Overcoming the Product-Service Model Adoption Obstacles

Clarifying the concept of product–service system

Alliance formation by intermediary ventures in the solar service industry: implications for product–service systems research

Product service systems (PSS) can be understood as an innovation / business strategy that includes a set of products and services that are realized by an actor network. More recently, PSS that comprise System of Systems (SoS) have been of increasing interest, notably in the transportation (autonomous vehicle infrastructures, multi-modal transportation) and energy sector (smart grids). Architecting such PSS-SoS goes beyond classic SoS engineering, as they are often driven by new technology, without an a priori client and actor network, and thus, a much larger number of potential architectures. However, it seems that neither the existing PSS nor SoS literature provides solutions to how to architect such PSS. This paper presents a methodology for architecting PSS-SoS that are driven by technological innovation. The objective is to design PSS-SoS architectures together with their value proposition and business model from an initial technology impact assessment. For this purpose, we adapt approaches from the strategic management, business modeling, PSS and SoS architecting literature. We illustrate the methodology by applying it to the case of an automobile PSS.

By offering of Product Service Systems (PSS) traditional product-oriented companies get an excellent opportunity to create new value by delivering customers a unique utility. This comes along with the improvement of the companies’ competitive position on both, the domestic and the international marketplaces. A PSS is a combination of tangible or intangible products and services. Current available PSS approaches in literature as a set of guided methodologies how to implement a PSS out of a traditional product are manly focussed on the needs of large companies. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) habitually tend to block such approaches due to much complexity of the frameworks and missing usability and adaptability. However, PSS can also provide many opportunities for SMEs to generate new and innovative business models. In addition, the concept of customer centricity is currently not present at SMEs as well as the PSS research. To attract interest of SMEs in PSS a framework that is suitable to fit their needs is required. Hence, a first step is presented in this paper as the interaction based approach will help to make complex PSS frameworks applicable for SMEs.

PSS design through Design for Supply Chain: State of the art review

Global warming has constantly been regarded as a major threat to sustainable development. Thus, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions entails committed action through sustainable management practices based on a life cycle perspective. A product service system (PSS) is a new business model that has been adopted by many companies and is currently widely used in developed countries. The PSS model can achieve not just economic benefits, but also many environmental benefits such as carbon reduction. Currently, almost every household owns various types of appliances such as washing machines. Along with lifestyle changes, self-service laundries have become a typical PSS. This study investigates carbon emissions from traditional laundry practices (i.e., washing machines) and PSS modes (i.e., self-service laundries) by life cycle assessment. We compare the life cycle carbon emissions of a community with 360 households, each owning a washing machine, with those of a commercial coinoperated laundromat with five self-service commercial washing machines. Two life span scenarios of washing by a household's washing machine (i.e., 7 years) and a commercial coin-operated laundromat (i.e., 21 years) were considered for comparison.

Leveraging the Sustainability Potential of Mass Customization through Product Service Systems in the Consumer Electronics Industry

This paper primarily deals with a systematic literature review on Product-Service Systems (PSS) classifications. The initial question was, how can information and profound knowledge regarding the classification of PSS be acquired? A very extensive scientific and systematic literature research containing 125 works was carried out for this purpose. In doing so, we concentrated on the central question of how PSS can be classified. Here we have found out which PSS classifications are widely used in literature and how they differentiate. As a result, the five identified PSS classifications are described and compared. Derived from this, we have analysed the various PSS types from the PSS classification and made a comparison of these types for the first time in the literature. As a result, similarities and differences between the authors are presented and examined. This research will enable us to go one step ahead and develop a framework that can be applied to classify companies or certain business models in regard to PSS. Thus, a scientific contribution could be made to the field of PSS classification.

Providing consumers with photovoltaic carports can be a promising and feasible way of combining private charging stations with decentralised renewable energy sources, thereby promoting electric mobility. However, the high level of technology and the connectivity of all parts of the system require a range of accessible services. Therefore, the production and sale of photovoltaic carports as product service systems is considered a promising business model. To support companies that plan to offer photovoltaic carports and additional services as holistic systems, this article analyses the whole lifecycle of such a product service system by combining research results from existing scientific literature with recent market trends that were obtained through a secondary desk research. The results serve as a foundation for creating new business models when producing and selling photovoltaic carports.

Providing consumers with photovoltaic carports can be a promising and feasible way of combining private charging stations with decentralised renewable energy sources, thereby promoting electric mobility. However, the high level of technology and the connectivity of all parts of the system require a range of accessible services. Therefore, the production and sale of photovoltaic carports as product service systems is considered a promising business model. To support companies that plan to offer photovoltaic carports and additional services as holistic systems, this article analyses the whole lifecycle of such a product service system by combining research results from existing scientific literature with recent market trends that were obtained through a secondary desk research. The results serve as a foundation for creating new business models when producing and selling photovoltaic carports.

Product-service systems (PSS) adoption has increased over the last years due to its potential for innovative value creation. However, the identification of ideas and opportunities in the innovation planning and the structuring of PSS projects are still incipient in organizations, following the same patterns adopted for product development. Currently, there is not a systematic approach that can be followed for the formulation of PSS proposals in the fuzzy front end. Therefore, the aim of this research is to develop a method for defining PSS project proposals based on attributes that should be considered by companies during this definition. The systematization of PSS attributes may help increase the knowledge about different PSS projects that can emerge in the front end, thus leading to the discovery of opportunities that are not apparent in the existing business models and give rise to new ideas that can be translated into successful projects.

Aim: This work explores the opportunities and challenges associated with the integration of Product Service Systems (PSS) into Smart Grids (SGs) with the aim of improving manufacturing and production systems’ sustainability under the Society 5.0 framework. Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted to examine the existing bibliographic material and identify the primary scientific directions for this research area. The aim was to provide a thorough understanding of the research problems and perform an in-depth analysis of the distinctive aspects of development of the scientific research in this field and visualize the results with VOS viewer tool. Results: Industry, society, and academia are being reshaped and reorganized to integrate new information and communications technology (ICT) to enable complete digitization and digitalization of their infrastructures. This trend is driven by the need for more resilient, environmentally sustainable, and human-centric systems, as indicated by the terms Industry 5.0 and Society 5.0. Electrical power generation and distribution currently are critical issues for society. In this context, SGs are examined from the perspective of product-service systems (PSSs). The key enabling technologies are discussed and a technical discussion based on presentation of implemented frameworks follows. Conclusion: Intelligent societies will become the new reality. It is necessary to adapt existing infrastructures toward human centricity, resilience, and sustainability. SGs require further development, with several challenges still to be addressed. However, engineers have several technologies available, including blockchain and PSSs, to promote client activity in societal infrastructures.

Implications of Service-related Business Models on Product Development Processes

Sustainable development requires the creation and development of new business models. Sharing economy will maximize the use of a product by several people, while it enables the reduction of natural resource consumption. In this sense, Product-Service Systems (PSS) can greatly contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, published by the United Nations. In this context, the present study aims to analyse the barriers associated with the operationalization of PSS business models in Brazil. Nineteen barriers listed in the literature supported a questionnaire used in a survey of Brazilian researchers. Data analysis was performed through Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, descriptive statistics and TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution). TOPSIS is used for comparative ordering of barriers in terms of intensity. The results showed that there are many barriers observed in the Brazilian scenario for the operationalization of PSS; those related to the resistance to change to the mentioned business models and the lack of necessary skills to manage them stood out. These findings can be used to enhance the debates about PSS in the Brazilian context.

While many models for sustainable product-service systems (PSS) integrate the multi-actor perspective, few provide insights on how the territory in which actors implement the system influences its sustainability. This paper explores the implementation of a territorial PSS at a city or regional scale as a means to structuring value networks and enhancing its sustainability potential. The research combines a multidisciplinary literature review with two exploratory sustainable PSS cases in packaging and cloth baby diapers. The paper proposes a framework explaining how sustainable PSS providers develop territorial networks that consider a diversity of actors from civil, industrial, and public spheres to mobilize resources for value creation at organizational, network, and territorial levels. It identifies contextual factors, such as proximity, social embeddedness of relations, and the visions that influence the consolidation and sustainability of the territorial PSS networks. The empirical cases show the development of territorial networks enhances embed social relations among actors and enables the sustainable PSS concept to adapt to locally articulated sustainability principles and priorities. The paper discusses the implications of this approach for PSS for sustainability managers and designers. The study fills a gap by showing the importance of integrating a diversity of territorial actors as a pre-condition for PSS to contribute to the sustainability transitions and resilience of territories. Future research may validate the proposed framework and focus on identifying opportunities and barriers for the territorial PSS approach in different contexts such as industries and company sizes.