DESIGN AND DYNAMICS OF BUSINESS ECOSYSTEMS IN THE CONTEXT OF «INDUSTRY 4.0» CONCEPT

Abstract

The development of technological cooperation alongside with customer value-creation value chain led to development of a business ecosystem concept. Originally developed for innovation industries this concept spread around many industries but has been keeping its focus on the innovation. The design of a business ecosystem is mostly defined by the structure of the technological cooperation and technological solutions which are core for customer value. Information and Communication Technologies served as a model for developing different designs of a business ecosystem, as high-tech industries pioneered the business ecosystem approach to build competitive advantages. But within other industries along with technological factors economic, financial, strategic factors also contribute to the shaping of the business ecosystem structure. The design of business ecosystems is crucial for their developments. As the concept “Industry 4.0” marks the fifth industrial revolution, many industries adopted strategies and approaches from innovative industries. Five distinctive designs of business ecosystems were distinguished, which differ on the core platform types, levels of cooperation, paths of development and distribution of competences.