Open Access

Lennardt Söhngen, Stefan Kokorski, Regina Schrank, Günther Schuh, Julian Eybl

• As machine manufacturers navigate the shift toward Industry 4.0, the inte-gration of digital products alongside traditional physical goods has become a strategic imperative. However, the rollout of digital products creates the need to develop busi-ness models supporting the monetization of these digital products. This paper aims to derive key characteristics of business models supporting digital products. Through a combination of expert interviews with industry professionals — including product managers, business developers, and sales managers — and a literature review, a framework of business model aspects for digital products is proposed. The categorization is conducted using Gassmann’s four business model dimensions: value proposition, value chain, revenue model, and target customer. The research identifies six distinct types of digital products, ranging from machine bundles to self-adjusting subscrip-tions fulfillment. This differentiation is crucial for the effective monetization of digital products and the maximization of their potential in evolving industrial digitalization.