ABB’s partnership connection

Today is the second day for ABB’s Automation World user group meeting and all signs are pointing to one of automation’s major players becoming a bigger force than it has been over the past few years.
Anyone can look at the numbers and see ABB is coming back strong in terms of revenues and profits, but they have something else going for them.
It seems they get it. They understand the new business model that companies have to adopt to get ahead in today’s economic environment. They have to partner with as many customers and even competitors to keep its positive momentum moving forward.
Just listen to Alan Boeckman, chairman and chief executive at Fluor Corp.
“Collaboration is so vital today,” he said. “The old way of doing business would never work today.”
He also offered some key points when making the decision to collaborate with partners.
There should be risk allocation; partners should work even more closely than they have before; and there should be greater use of partnerships and alliances. But most of all, he said, there has to be trust between partners. If you don’t have that, then don’t bother attempting to work together.
He pointed out there are times Fluor is a fierce competitor of ABB’s, but they have to clearly draw the boundaries when they decide to work together.
Dinesh Paliwal, chairman and chief executive of ABB North America and president of ABB’s global markets and technology agrees.
“We must trust each other.”
ABB does not appear to be giving lip service to the collaboration/partnership effort. They genuinely appear to be working hard at achieving a true industry connection. Of course, only time will tell, but it appears they are headed in the right direction.
Talk to me.