Abstract

Decision makers are challenged to move their manufacturing enterprises to the next level — to that of digital business transformation — implementing digital solutions, new business models, and innovation initiatives. The ecosystems model of business provides a key growth opportunity as the next growth engine to boost manufacturing business. Ecosystems build strong audiences in several ways, including more channels of distribution, the addition of new audiences via new capabilities and features, and virtuous circles of growth driven by the confluence of collaborators and offerings. The transformation path for the enterprise to an ecosystem is a step-wise approach slowing divestment from the "go-solo" mode to a collaborative mode applying "ecosystem thinking."

"Moved by the triad customer expectation, servitization, and platform economy, manufacturing enterprises will move to an 'ecosystem first' model within a few years," said Nilmadhab Mandal, research director, IDC Manufacturing Insights. "Successful manufacturing companies will not be defined by the physical assets they possess internally, but by the strength of their external network and their relative position in the value chain."

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