Development of adaptable integration mechanisms for data-enabled service operations in industrial networks
The growing emphasis on ICT-enriched machines placed by industrial machine manufacturers represents the critical need to
re-evaluate service operations. Data-enabled service operations include not
only machine manufacturers but also their customers, collaborators and intermediaries
in industrial networks. On the one hand, machine manufacturers may not
necessarily possess all the resources. Thus, they require integrating with
other companies in the industrial network. On the other hand, the lack of other
companies’ readiness and insufficient knowledge about their drivers,
limitations and expectations hinder the development and deployment of
data-enabled service operations. This study aims to increase understanding of
how distinct and interdependent companies integrate to advance data-enabled service
operations in industrial networks.The research involves qualitative case studies
and collects data through interviews with machine manufacturers, their
intermediaries, customers, and collaborators. The findings are validated
through a series of workshops with case companies’ practitioners, following which
a managerial framework is developed.This project creates three main research
results. First, this research creates a detailed model of the implications of
ICT-based systems on the service operations of machine manufacturers and their
customers and intermediaries. Second, the results of the project will provide a
novel understanding of the role of different collaborators and the root causes
of collaboration challenges in developing data-enabled service operations in
industrial networks. Third, the project will develop alternative mechanisms to
integrate different companies in industrial networks and the reasons
underpinning such choices (e.g., industry type, size, strategy orientation,
maturity level, etc.). Thus, the study offers new insights on the different
types of data-enabled service operations, changes in the business models of
companies in industrial networks, alternative approaches to integrating
different companies in industrial networks and the reasons underpinning the choices.
re-evaluate service operations. Data-enabled service operations include not
only machine manufacturers but also their customers, collaborators and intermediaries
in industrial networks. On the one hand, machine manufacturers may not
necessarily possess all the resources. Thus, they require integrating with
other companies in the industrial network. On the other hand, the lack of other
companies’ readiness and insufficient knowledge about their drivers,
limitations and expectations hinder the development and deployment of
data-enabled service operations. This study aims to increase understanding of
how distinct and interdependent companies integrate to advance data-enabled service
operations in industrial networks.The research involves qualitative case studies
and collects data through interviews with machine manufacturers, their
intermediaries, customers, and collaborators. The findings are validated
through a series of workshops with case companies’ practitioners, following which
a managerial framework is developed.This project creates three main research
results. First, this research creates a detailed model of the implications of
ICT-based systems on the service operations of machine manufacturers and their
customers and intermediaries. Second, the results of the project will provide a
novel understanding of the role of different collaborators and the root causes
of collaboration challenges in developing data-enabled service operations in
industrial networks. Third, the project will develop alternative mechanisms to
integrate different companies in industrial networks and the reasons
underpinning such choices (e.g., industry type, size, strategy orientation,
maturity level, etc.). Thus, the study offers new insights on the different
types of data-enabled service operations, changes in the business models of
companies in industrial networks, alternative approaches to integrating
different companies in industrial networks and the reasons underpinning the choices.