KaPIL-Karlsruher Platform Innovation Lab: a validation environment to design digital platform business models and test related tools and methods

In the past decade, digital platform business models have gained significant worth as they differ in creating and capturing value compared to traditional linear business processes. Previous research developed the SPEC – Smart Platform Experiment Cycle, a process to validate digital platform business models to ensure their successful implementation. In this context, it is intriguing to investigate whether and how step (1) of SPEC can be expanded by other platform design tools. This study developed a Live-Lab, namely KaPIL – Karlsruher Platform Innovation Lab, to design digital platform business models and test related tools and methods. Applying the Design Research Methodology, the designed Live-Lab is created by implementing ProVIL – Product Development in a Virtual Idea Laboratory combined with the Smart Education Concept and digital platform business knowledge. KaPIL was applied with students from the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with the company STIHL to assess its efficacy, applicability, and validity. KaPIL can be used to design digital platforms and shows that the Platform Canvas, the Platform Business Model Canvas, and the Platform Design Canvas can expand step (1) of SPEC. In future research, more applications of KaPIL are required to validate its robustness and extend it to other digital platform methods and tools. Keywords: digital platform business model, live-lab, design research methodology, innovation process, validation environment