Smart Products: Conceptual Review, Synthesis, and Research Directions*

• DOI: 10.1111/jpim.12544
• Publication Date: 2020-07-23T20:21:10Z
• Authors: Stefan Raff; Daniel Wentzel; Nikolaus Obwegeser
• Keywords: Multitude; Conceptual framework

Smart products have received increasing attention from researchers and practitioners alike. One limitation of the existing literature, however, is that term often used as a blanket there no consensus on what smart product actually is. Because different studies rely differing conceptualizations, current body knowledge scattered lacks uniform language conceptual boundaries. Specifically, research has subsumed inherently under one collective term, relied multitude ad hoc criteria to define or conflated with services they render and/or wider ecosystem, in which operate. These developments limit systematic advancement field impede integration concept into related concepts such Internet Things. To address these issues, this article provides an extensive analysis status quo field, goal developing common comprehensive conceptualization products. First, were systematically reviewed across contributing disciplines supplemented bibliometric allowed for deeper understanding within disciplines. This revealed initial set 16 capability‐based are currently applied conceptualize Second, based coding procedure, synthesized organized framework delineating four distinct archetypes digital age: (1) Digital , (2) Connected (3) Responsive, (4) Intelligent . Third, three major themes arise identified possibilities future pointed out. In sum, work contributes literature by improving epistemic object laying ground more cumulative endeavors.