An open innovation B2B web platform design: Application of the QFD approach for the definition of its primary functions

Global markets and the concept of innovation require modern companies to quickly adapt to two very relevant paradigms: digital innovation and open innovation. Therefore, the use of digital technologies and the development of open collaboration networks have radically changed the nature of the organisation of innovation and of the managerial approach and strategic choices. The objective of this paper is to describe the approach adopted to define the main functionalities of a digital Business to Business (B2B) platform for the development of new commercial collaborations between Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The approach of Quality Function Deployment and its House of Quality tool have been applied to support the combination of customer and technical needs. The prioritisation of the technical characteristics of the platform has identified in the ‘system for managing orders’ and ‘systems to speed up processes’ the main functions to be developed with greater attention within the platform.