Sustainable Product Service Systems – From Concept Creation to the Detailing of a Business Model for a Bicycle Sharing System in Berlin

To develop a business model oriented to sustainability, sustainability aspects should already be taken into account at the planning stages, when strategies, ideas, opportunities and concepts are identified and created. However, there is a lack of methods to assist the creation of sustainable business models. To cope with this challenge, a method named Configurator of product-service system (PSS) proposals was developed in order to support companies to create business models for selling functionality instead of product property. Through the application of this method together with the scenario planning technique, a product concept was transformed into a product-service system business model. For this purpose, the multifunctional team responsible for the creation of this concept utilized the method to develop a business model for Pedelec (pedal electric cycle) inserted in a sharing system and taking into account the future development of the city of Berlin.