Innovating Smart Product-Service Systems in Manufacturing SMEs: Current Practices, Affordances, and Constraints

Abstract

How do manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises perceive and realize the potential of emerging technologies for the innovation of smart product-service systems? We address this question by conducting nine expert interviews with representatives in the manufacturing sector. We apply qualitative content analysis to identify current practices, affordances, and constraints in the adoption of technologies to evolve offerings towards smart product-service systems. Building on this inductive empirical approach, we postulate three overarching affordances and four constraints that companies perceive in this process. We conclude by reflecting on applying affordances as our theoretical lens and postulate a multi-level approach to grasp and outline the multi-faceted implications of emerging digital technologies on organizations.