Platform-based Digital Servitization: Business Models and the Role of Platforms.

An increasing number of manufacturing firms use digital platforms to enable and accelerate the shift from delivering physical products to delivering a mix of products and services. This shift is often referred to as platform-based digital servitization. The relationship between a servitized manufacturer’s business model and the role of digital platforms has received limited attention from researchers. This paper addresses this gap by conducting a comparative case study where two cases with opposing characteristics are contrasted and compared. The findings suggest that the role of digital platforms in the context of platform-based digital servitization is contingent upon whether the manufacturing firms in the ecosystem choose performancebased business models or not. The findings provide considerable assistance and guidance to platform managers searching for ways to use digital platforms in the context of servitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]