Servitization is Leading Manufacturing’s Advance into new Business Models
How tech-driven coupling of products and services is creating disruption and elevating profitsNew Revenue Streams Rising
For manufacturing leaders evaluating how to launch a servitization capability, space elevators provide a surprisingly useful object lesson.
Servitization, or digitally-driven service management, involves the creation of new digital services – enabled by cutting-edge analytics, embedded sensors, machine-to-machine (M2M) communications and related forms of advanced technology – that are bundled with products. These new manufacturing models, which require a relationship-based sales approach, have helped firms produce entirely new revenue streams, slash costs, lift customer relationships to new levels and carve out sharp advantages over competitors. In some cases, servitization programs have evolved into entirely new companies.
Like the carbon nanotube cables that leading scientists are now trying to send tens of thousands of miles into geostationary orbit, servitization programs involve numerous interrelated enabling components that must be understood, evaluated and orchestrated into a smoothly-running operating system. For most original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), the development of servitization capabilities also requires a major mindset shift from selling products to selling outcomes.
Servitization Models Driving Growth
The concept of servitization – the coupling of service offerings with products – emerged decades ago. Rolls-Royce’s pioneering “power by the hour” approach to support business jet engines in the 1960s marks an early servitization milestone. What is new, however, is how leading manufacturers now leverage digital technology advancements to deploy servitization models that drive significant growth.
Beyond those high-profile examples of servitization exist examples within nearly every manufacturing segment:

Aerospace manufacturers using predictive maintenance for key flight components.

Construction firms leveraging machine-to-machine technologies within offerings that optimize the timing and execution of construction plans.

Energy companies developing managed asset maintenance programs based on massive amounts of usage and environmental data, and much more.

Chemicals companies deploying consumption-driven replenishment and supply-planning.
It’s complex work, but then so is building a space elevator, which some leading astronautics experts believe will start ferrying equipment into orbit – for as much as 100X less the cost than doing so via rocket-powered crafts – by 2035. The key to planning this type of endeavor is to deconstruct the project into smaller challenges, identify all of the enabling components and key challenges, and recognize that a handful of key considerations are crucial to creating an effective strategy. Scientists have already homed in on three pivotal aspects of getting a space elevator aloft: the material needed to build a cable that will be 100 million times longer than it is wide (carbon nanotubes with crystal graphene as a backup); the counterweight (repurposing orbiting space junk is a strong possibility); and power (solar energy enhanced by laser technology).
A viable space elevator program also must extend beyond engineering matters to address less tangible, yet still crucial, drivers of success, such as the political cooperation required to sustain a sweeping, multilateral effort.
Consider a Pragmatic Approach
A similarly practical approach has governed successful servitization planning efforts completed by Rolls-Royce, Alstom, Xerox and Caterpillar among others. While the allure of advanced technologies and revenue increases are seductive, manufacturing leaders should undertake a distinctly pragmatic approach. They should also strive to extinguish commonly held misperceptions about this growing trend while focusing on servitization realities.
This report examines different models of servitization, identifying the enabling components and key challenges, and sharing considerations that have proven useful in developing strategies for successful servitization programs. In our experience, identifying the servitization opportunity and setting a strategy can be completed in the same 12-15-week timeframe that other major strategy-setting activities typically require.
Download and read our entire report below to learn more and begin planning your journey forward.

Shanton Wilcox
Partner, Manufacturing Practice (U.S.)
Shanton is a U.S-based partner focusing on applying advanced operations capabilities to manufacturing and service organizations to integrate and streamline value chain operations. He brings a strong record of success with a deep set of experiences across several industries, including aerospace and defense, automotive, high tech and consumer goods. Shanton joined Infosys Consulting in 2016 after prior leadership roles at Deloitte, Ernst & Young and Capgemini Consulting, where he was the North American lead for their digital manufacturing practice.
He is a frequent publisher and conference speaker, and has been featured in industry journals like SupplyChainBrain, Logistics Management and CSCMP’s Supply Chain Quarterly. He is also the lead contributor to the Infosys Consulting co-lead report, State of Logistics Outsourcing study, which is an annual report on the logistics industry.

Rafi Billurcu
Partner, Manufacturing Practice (Europe)
Rafi Billurcu has been with the organization for over 11 years and leads our manufacturing practice in the UK and Nordics. He is responsible for some of our top accounts in the region, including leading brands KONE, Volvo, Honda and SKF. Rafi has over 22 years of experience in the consulting industry, having held various leadership roles at PwC,
IBM and HCL.
Rafi is a frequent contributor to our firm’s digital platforms and is regularly featured in top industry publications. He is also a sought-after speaker at industry and client events.