How can you use ecosystem mapping to identify partners and competitors?

1 What is ecosystem mapping?

Ecosystem mapping is a visual representation of the entities and interactions that make up a specific domain or system. It can include various elements, such as customers, suppliers, intermediaries, regulators, influencers, competitors, and partners. The purpose of ecosystem mapping is to reveal the structure, value flows, pain points, and gaps in the system, and to identify the key players and their roles, interests, and relationships.

2 How to create an ecosystem map?

Creating an ecosystem map requires defining the scope and objective, identifying the actors and segments, mapping the value flows and interactions, analyzing the pain points and gaps, and highlighting the opportunities and threats. Firstly, you need to determine what system or domain you want to map and what goal or question you want to answer. Secondly, identify who the main entities or groups involved in the system are and how they can be categorized based on their characteristics, functions, or needs. Thirdly, explore how the actors exchange value, information, or resources with each other and their level of interactions. Fourthly, identify any problems, challenges, or unmet needs that the actors face in the system. Lastly, consider what potential benefits or risks that the system offers or poses for your business and how you can leverage or mitigate them.

3 How to use ecosystem mapping to identify partners and competitors?

Creating an ecosystem map can help you to identify and evaluate your current and potential partners and competitors. When doing so, you should look for complementary actors that offer products, services, or capabilities that complement or enhance yours, as well as substitutive actors that offer competing or replacing solutions. Additionally, you should consider influential actors that have a significant impact on the system or target customers, and evaluate the collaborative or competitive potential with the actors you have identified. Evaluating the benefits and costs of such potential will help you to create value for them and for yourself.

4 How to use ecosystem mapping to develop your strategic alliances?

After you have identified your potential partners and competitors, you can use your ecosystem map to develop your strategic alliances. To do so, first define your value proposition and goals; what value can you offer to your partners and what value do you expect from them? Then, select the partners and competitors that are most aligned and compatible with your business, taking into account their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, trustworthiness, reputation, and culture. Negotiate and formalize your alliance by establishing the terms and conditions of each party's roles, responsibilities, contributions, benefits, risks, and governance. Document and communicate the agreement clearly and transparently. Finally, manage and evaluate your alliance by monitoring the performance and outcomes of it using quantitative and qualitative indicators. Provide feedback, support, and recognition to all parties involved in the alliance. Resolve any issues or conflicts that may arise. Adapt and improve your alliance as needed.

5 How to use ecosystem mapping to improve your business development skills?

Ecosystem mapping is a beneficial tool for not only identifying partners and competitors, but also improving your business development capabilities. Through ecosystem mapping, you can gain a holistic and systemic perspective of the industry or market, as well as discover new opportunities and threats. Additionally, it can help differentiate and position your business, and communicate your value proposition to target customers and stakeholders. Furthermore, it enables you to build and maintain strong relationships with partners and competitors, while creating win-win scenarios for all parties involved.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?