8.03 End to end procedures for strategic data-driven management and development of sustainable product-services that anticipate customer needs

REFERENCE SPOKE
OTHER SPOKES
PROJECT LEADER
Luigi Salmaso
END DATE
Dicembre 2025
PROPOSER
Università degli Studi di Padova
PARTNERS

Università degli Studi di Brescia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Politecnico di Bari, Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna, Stazione Sperimentale per l’Industria delle Pelli e delle Materie Concianti S.R.L.  

8.03 End to end procedures for strategic data-driven management and development of sustainable product-services that anticipate customer needs

Within the scope of this project, a comprehensive analysis of literature on sustainable product design in the context of “Made in Italy” will be conducted. The primary objective is to derive insights into drivers that significantly impact sustainable product design, with a keen focus on understanding how customers perceive and interact with such products. This literature review will serve as the foundation for developing informed and data-driven procedures.

In the pursuit of a nuanced understanding of customer perceptions, the project employs, in addition to common multivariate statistical techniques applied to traditional survey data, sophisticated Natural Language Processing techniques, including semantic analysis and sentiment analysis. These techniques will be applied to analyse product reviews and other textual data, aiming to extract relevant insights into the factors shaping sustainable product design from a consumer perspective. This involves also identifying evolving trends or shifts in perceptions over time.

To gather diverse and extensive datasets, the project embraces web scraping as a pivotal tool, leveraging information from product reviews, social media, and various online platforms. An automated scraping tool will be meticulously crafted, underscoring the project’s commitment to efficiency and precision in data collection.

The project’s commitment to a dynamic perspective on sustainable product design is further underscored by the incorporation of time information into textual data analysis. Recognizing the temporal evolution of sentiments and perceptions is indispensable for companies seeking to align themselves with ever-changing consumer preferences. By incorporating temporal elements into the analysis, the project aims to offer a dynamic and up-to-date perspective on sustainable product design trends.

The results of the literature review, semantic analysis, sentiment analysis, and web scraping will converge into development of guidelines for sustainable product development. These guidelines will encapsulate the identified drivers, customer perceptions, and evolving trends. Importantly, the project doesn’t stop at the theoretical level but it takes a pragmatic approach by testing these guidelines on new products with practical laboratory tests. Virtual reality and perception sensor tools will be employed to simulate real-world scenarios, allowing for a meticulous assessment of how customers interact with and perceive sustainable products.

By adopting a holistic strategy that combines literature insights, advanced textual analysis techniques, real-world data and innovative testing approach the project aims to contribute to the development of procedures that are not only theoretically robust but also practically viable and effective in the dynamic landscape of sustainable product development within the “Made in Italy” context.

RISULTATI ATTESI
The anticipated outcomes of the project on strategic data-driven management and sustainable product development within the “Made in Italy” context offer significant advantages from a business perspective.
Market Differentiation and Competitive Advantage:
The project’s insights into sustainable product design enable businesses to differentiate their offerings, gaining a competitive advantage by aligning products with evolving sustainability trends and meeting specific customer preferences.
Customer-Centric Product Development:
Advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, including sentiment analysis, provide a deep understanding of customer perceptions of sustainable products, overcoming some limitations of techniques conventionally adopted in this field. This customer-centric approach allows businesses to tailor product development strategies, enhancing overall satisfaction and loyalty.
Proactive Adaptation to Trends:
Incorporating temporal elements in data analysis ensures businesses stay ahead by identifying and adapting to evolving trends in real time. This proactive approach enables companies to respond quickly to changes in consumer preferences and stay relevant in a dynamic market.
Efficient Resource Allocation:
The automated web scraping tool emphasizes efficiency in data collection, enabling businesses to optimize resource allocation by focusing on key data sources. This streamlines decision-making processes and reduces unnecessary expenditures.
Guided Strategic Decision-Making:
Formulated guidelines for sustainable product development serve as a roadmap, offering clear direction based on identified drivers, customer perceptions, and trends. This guidance facilitates informed and strategic decision-making, reducing uncertainty in product launches.
Risk Mitigation Through Testing:
Pragmatic testing in laboratory settings using virtual reality and perception sensor tools allows businesses to identify potential issues early. This approach mitigates risks associated with product development, leading to cost savings and enhanced product quality.
Enhanced Brand Image and Reputation:
Aligning with sustainable product design contributes to a positive brand image. Businesses can leverage their commitment to sustainability to enhance reputation, appealing to environmentally conscious consumers and potentially attracting new customer segments.
Adaptability to the “Made in Italy” Context:
Recognizing the unique context of “Made in Italy”, the project ensures derived procedures are tailored to the specific market dynamics of the region as well as to the peculiarities of Made in Italy products.
Long-Term Sustainability and Resilience:
By aligning with sustainable product development trends, businesses position themselves for long-term sustainability. Meeting evolving consumer expectations ensures resilience, fostering an environment that withstands future challenges.
All these outcomes collectively empower businesses to thrive in the dynamic landscape of sustainable product development within the “Made in Italy” context.