Product-Service Systems in the Digital Era: Deconstructing Servitisation Business Model Typologies

Abstract

The identification of business model typologies of servitised firms is part of a long research tradition. However, the relevance of many existing typologies in the contemporary context, in which digitalisation is central to business model innovation, may be questioned. Thus, in this chapter, we revisit the existing literature and continue the conceptual discussion about the categorisation of product-service system business models. We propose a conceptual product-service system business model framework with three independent continuums: the degrees of ownership retention, results-orientedness and smartness. Based on this framework, we derive a new product-service system business model typology with eight categories that extends and bridges previous typologies in significant ways. The proposed framework is intended to serve as a sensitising concept for further research and the implementation of servitisation strategies in practice.