Designing a Smart Product-Service System to support digital crowdfunding platforms

This paper aims to develop a Smart Product-Service System (SPSS) model focused on a crowdfunding platform. This goal was achieved through a systematic literature review of PSS and PSS design in industry, a crowdfunding market analysis, and interactive design workshops conducted at a conference on alternative financing attended by representatives from businesses, investors, research institutions, and government agencies. These activities allowed the authors to gain valuable insights, which were implemented in the Smart Service Canvas—an SPSS analysis and design tool. The result is an SPSS that encompasses tangible (IT infrastructure), intangible (crowdfunding support services), and digital (platform and mobile application) elements. This solution enables the integration of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and High-Performance Computing (HPC) to improve the efficiency, transparency, and security of crowdfunding campaigns (CFC) and related activities. The contribution of this work is the development of a novel approach that combines SPSS with crowdfunding. This represents a crucial step towards automating and digitizing financing processes in the age of digital transformation. Furthermore, the research approach to designing the new SPSS presented in this article emphasizes the combination of diverse perspectives on crowdfunding with practical and theoretical knowledge in this field. Interactive design workshops offer a qualitative research approach to design, positively influencing and enhancing training methods that engage participants.