Digital service orientation: unlocking servitization in service operations and service sales

Purpose: Manufacturers increasingly harness digital technologies in their servitization efforts. However, the research has mainly focused on higher-level aspects of servitization, often overlooking the role of organizational routines at the firm-customer interface. This especially concerns two key customer-facing functions, service operations and service sales. This study explores how digital service orientation can be induced within these units’ organizational routines. 
Design/methodology/approach: Survey data from 534 respondents (270 in service operations and 264 in service sales) from a market-leading manufacturing corporation implementing a digital service strategy were analyzed with a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). 
Findings: The analysis uncovers alternative configurations of routine elements that induce digital service orientation in customer-facing units. These configurations combine four core routine elements: technology foresight, adaptability, agility, and rule-bending. Notably, distinct cross-functional patterns—assertive, responsive, and nimble—emerge across service operations and sales. 
Practical implications: For managers, the cross-functional patterns offer a useful tool for inducing digital service orientation across customer-facing functions. 
Originality/value: This exploratory study advances servitization research by identifying cross-functional patterns that induce digital service orientation. The findings reveal a surprising degree of homogeneity between service operations and sales, with greater alignment than previously assumed. This study also highlights the role of rule-bending in managing the often-overlooked tensions inherent in digital service strategies. Additionally, it points to a more limited role of customer focus, particularly in the context of intermediate services.