Industrial internet platforms: A conceptual evaluation from a product lifecycle management perspective

Industrial Internet platforms have the ability to access, manage and control product-related data, information and knowledge across all the lifecycle phases (beginning of life, middle of life and end of life). Traditional product lifecycle management/product data management software have many limitations when it comes to solving product lifecycle management challenges, like interoperability for instance. Industrial Internet platforms can provide real-time management of data and information along all the phases of a product's lifecycle. Platform openness in combination with the above-mentioned industrial internet platform characteristics helps solve the product lifecycle management challenges. This article describes the product lifecycle management challenges in detail from the existing literature and presents solutions using industrial internet platform openness and related dimensions as well as sub-dimensions. A wide pool of platforms is narrowed down to specific platforms that can solve the documented product lifecycle management challenges and allow the manufacturing companies to collaborate as well as enhance their business. We also present in detail managerial implications toward long-term and sustainable selection of industrial internet platform.