6 State-of-the-art on Product-Service Systems and Digital …
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the interconnection of physical objects through added sensors. IoT has impacted
companies’ processes in an unusual way, and can be considered a key element of
the fourth industrial revolution (Suppatvech et al. 2019). IoT specifically comprises
hardware and software to enable objects to interact and to communicate with each
other, supporting the development of new services (Senzi et al. 2015).
In a recent publication, Evangelista et al. (2014) explains that the move towards
a digital society does not consist in achieving that people use technology, but on
the actual impact of its use and how it can transform people’s lives. On one hand,
dealing with digitalization and assessing its socioeconomic impact, requires more
comprehensive indicators on the actual use of Information and Communications
Technology (ICT) in the economy and society at larger scales. On the other hand,
the intelligence capability of organizations, such as the ability to configure hardware
components to sense and capture information represents a first step case companies
take towards digitization (Lenka et al. 2017).
Today, both academia and industry attribute great opportunities to the emergence
of “big data”, a term that not just addresses the volume of information, but also
refers to its variability, variety, velocity, veracity, and value (Chen and Zhang 2014).
In the existing literature, several terms are used to referrer to digital technologies
which vary according to context. Through this literature review, the authors aim to
systemize and identify those that have a bigger impact when integrating them with a
PSS perspective.
6.2.2 Product-Service Systems
In a recent definition, Annarelli et al. (2016) integrates two of the pillar contributions
of PSS (Baines 2007; Mont 2001), to suggest PSS as a market proposition focused
on final user’s needs rather than on the production process, which allows a needfulfilment system with radically lower impacts and enhanced environmental and
social benefits.
Leaping back to 2010s, it is visible that developments such as the mobile revolution and social media, specifically led to the digital transformation of businesses
giving place to anything-as-a-service business models where platforms with business
networks and ecosystems were promoted. This has intensified the development of
PSS and its interaction with digital technologies (Rachinger et al. 2018).
PSS is by definition not a circular business model, but it can drive organizations
towards reaching targets that are intrinsic of circular business models (Antikainen
et al. 2018). Sustainability concerns have created a pull towards digitalized solutions
that maximize the use of tangible resources through services. This suggestion is
supported by some of the original conceptualizations of PSS which included dematerialization and reinforce sustainability and competitiveness goals (Annarelli et al.
2017).
Several references suggest PSS as one of the schools of thoughts rooted in CE.
However, some research studies assume positive sustainability impacts from PSS
73
the interconnection of physical objects through added sensors. IoT has impacted
companies’ processes in an unusual way, and can be considered a key element of
the fourth industrial revolution (Suppatvech et al. 2019). IoT specifically comprises
hardware and software to enable objects to interact and to communicate with each
other, supporting the development of new services (Senzi et al. 2015).
In a recent publication, Evangelista et al. (2014) explains that the move towards
a digital society does not consist in achieving that people use technology, but on
the actual impact of its use and how it can transform people’s lives. On one hand,
dealing with digitalization and assessing its socioeconomic impact, requires more
comprehensive indicators on the actual use of Information and Communications
Technology (ICT) in the economy and society at larger scales. On the other hand,
the intelligence capability of organizations, such as the ability to configure hardware
components to sense and capture information represents a first step case companies
take towards digitization (Lenka et al. 2017).
Today, both academia and industry attribute great opportunities to the emergence
of “big data”, a term that not just addresses the volume of information, but also
refers to its variability, variety, velocity, veracity, and value (Chen and Zhang 2014).
In the existing literature, several terms are used to referrer to digital technologies
which vary according to context. Through this literature review, the authors aim to
systemize and identify those that have a bigger impact when integrating them with a
PSS perspective.
6.2.2 Product-Service Systems
In a recent definition, Annarelli et al. (2016) integrates two of the pillar contributions
of PSS (Baines 2007; Mont 2001), to suggest PSS as a market proposition focused
on final user’s needs rather than on the production process, which allows a needfulfilment system with radically lower impacts and enhanced environmental and
social benefits.
Leaping back to 2010s, it is visible that developments such as the mobile revolution and social media, specifically led to the digital transformation of businesses
giving place to anything-as-a-service business models where platforms with business
networks and ecosystems were promoted. This has intensified the development of
PSS and its interaction with digital technologies (Rachinger et al. 2018).
PSS is by definition not a circular business model, but it can drive organizations
towards reaching targets that are intrinsic of circular business models (Antikainen
et al. 2018). Sustainability concerns have created a pull towards digitalized solutions
that maximize the use of tangible resources through services. This suggestion is
supported by some of the original conceptualizations of PSS which included dematerialization and reinforce sustainability and competitiveness goals (Annarelli et al.
2017).
Several references suggest PSS as one of the schools of thoughts rooted in CE.
However, some research studies assume positive sustainability impacts from PSS