Capabilities for platform ecosystem adoption: the case of an industrial incumbent company

Platforms, especially digital ones, are causing an ever bigger interest from the scientific and expert domains since the most successful companies in the world are applying a business model which relies on some type of platform. Mostly, it is about newly founded companies that achieve unicorn status in a short period. However, incumbent companies as well, ones that have already won over a significant part of the market with their products, searching for ways to rapidly transform using the business model based on the platform ecosystems. To make the transition successful, it is necessary to take on a full transformation led by the usage of capacities and resources which can contribute to the aim, but surely develop some new organizational skills as well. While the progress and functioning of B2C platforms are mostly well analyzed and described, literature connected to B2B platforms is still not developed enough. To understand which organizational skills are key to a successful transformation from product-oriented business models to platform ecosystems, primarily in the B2B context, we have conducted broad research based on the case study method for the company Končar Digital Ltd. and its project digital platform. We have recognized three major groups of organizational IS capabilities: skills connected to technology knowledge, governance skills, and skills of market positioning. Our research brings to a better understanding of the incumbent’s transformation to platform ecosystems. All owners of the platforms can use the results of our research as a ground and counsel for better design of their platforms.