Professional services firms have always needed to adapt, but the pace of technological change today means innovation has become essential to how we operate.
Clients expect integrated, responsive solutions, regulators bring new changes, and competitors evolve at pace.
Meeting these demands requires more than just new tools. It calls for a new way of working.
At HLB, we’re focused on an ecosystem approach to technology that provides both the structure and agility needed to deliver real, lasting value to our member firms, and the mid-market businesses they support.
This shift was evident during our inaugural HLB Innovation Symposium in London in November.
Throughout the event, our members, technology partners, and industry experts shared practical experiences of using AI, automation, and collaborative problem-solving to support their clients.
The message that surfaced repeatedly was clear: we accelerate innovation when we bring together the right people, the right technologies, and the right partners in an efficient, practical way.
Coordinating networks
For many years, our industry tended to solve technology challenges one issue at a time. We bought individual tools, each addressing a specific need.
While each tool performed its task well, this approach left us with fragmented systems, duplicated efforts, and disconnected processes.
Over time, this made it difficult to scale innovation, maintain consistency, or respond quickly when new demands from businesses were raised.
The reality is that this model cannot keep pace with the complexity we face today. Client expectations are broader, technological possibilities are expanding, and competitive pressure is as intense as ever.
We need more than a mix of random tools – we need a coordinated network of capabilities that work together naturally.
An ecosystem gives us that structure.
Strengthening delivery
A business ecosystem brings together multiple independent organisations that share a common purpose.
In professional services, this usually means connecting technology providers, data specialists, automation partners, and platform experts within a clear and cooperative framework.
When we operate in this way, we gain access to expertise that would otherwise be difficult, slow, and/or costly to build internally.
Specialist partners can innovate at a pace, and the technological depth they bring is often beyond the reach of a single firm.
Ecosystem partners’ knowledge, combined with our network’s understanding of contemporary business needs, creates solutions that are more comprehensive and more adaptable than any one organisation could produce alone.
The ecosystem model also enhances our agility. When our partners are aligned and integrated, we can respond more quickly to regulatory updates, industry shifts, and emerging client challenges.
We can introduce new capabilities without lengthy development cycles and without needing to overhaul entire systems.
Amplifying capability
An ecosystem also distributes investment, risk, and effort across a wider set of participants.
Rather than carrying the full cost of developing or maintaining complex solutions, we work with partners who already have the necessary capabilities in place. This enables us to be more cost-effective while still delivering efficient access to cutting-edge technology services.
An important characteristic of a technology ecosystem is that every organisation/provider retains its identity and expertise.
This is not outsourcing – it’s structured collaboration. Each partner plays a distinct role that strengthens the overall effect. Our view is that this clarity and visibility supports trust and long-term resilience.
Essential choreography
Building an environment like this is only the first step. To maximise the benefits of this approach, an ecosystem requires strong, nimble organisational capabilities.
This involves managing relationships, ensuring technical compatibility, defining shared standards, and coordinating how value is delivered across the network.
When delivered correctly, we unlock efficiencies that scale across engagements and economies.
Data flows more easily, automation can be applied consistently, and clients experience cohesive, joined-up solutions. This choreography improves synergies and boosts performance.
Looking ahead
Technological innovation in our profession is now a collective endeavour.
Those of us who view innovation as a team sport and who invest in integrating and deepening diverse and emerging partnerships, will be better prepared for the (likely volatile) challenges ahead.
Read more: Reinventing transformation
At HLB, we are committed to strengthening our modern innovation ecosystem, to provide better value for businesses globally.
By connecting our network with world-class partners and emerging technologies, we’re working to ensure that our firms remain adaptable, resilient, and ready to support businesses with whatever comes their way.
