Preconditions and benefits of digital twin-based business ecosystems in manufacturing

Digital twins have been recognized as a remarkable enabler for the growth of service business in manufacturing. This study focuses on the preconditions and benefits related to developing new ecosystem-based services around digital twins. As the digital twin business ecosystem is very complex and the goal of the research was to gain an in-depth knowledge in this field, the empirical evidence builds on qualitative data gathered from six case companies in the manufacturing sector. The results show that at the individual company level, the emergence of the ecosystems is determined by goal orientation and willingness to share information. The expected benefits are related to effective resource utilization, possibilities for co-learning, and new business creation. At the ecosystem level, forming a digital twin business ecosystem requires technical receptivity and common interests and goals among the members, as well as a strong customer-centric approach. At its best, a digital twin business ecosystem provides inter-organizational value for its members. This study provides new insights into developing new ecosystem-based services related to digital twins, both from the service provider and utilizer viewpoints. Further studies could broaden the implications by testing the relationships between specific preconditions and benefits at the company and ecosystem levels.