A data-driven modular approach to the digitalization of maintenance services: the case study of a Carbon Footprint calculator for Ricoh Europe

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have an increasing need for the digitalization of their maintenance services, but they are also exposed to a growing pressure on decreasing their environmental performances. In this contribution we present the case of the development of a data-driven modular Carbon Footprint calculator for maintenance services, which involved multiple functions within the office printing business line of Ricoh Europe. A modular approach was followed, which included 5 steps: i) identification of both remote and on-site maintenance services; ii) definition of exemplary customer scenarios; iii) quantification of the greenhouse gases emission factors, iv) identification of key assumptions, v) creation of the maintenance service Carbon Footprint calculator. In total, more than 30 scenarios were developed in relation to the two categories “consumables management” and “fault and incidents management”. These scenarios could be compared by the developed tool, leading to a decrease of the potential environmental impacts on climate change ranging from 47% to 85% for the “Consumables Management” category and up to 97% for the “Fault and Incident Management” category, respectively. The digitalization of maintenance services proved to lead to a reduction of potential impacts on climate change and is therefore recommended as a business practice in the sector.