Research on the configuration path of manufacturing enterprises' digital servitization transformation

Driven by constant development of emerging technologies, the convergence of digitalization and servitization has become an essential driver for transformation and high-quality development in manufacturing enterprises. This study leverages the TOE (Technology, Organization, and Environment) framework to construct an integrated model for the digital servitization strategic orientation of manufacturing firms, considering technological, organizational, and environmental perspectives. Employing the fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fs-QCA) method, the research conducts a configurational analysis on primary survey data collected from 187 manufacturing enterprises. Key findings reveal that: (1) Digital servitization transformation is not solely driven by a single factor; rather, it emerges from the synergistic interplay of five internal and external conditions: application of digital technologies, digital orientation, heterogeneity of senior management team, government support, and customer demand uncertainty. (2) Three distinct driving configurations facilitate digital servitization transformation: "industry-leadership", "digital leadership", and "internal optimization". Notably, digital orientation is a necessary element across all pathways, underlining its critical role in the transformation process. By adopting a configurational perspective to understand the interaction between various factors influencing digital servitization transformation, this study empowers manufacturing enterprises to: (a) recognize the combined effects of different configuration sets, (b) proactively adapt to external environmental shifts, and (c) focus on aligning digital technologies with their organizational structures. These insights ultimately contribute to the effective promotion of digital servitization transformation.