With the ever-pressing threat of a climate crisis, the EU has decided to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. This in turn will require the road transportation sector to make a transition from fossil dependent to fossil-free vehicles. Sweden has the objective to become net positive in GHG emissions by 2045. To be on track to reach this goal, the GHG emissions of the domestic transport sector must be reduced by 70% by 2030 compared to 2017’s levels. Electric vehicles (EVs) are leading the way in the transition to fossil-free vehicles. To further springboard the diffusion of EVs, the development of a fully functional EV charging network is required. In order to assist the transition to electric vehicles, this report aims to analyse the development of the public fast charging infrastructure in Norrland and Svealand from now to 2030. Additionally, identify geographical areas where an expansion of the public EV fast charging network is needed to cover the future demand of electrified passenger cars. However, there are two major hurdles in building a fast charging network with full coverage. The first is the high monthly costs of providing fast charging which needs a certain utilisation rate to cover the expenses. The second hurdle is the difficulty to receive a grid connection, in certain areas, at the required power output to be able to provide EV fast charging. Therefore, a semi-mobile battery solution used for EV charging is analysed through a business model perspective. The semi-mobile battery solution requires a lower grid connection hence it could be possible to implement public EV fast charging at a lower monthly cost and to develop the public EV fast charging network in otherwise technical difficult areas. A mixed-method approach including both quantitative and qualitative elements was utilised. Primarily, a study of 10 interviews with respondents from a range of different fields connected to EV charging and batteries was performed in combination with a literature review and document analysis. In addition, existing traffic flow data and data of fast-charging infrastructure, were converged via ArcGIS Pro to illustrate the coverage of the fast charging network. Furthermore, projections of the development of the EV fleet were used in order to forecast the flow of EVs in Norrland and Svealand by 2030. Based on these forecasts the future demand of public EV fast charging was analysed. Resulting in a map showing areas of interest, where there will arise a need to expand the charging infrastructure. These areas are Umeå to Piteå, Lycksele with proximity, Bollnäs to Ljusdal and Leksand to Älvdalen. Additionally, the exiting public fast charging infrastructure was identified to require expansion of existing charging stations due to the increased traffic flow of EVs by 2030. The upgrade of existing stations was further assessed to be required to meet both a permanent and seasonal demand, hence making semi-mobile battery supported charging an attractive solution. Furthermore, the design of a semi-mobile battery supporting public EV fast charging was identified to be influenced by situational aspects and that the location-specific conditions were vital in determining profitability for a specific case. For example, the power output in the EV chargers should be adapted to the specifications of the geographical location and the customer segment identified. The energy storage capacity of the battery should also be designed based on the conditions of the location. A connection to the electricity grid exceeding 0.1 MW was also important since it enables the semi-mobile battery to provide additional services to the electricity grid and hence increase revenue streams. Furthermore, FCR-D Up was determined to be the most suitable complementary service to integrate into the system. One major challenge for the semi-mobile battery, based on a business model perspective, is the high costs for semi-mobile batteries and EV fast charging station hardware. However, these costs are projected to continue to decrease and consequently, improve the opportunities for semi-mobile lithium-ion batteries.

The Covid-19 pandemic has made an impact on the tourism industry which has caused a myriad of businesses to change in order to combat the crisis. The purpose of this study was to investigate companies’ decision-making processes behind innovation of business models to create value during Covid-19 pandemic. It is also to understand requirements for business success. The study focused on companies within the tourism industry operating in Gothenburg. The study was conducted with a qualitative research method through interviewing four companies in the tourism industry representing accommodation, activities, transport, and dining. From the study’s findings, business model innovation, or innovation in general, is critically important when the company has been affected by a crisis. The study showed that it helps a company to gain benefits such as insight about its capabilities, vulnerabilities, customers, and competence in order to combat a crisis and get competitive advantage. Moreover, the study also found a connection between businesses using business model innovation to create value for customers when the business is pull-oriented and focuses on assisting in the value co-creation process. It was evident that the Covid-19 pandemic had a huge impact on decision-making which resulted in additional business opportunities. Lastly, the study contributed to a new finding in which business success was associated with forced motivation and motivational force.

In the last decades, research on technology and applications for improvementsof people’s wellbeing has been increasingly important. There is an extensive amount of research on internationalization of firms, while research on life science businesses, especially startups, in a Swedish context is lacking. As seen from previous literature on the life science industry, firms are dependent on networks and long R&D processes funded by financial actors. Therefore, the aim of this research was to explore how Swedish life science businesses operate in their early phases in order to internationalize. The theoretical framework used in this research is based on the relevance of identified theories in creating a proper business model, choosing the right internationalization strategies and entry modes to the foreign markets, in addition to acquiring the relevant networks. This research used an exploratory research approach to utilize previous literature in combination with case studies to explore further on the internationalization phenomenon in the context of the studied cases. Furthermore, an abductive approach was utilized in the research from the correlations between existing theories and gathered findings, resulting in modifications in the methodology and in existing theories. The study conducted semi-structured interviews with five different Swedish companies in the life science industry. The interviewees were all in high leading positions in the studied companies. The authors of the research conducted a thematic analysis of the data to identify common patterns and themes to guide the analysis. Findings of the research showcase that Swedish life science firms are dependent on creating unique and efficient products and services, targeting markets with suitable industry, research and regulatory landscape, and acquiring access to business, regulatory and scientific networks in order to internationalize early on. This research looks at the industry of life science from a Swedish startup firm context, resulting in contributions towards the internationalization processes of firms.

For the last decades there has been a steady shift from cash to card payments and with increased smart phone penetration, payments have started to move into our mobile devices. This thesis studies how mobile payments can change the traditional payment landscape. The purpose is to assess the disruptiveness of the Swedish mobile payment market and describe key stakeholder strategies for managing a potentially disruptive change. The study has been designed as a combination of a theoretical and an empirical study where the theoretical part consisted of a literature review that hinted on a gap in terms of available literature on the disruptiveness of different mobile payment business models. Main theoretical concepts used are; disruptive innovation, business model innovation, and theories on competing solutions and dominant design. The subsequent empirical study consisted of a number of qualitative, indepth interviews with key stakeholder from the Swedish mobile payment industry: five mobile payment providers, one major merchant, and the Swedish Trade Federation. This thesis shows that two fundamentally different types of mobile C2B payments are emerging; mobile payment solutions based on existing card payment schemes and mobile payment solutions that build on new and independent payment schemes. The independent model has been defined as the most powerful disruptive force in relation to the existing market for card payments, mainly because it offers opportunities for innovative players to build simple new payment schemes that bypass traditional card payment players and therefore can be made far more cost efficient. However, many established card payment players are inhibiting this development since they are afraid it could seriously harm their existing card business.

In order for companies to stay competitive on their market today, they need to have a rigid innovation strategy including product development. Customers demands more of their suppliers when it comes to product development, which means that the supplier needs to start focusing on collaborative product development with their customers. Collaborative product development is defined as: "An activity where the supplier and customer works jointly together, sharing their resources and expertise, to improve an existing or develop a new product." in this thesis. To successfully participate in the customers' product development, the supplier needs to have a business model as a guideline throughout the project. This business model needs to focus on the area that builds up trust with the customers since that is the single most important factor in order to succeed. This thesis aims to develop such a model and therefore it focuses on three research questions; How do a supplier develop trust in a collaborative product development project? What specific knowledge and expertise is necessary for a supplier to have in order to succeed with a collaborative product development project? What do a customer demand from a collaborative product development project? The thesis focuses on similarities between the interviewed companies on how they carry out their collaborative product development. This empirical data is also analyzed with the help of the theory using a triangulation method. The result from this analysis and the data gathering is a formulation of a business model, which follows a chronological order on how to proceed in a collaborative project. Following these steps and using the model, can build up a trustworthy relationship that will last throughout projects to come.

Background Given the physical nature of the product, the automotive industry remains as one of the few industries yet to be digitized. And the transformation is happening mostly through the innovation of the Business Model. The industry is seeing a threat of new entrants from outside of the traditional automotive industry. Moreover, established players are considering new business models to serve the changing market. This is where the balance of exploiting current business models and exploring new ones comes into play. Purpose The purpose of our study is to present a framework showing how an ambidextrous approach helps in the challenge of innovating a business model or introduce new business models in the automotive industry. Moreover, we will provide insights into the challenges the business model innovation provides to this industry and propose potential implications for managers. The research will be based on the theory of business model innovation, ambidextrous organizations, and ambidexterity in business models. Method To achieve the purpose of the study, semi-structured interviews were conducted, followed by a grounded analysis. For this study, a literature review was used that generated a theoretical framework. Conclusion Our results and analysis of the interviews are presented in a framework that is based on three identified concepts: Customer and Market, Structures within the Organization, and Ability to Innovate. These three are interrelated in our framework and help us answer the initial research question proposed.

Background: Sustainability is becoming increasingly important from a consumer’s perspective when it comes to their preferences. Simultaneously, mass-market apparel brands are struggling to meet the demand for sustainable clothing and textile products. The industry is in dire need for sustainable development as it is responsible for 8-10% of world’s greenhouse gas emissions and is the cause of 20% of the world’s wastewater. Therefore, it is vital to explore what the barriers are that hinders the development of sustainable business models and the consequences of these barriers.  Purpose: This thesis aims to explore which barriers and subsequent consequences Swedish clothing & textile organizations face when developing a sustainable business model. Method: This study follows the interpretivist approach with inductively inspired reasoning. Qualitative semi-structured interviews are conducted on three different cases, which are analysed and compared using the general analytical procedure. The study used Snoek’s (2017) theoretical framework of internal and external barriers to explore the barriers in the Swedish clothing & textile industry. Findings: This thesis contributes with comprehensive knowledge about barriers and their consequences in the Swedish clothing & textile industry with the help of Snoek’s (2017) framework of internal and external barriers. A total of 24 barriers were classified under four barrier categories; “Costly business model”, “Lack of awareness & low willingness to pay”, “Lack of transparency”, and “Misalignment between policy & regulation within the C&T industry”. Nine were new out of these 24 barriers. A theoretical framework is brought forward illustrating the interconnectivity between “consumer awareness”, “demand and willingness to pay for sustainable products”, “companies match the demand”, and after that “, creating demand for sustainable products”. This study’s findings extend the knowledge about the Swedish clothing & textile industry for organizations that wish to develop sustainability into their business model.

Die Energiewirtschaft befindet sich im Wandel: der Einfluss von globalen Trends und veränderten Kundenbedürfnissen bei gleichzeitiger Gewährleistung hoher Versorgungssicherheit setzt Energieversorgungsunternehmen (EVU) unter enormen Druck. Weiterhin verstärkt der Einstieg marktfremder Unternehmen den Wettbewerb und der Übergang zu dezentralen regenerativen Energien verändert das Strommarktdesign. Beides fordert die konservativen Strukturen der Energieversorger heraus. Das bemerken die meisten EVUs heute bereits an den sinkenden Margen im Stromvertrieb, aber auch am Erfolg neuer technologischer Möglichkeiten, die ihr Geschäftsmodell bedrohen. Der Fortgang dieser Tendenzen, sowie die veränderte Umgebung in 2030 bestätigen: Wie jedes Unternehmen müssen sich auch EVUs an die externen Rahmenbedingungen anpassen, insofern sie in dieser Umgebung langfristig überleben wollen. Es stellt sich die Frage, ob und wie EVUs sich perspektivisch transformieren müssen, so dass ihrem Angebot auch immer ausreichend kundenseitige Nachfrage gegenübersteht.:Abkürzungsverzeichnis Abbildungsverzeichnis Tabellenverzeichnis 1. EINLEITUNG 1.1 Motivation und Zielstellung 1.2 Aufbau der Arbeit 2. THEORIE UND DEFINITION DER GRUNDBEGRIFFE 2.1 Die Energiewirtschaft und Energieversorgungsunternehmen 2.2 Begriffsdefinition Digitalisierung und Innovation 2.2.1 Digitalisierung 2.2.2 Innovation 2.2.3 Business Model Canvas 2.3 Der Transformationsdruck auf Energieversorger 2.3.1 Rechtliche Einflüsse 2.3.2 Technische Einflüsse 2.3.3 Wirtschaftliche Einflüsse 2.4 Zusammenfassung 3. DER TRANSFORMATIONSDRUCK AUF ENERGIEVERSORGER 3.1 Entwicklung der Thesen 3.1.1 Thesen aus Kundensicht 3.1.2 Thesen zur Selbstsicht der Energieversorgungsunternehmen 3.1.3 Thesen zum Verhalten des Gesetzgebers 3.1.4 Thesen zur Beschreibung einiger Treiber der Veränderungen 2030 3.1.5 Thesen zur Situation der Energieversorgungsunternehmen in 2030 3.2 Überprüfung der Thesen durch Experteninterviews 3.2.1 Methodik, Vorgehensweise und Befragte 3.2.2 Auswertung 3.2.3 Mögliche Szenarien für die Energiewirtschaft 2030 3.3 Ergebnisse der Experteninterviews 3.3.1 Themenkomplex 1 – Das Kundenverhalten 3.3.2 Themenkomplex 2 – Die Selbstsicht der EVUs 3.3.3 Themenkomplex 3 – Das Verhalten des Gesetzgebers 3.3.4 Themenkomplex 4 – Die Treiber der Veränderungen 3.3.5 Themenkomplex 5 – EVUs 2030 3.4 Schlussfolgerung aus der Befragung 4. MODELLENTWICKLUNG „VIRTUELLES EVU“ 4.1 Vision, Mission und Strategie 4.2 Aufbau und Organisation 4.3 Wertschöpfungskette 4.4 Kunden und Partnerschaften 4.5 Business Model Canvas 5. DIE ENTWICKLUNGEN IN DER TELEKOMMUNIKATIONSBRANCHE 5.1 Wertschöpfung in der Telekommunikation 5.2 Veränderungen in der Telekommunikation 5.3 Schlussfolgerung für die Energiewirtschaft 6. FAZIT DER BETRACHTUNGEN 6.1 Mögliche Vorbehalte und Fehleranalyse 6.2 Verwendung des Modells „Virtuelles EVU 2030“ 6.3Weiterer Forschungsbedarf und Ausblick LITERATURVERZEICHNIS ANHANG

Technology is transforming industries, challenging traditional marketing channels, and providing digital avenues for dynamic growth. The popularity of digital platforms has disrupted traditional distribution channels, increased reach of social networks, and changed the way people interact. This research examines how advanced technology is enabling direct sellers to create and maintain relationships. It investigates the multidimensional aspect of technology use and advances the proposition that it acts as a strategic success factor for customer relationship performance specifically within the peer-guided marketplace of direct selling. Using a survey of 114 direct sellers, findings suggest that, in general, technology use does enhance direct sellers' ability to create and maintain consumer relationships, especially among less-experienced salespeople.

GreenBin propone un modelo de negocio innovador en el Perú, específicamente en Lima metropolitana, el cual consiste en la obtención de un beneficio a ser empleado en el sistema de transporte como resultado de la simple acción de reciclar plástico. Este proyecto nace como consecuencia de haber observado el deficiente sistema de reciclaje en la ciudad, la falta de aprovechamiento del mercado del reciclaje y la escasa cultura de reciclaje en la comunidad. En el desarrollo existen dos actores principales, el cliente proveedor y el cliente empresarial. La característica principal de GreenBin es que busca facilitar el proceso de obtener el plástico mediante el depósito de los ciudadanos en las máquinas recolectoras y venderlo formalmente a una empresa recicladora que se encargue de la logística de traslado y tratamiento. La necesidad identificada de muchas empresas es que la demanda de plástico reciclado no logra ser satisfecha, a pesar de encontrarse mucho material, el mercado informal es muy grande en el reciclaje. El planeamiento estratégico ofrece una visualización del entorno en donde se desarrollará el proyecto. La investigación de mercado brinda una comprensión del usuario y su disposición frente a una nueva propuesta en reciclaje. El plan de marketing plantea las estrategias más acertadas para el target, el plan de operaciones establece distintos procesos y tiempos, la estructura de recursos humanos consolida el régimen de trabajo y las evaluaciones. Finalmente, el análisis económico-financiero muestra la viabilidad del proyecto en una proyección de 5 años. / GreenBin is an innovative business model proposal in Peru, specifically in Lima, it consists in obtaining a profit to be used in the transport system because of a simple action such as recycling plastic. The origin of this project comes from the observation of a deficient recycling system in the city, the lack of exploitation of the recycling market and the shortage of recycling culture in the community. There are two main roles that take part in the development of this project, the supplier customer, and the corporate customer. The main characteristic of GreenBin is that it looks for facilitate the processing of waste by obtaining the plastic through the citizens deposits on the recycling machines and selling it through a formal transaction to recycling corporations and therefore takes the responsibility of logistics and treatment process. The primary need identified of many corporations is that they cannot manage to fulfill the recycled plastic demand, even though there is plenty material, the informal recycling sector is bigger. Strategic planning offers a complete visualization of the environment in which the project is going to develop. The market research focuses on understanding the consumer and its disposition towards a brand new recycling proposal. The marketing plan outlines the most accurate strategies for the business’s target, the operational plan set up differents process and timelines, the structure of Human resources department consolidates the work plan and perfomance review. Finally, the economic and financial analysis displays the business viability in a 5 years projection. / Trabajo de investigación