The Use of Social Media Tools in the Product Life Cycle Phases: A Systematic Literature Review

In a business world where competitive pressure is constantly increasing, firms are continuously trying to differentiate themselves. The advent of Web 2.0 technologies such as social media allowed firms to communicate and interact with consumers and online users in order to collect information and to perform R&D, marketing and sales tasks. This study uses a systematic literature review in order to identify which social media tools can be used in the product life cycle phases. The results show that most studies focus on the earlier phases of the product life cycle, for innovation purposes. This study offers a systematic overview of literature and suggests many insights to help future researchers and managers in their use of social media in a product life cycle context, which also includes innovation process.

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