Successful examples of leading companies that have built strong ecosystems show how significant the transition
from
traditional business models to ecosystems is for sustainable and long-term business growth.
There are various approaches to defining the term "ecosystem," among which we will consider the following:
- the ecosystem is viewed as a set of participants that interact with the company and are directly or indirectly
involved in the chain of values;
- the second approach views the ecosystem as a marketplace offering a variety of seamlessly integrated products
and
services that cover a wide range of customer needs;
- the third approach views the ecosystem as a self-developing organization (i.e., views the company as a living
organism) that uses innovative approaches to management.
What factors influenced the transition from "classic organization" to "ecosystem"?
Let's look at them in
Figure 1.
Figure 1 - Main factors that influenced the transition from “classic organization” to “ecosystem”
Thus, the transition from a "classic organization" to an "ecosystem" is the result of such factors as the
development of
technology and the changing needs of various market participants.
Now let's look at what this transition is all about and what distinguishes “classic organization” from
“ecosystem”.
Figure 2 shows the characteristics of “classic organization”, “digital organization”, and “ecosystem”.
Figure 2 - Characteristics of “classic organization”, “digital organization” and “ecosystem”
Thus, the ecosystem is a digital marketplace where customers can purchase various products and services that are
offered
not only by the "ecosystem center" but also by third-party vendors, allowing for synergistic effects.
The ecosystem allows to meet a wide range of needs of all participants in a single digital space. Let's see what
benefits each participant receives (see Figure 3).
Figure 3 - Benefits for All Ecosystem Participants
Of course, those companies that can become the center of the ecosystem will have a strong and sustainable
position, but
they must meet certain criteria in order to do so (see Figure 4).
Figure 4 - Key Criteria for the Ecosystem Center
In addition, companies must have strong competencies in areas such as innovation management, customer relations,
and
integration processes. This will enable the development of promising innovative solutions, personalize offers for
customers, increase sales and customer loyalty, and ensure sustainable business growth.