A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Platform-Based Business Models: Insights from an Emerging Ai-Enabled Smart Building Ecosystem
Authors: Yueqiang Xu, Petri Ahokangas, Marja Turunen, Matti Mäntymäki, Jukka Heikkilä
Publisher: MPDE
Publication year: 2019
Journal: Electronics
Article number: 1150
Volume: 8
Issue: 10
First page : 1150
Last page: 1170
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics8101150
Web address : https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/8/10/1150
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/42351104
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging to become a highly potential enabling technology for smart buildings. However, the development of AI applications quite often follows a traditional, closed, and product-oriented approach. This study aims to introduce the platform model and ecosystem thinking to the development of AI-enabled smart buildings. The study identifies the needs for a user-oriented digital service ecosystem and business model in the smart building sector in Finland, which aimed to facilitate the launch of scalable businesses and an experiential and dynamic business ecosystem. A multi-method, interpretive case study was applied in the focal ecosystem, with the leading real estate and facility management operators in Northern Europe as part of a Finnish national innovation project. Our results propose an extended comprehensive framework of the 5C ecosystemic model (Connection, Content, Computation, Context, and Commerce) and the possible paths of ecosystem players in the domain of smart building and smart built environment, both theoretically and empirically. The platform-oriented business models are missing, yet desired, by the ecosystem actors. The value chain and ecosystem platforms imply the quest for new (platform) models. Finally, our research discusses the need for new value-chain- and ecosystem-oriented AI development and big data platforms in the future.Keywords: smart building; artificial intelligence; platform; ecosystem; business model
Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging to become a highly potential enabling technology for smart buildings. However, the development of AI applications quite often follows a traditional, closed, and product-oriented approach. This study aims to introduce the platform model and ecosystem thinking to the development of AI-enabled smart buildings. The study identifies the needs for a user-oriented digital service ecosystem and business model in the smart building sector in Finland, which aimed to facilitate the launch of scalable businesses and an experiential and dynamic business ecosystem. A multi-method, interpretive case study was applied in the focal ecosystem, with the leading real estate and facility management operators in Northern Europe as part of a Finnish national innovation project. Our results propose an extended comprehensive framework of the 5C ecosystemic model (Connection, Content, Computation, Context, and Commerce) and the possible paths of ecosystem players in the domain of smart building and smart built environment, both theoretically and empirically. The platform-oriented business models are missing, yet desired, by the ecosystem actors. The value chain and ecosystem platforms imply the quest for new (platform) models. Finally, our research discusses the need for new value-chain- and ecosystem-oriented AI development and big data platforms in the future.Keywords: smart building; artificial intelligence; platform; ecosystem; business model
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |  |
UTU Research Portal