Employing the business model concept to support the adoption of product–service systems (PSS)

• Identification and classification of the PSS characteristics according to a business model structure.
• Creation of the framework to support companies to implement PSS, applied in a case study in a machine tool manufacturer
• The framework assisted the company to identify opportunities for the adoption of PSS, the main barriers and challenges.
• The description of such barriers can help companies to mitigate future risks and adopt PSS successfully.
• Examples of challenges that can affect PSS are revealed, such as machine leasing, financial aspects and internal resistance.

Although the existing literature indicates that the business model concept can be useful to implement product–service systems (PSS), there is still a paucity of guidelines to assist companies in this respect. Therefore, this paper proposes a framework to support the adoption of PSS employing the business model concept. This framework was developed based on literature review and intends to guide the company on the analysis of their business context, on the choice of the appropriate type of PSS and on the definition of their PSS characteristics. A single case study was then performed to illustrate an application of the framework in a machine tool manufacturer and provide research insights. Overall, results indicate that the framework can provide companies with a useful reference to PSS implementation, helping on the investigation of different PSS scenarios as well as the main barriers and challenges to be overcome.