4
Business Units Aligned
18+
Customer Interviews
3
Opportunity Spaces Validated
1
Unified Ecosystem Vision
The Challenge
ASSA ABLOY set out to unlock new growth opportunities beyond traditional access solutions by developing an ecosystem strategy that spans multiple business units and customer segments. With initiatives emerging across Centrios, Kwikset, Accentra, and the broader Group level, the organization faced the challenge of aligning activities, identifying cross-unit synergies, and building a unified ecosystem vision.
Our Approach
Together with fastbreak.one, ASSA ABLOY initiated a multi-layer ecosystem strategy program to assess opportunities, validate concepts with customers, define strategic moves, and establish the structures needed to accelerate ecosystem-driven business building.
The Role of fastbreak.one
Educate – Build a Shared Understanding
We worked with teams across ASSA ABLOY to create a shared understanding of platforms, network effects, and ecosystem-based business models. Through interviews, workshops, and internal research, we brought together insights from Group strategy, IT, M&A, market trends, and voice-of-customer inputs.
Envision – Ecosystem Strategy
We collaborated with Centrios, Kwikset, Accentra, and the Group ecosystem team to define a holistic ecosystem vision and identify strategic opportunities across multiple business areas.
- Mapping ASSA ABLOY's portfolio across market ecosystems (Home, Work, Healthcare, Hospitality, Mobility)
- Identifying strengths, overlaps, and synergies between existing solutions
- Assessing customer needs and evaluating top opportunity spaces
- Developing bold strategic moves and future roles (Enabler, Producer, Orchestrator)
- Aligning internal stakeholders on a unified narrative for "business building beyond access"
Explore – Validate Opportunities
Together with ASSA ABLOY teams, we validated several ecosystem opportunities across Centrios, Multifamily, and Smart Home through customer interviews, stakeholder workshops, and strategic assessments.
Embark – Accelerate Execution
We supported ASSA ABLOY in preparing structures, capabilities, and governance for ecosystem-driven business building.
- Defining the role and services of the central Ecosystem Team
- Creating a team "Strategy House" including purpose and North Star KPI
- Designing processes, playbooks, and cross-unit collaboration mechanisms
- Preparing roadmaps and decision-making materials for Group leadership
The Results
- ✓A unified ecosystem vision, aligned across Centrios, Multifamily, Kwikset, and Group teams
- ✓Validated opportunity spaces for Smart Workplace, Smart Home, and Multifamily
- ✓Identification of cross-unit synergies and shared technical assets
- ✓Customer validation for Centrios 2.0 and asset-sharing marketplace concepts
- ✓A defined Ecosystem Team role, services, and long-term structure
- ✓An Ecosystem Portfolio Map to guide investments and prioritization
- ✓Clear roadmaps, requirements, and strategic moves for the 2024 program and beyond
"fastbreak.one guided us through a complex transformation-from product thinking to ecosystem strategy. Their expertise helped us validate opportunities, align teams, and accelerate our path toward new growth beyond access."
Kiran
Product Manager, ASSA ABLOY
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