Smart Service Summit in Munich: new maturity model launched

Munich, 04 April 2023

Experts from science and industry met in Munich on 30 March to discuss the transformation of traditional manufacturers into smart service providers. What is clear from the summit is that Smart Services hold great potential – and the arrival of the acatech Maturity Index Smart Services gives companies the tools to determine their own level of maturity and to drive their transformation on. 

The combination of intelligent products and data-based services gives rise to Smart Services – and with that a new set of possibilities for manufacturing companies to offer services and products that are even more customer-oriented. To discuss how companies transform into Smart Service providers and what the future of value creation might look like for these companies, some 40 experts met at the Smart Service Summit 2023 in Munich on 30 March.

acatech Executive Board member Frank Riemensperger pointed out in his introduction that human-centric digitalisation is a huge opportunity for Europe and Germany as places to do business. Human-centric Smart Services offer potential for greater digital sustainability, he opined. acatech member Günther Schuh from RWTH Aachen expanded on this perspective in his keynote speech. He explained that circular Smart Services create incentives for providers and customers to use resources in the best possible way.

Then came the highlight of the event with the unveiling of the acatech Maturity Index Smart Services. The maturity model, developed by a project team under acatech member Roman Dumitrescu, shows companies how to transform into a Smart Service provider. The study conducted in parallel will be available in June. In addition, the project team has created a free Quick Assessment Tool. Companies can use it to evaluate their progress in establishing a Smart Service business. The evaluation only takes a few minutes and assesses six different structural forces (e.g. Organisation & Management). The tool also makes recommendations for how better to integrate Smart Services into the existing product and/or service portfolio.

It became clear in the course of the closing panel discussion, moderated by  Anna Frey (acatech), that many traditional manufacturers are still finding it hard to establish a Smart Service business. Two of the main challenges are defining a customer-oriented value proposition and switching from a product-based to a service-based business model. The acatech Maturity Index Smart Services is now available to assist companies in overcoming these challenges.