The Future of Leveraged and Shared Assets

In the future, we’ll see two distinct types of companies emerging - those that own, operate, and outsource assets, and those that leverage outsourced assets from others. The companies caught in between, with underutilized assets, may face challenges. The future of Leveraged and Shared Assets will take the following forms:

• Assets as Platforms: The future will witness a widespread transformation of company assets into platforms, allowing them to be accessed and utilized by third parties.

• Platform Business Models: As assets become more platform-oriented, businesses will increasingly adopt models centered around these platforms, enabling them to leverage shared resources and tap into new opportunities.

• The Rise of Asset Management Companies: With the rise of shared assets and platform-based business models, a new service industry will emerge, specializing in the management of assets for other companies. These asset management companies will help optimize asset utilization and facilitate seamless integration into platform ecosystems.

• Outsourced Assets: As businesses recognize the value of outsourcing assets rather than owning them outright, the demand for asset-sharing arrangements will grow, leading to increased collaboration and resource optimization.

• Advantages for Asset Companies: Companies that leverage outsourced assets can benefit from reduced costs, improved flexibility, and access to specialized resources without the burden of asset ownership and maintenance.

• Challenges for Asset Companies: Organizations that fail to effectively leverage their assets or adapt to the platform-based economy may face difficulties, such as increased competition, limited growth prospects, and potential obsolescence.

• Industry Implications: The transformation of assets into platforms and the rise of asset management companies will impact numerous sectors, including manufacturing, transportation, technology, and more, fostering innovation and reshaping traditional business models.

Going forward, we predict that there will be two types of business in the world: those that own, operate, and outsource assets (e.g., 3D printing, car rentals) and those that utilize outsourced assets from others. Those in between—that is, those companies stuck with a bunch of assets they are not leveraging—will be in trouble. We predict our exponential future will be characterized by the widespread transformation of assets into platforms. Most company assets will be available to third parties, and most business models will be based around platforms. To facilitate this, an important new service industry will emerge: companies that manage the assets of other companies.