DIGITALIZATION IS HEATING UP THE BUSINESS MODEL : A degree project regarding the impact of digitalization on a business model canvas within district heating

Abstract: The purpose of this degree project is to analyze and investigate how digitalization will affect business modeling in the district heating business. The chosen approach to this degree project was an iterative, abductive method, in order to always use a feedback-analysis and to keep the project open for new findings. The interviews were a mix of a structured method and a qualitative approach. With the structured method, the findings from the interviews were similar and regarding the research topic, and the qualitative approach in some open questions led to matters that otherwise would have been unnoticed. The interviews were performed via e-mail, phone and through personal interviews. This degree project concluded that digitalization has an impact on business modeling in district heating. Digitalization will affect some elements in a major way, for example key resources that will be characterized by digitalization. The findings from this work showed that a business model operating in district heating in a time of digitalization should focus on three main parts: economy, environment and easy visualization. An optimization tool should focus on delivering a value that consist of these three, and the remaining elements should together contribute to that value proposition.