the process of a company increasing production of goods or services at the same level of the supply chain. A company may do this via internal expansion, acquisition or merger.
Pros
Can be a sign of progress, e.g. many of the same type of small, struggling companies consolidate into a bigger one.
Cons
Can lead to a monopoly.
Real Talk
It’s critical to strike a balance. Horizontal integration can have positive impacts (e.g. driving down technology and installation costs), but too much of a good thing can result in anti-trust issues (e.g. one utility company owning all the distribution systems).