Sustainable service-based business models - Exploring the potential of digital technologies in industrial companies
Licentiatavhandling, 2021

Industrial companies are continuously looking for solutions to increase their competitive advantage and become sustainable. Many industrial companies have prioritised economic sustainability as means of success. However, recent decades have revealed many external pressures and these have highlighted the need for more sustainable organisations. The growing interest in sustainable alternatives has shed light on various business models which promote balance and support the path towards a more circular economy.
This thesis aims to promote sustainable, service-based business models by identifying the challenges and opportunities encountered in this transition. Further, it explores the methods, tools and frameworks available in the literature and identifies the sustainability-related elements and KPIs.
The results showcase a list of challenges faced by industrial companies in developing service-based business models. For instance, there is a lack of consensus on terminology for business models, sustainability and digital technologies. Although the studies included in this thesis are from different industry sectors, the challenges found were similar.
The increasing availability of digital technologies and engagement of global organisations may support the development of service-based business models. In addition, new technological opportunities, regulations and incentives can promote collaboration and responsibility in companies.
This thesis systematises the existing methods, tools and frameworks and shows the extent to which they support companies as they move towards sustainability. It also provides recommendations and relevant considerations for the future development of new methods and tools.
This research contributes to the systematisation of knowledge gained from the different terminologies used to refer to service-based business models. It also captures unprecedented experiences from multiple industries, such as recyclers and service providers in the maritime sector. This thesis’ findings can inform and support companies on their path to understanding and implementing service-based business models.

Digitalization

sustainability

Servitization

Digitalisering

​Product planning, Product innovation, Product service systems, PSS

Service-based business models

digital technologies

Författare

Clarissa Alejandra González Chávez

Chalmers, Industri- och materialvetenskap, Produktionssystem

State-of-the-art on product-service systems and digital technologies

Sustainable Production, Life Cycle Engineering and Management,;(2021)p. 71-88

Kapitel i bok

Finding and Capturing Value in e-Waste for Refrigerators Manufacturers and Recyclers

IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology,;Vol. 591 IFIP(2020)p. 505-512

Paper i proceeding

González Chávez, C.A., Brynolf, S., Despeisse, M., Öhrwall, A. R. & Johansson, B. (2021) The impact of sustainability and digitalization on business development in the European maritime industry.

González Chávez, C.A., Holgado, M., Öhrwall, A.R., Despeisse, M. & Johansson, B. (2021) Towards sustainable servitization: A literature review of methods and frameworks.

Enabling REuse, REmanufacturing and REcycling Within INDustrial systems (REWIND)

VINNOVA (2019-00787), 2019-03-01 -- 2022-02-28.

Ecoprodigi

Europeiska kommissionen (EU) (171104), 2017-09-01 -- 2020-08-31.

Interreg, 2017-09-01 -- 2020-08-31.

Styrkeområden

Produktion

Ämneskategorier

Övrig annan teknik

Miljöledning

Företagsekonomi

Utgivare

Chalmers

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2021-08-31