SWOT
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Centurylink Product

To connect people, data, and applications by delivering the fastest, most secure platform for next-generation experiences

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Align the strategy

Centurylink Product SWOT Analysis

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To connect people, data, and applications by delivering the fastest, most secure platform for next-generation experiences

Strengths

  • NETWORK: Extensive fiber network infrastructure spanning 190,000+ miles
  • ENTERPRISE: Strong position in enterprise market with 30,000 buildings
  • SECURITY: Advanced security capabilities embedded in network platform
  • CLOUD: Direct connectivity to major cloud providers across regions
  • EXPERIENCE: Decades of expertise in telecom services and operations

Weaknesses

  • LEGACY: Declining legacy business revenue still 35% of total revenue
  • INNOVATION: Slow pace of new product development versus competitors
  • PLATFORM: Fragmented product offerings lacking cohesive platform
  • TALENT: Challenges attracting top digital/cloud product talent
  • AGILITY: Bureaucratic processes slowing time-to-market by 30%+

Opportunities

  • CLOUD: Growing enterprise demand for secure edge computing solutions
  • AI: Rising need for high-bandwidth, low-latency network for AI workloads
  • SECURITY: Increasing cybersecurity concerns driving security services
  • EDGE: Anticipated 75% of enterprise data processed at edge by 2025
  • AUTOMATION: Network automation delivering 40%+ operational savings

Threats

  • COMPETITION: Hyperscalers expanding into networking services
  • PRICING: Price compression in core connectivity services (5-8% annual)
  • ALTERNATIVES: Emergence of satellite and wireless as fiber alternatives
  • REGULATION: Uncertain regulatory landscape for network providers
  • TALENT: Tech giants competing for limited specialized technical talent

Key Priorities

  • PLATFORM: Develop integrated platform for enterprise edge computing
  • MODERNIZE: Accelerate legacy to next-gen services transition
  • AI-READY: Build optimized network infrastructure for AI applications
  • SECURITY: Expand network security services across product portfolio
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Align the plan

Centurylink Product OKR Plan

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To connect people, data, and applications by delivering the fastest, most secure platform for next-generation experiences

PLATFORM POWER

Create the industry-leading enterprise edge platform

  • INTEGRATION: Launch unified platform connecting network, security and edge computing for 500 enterprise clients
  • ARCHITECTURE: Complete microservices-based product architecture transformation with 85% API coverage
  • EXPERIENCE: Achieve platform customer satisfaction score of 85+ through simplified user interface
  • MIGRATION: Convert 250 legacy enterprise customers to new platform services with 40% ARPU increase
MODERNIZE

Accelerate transition to next-generation services

  • QUANTUM: Expand Quantum Fiber footprint to reach 3.5M additional locations with 75% take rate in new markets
  • CONVERSION: Migrate 40% of legacy enterprise customers to platform services by Q4 with 15% revenue growth
  • SUNSETS: Decommission 35% of legacy infrastructure platforms generating $120M in annual cost savings
  • AUTOMATION: Implement digital-first operations reducing service delivery time by 60% for enterprise clients
AI-READY NETWORK

Build optimized infrastructure for AI applications

  • FABRIC: Deploy AI-optimized network fabric in 12 major markets with 40ms or less latency to cloud regions
  • PARTNERSHIPS: Establish 5 strategic alliances with AI technology leaders for joint solution development
  • OPTIMIZATION: Implement AI-driven network optimization reducing operational costs by 25% across core network
  • WORKLOADS: Enable 100 enterprise customers to run AI/ML workloads on Lumen edge computing platform
SECURE EVERYTHING

Embed security across entire product portfolio

  • INTEGRATION: Implement security-by-design in 100% of new product offerings with automated compliance checks
  • SERVICES: Launch 3 new AI-powered security services generating $45M in incremental annual revenue
  • PROTECTION: Achieve 99.99% threat detection rate through implementation of advanced ML detection systems
  • ADOPTION: Increase attachment rate of security services to 65% across enterprise connectivity solutions
METRICS
  • Platform services revenue growth: +5% YoY by Q4 2025
  • Enterprise customer retention rate: 110%
  • Next-gen services as % of total revenue: 65%
VALUES
  • Fairness
  • Integrity
  • Honesty
  • Perseverance
  • Commitment to Excellence
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Align the learnings

Centurylink Product Retrospective

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To connect people, data, and applications by delivering the fastest, most secure platform for next-generation experiences

What Went Well

  • GROWTH: Enterprise Quantum Fiber revenue increased by 14% year-over-year
  • EFFICIENCY: Achieved $800M in cost transformation savings ahead of schedule
  • RETENTION: Enterprise customer retention improved to 105% from 102% YoY
  • PLATFORM: Platform-based services revenue grew to 47% of total portfolio

Not So Well

  • LEGACY: Mass Markets legacy business revenue declined 22% year-over-year
  • MARGINS: Gross margin pressure from inflationary impacts on labor costs
  • EXPANSION: Fiber network expansion build pace below quarterly targets
  • ADOPTION: Enterprise customer migration to platform services behind plan

Learnings

  • FOCUS: Concentrated investments in growth areas yield better returns
  • SIMPLICITY: Simplified product portfolio drives higher customer adoption
  • BUNDLING: Integrated solutions outperform individual product offerings
  • DIGITAL: Digital-first customer experiences reduce churn significantly

Action Items

  • ACCELERATE: Expedite Quantum Fiber deployment to reach 12M locations
  • TRANSFORM: Increase automation of service delivery to reduce costs by 25%
  • PLATFORM: Unify product offerings into cohesive enterprise platform
  • MODERNIZE: Migrate 40% of legacy customers to next-gen services in 2025
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Drive AI transformation

Centurylink Product AI Strategy SWOT Analysis

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To connect people, data, and applications by delivering the fastest, most secure platform for next-generation experiences

Strengths

  • INFRASTRUCTURE: Network designed for high-performance AI workloads
  • PARTNERSHIPS: Strategic alliances with leading AI technology providers
  • DATA: Access to vast network telemetry data for AI/ML applications
  • POSITION: Unique position to deliver secure AI-optimized connectivity
  • EXPERIENCE: Track record of AI for network management operations

Weaknesses

  • TALENT: Limited AI/ML specialized personnel compared to tech giants
  • ADOPTION: Slow internal adoption of AI across product development
  • INVESTMENT: Lower R&D budget allocation to AI initiatives (2% vs 10%)
  • STRATEGY: Fragmented approach to AI across business units
  • LEGACY: Technical debt constraining AI integration possibilities

Opportunities

  • EDGE-AI: Growing demand for edge AI processing with low latency
  • AUTOMATION: AI-driven network operations reducing costs by 35%+
  • SECURITY: AI-powered threat detection market growing at 24% CAGR
  • EXPERIENCE: Customer experience enhancement via AI personalization
  • OPTIMIZATION: AI-based network optimization reducing costs by 25%

Threats

  • COMPETITION: Cloud providers offering competing AI-network services
  • CAPABILITY: Rapid AI innovation pace exceeding internal capabilities
  • COMMODITIZATION: Basic AI becoming commoditized in network space
  • TALENT: Aggressive recruiting of AI specialists by competitors
  • DOMINANCE: Market concentration around few leading AI platforms

Key Priorities

  • PLATFORM: Build AI-optimized connectivity platform for enterprises
  • OPERATIONS: Deploy AI for predictive network management at scale
  • PARTNERSHIPS: Expand strategic AI alliances with technology leaders
  • TALENT: Establish AI Center of Excellence to attract specialized talent