Platform‐driven innovation: Unveiling research and business opportunities

Abstract

An increasing number of businesses have adopted a platform business model. Platform companies such as Airbnb, Amazon, Facebook, Google, Salesforce and Uber are amongst the world's most valuable companies and have revolutionized their respective industries. But what are platforms? Is there a unique definition? How do they innovate, and what is their place in the innovation literature? This editorial article considers those questions. First, it provides an overview of platform definitions, their evolution, and increasing relevance in today's economy. Then, it presents and contextualizes the six papers of this special section that lie at the intersection of platforms and innovation literature streams. In doing so, a framework contextualizing the emerging concept of ‘Platform‐Driven Innovation’ is proposed. It shows how platforms may have very different roles in the innovation processes acting as Simplifiers, Catalyst or Enablers. Finally, this paper contains some suggestions on how future research may explore the intersection between innovation and platforms.

What Can We Learn from Business Innovation Fail-ure of Uber in Southeast Asia Market?

“…Uber, which was initially considered a luxury service with premium black cars, has become relevant to many people because it opened up opportunities for people to become drivers. Uber discloses transactions that may occur in the market, a transaction that has never happened before; they reveal to customers and service providers the potential existence of unexploited markets (Trabucchi et al, 2021).…”

“…Meanwhile, the gig economy is a working system that prioritizes individual flexibility to schedule their work and personal life (Gandini, 2018). Platforms related to digital innovation will significantly influence or even transform markets, industries, and society (Trabucchi, Buganza, Muzellec, & Ronteau, 2021).…”

Unlocking novel opportunities: How online ideation platforms implicitly guide employees toward better ideas by spurring their desire to innovate

“…Since platforms thrive on their participants, their motivation is essential, which—especially on two‐sided platforms—poses complex challenges manifoldly discussed in the literature (Caillaud & Jullien, 2003). Research has identified several strategies to ensure the successful establishment and use of digital platforms (Trabucchi et al, 2021; Trischler et al, 2021).…”

“…Research has identified several strategies to ensure the successful establishment and use of digital platforms (Trabucchi et al, 2021;Trischler et al, 2021).…”

Data-driven forwarding: a typology of digital platforms for road freight transport management

“…Furthermore, comprehension is gained of platform capabilities that address transport management and support service innovations based on digital technologies through a unified understanding. Although scholars have broadly examined DPs and explored platform innovations for digital business models (e.g., Dmitriev & Plastunyak, 2019 ; Tiwana, 2013 ; Trabucchi et al, 2021 ), more comprehensive insights into cloud-enabled road freight business are recommended to elaborate on the understanding of platforms for specific business industries (Pauli et al, 2021 ). To this end, a typology facilitates digital platform research activities in transport logistics by providing a domain-specific framework for the abstracted activities that RFTM tools should support.…”