¿Realmente importa la distancia? Evaluación del impacto de la proximidad de las KIBS en la capacidad de servitización de las empresas: evidencia de estudios en el País Vasco

Servitization strategy is becoming increasingly recognized as a key source of value with important competitive and economic implications across the globe. It has been proven to contribute to territorial performance through the provision of services to manufacturing businesses. However, this contribution has largely been the consequence of the configuration of local industrial structures, and most importantly, of the interconnectedness between manufacturing firms and knowledge-intensive business service (KIBS) firms. Hence, the process of territorial servitization is highly conditioned by the association between manufacturing businesses and KIBS firms. To date, the literature on territorial servitization has mostly described the implications of KIBS firms for service deployment and service innovation in manufacturing, with knowledge and technological capabilities being considered the main variables in its success. Nevertheless, the literature is silent on how the geographical distance between KIBS firms and manufacturing companies may affect servitization capacity. This paper aims to raise the importance of the geographical distance of KIBS firms in manufacturers’ servitization capacity. To meet this aim, an analysis of two manufacturing companies; Alpha and Beta, is provided. They are both located in the Basque country but collaborate with KIBS firms located in different geographical areas, either “inside” or “outside” the Basque region. Through a qualitative study based on (i) measuring these firms’ capacity for servitization, and (ii) in-depth interviews, results suggest that geographical distance plays a key role in the KIBS firm-Manufacturer relationship for servitization capacity purposes, and should be regards as an important aspect for successful territorial servitization.La estrategia de servitización está siendo progresivamente reconocida a lo largo del mundo como una fuente clave de valor con importantes implicaciones competitivas y económicas. Se ha demostrado, entre otras cosas, que contribuye al desempeño territorial mediante la prestación de servicios a empresas manufactureras. No obstante, esta contribución se debe en gran parte a la configuración de las estructuras industriales locales, y lo que es más importante, a la interconexión entre empresas manufactureras y empresas de servicios empresariales intensivos en conocimiento (KIBS). En consecuencia, el proceso de servitización territorial está muy condicionado por la asociación entre empresas manufactureras y empresas KIBS. Hasta la fecha, la literatura sobre servitización territorial ha descrito principalmente las implicaciones de las empresas KIBS en el despliegue de servicios y la innovación de servicios en la manufactura, considerando el conocimiento y las capacidades tecnológicas las principales variables de su éxito. Sin embargo, la literatura es escasa o casi inexistente respecto de cómo la distancia geográfica entre las empresas KIBS y las empresas manufactureras puede afectar la capacidad de servitización. Por consiguiente, este documento tiene como objetivo plantear la importancia de la distancia geográfica de las empresas KIBS en la capacidad de servitización de los fabricantes. Para cumplir con este objetivo, proporciona el análisis de dos empresas manufactureras; Alfa y Beta. Ambas situadas en el País Vasco, pero en colaboración con firmas KIBS ubicadas en diferentes áreas geográficas, ya sea “dentro” o “fuera” del País Vasco. A través de un estudio cualitativo basado en (i) medir la capacidad de servitización de estas empresas y (ii) entrevistas en profundidad, los resultados sugieren que la distancia geográfica juega un papel clave en la relación empresa KIBS y la capacidad de servitización del fabricante, y debería ser considerada como un aspecto importante para el éxito de la servitización territorial

Uncovering Productivity Gains of Digital and Green Servitization: Implications from the Automotive Industry

The growing industrial concern about sustainability challenges has driven vehicle and auto parts manufacturers to adopt service capabilities as a way to maintain competitiveness in compliance with environmental regulations. As a result, automakers have progressively integrated digital and green service initiatives to support operations and address environmental issues effectively. The present study examined the effect of digital and green servitization on the firm’s productivity. To test their effect quantitatively, this study used the ORBIS database to construct a multi-country sample containing 228 companies in the automotive industry. Our findings indicate that implementation of digital and green servitization is positively associated with higher productivity outcomes once the two forms of servitization coexist and operate jointly. Moreover, the results of the study underscore the importance of establishing a successional pathway of implementation priorities. Our evidence suggests that firms willing to offer green services should consider offering digital services first, as this is the only way to obtain productivity gains from green servitization.This research was supported by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020—MAKERS project: SmartManufacturing for EU Growth and Prosperity

Implementación de las tecnologías de la información y comunicación avanzadas e implicaciones en la gestión estratégica de la cadena de suministro

The present thesis has analyzed the role played by ICT within the supply chain scope, as a tool for enhancing supply chain management and developing innovative firm strategies. Following that overall objective, the chapter one of the thesis introduces and contextualizes the importance of the research topic, the scope of the research, and the objectives expected to be covered through its development. Further, in chapter two the thesis presents a vast and detailed theoretical framework including all the main concepts and their relationship in the study. Principally the chapter analyzes widely the concepts of Supply Chain Management (SCM), Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and ICT‐enabled firm strategies, three fundamental subjects that represent the backbone of this study. In chapter three, the thesis present the research methodologies used to conduct three individual studies and the significant results obtained from them. These studies have been elaborated to explore the relevance of ICT in supply chain and firm strategy.Tesis Univ. Granada. Programa Oficial de Doctorado en: Ciencas Económicas y EmpresarialesBeca pre‐doctoral concedida por el programa P‐6‐A del Plan Propio de Investigación de la Universidad de Granada “Becas‐Contrato F.P.U.” (Programa de Formación de Profesorado Universitario). También se ha contado con la financiación del Proyecto “Implementación de extensiones ‘Bolt‐ons’ en sistemas ERP (Enterprise Requirements Planning) avanzados e implicaciones en la gestión de la Cadena de Suministro”, referencia: ECO2010‐16814, del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad

Enhancing sustainability performance through Digitalization and Servitization: Implications from the automotive industry

Sustainability has become a major concern for highly technologized industrial sectors worldwide. Thus, over the recent years, companies have gradually increased their awareness on environmental issues and adopted a more responsible environmental behavior. However, this global upsurge in environmental concern is having a particular impact on the automotive industry forcing vehicle and auto parts manufacturers towards more sustainable practices in order to keep their operations in compliance with environmental regulations. This context has led companies to the use of digital technologies to support operations and fulfill environmental objectives. Equally, these technologies have enabled the implementation of digital servitization to overcome environmental challenges and enhance sustainability performance. This study analyses sustainability performance through the implementation of digitalization and servitization in the automotive industry. Following a mixed methodology approach this study demonstrates the importance of establishing a successional order of performance priorities where digital servitization must be considered a prerequisite for enhancing overall sustainability performance