Future of Industry Ecosystems

Build open, agile and scalable ecosystems that encourage innovation

The Future of Industry Ecosystems

An organization’s ability to generate value is directly tied to how fully leaders are willing – and able – to embrace digital-first strategies. Digital business models are undergoing transformations – from linear based value chains to integrated ecosystems that leverage shared data and insights. At the same time, changing customer requirements, and new ways of operating are emerging, fueling the need for scaled-up digital ecosystems that use software platforms

Organizations in every industry must approach partnerships differently, creating multifaceted and strategic relationships. Complementing traditional partnerships with new partnerships that include competitors and organizations from other industries can empower ecosystems.

Building a Trusted Industry Ecosystem

Businesses across industries are prioritizing open, extended industry ecosystems that enable innovation, resiliency, and monetization as key digital initiatives.

A circular diagram with multiple layers, representing the Future of Industry Ecosystems framework.

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Industry ecosystems must extend beyond partnerships with companies and organizations. It is also about leveraging the sharing of data, applications, operations, and expertise – building on the platform, sharing economy of the past five years. IDC’s Future of Industry Ecosystems framework encompasses:

Shared Data and Insights

Strengthens security, reduces fraud, improves safety, and spurs new, mission-critical innovations. This trusted, sharing ecosystem of data and insights becomes a complement to the standard value chain approach of moving money, goods, and services.

Shared Applications

Unlocks data and insights, improves operational efficiency, and improves the customer experience. Ecosystems can leverage shared applications in a number of ways, from maintaining connectivity across the web of partners to developing customer-facing applications to bring together all aspects of the product and service engagement to replacing traditional packaged software.

Shared Operations and Expertise

Enhances resiliency and flexibly scales capacity and innovation to meet business and market requirements. Shared operations and expertise can improve flexibility and resiliency in the face of disruptions, ranging from fluctuating demand to environmental or geopolitical issues.

Executives across industries today are prioritizing open, extended industry ecosystems that foster innovation, resiliency, and monetization as key digital initiatives. Organizations looking to empower their industry ecosystems can start by taking three steps:

  • Instituting an Industry Ecosystem Control Platform
  • Establishing a Bidirectional Flow of Data Across an Industry Ecosystem
  • Sharing Applications to Empower Ecosystems

How do ecosystem participants efficiently create agreements? How do they assure immutable transactions? And, how do they minimize technical debt associated with the integration of intercompany activity?

With its combination of blockchain, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and container-based software distribution, Web3 offers a technology foundation, or fabric, for industry ecosystems that can ensure trust, enable innovation and, perhaps most importantly, scale activity. This decentralized, interconnected foundation can also serve as an enabling force for the metaverse – a collection of 3D virtual assets, content, knowledge, and places where people can communicate, collaborate, and transact business.

Resources

Learn more about IDC’s FoX Research

How Important Is Web3 and Decentralization to Industry Ecosystems?

Read Blog  about How Important Is Web3 and Decentralization to Industry Ecosystems?

Maturing Industry Ecosystem Strategy and Investments for Enhanced Decision Velocity

Read Blog  about Maturing Industry Ecosystem Strategy and Investments for Enhanced Decision Velocity

Leading Use Cases: Insights from IDC's 2022 Future of Industry Ecosystems Global Survey

Read eBook  about Leading Use Cases: Insights from IDC's 2022 Future of Industry Ecosystems Global Survey

Empowering the Agile Enterprise with Data Driven Connected Industry Ecosystems

View Webinar  about Empowering the Agile Enterprise with Data Driven Connected Industry Ecosystems

Web3: The Key to Enabling Decentralized Industry Ecosystems

Read eBook  about Web3: The Key to Enabling Decentralized Industry Ecosystems

Future of Industry Ecosystems - Shared Operations and Expertise

Research Programs and Custom Solutions

Future of Industry Ecosystems: Research Programs

IDC’s Future of Industry Ecosystems Agenda offers thought leadership and advice on key challenges organizations face when identifying and addressing industry ecosystems requirements for the digital enterprise.

Future of Industry Ecosystems Core Research programs provide business leaders with the insights and guidance needed to align technology investments with business strategy. Core Research programs include:

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Future of Industry Ecosystems: Custom Solutions

IDC’s Future of Industry Ecosystems research and custom offerings help you position your solutions to solve for today’s complex customer challenges.

  • Custom Analytics – Identify opportunities to address customer requirements and challenges by segmenting the market using IDC’s Future of Industry Ecosystems framework
  • Thought Leadership – Amplify your message and become a trusted Future of Industry Ecosystems advisor and solution provider.
  • Business Value – Demonstrate customer and business value of your IT solution.
  • Sales Enablement – Sell more effectively and identify new monetization opportunities in partner ecosystems.

Contact Us to Learn More about the Future of Industry Ecosystems