Abstract

Servitization, or service business development in manufacturing companies, has drawn pervasive interests from practice and academia over the past few decades. A comprehensive review of the servitization literature, however, is still missing. In this paper we define the domain of servitization research, assess the contributions and limitations of empirical studies, and make suggestions for future research. First, in order to develop a clear definition of servitization, we identify the driving forces behind the phenomenon, trace the evolution of the literature, and examine the various modes of servitization. Then, we evaluate empirical studies with a framework of four interrelated categories: antecedents, implications, processes, and consequences. Close attention is paid to the literature that sees servitization as a shift of management philosophy, and the literature that regards servitization as a venture into business areas beyond production activities. Finally, as an attempt to advance theory development in servitization research, we provide insights into specific areas that merit further inquiry, draw connections with established theories, and suggest some guidelines for conducting empirical studies with more scientific rigor. Overall, the review makes a contribution towards the accumulation of knowledge in the field of aervitization research.