Emerging Business Models Research Articles

Contamination concerns and face consciousness in fashion-sharing services

PurposeThe commercial sharing service (CSS) represents an emerging business model in which users pay a minor fee to rent a product for a short period of time. Fashion CSSs enable individuals to rent various garments and accessories with the goal of enhancing one’s public image while saving money. Marketers have strived to popularize fashion CSSs, but concerns related to contamination have thwarted their efforts. Based on face consciousness theory, this research examines how consumers’ desire to enhance their public image (i.e. to “gain face”) can attenuate the negative impacts of contamination concerns and thus facilitate fashion CSS usage.Design/methodology/approachTwo scenario-based studies were conducted to collect data. Participants were recruited via online survey platforms in mainland China. The hypotheses were tested by partial least squares (PLS) path modeling and linear regression analysis.FindingsThe analysis results revealed a two-stage mediation model. Contamination concerns were found to inhibit consumers’ participation in fashion-sharing by increasing their perceived risk, which further decreased the perceived value of the CSS. However, consumers’ desire to gain face can mitigate the negative (direct and indirect) effects of contamination concerns on CSS usage, facilitating CSS adoption.Originality/valueOur findings suggest that eliciting consumers’ desire to gain face can promote fashion CSS usage and attenuate the negative impacts of contamination concerns. Moreover, consumers are less risk-averse and less concerned about shared pieces being contaminated when they seek to enhance their face through fashion products. Practical implications for fashion marketers are discussed.

The impact of multimodal information features of short sales videos on consumer engagement behavior: A multi-method approach

In the emerging business model of short video commerce, consumers can engage in short sales videos by liking, commenting, and sharing. Compared with traditional shopping contexts, consumer engagement behavior in short video commerce settings is affected quickly and simultaneously by text, audio, and visual information, but the extant literature lacks sufficient exploration of the effects of such multimodal information. Based on the multimodal theory and signaling theory, this study aims to investigate the role of multimodal information including textual sentiment score, audio spectrum and visual effects of short sales videos on consumer engagement behavior. We collect 4292 veridical short sales videos from short video platform Douyin, while based on a multi-method approach of multiple regression analysis (MRA) and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), it is found that the multimodal information features of short sales videos contribute to the promotion of consumer engagement behavior, and the cross-modal configurational solutions to enhance engagement is not unique. This study bridges the gap in the existing literature by capturing the impact of multimodal information features on consumer engagement behaviors and their asymmetric effects, which also provides practical implications for sellers and marketers on attracting consumers to engage in short video commerce.

Review on Sustainable Fashion: Innovations and Challenges

Sustainable fashion is evolving through advanced technology, innovative business models, and progressive education. Technologies like AI, 3D printing, and blockchain reduce waste and boost efficiency, supporting a shift to greener practices. Emerging business models, such as the circular economy, are redefining industry norms, though application remains complex. Educational initiatives like challenge-based learning (CBL) equip students with critical problem-solving skills. Reviving traditional crafts and using eco-friendly materials—like bamboo, recycled fibers, and organic cotton—are vital for reducing environmental impact. These advancements help the fashion industry address both ecological and social challenges.

Innovation in Local Digital Media: The Case of Sevilla Directo

The journalistic industry is undergoing a process of continuous transformation in response to an ongoing crisis. In this scenario, marked by disruptive technological changes and shifts in audience and advertiser behaviour, a new communication ecosystem is emerging that facilitates the rise of novel media outlets. Community social media, data journalism, and specialisation are some of the key features present in these emerging business models. This research aims to identify and understand the role of innovation in media adaptation to the current communication paradigm. Methodology: We employ a case study approach, analysing Sevilla Directo, a native digital medium in a city of approximately 700,000 inhabitants. Data collection techniques include observation, website analysis, in-depth interviews, focus groups with journalists, and analysis of sector reports and databases. Results and Discussion: Our findings indicate that technological advancements and the reach of social networks are fundamental to the growth of local media. However, we observe that adaptive changes predominate with little disruption and minimal focus on R&D&I. The organisation under study lacks a business model that guarantees its long-term sustainability and relies primarily on traditional income streams. Concurrently, social capital emerges as a key element in financing.

Give to give: The gifting motivation and behavior in the social live streaming service

The social live streaming service (SLSS) helps users broadcast live videos over the Internet for social interactions. In SLSS, attracting users to purchase and give virtual items as gifts – referred to as online gift-giving or gifting – is a newly emerging business model. This study thus raises the question, what motivates users to spend money on virtual items and actively give them as gifts in SLSS? The study taps into the question from a novel perspective, the Bekkers & Wiepking’s framework of philanthropy. In light of the perspective, the study proposes and validates a research model, indicating that motivational variables such as price fairness, perceived enjoyment, and status-seeking significantly influence SLSS gifting intention/behavior indirectly through users’ awareness of needs for gifting. The findings suggest the appropriateness and relevance of the perspective of philanthropy in explaining the SLSS gifting intention/behavior and extend both streams of SLSS and online gifting literature. The findings also offer managerial implications for E-business practitioners.

Collaborative operation strategy of multiple microenergy grids considering demand‐side energy‐sharing behavior

AbstractIn recent years, as the energy market continues to change, an emerging business model is gradually emerging as an energy provider (EP). The participation of EP as an independent entity in the distribution network investment model not only helps realize a win–win situation for multiple stakeholders but also promotes the innovation and sustainable development of the energy industry. However, in the energy system, EPs, grids, microenergy grids (MEGs), and shared energy storage service providers usually belong to different stakeholders, and their respective pursuit of profit maximization can easily lead to uncontrolled competition, which greatly reduces market efficiency. To address the varying ownership structures within the energy system, a refined bilevel coordinated optimization operation model is introduced, rooted in the master–slave game theory. In this model, the EP assumes the role of the master, while the MEG operator and the shared energy storage operator (SESO) act as slaves. A peer‐to‐peer energy‐sharing mechanism between MEGs and an energy trading mechanism between MEGs and shared energy storage is used to further increase the local consumption rate of new energy. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method not only boosts the revenues of an EP, SESO, and MEG operators but also effectively accounts for the MEG's energy storage needs and SESOs' profitability.

Omnichannel services in the presence of customers' valuation uncertainty

AbstractWith the advancement of online‐ordering technology, an increasing number of service providers are transforming to sell services through online channels alongside traditional offline stores. Our paper studies this emerging business model (also known as omnichannel services) in which customers can choose between online and offline ordering. We develop a queueing‐game‐theoretic model to evaluate the performance of omnichannel systems in terms of throughput and social welfare when customers strategically choose their ordering channels in the presence of service valuation uncertainty. We also contrast omnichannel services with single‐channel services, that is, online‐only and offline‐only services. Our analysis yields the following main insights. First, although customers run the risk of making suboptimal decisions and suffering from unexpected losses when they are uncertain about their service valuations, we find that all customers would be better off in expectation with an increasing level of service valuation uncertainty. Second, while social welfare improves as ordering online becomes more convenient in some cases, it (even online customer welfare) can also be worse off in others, especially when the system operates under heavy congestion, because customers' self‐interested channel choice behavior would impose significant negative congestion externalities among customers. Third, despite the fact that omnichannel services provide customers with an additional, more convenient ordering channel option in comparison with conventional offline‐only services, we find that, somewhat surprisingly, adopting omnichannel services does not necessarily guarantee improvement in social welfare. Finally, we discuss two alternative modeling assumptions to demonstrate the robustness of our main insights.

Navigating Platform-Led Affiliate Marketing: Implications for Content Creation and Platform Profitability

Practice- and Policy-Oriented Abstract Recently, some user-generated content (UGC) platforms have introduced shopping features to generate additional commission-based revenue from in-app transactions. These platforms allow creators to produce shoppable content, where promoted products are tagged with affiliate links, and in return, they earn a percentage of the commission the creators receive from merchants This paper aims to investigate the impact of this platform-led affiliate marketing business model on the key stakeholders. Employing a game-theoretic model, our study demonstrates that platform-led affiliate marketing can create a win-win situation for UGC platforms, creators participating in affiliate marketing, and consumers. Furthermore, even creators not participating in affiliate marketing can sometimes benefit indirectly from other creators’ participation. However, we find that platforms may not necessarily benefit from adopting this emerging business model because of potential losses in traffic revenue. These results carry significant managerial implications for platforms regarding whether and how to leverage affiliate marketing. Moreover, our findings suggest that creators may benefit from reducing their production efforts in the face of intensified competition. More importantly, optimal production decisions for creators can vary significantly, depending on specific factors contributing to heightened competition. These findings offer valuable insights that can guide creators in refining their production strategies.

Product Service System in Circular Economy: A Bibliometric Analysis

As global attention to sustainable development increases, more and more works of literature emphasise the application of a circular economy-oriented product service system (PSS).The Circular economy aims to achieve economic and environmental sustainability through efficiency of resources and minimisation of waste. Meanwhile, product service systems are an emerging business model with the potential to facilitate product life extension and recycling. However,despite the growth of this field of study, there are relatively few bibliometric analyses of its application in the circular economy. Therefore, this study aims to use the method of bibliometrics,and with the help of VOS viewer visualisation software, to analyse the relevant literature the application of product-service systems under the guidance of circular economy in Scopus database from 2014 to 2023, and to discuss the publication types and trends, source distribution of publications, the most highly cited articles, and research hotspot keywords analysis. Thisstudyfound that keyword analysis identified four main topic clusters, in which significant hotspots focused on the Internet of Things, Industry 4.0, consumer behaviour, and reverse logistics.Therefore, this study may benefit researchers who wish to understand relevant academic results circular economy-oriented PSS applications.

Unraveling opportunism in platform-mediated work within the Nordic working life model: An institutional complexity perspective

The Nordic working life model (NWLM) promotes ‘good work’ on societal and workplace levels. However, this model is now challenged by emerging business models in the platform economy. This study investigates how digital labor platforms respond to conflicting institutional logics and how platform-mediated work intervenes with the inherent logic of the NWLM. The authors examine platform business strategies and their implications for working environment regulations, co-determination, and collective bargaining. Empirical data comprising 50 interviews with food delivery workers, platform managers, union representatives, employer association representatives, and occupational health and safety regulators from the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority were analyzed by applying institutional complexity as a theoretical framework. The findings illustrate that a high degree of institutional complexity provides companies with discretionary space, which they utilize to achieve legitimacy and competitive advantages. The authors introduce the term institutional opportunism to describe how adaptation is performed. The study reveals that the platform economy, characterized by workers with limited experience of and knowledge about working life and strong market pressures, poses a challenge to the NWLM.

Research on the Contribution of the Digital Economy to China s High-Quality Development and Common Prosperity

In recent years, China has actively promoted the high-quality development of the digital economy to achieve shared prosperity at the societal and economic levels. This paper aims to elucidate the necessity of the digital economy for China s high-quality development, exploring its role in driving economic development in key dimensions such as emerging business models, industrial structure upgrading, and production efficiency improvement. By examining the mechanisms through which the digital economy operates, this study provides a solid foundation for achieving high-quality economic development and shared prosperity among the people of China.

Energy Sector Evolution: Perspectives on Energy Platforms and Energy Transition

Digital platforms are becoming more important in transforming the energy industry and altering the way we produce, distribute, and use energy. This paper explores the role of energy platforms in the transition towards renewable energy. We highlight, through real-life examples, that these platforms foster a participatory approach, convert consumers into proactive participants, democratize energy production, and encourage innovation in areas such as storage, electric mobility, and renewable project investments. Through a comprehensive review of the current literature, technological advancements, and emerging business models, we identify the possible key contributions of digital platforms to the energy sector. These platforms offer personalized user experiences, mutual benefits for users and companies, adaptability to market changes, support for peer-to-peer trade, and a reduction in bureaucracy. We then present a pioneering conceptual model by Liu et al. (2022), which integrates the energy cloud, digital platform, and transaction platform and we explore the business model of energy platforms. This business model is characterized by connectivity, innovative pricing, and revenue strategies independent of physical asset ownership. Advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and blockchain facilitate peer-to-peer energy trading, dynamic pricing, and a focus on transaction and access fees over traditional cost structures. Drawing on the business model and previous analysis we update the conceptual model for energy platforms to present a practical vision through a holistic approach.

Energy efficiency practices: A case study analysis of innovative business models in buildings

Over the last two decades, the European Union has significantly improved its legal framework for building energy efficiency. New mandatory standards have led governments to adopt incentive measures that, in turn, encourage the growth of innovative entrepreneurial practices. This study analyzes emerging business models that capitalize on energy efficiency in the building industry. Thirty-seven energy efficiency projects − either retrofit or new construction, supported exclusively by innovative business models featuring the presence of an individual contractor − in five Central and Western European countries are considered. Data is collected on property characteristics, business environment, and energy efficiency measures. Using the Rough Set approach, the analysis identifies core attributes that associate or differentiate the case studies. They include building ownership, energy-related services to be provided to the users, and the duration for which the contractor must be involved. Additionally, other attributes − such as the types of retrofit work, investment costs, access to monetary incentives, and expected payback period − allow us to identify the cases representing best practices for each innovative model. There remain open questions concerning where the boundary between different business models lies and long-term economic self-sustainability, regardless of the availability of incentives.

Swimming With the Shark: The Effects of Platform Price Promotion and In-Platform Advertising on Third-Party Retailer Performance in Hybrid Online Retailing

Hybrid retailing is an emerging business model that melds traditional reselling with the newer platform approach. A platform owner resells directly to consumers (the reselling model) and also allows third-party retailers (TPRs) to sell on the platform for a commission (the platform model). Given the integral role of TPRs in the hybrid retailing ecosystem, research is imperative to understand how the strategic actions of the platform owner could affect the performance and activities of TPRs. Using a longitudinal dataset of an online platform that adopts a hybrid-retailing structure, the research proposes that the platform owner's strategies, specifically price promotion and in-platform advertising, can affect TPR sales performance directly (through positive spillover effects and negative crowding-out effects) and indirectly (by prompting TPRs to respond with their price promotion and in-platform advertising). Further, such direct and indirect effects depend on TPR size. The findings indicate significant direct effects: the platform owner's price promotion has a positive spillover effect on TPR sales, and more so for larger TPRs; the platform owner's in-platform advertising has a negative crowding-out effect on TPR sales and more so for smaller TPRs. The paper also reports indirect effects: TPRs tend to use price promotion to respond to both strategies of the platform owner, and TPR's price promotion also has positive consequences for TPR sales, and the effects are stronger for larger TPRs. Given the unique coopetition relationship between the platform owner and TPRs in the hybrid retailing context, this research provides firsthand empirical evidence that the platform owner's strategies can significantly affect TPR performance through direct and indirect effects, shows larger TPRs benefit the most from the platform owner's price promotion, while smaller TPRs suffer the most from the platform owner's in-platform advertising, and TPRs favor price promotion regardless what strategies the platform owner uses. These results indicate that both platform owners and policymakers should consider the differential implications for TPRs of different sizes in terms of the social welfare of the platform ecosystem.

How established firms build digital capabilities for business model innovation: An exploratory case study

Due to rapid digital advancements, established firms are actively pursuing business model innovation to seize emerging opportunities. By effectively managing digital technologies and related resources, digital capabilities play a crucial role in enabling such innovation. Through an exploratory case study of two established Chinese firms, we propose a process model that reveals a hierarchical structure of digital capabilities and two distinct approaches for utilizing these capabilities to enable exploitative and exploratory business model innovation, respectively. This study contributes to the emerging business model innovation literature by showcasing how digital capabilities are developed and utilized to facilitate business model innovation.

The Role of Innovation in Driving Sustainable Business Practices

In the current changing business landscape, organisations throughout the globe now consider the pursuit of sustainability to be a basic strategic requirement. Innovation plays a pivotal part in this effort by acting as a catalyst for the creation and application of sustainable business processes. This essay offers a thorough analysis of the various ways that innovation advances sustainability in businesses, society, and organisations. The paper examines the role of technological innovation in driving sustainability, encompassing advancements in renewable energy, clean technologies, resource efficiency, and eco-friendly materials. It explores the nexus between innovation and business model redesign, emphasizing the importance of reimagining traditional business models to integrate sustainability considerations. It discusses emergent business models such as circular economy and sharing economy which prioritize resource optimization, waste reduction, and the creation of shared value for stakeholders. Moreover, the paper addresses the regulatory and institutional dimensions of innovation in sustainable business practices, examining the role of government policies, industry standards, and multi-stakeholder initiatives in shaping the enabling environment for sustainable innovation.

Tools for cost management

This article aims to provide an overview of the literature in which cost assessment methods are currently used, and their characteristics and limitations are also pointed out. To achieve the proposed objectives, a Systematic Literature Review (RSL) was conducted. It was possible to identify the tools discussed in the bibliographic portfolio studied, namely: life cycle costing, target costing, the total cost of ownership, activity-based costing, variable costing, and mathematical models, as well as the difficulties in implementing these tools in different application contexts. It has also been noted that multiple tools are often employed in integrated methodologies to mitigate the inherent limitations of individual models when treated in isolation. The significance of this article resides in its contribution to the discourse on the evolution of cost management tools and their application within integrated approaches, particularly in addressing the typical challenges encountered in emerging business models.

Business Model Innovation in the Construction Industry: Emerging Business Model Archetypes from Bathpod Modularization

Business Model Innovation in the Construction Industry: Emerging Business Model Archetypes from Bathpod Modularization

Is there any way to increase consumers’ purchase intention regarding surplus food blind-boxes? An exploratory study

As an emerging business model, merchants are selling surplus food in blind boxes, which provides new opportunities for reducing waste and promoting sustainable development. Surplus food blind boxes, however, have not been extensively researched in terms of design and marketing strategies. Therefore, we are examining how to increase consumers’ purchase intention regarding surplus food blind boxes as well as the relationship between purchase intention, continuous intention, and recommendation intention. In this paper, two studies are conducted. As part of study 1, We used factor analysis to explore the reasons that influence consumers to purchase. In study 2, we utilized structural equation modeling to examine the impact of purchase intention on continuous intention and recommendation intention. Results indicate that food quality, perceived sustainability, and conspicuous consumption are the most important positive factors. The most important negative factors are perceived food risk, resistance to sales techniques, taste anxiety, and inadequate marketing strategies. Based on our findings, we constructed a path relationship between purchase intention, continuous intention, and recommendation intention. The purchase intention of the surplus food blind box users directly influences the recommendation intention and the continuous intention, while the recommendation intention indirectly influences the continuous intention. This study did not demonstrate that gender had a moderating effect. Meanwhile, it provides a reference for the actual marketing management of surplus food blind box merchants.

Bundling Digital Journalism: Exploring the Potential of Subscription-Based Product Bundles

This study explores the potential of cross-publisher bundled offers as a strategy for increasing subscription sales in digital journalism. While innovative forms of bundling are an integral part of media distribution in music (e.g., Spotify) and film (e.g., Netflix), their adoption in digital journalism has been limited, despite research showing that bundled access to products can increase consumers’ willingness to pay, especially in younger target groups. Against this background, we conduct a choice-based conjoint analysis using data from a representative survey of the German online population (<em>n</em> = 1,542). Results show that bundling digital journalism has the potential to raise publisher revenues and subscription sales in digital markets. In particular, they highlight that a comprehensive, cross-publisher bundled offer, available at a fixed monthly rate, has the potential to stimulate digital journalism sales among different consumer groups in a relatively balanced way, including those who are typically more reluctant towards journalism. These findings align with the principles of information goods economics, which posit that maximising the size of digital content bundles often tends to be the most profitable distribution strategy. However, it is crucial to examine these findings in the context of the potential negative effects associated with this emerging business model in digital journalism, such as the cannibalisation of print subscriptions, diminished brand identification, and a possible imbalanced distribution of revenues.