The Indispensable Role of Software Ecosystem Services

ABSTRACT Software ecosystem services are essential for the sustainability and functionality of software ecosystems, but they lack comprehensive categorization, hindering further study. This study explores the concept of software ecosystem services through a systematic literature review and brief survey. Drawing analogies from natural ecosystems, we define software ecosystem services as the conditions and processes through which software ecosystems create, provide, and sustain innovation and value creation via software. Software ecosystem services are categorized into four primary types: provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services. Our findings highlight the crucial role of services that do not directly add customer value but are essential for the software ecosystem's functionality, such as authentication and authorization services, collaboration and communication platforms, and app stores. By highlighting these vital yet often overlooked services, the research identifies potential sustainability threats for software ecosystems, such as the dominance of a few major players, which mirrors the risks of monocultures in natural ecosystems. This study lays the groundwork for further research aimed at ensuring the long‐term sustainability and resilience of software ecosystems.