Many SMEs are struggling to meet the growing demands of the market on their own. Collaborations offer an opportunity here: they allow companies to pool their strengths while remaining independent.
In my work, I had the opportunity to analyze numerous SME cooperations and to take responsibility for such partnerships myself. Successful examples can be found in many sectors: Craft businesses share machines and save costs, hotel businesses market themselves jointly and increase their occupancy rates, and winegrowers work together to open up export markets. Such partnerships create synergies that exceed the potential of a single company.
But the devil is in the detail. Strategy, structure and culture form the foundation, but it is the interplay of these factors that determines success. If the balance is right, SMEs can achieve remarkable success through collaboration.
Click here for my book: Strategic SME networks
