Social Perspectives in Digital Business Models of Railway Enterprises

Abstract

The digital transformation of business models is a process which helps traditional business solutions reach new functionalities through innovative technologies. Digital transformation is now crucial to the development of the rail transport sector. The main rail market entities are railway undertakings, infrastructure managers, entities in charge of maintenance, or certification bodies. Digitalization creates new opportunities to shape the business ecosystem in the rail transport sector. The aim of the research is to identify and indicate key social perspectives related to the development of digital business models functioning in railway enterprises. Technological aspects and relational determinants related to the strong mutual cooperation required between railway undertakings and infrastructure managers have particular significance in this context. In this approach, the digitalization of processes is important. The approach also reveals a significant process of business model socialization, which is conceptualized and operationalized through the evolution of social factors based on digital transformation.