The emergence of native multi-sided platforms and their influence on incumbents

Andreas Hein (), Maximilian Schreieck (), Manuel Wiesche (), Markus Böhm () and Helmut Krcmar ()
Additional contact information
Andreas Hein: Technical University of Munich, Chair for Information Systems
Maximilian Schreieck: Technical University of Munich, Chair for Information Systems
Manuel Wiesche: Technical University of Munich, Chair for Information Systems
Markus Böhm: Technical University of Munich, Chair for Information Systems

Electronic Markets, 2019, vol. 29, issue 4, No 6, 647 pages

Abstract: Abstract Multi-sided platforms (MSPs) are one of the dominant designs of the digital age. However, prior research focuses mainly on established MSPs, leaving little insight into their emergence. We use the literature on technological trajectories and technology diffusion to derive four propositions that increase our understanding on the emergence of MSPs. The propositions include the emergence of native MSPs based on the assimilation of technologies in technological trajectories; how uncertainty influences incumbents to not follow those trajectories; how native MSPs create new demand; and how this demand eventually triggers the transformation process of incumbents to transform toward an MSP provider. We conduct a multiple-case study in the context of mobility services with three native MSP companies along with an incumbent that is transforming toward an MSP provider. The resulting process model shows that MSPs follow a process of sense-making and bricolage to assemble a service-oriented architecture, contrary to the incumbent who adopts technologies according to its institutional logic to improve existing products and processes.

Keywords: Multi-sided platforms; Technological trajectories; Servitization; Platform evolution; Mobility services; Mobility platform; O32; O33; O39; O14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12525-019-00350-1 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:elmark:v:29:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s12525-019-00350-1

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer. ... ystems/journal/12525

DOI: 10.1007/s12525-019-00350-1

Access Statistics for this article

Electronic Markets is currently edited by Rainer Alt and Hans-Dieter Zimmermann

More articles in Electronic Markets from Springer, IIM University of St. Gallen
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().