Digital platforms in the modern world: Specifics and prospects

Subject. The article considers the use of digital platforms and ecosystems, the analysis of their nature from the standpoint of marketing and its functions transformation. Objectives. We investigate possibilities of designing platforms and ecosystems based on existing information products as applied to the branches of the information economy. Methods. The study draws on the systems approach as a general methodological principle for solving interrelated modeling problems. Results. Despite the established opinion that external platforms are more competitive due to the increased network effect and openness, internal digital platforms (implemented within individual companies) and ecosystems they generate can become a significant factor for successful functioning of small and medium-sized businesses. At the same time, a design, where an industry ecosystem is formed on the basis of a leading platform, can successfully exist. The paper presents examples of such solutions for Russian information companies. Conclusions. Building a platform on the basis of a dedicated core in the form of existing information product, with the interests of its owner coinciding with the challenges of the relevant market, ensures long-term competitiveness of platform solutions in various formats of specific architecture.

Competition law and digital ecosystems: Learning to walk before we run

The paper analyzes the challenges faced by competition authorities with respect to the digital sector. Borrowing insights from the business policy literature and from the economic literature, the paper first analyzes the specificities of digital firms (multi-sided platforms and ecosystems) with respect to their development and competitive strategies. Building on this foundation the paper explores some of the challenges of applying traditional competition analysis to competition in the business sector. We then discuss a number of issues relevant to competition law enforcement in the digital sector starting with the role of data, competition within ecosystems and between ecosystems, consumer biases, and the role of gatekeepers. We conclude with a research agenda for economists and competition authorities.

Two-Sided Platform Ecosystems’ Structure, Architecture and Mechanism: an Integrated View--Under the Background of Industry 4.0

Platform model is one of the most prominent phenomena in modern business with the development of the Internet and the continuous expansion of the scale of industry 4.0 related industries. Two-sided platforms show features whereby two groups of agents interact with each other, in order to promote resource exchange and value creation. This review presents an integrated framework for understanding key factors of platform ecosystems, analyzing its member structure and technology architecture, exploring the dynamic mechanism and competition mechanism. Platform ecosystems refer to the core platform and its cooperative network of stakeholders, mainly consist of providers, sponsors, complementors and end users. The dynamic mechanism and competition mechanism are mainly in the realization of network effects and “winner-take-all”. These bring some management challenges, the preventive strategies are embodied in platform pricing, positioning, binding, in realization of ecosystem expansion and multi-win situation, to face the “egg-and chicken” syndrome and “get both sides of the market onboard”. Using this foundation, this research finally proposes five directions for future research in these settings, including the influence of platform technology architecture on complement or innovation, profit model of platform companies, environmental factors in platform competition, new challenge of platform envelopment and dynamic research methods, hoping to offer substantial new insights in the context of platforms and ecosystems.

Digital transformation in the manufacturing industry under the optics of digital platforms and ecosystems

The new processes for using digital technologies, are requiring manufacturing companies to adapt to these new scenarios, causing a digital transformation. Although the theme Digital transformation is new and current in manufacturing, the way it is being implemented by manufacturing companies is in design and study. Each company adopts or plans its strategy in relation to the digital platform and digital ecosystem. Two digital technologies are widely cited when discussing digital transformation, they are the digital platform and the digital ecosystem. The purpose of this article is to analyze the digital transformation in manufacturing companies from the perspective of digital platforms and ecosystems. In order to answer the research questions, the strategy of this research project was the study of multiple cases with a longitudinal perspective and an exploratory approach. The interview was the main source of data collection. The five platforms studied presented different views of how digital transformation can occur in manufacturing companies, from the simple transaction of matching supplier and consumer to collaborative work with the different stakeholders of the companies.