The Big Promise Of Everything
When you hand over your credit card for a new washing machine or refrigerator, would you pay an extra fee to receive alerts about how well it's working, or if you need to call a service technician? Manufacturers of consumer goods are banking on you saying "yes" to the extra cost, just like enterprises do today for service on hardware investments like jet engines and assembly-line technology. This Everything-as-a-Service (XaaS) business model--one which has helped companies in the B2B space generate continuous revenue from their products--is being eyed by consumer companies hungry for income that lasts beyond the initial product purchase. Through "servitization"--combining products with services--businesses can innovate faster and deepen their relationships with customers by providing more value. That value includes data insights derived from IoT-powered devices--from thermostats to wind turbines.