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featureed image Published 2019-11-21, by Kellie Auman

The Connected Path Forward: Three Common Types of Digital Strategies

What type of ecosystem do you want to cultivate?

This is a major question that faces any company looking into a major digital transformation. Collaborative ecosystems made up of several – or numerous – partners are becoming increasingly commonplace, and have shown themselves to be a superior way of doing business. However, “ecosystem” is a very broad term, and there are a lot of ways that one can be implemented, just depending on each individual business and their overall goals.

Broadly speaking, though, you could categorize three different types of ecosystems which are commonly seen today. Chances are, one of these strategies will fit your own goals.

1. Digitization

If you have a traditional product which is your core focus, and you’re looking for ways to incorporate modern digital/smart technologies into it, a digitization-focused ecosystem is probably going to be your best bet. These are also the simplest to develop and maintain, since they are relatively non-complicated and mostly involve straightforward business propositions.

For example, if a major appliance wanted to make a Smart Refrigerator with a built-in screen and online connectivity, they aren’t likely to develop those new technologies entirely in-house. They would probably instead partner with a screen manufacturer, and with a software provider, to provide the components needed to make a digital smart fridge. These companies, along with the support systems necessary to maintain products (such as tech support) make up a basic but highly functional ecosystem.

2. Platforms

A platform ecosystem is focused on integrating a number of closely-related products and services into a single umbrella service offering, the platform. Platforms are what most people probably think of when they think ecosystems.

Anyone attempting to make an all-encompassing smart home service would be creating a platform. They would need to work with multiple vendors to establish standards of communication between various Internet-of-Things devices, as well as have a unified set of software for controlling it all. You also see a lot of platforms when it comes to digital creation tools, such as the various combined offerings from Adobe Software for document creation and publishing.

As the top level in a platform, you’re going to be leveraging a lot of synergy from the various partner companies who’ve joined in – but you’ll also be looking at a lot of work managing it all.

3. Mega-platforms

What do you get when someone attempts to take a number of platforms and tie them into an even larger system? A mega-platform. Mega-platforms can incorporate a huge conglomeration of technologies and partners, although the group running the mega-platform would be somewhat beyond the day-to-day management hassles.

Mega-platforms are still fairly rare, and typically only come from the largest of tech companies. For example, the various efforts by companies like Apple, Google, and Amazon to create robust voice-activated electronic assistants like Siri and Alexa. Each major component of their functionality – such as ordering groceries from a delivery service – involves integrating a full platform’s worth of services. This is generally accomplished by contacting the platform’s owner directly, and integrating it whole-cloth.

Social media outlets are another example here. Just look at how many businesses and services Facebook is connected to, everything from instant messaging to a VR platform – and they all, theoretically, link up via Facebook as the central hub.

FUSE Makes Ecosystem Creation Simple

FUSE was developed with a single purpose: creating an ecosystem that enables the creation of ecosystems! Our free-to-use software integrates all the functions you need to cultivate an ecosystem, keep all members connected, manage training, encourage collaboration, and more.

To get started, just sign up for your free account. Or, contact us for more information on how FUSE can help grow your business.