A CANVAS Based Assessment Model to Evaluate SMEs Readiness for Digital Business Models

This work focuses on developing and implementing an assessment model to evaluate the readiness of small and medium-sized enterprises for digital business models. By virtue of an underlying systematic literature review, a total of 90 publications regarding existing assessment models to evaluate the digital readiness of business models were examined. However, none of these publications presents a suitable and holistic assessment model. This work presents an assessment tool to close this gap in the scientific literature. The assessment model includes the evaluation based on two parameters the representatives need to evaluate: the current score and the need for action. The user is guided through 45 assessment criteria organized according to the business model CANVAS in 9 categories or blocks during the assessment. Besides the numerical representation of the assessment results, the model reveals a visual representation of the results and a list of business model aspects that should be prioritized in reorganizing the currently existing business model. The assessment tool has been tested and validated in an SME machine-producing company. Based on the positive result and feedback, the tool is included in a web-based Industry 4.0 Toolbox to support SMEs and family business in introducing digital business models.