Abstract for: Services as an Alternative Path to Sustainability

Transition to a service oriented business model makes sense in economic terms; it allows the company to enjoy a triple beneficial effect: a higher profit margin, coming from more transactions, with less uncertainty. In this study we examine whether the transition from a product manufacturing business model to a service-oriented one can be coupled with improved performance concurrently in all sustainability aspects: financial, environmental and social. The interaction between the three components of sustainability can play decisive role in the final viability of the new approach, as they can moderate or intensify the expected financial flows. Identifying the nature of the interactions allows to transform the dangers of a holistic sustainability approach to an attractive business opportunity.