystem strategy, navigate the startup community to spot potential partners, and identify the partners that can make an immediate impact.
• BUILD-UP.Because new technologies, partners, and competitors emerge all the time, it’s vital to adapt and pivot during the initial phases of ecosystem growth. We work with clients to create a flexible,agilemodel for designing, setting up, and governing a digital ecosystem.
• SCALE.Orchestrators of collaboration networks need to create a sense of community and trust while ensuring that all participants benefit. Value—whether it’s data, IP, or financial gain—must be shared to create strong and lasting partnerships.