The Role of Digital Technology Vendors

Abstract

This chapter deals exclusively with the hidden champions in digitalization, the Digital Technology Vendors (DTV). They act usually in a triple role, first as digital innovators for new VPC capabilities, second as suppliers for PMTI (Process, Methods, Tools and Information Standards) market solutions and third as partners and technology consultants for industry. The chapter starts by introducing the set-up of Digital Technology Vendors (DTVs) and their innovation pipelines, followed by a discussion of their traditional and upcoming future revenue models. The chapter continues by explaining the integration levels of DTVs into Virtual Product Creation solution development and execution. The third part of this chapter describes the upcoming transformation needs of Digital Technology Vendors and introduces the transformation levels from DTV (Digital Technology Vendors) to DEEP (Digital Engineering Excellence Provider). The fourth part of the chapters offers original viewpoints from six different international DTVs by adressing the following aspects: description of DTV offerings, DTV self-understanding of their roles, DTV vision for the future, DTV explanations of typcial inhibitors of digital capabilities in industry and DTV ways of successful with research and industry.