The companies working on specialty parts that go on the interposer can focus on their domains (laser light sources, modulators, etc.).

The packagers can use chiplets from POET that meet their designs.

The end user gets a best of breed for all of the gears in the box, faster than if the suppliers were not working with the standardization and readily customizable POET solutions.

Add to that POET's patent forest around their methods and waveguides' performance and CMOS, flip chipping and other process knowledge, and they become a valuable partner that saves time, money, risk and it all performs. 

Skating to the puck is a good analogy, but I see POET as the Zamboni machine for the ice rink in a way.