Digital Ecosystem Consulting and Strategy

Digital, Technology, and Data

Digital ecosystems are fundamentally changing how businesses collaborate and compete. Our digital ecosystem consulting team helps clients get ready to be part of—or to build—a digital ecosystem.

Companies once might have kicked off a joint venture or a strategic alliance with 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.

What Is a Digital Ecosystem?

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.

Our End-to-End Approach for Digital Ecosystems

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, agile model 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.

Our Clients' Success with Digital Ecosystems

BCG collaborated with Celcom Axiata, one of Asia’s largest telecommunications companies, to transform a simple phone card into an e-wallet and lifestyle app called Boost. In less than two years, it became Malaysia’s leading cashless platform—a digital ecosystem of 17 banks and a growing list of more than 125,000 participating merchants.

Our Solutions for Powering Digital Ecosystems

The BCG Center for Growth and Innovation Analytics uses data science to mine vast troves of unstructured data to spot tomorrow’s opportunities and provide forward-looking data-driven insights in the areas of technology, IP, innovation, and growth.

BCG’s Fintech Control Tower monitors and conducts deep research on global fintech and insurtech trends and supports clients with innovation discovery, scouting and sourcing, and open innovation efforts.

BCG’s comprehensive benchmarking tool constructs a comprehensive view of the competitive landscape and provides key insights into what makes digital ecosystems successful.

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BCG’s Digital Ecosystem Accelerator is a diagnostic survey, supported by a benchmarking database that contains more than 90 companies from across sectors and regions. The Accelerator addresses key questions about participating in a digital ecosystem. For more information, contact Ask_DE@BCG.com.

BCG’s Digital Acceleration Index helps organizations assess their digital maturity by uncovering their digital strengths, identifying gaps in their digital capabilities, and evaluating their performance relative to their peers in digital efforts.

Explore Our Insights on Digital Ecosystems

Article

The Benefits of Digital Ecosystems During Volatile Times

Embracing digital ecosystems during economic downturns can help companies be more flexible, foster collaboration on new offerings, expand access to supply chains, and attract talent.
Improving Your Chances of Success with Digital Ecosystems

Konrad von Szczepanski, a BCG managing director and partner, explains how the BCG Digital Ecosystem Accelerator can help companies establish and execute successful collaborations.
The New Reality of Digital Ecosystems

Companies need to go beyond traditional collaboration models to expand the scope of their innovation. But before orchestrating or participating in a digital ecosystem, they must ask themselves these eight questions.
What Is Your Digital Ecosystem Ambition?

Organizations must understand how digital ecosystems are impacting their industry—and if they are prepared to participate.
Are You Ready for Collaboration Networks?

Today's "smart" products depend on complex networks of partners. But few companies know how to manage these networks effectively.
The Evolution of Collaboration

Companies used to work primarily one to one with another companies, but that was ten years ago. To create products today, Niki Lang says that companies need to have an array of partners.
How Digital Ecosystems Create Value, and How They'll Change in the Future

Digital ecosystems are reshaping industries. For them to prosper, companies must create the right types of agreements with participating members and craft strategies for attracting the most sought-after talent.