Research for this paper suggests that businesses that successfully unlock economic value through capacity-sharing solutions are applying the following enabling strategies: Establish a cross-functional mandate to align capacity-sharing solutions as part of the business strategy Access to human and financial resources is critical for building capacity-sharing solutions. The survey finds that organizational factors (including for example a dedicated time allocation) and financial considerations (especially high upfront investment and ongoing costs) are perceived as key barriers by around 65% of surveyed businesses. Given that sharing models are a revolution in existing business models, they must be tightly aligned to the business strategy and require a cross-functional mandate and company-wide mindset shift. Business leaders must communicate the benefits across functions and levels and possibly adjust incentive schemes. Extend product lifespan and design for sharing To maximize value from deployed assets and to offer customers access to shared devices with up-to-date technology, products need to be maintained, repaired and upgraded as required. Businesses should leverage existing operational capabilities to extend the lifespan of their products, enhance rental availability and improve product performance. Additionally, circular product design is a key enabler for implementing capacity-sharing models economically, as it allows modularity and more product use cases.AB Agilent launched its pre-owned business line in 2013 and subsequently developed its rental business, starting in China about five years ago, before expanding to the US in late 2023. Existing lifespan extension capabilities were an enabler for establishing this new business model and lowered set-up costs, as the capabilities required were already available. Learn from data to maximize the value of deployed assets Predictive and prescriptive maintenance and other data-driven services can maximize value by extending the useful lives of shared assets. They can also maximize value from deployed assets by increasing product utilization and reducing maintenance costs. Connected equipment can additionally be used to extract usage and customer data (regulation permitting), improve product design and enable businesses to offer dynamic pricing models. Businesses should partner with technology providers if these connected services cannot be provided internally.C Schneider Electric, a global energy management and automation company, demonstrates circular transformation through its energy-as-a-service (EaaS) offerings. By integrating microgrids with its EcoStruxure IoT platform, Schneider enables more efficient operation and extended lifespan of shared energy assets. This approach creates value by enhancing energy resilience, reducing upfront costs for customers and improving sustainability. The circular strategy not only addresses environmental concerns but also drives revenue growth through new service-based business models. Circular Transformation of Industries: Unlocking Economic Value 21

Circular Transformation of Industries 2025