Online sales and corporate innovation preference: The impact of e-commerce emergence on corporate innovation behavior

Abstract

This study using the 2015 survey data obtained from private enterprises in China as the research sample, endeavors to scrutinize the impact of e-commerce on corporate innovation behavior. Initially, we establish a comprehensive theoretical framework to systematically analyze the repercussions of e-commerce on corporate innovation. Utilizing data sourced from China as a representative sample, we meticulously investigate the income incentive effect, competition catching-up effect, and awareness enhancement effect of e-commerce on corporate innovation. Furthermore, we delve into the nuanced impact of e-commerce on innovation outcomes, discerning variations contingent upon organizational structures, market contexts, and the prioritization of innovation within distinct companies. The empirical findings elucidate a substantive augmentation in corporate innovation activities attributable to the burgeoning influence of e-commerce. Among the predominant influencing mechanisms, the awareness enhancement effect emerges as the most pivotal, contributing significantly at 18.44 %, followed by the income incentive effect at 14.59 %, with the competition catching-up effect registering the lowest impact at a mere 11.32 %.