Towards Sustainability: PSS, Digital Technology and Value Co-creation

This paper is a conceptual paper based on the method of literature review and case study (second-hand data). The paper has three aims. First, it tries to discuss the correlations between PSS and other terms that contribute to PSS development in the last four decades. Following the literature review, a chronicle chart of PSS development is compiled to link PSS with these main terms, environmental sustainability and digital technology. Second, it intends to explore the impact of digital technology on PSS and sustainability. Third, it aims to develop a conceptual framework, in which all PSS actors including suppliers, integrators, customers, end users and the society co-create value for a sustainable economy facilitated by digital technology. There are two main contributions of this paper. One is that it is the first time to compile such a PSS chronicle chart to show the correlation. The other is that the framework embraces the idea of oneness between product and services, functional fulfillment and social needs, and economic growth and sustainability that call for value co-creation. The framework can serve as an education model and practice guide for academia, industry practitioners, policy makers and non-government organizations (NGOs).