How do the key capabilities of the industrial internet platform support its growth? A longitudinal case study based on the resource orchestration perspective

Abstract

The widespread use of digital technology has promoted the rapid development of digital platforms. The current research on the industrial internet platform, a relatively new digital platform in the manufacturing industry, is insufficient to explain its development process. Therefore, this study explores the growth process of the industrial internet platform through a vertical single-case analysis from the perspective of resource orchestration. The following three findings have been obtained: (1) Industrial internet platforms have four key capabilities, namely industry fundamental capabilities, technical capabilities, policy grasp capabilities, and social resource integration capabilities. (2) The main mechanism for critical capabilities that promote the platform's growth lies in the orchestration of crucial resources, which can be structured in four ways: structuring industrial knowledge, bundling industrial modules, leveraging industrial supply resources, and bundling and leveraging government and enterprise resources. (3) The growth of the industrial internet platform follows the path of “serving enterprises—serving industries—serving industrial chains”. This paper contributes to research on the industrial internet platform's key capabilities and growth mechanism and provides a valuable reference for its development.