Table 3 Categorization of perceived... | Emerald Publishing

Table 3

Categorization of perceived supplier innovativeness

#	Evaluative mechanisms through which innovativeness is inferred	Examples and quotes
1	Optimizing cost in a sustainable manner	“Innovation for us is minimizing the cost by increasing the duration of the product life cycle through the integration of sustainable materials and practices, ensuring both environmental and economic endurance. It saves us time and money.” “Environmental sustainability is not just about being green; it is innovative thinking that prepares us for future shifts in regulations.”
2	Enhancing responsiveness	“Downtime is costly for our businesses. It would be innovative for us if suppliers could [devise solutions that] facilitate easier communication whenever we encounter production or sales issues.” “Customer perceives industrial internet and remote technologies innovative, as we maintain constant contact with our customers.” “Company X (made a platform) committed to on-site assistance within one or two days.”
3	Facilitating collaboration	“Together with the customer, we set the foundation for optimized operational results in the production process. They perceive it as innovative when we jointly develop solutions that strengthen their capabilities within their consumer market.” “These collaborations in open innovation projects ensure that the end product or service (service outcome) fits precisely to the customer’s needs, guaranteeing better implementation and higher satisfaction levels.”
4	Advanced knowledge and training	“Customers view us as innovative when we (constantly) educate them about improved automation features.” “Customers are looking for knowledge about the value of products, such as using less material and creating lighter products with reduced energy consumption in production.” “[as a reseller], we ensure our customers grasp the real value of receiving something robust and new in a novel way.”
4	Advanced knowledge and training	“Customers value the extensive training; it helps their team maximize proficiency, which affects the bottom line positively.”
5	Highly customized solutions	“We benefit from technical solutions that serve to our specific installation needs.” “(company X) could optimize their operations based on their specific requirements while still achieving their green targets; this innovation made them competitive [in the market].”
6	Advanced high-tech solutions	“Mass-market retailers and installation companies rated our innovation highly, as we assist them in improving their process reliability and performance of their services across all stages, from production to delivery, through our [AI] solution.” “These solution helps us make better decisions in future.”

#	Evaluative mechanisms through which innovativeness is inferred	Examples and quotes
1	Optimizing cost in a sustainable manner	“Innovation for us is minimizing the cost by increasing the duration of the product life cycle through the integration of sustainable materials and practices, ensuring both environmental and economic endurance. It saves us time and money.” “Environmental sustainability is not just about being green; it is innovative thinking that prepares us for future shifts in regulations.”
2	Enhancing responsiveness	“Downtime is costly for our businesses. It would be innovative for us if suppliers could [devise solutions that] facilitate easier communication whenever we encounter production or sales issues.” “Customer perceives industrial internet and remote technologies innovative, as we maintain constant contact with our customers.” “Company X (made a platform) committed to on-site assistance within one or two days.”
3	Facilitating collaboration	“Together with the customer, we set the foundation for optimized operational results in the production process. They perceive it as innovative when we jointly develop solutions that strengthen their capabilities within their consumer market.” “These collaborations in open innovation projects ensure that the end product or service (service outcome) fits precisely to the customer’s needs, guaranteeing better implementation and higher satisfaction levels.”
4	Advanced knowledge and training	“Customers view us as innovative when we (constantly) educate them about improved automation features.” “Customers are looking for knowledge about the value of products, such as using less material and creating lighter products with reduced energy consumption in production.” “[as a reseller], we ensure our customers grasp the real value of receiving something robust and new in a novel way.”
4	Advanced knowledge and training	“Customers value the extensive training; it helps their team maximize proficiency, which affects the bottom line positively.”
5	Highly customized solutions	“We benefit from technical solutions that serve to our specific installation needs.” “(company X) could optimize their operations based on their specific requirements while still achieving their green targets; this innovation made them competitive [in the market].”
6	Advanced high-tech solutions	“Mass-market retailers and installation companies rated our innovation highly, as we assist them in improving their process reliability and performance of their services across all stages, from production to delivery, through our [AI] solution.” “These solution helps us make better decisions in future.”

Note(s): “Who perceived the innovativeness” refers to the actor perspective explicitly addressed in each study, not necessarily the ultimate beneficiary of innovation outcomes