From rapid prototyping to home fabrication: How 3D printing is changing business model innovation
From rapid prototyping to home fabrication: How 3D printing is changing business model innovation
There is a growing consensus that 3D printing technologies will be one of the next major technologicalrevolutions. While a lot of work has already been carried out as to what these technologies will bring in termsof product and process innovation, little has been done on their impact on business models and businessmodel innovation. Yet, history has shown that technological revolution without adequate business model evolu-tion is a pitfall for many businesses. In the case of 3D printing, the matter is further complicated by the fact thatadoption of these technologies has occurred in four successive phases (rapid prototyping, rapid tooling, digitalmanufacturing, home fabrication) that correspond to a different level of involvement of 3D printing in theproduction process. This article investigates the effect of each phase on the key business model components.While the impact of rapid prototyping and rapid tooling is found to be limited in extent, direct manufacturingand, even more so, home fabrication have the potential to be highly disruptive. While much more value can becreated, capturing value can become extremely challenging. Hence,finding a suitable business model is http://critical.to/ this respect, this article shows that 3D printing technologies have the potential to change the way businessmodel innovation is carried out, by enabling adaptive business models and by bringing the‘rapid prototyping’paradigm to business model innovation i