Towards Next Generation Value Networks

Abstract

We are moving towards a services economy where more and more value in an economy is created through services. A key enabler for such an economy is the transformation of services themselves into tradable goods similar to products. As organizations are focusing on core competences we will see (i) focused organizations will provide more specialized services (service providers), (ii) composition and coordination of services provided by different service providers into value-added services will become important business opportunity (service broker / coordinator), and (iii) organizations will be willing to “buy” more services from service providers and integrate them into their business operations (service consumers). This leads to longer and deeper service value chains consisting of a large number of services. A value chain may consist of services provided by a diversity of service providers, thus resulting in an increased complexity in coordinating services provided by multiple service providers.

The German funded TEXO project runs under the umbrella of the THESEUS research programme and addresses the challenges imposed by next generation value networks. The interdisciplinary TEXO consortium is coordinated by SAP and includes a number of partners having technical, economical and legal competencies. In this talk I will give examples of existing value networks, present the vision of the TEXO project for next generation value networks, present the interdisciplinary approach to address the technical, economical and legal challenges, and illustrate scenarios in which the TEXO solution adds value.