Supply Networks Going Digital – Causalities of Value Production in Digitalized Systems

New digital technologies are changing the way traditional manufacturing businesses and supply networks operate. The implementation of new digital technological innovations has crucially impacted the interorganizational supply networks. Especially in the fields that are considered more traditional and rigid by nature (e.g. some parts in logistics, machining, energy) have experienced great difficulties in defining the overall change and its consequences to their supply network. This study aims to give light to these issues by illustrating the value causalities of digitalization in different processes in an inter-industrial the supply network. The empirical part of the study relies on analyzing survey data from 101 companies. The study provides an important, yet sparsely addressed viewpoint in supply networks by illustrating the customer value causality in implementing new digital solutions in the supply chain. The findings suggest that increased integration and information exchange in the network interactions between organizations can enable combining of the independent business models into a networked business model. The findings of the study help to understand the nature and dynamics of value in the supply chain and how digitalization improves value production in the supply network.