Reflections for Innovation Management from the Design of a Service Platform Offer in Rail Freight

This paper outlines a study on innovation management within the rail freight industry, explicitly concerning digital service platforms and adopting digital automatic coupling technology, specifically focusing on Voith’s role in this transition. Voith seeks to shift from a traditional product-centric mechanical engineering firm to a digitally connected, service-oriented entity, capitalizing on the potential of digital automatic coupling. The research delves into the rail freight ecosystem, dissecting the motivations and roles of various actors while striving to tailor value propositions to each participant by identifying new digital services facilitated by this technology. The overarching goal is to drive efficiency, productivity, and innovation in the freight industry while proposing an alternative approach to the conventional stage-gate process for developing digital service systems. This research introduces a structured service development process comprising four phases-explore, validate, develop, and scale-emphasizing collaboration, iterative engagement with stakeholders, and agility to navigate the dynamic landscape of service innovation. The findings have significant implications for industries undergoing digital transformations, emphasizing the shift from product-centric to service-oriented models in innovation management.