Purpose: Throughout the world, mobility devices are usually distributed using product-based business models, where a device is provided to a user, and serviced or replaced when the user returns to the clinic with an issue. Moving to a service-based business model can provide continuous and customised support for the user, and provide the clinicians and manufacturers with better data to base their decisions on. This study reviews papers on assistive technology service-based business models and considerations in designing such a model to optimise economic and social value. It then applies the findings to the mobility device space.
Method: A systematic literature search was undertaken in PubMed, Web of Science, and OVID databases to analyse studies that discuss service delivery models used to provide assistive products. Inductive thematic analysis determined the themes, facilitators and barriers associated with providing a service. Findings were applied to mobility device service provision.
Results and conclusion: Themes from the 29 relevant papers were grouped into four categories: Access (affordability/availability/education), Utility (customisability/usability/adaptability), Integrity (quality/sustainability/impact), and Compliance (policy/privacy/security). The most common themes were customisability, affordability, availability, and education. There is a need for service-based delivery models to replace conventional product-based models, and many considerations to optimise their design. No publications discussed the design and implementation of a service-based model for mobility device provision that uses modern sensors, software and other digital technologies to optimise the service. Service-based models that use modern digital technologies are new for the mobility device field, but much can be learnt from other fields.
Keywords: Assistive products; as-a-service; barriers; facilitators; mobility devices; servitisation; systematic search; thematic analysis.
Service-based business models that make use of modern digital technologies are likely to improve ongoing individual rehabilitation, but they are new for the mobility device field and currently lack research and evidence-based practice.The systematic review found that modern digital technologies like sensors, apps, and AI might be useful for providing ongoing support and more personalised rehabilitation for users of assistive products.To provide ongoing support for end-users, a successful design of service-based business model for assistive products should be accessible, both physically and financially, as well as easy to customise and adapt over time.