Strategies For Cross-Company Collaboration From An OEM's Perspective In The Context Of Digital Ecosystems

The mechanical engineering industry is facing significant challenges due to digital transformation. Business model innovation, such as service-oriented business models, is required to maintain competitive advantage. These innovative business models require capabilities that traditional manufacturing companies may not possess. These capabilities can be developed through cooperation in ecosystems. This paper examines the development of ecosystems and cross-company cooperation in mechanical engineering. The aim is to develop a strategy for cross-company cooperation within the framework of a practical example, which presents capability development framework for an OEM. A scenario analysis compares different alternatives to the cross-company collaboration strategy. The paper compares the approaches of the platform economy and the federative data space in the context of research projects. The methodology is based on a design science research approach and expert interviews to generate practice-oriented findings, as well as a literature review for theoretical insights.