Digital MRO Excellence: Strategic Validation and Anchoring of deMRO Products at Lufthansa Technik

Lufthansa Technik (LHT), one of the world’s leading MRO service providers (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), pursues a digital strategy built on three pillars: “Digitize the Core,” “Digitally Enabled MRO Products” (deMRO), and a “Digital TechOps Ecosystem.” While progress had already been made in core digitalization and ecosystem development, a clear focus on the development and validation of digitally enabled MRO products was still missing.

The objective of the project was to close this strategic gap. Through a structured “Strategic Opportunity Landscaping,” value-creating business ideas were to be identified and validated to position LHT as a leading digital MRO player and unlock potential beyond its traditional physical service business.

hy assumed end-to-end responsibility for executing a specially designed 100-day sprint format. The methodological approach was structured into two main phases:

• Ideation Phase: In structured workshops for each business segment (e.g., engines, aircraft components), market trends were analyzed and impactful deMRO product ideas were generated using hy’s proprietary software, the “ecosystem manager.”

• 100-Day Validation Sprint: The prioritized ideas were subjected to a rigorous assessment across three dimensions:

  • Desirability: Identification of customer needs and willingness to pay through expert interviews and the development of wireframes.

  • Feasibility: Evaluation of technical feasibility with a focus on data availability, interfaces, and regulatory requirements.

  • Viability: Development of detailed business cases, including pricing models as well as cost and revenue projections.

The entire process was managed through a central PMO (“Strategic Project Guidance”), which ensured cross-segment alignment and strategic anchoring at the top-management level through “Comply or Explain” stage gates.

The central outcome of the collaboration is a well-founded decision-making foundation for Lufthansa Technik’s future digital positioning in the field of deMRO products. As part of the project, four positively validated business ideas were identified, each accompanied by a clear recommendation to build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), including detailed resource and budget planning. For each idea, a validated problem–solution fit and a substantiated business case were established, demonstrating technical feasibility—including a roadmap for data acquisition—as well as economic viability and proven customer willingness to pay.

Beyond the individual results, a replicable process was established that now serves as a standardized blueprint for future validation initiatives. A key element of the project’s success was also the development of a concept for the long-term governance and strategic anchoring of deMRO products within the organization. Through collaboration in hybrid teams, a sustainable innovation culture was fostered, strengthening cross-segment knowledge exchange and the identification of synergies.