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Research Note—Investigating Firm Strategies on Offering Consumer-Customizable Products

Author

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  • Zheyin (Jane) Gu

    (University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269)

  • Giri K. Tayi

    (State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York 12222)

Abstract

Advances in the digital economy have driven the trend among manufacturers, particularly those in the information technology (IT) industry, to offer products that consumers can self-customize to satisfy their idiosyncratic needs. This study examines firm strategies on offering such consumer-customizable products. Our analysis shows that a monopolistic firm obtains a greater profit from offering a consumer-customizable product than from offering a preconfigured standardized product only if consumers are sufficiently capable to conduct the customization task; otherwise, it is more profitable for the firm to offer a standardized product. Moreover, consumers obtain a greater surplus when the firm offers the customizable product. We also consider the case where the firm is capable of offering both a customizable product and a standardized product and find that the firm benefits more from offering both products than offering either product if consumer customizing capability and the customization cost are not too high. Interestingly, when the firm offers both products, its effort in enhancing consumer customizability (e.g., offering free consumer training) always benefits both the firm and consumers, but its effort in increasing the value of the standardized product (e.g., offering more functions) can hurt both the firm profit and consumer surplus. Our theoretical results explain many interesting business practices and provide useful insights for marketing practitioners.

Suggested Citation

  • Zheyin (Jane) Gu & Giri K. Tayi, 2015. "Research Note—Investigating Firm Strategies on Offering Consumer-Customizable Products," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 26(2), pages 456-468, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:26:y:2015:i:2:p:456-468
    DOI: 10.1287/isre.2015.0575
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Guo, Shu & Choi, Tsan-Ming & Chung, Sai-Ho, 2022. "Self-design fun: Should 3D printing be employed in mass customization operations?," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 299(3), pages 883-897.
    4. Sun, Fei & Chen, Jing & Yang, Hui & Chen, Bintong & Wan, Zeying, 2023. "Production outsourcing decision in the presence of consumer’s preference uncertainty," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
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    7. Jost, Peter-J. & Süsser, Theresa, 2020. "Company-customer interaction in mass customization," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).

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