A novel framework for designing smarter, more sustainable products is discussed in the International Journal of Product Development. The framework could help car manufacturers and others navigate the increasing demand for digital services. Zhang Yan, Tobias Larsson, and Andreas Larsson of the Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden, explain that the Future Innovation Framework could change the way companies develop Product-Service Systems.
Product-Service Systems combine physical products with digital services in a collaborative process for their customers. With traditional product development models struggling to keep pace with technological advancements, the Future Innovation Framework gives manufacturers a structured approach to integrating digital solutions into their products as well as ensuring that they are meeting their sustainability goals.
At the heart of the Future Innovation Framework is the idea of value co-creation. In this, businesses and consumers work together to design products that provide mutual benefits. This is made possible by advances in information and communication technologies such as digital twins. Digital twins allow for real-time data sharing and the creation of virtual facsimiles of prototypes that can then be assessed so that smarter decisions can be made. By facilitating collaboration among the various people involved on both sides of the business, equation, the Future Innovation Framework can help companies create products and services that are more responsive to changing consumer needs as well as being more aligned with long-term sustainability.
The team reports on how car manufacture, Volkswagen, has already used the Future Innovation Framework in the design of its smart electric vehicle. The company’s work illustrates the practical benefits of this framework. The team explains that by getting diverse teams involved early in the design process, the manufacturer was able to address those technological challenges and sustainability concerns. The case study highlights the potential of the Future Innovation Framework to streamline the design process, improve innovation, and reduce the environmental impact of a product. It also has a role to play in the promotion of the circular economy, which can reduce waste and improve the lifespan of a given product, by shifting the focus from short-term sales to more sustainable practices.
Yan, Z., Larsson, T. and Larsson, A. (2024) ‘Future innovation framework (FIF) for value co-creation of smart product-service system design in a global automotive manufacturing company’, Int. J. Product Development, Vol. 28, No. 5, pp.1–29.