Platform Enterprises Research Articles

Literature Review and Perspectives on Digital Customer Orientation in the Context of Digitization

With the advent of the digital era, the entrepreneurial environment has changed dramatically. Driven by demand and technological innovation, various types of platform enterprises have emerged and developed into a digital ecosystem dominated by core platform enterprises, with members of the industry evolving in a collaborative and mutually beneficial manner. For start-ups with "new entry deficiencies", only by further embracing the digital ecosystem can they make better use of complementary resources to achieve growth. Through a review of the classic literature on digital customer orientation at home and abroad, the concept, composition, measurement and application of digital customer orientation are systematically reviewed. The study shows that digital customer orientation is a concept different from customer orientation, a way for companies to provide real-time and customized customer experiences by embracing digital ecosystems, and that it plays a key role in the process of embracing digital ecosystems by start-ups. The shortcomings of digital customer orientation research are summarized and future research directions are proposed with the aim of promoting the further development of digital innovation research.

Exploring the Power and Regulation of Platform Enterprises

Exploring the Power and Regulation of Platform Enterprises

Research on the construction process of supply chain ecosystem led by digital platform enterprises from the perspective of dynamic capability

Research on the construction process of supply chain ecosystem led by digital platform enterprises from the perspective of dynamic capability

The impact of tax compliance on platform enterprises’ competitive advantage and the role of contract enforcement efficiency

The importance of competitive advantage for platform enterprises' long-term development necessitates explorations of the factors that influence such an advantage. This study empirically investigates the impact of tax compliance on the competitive advantage of platform enterprises, specifically focusing on the efficiency of contract enforcement using online sales data from the WIND database. The findings reveal that platform enterprises' adherence to enterprises' tax compliance enhances the competitive advantage effect. The results of the panel threshold model regression demonstrate that the positive contribution of tax compliance to competitive advantage is contingent on contract enforcement efficiency. Moreover, the promotional effect is more pronounced in regions with superior contract enforcement efficiency, indicating a nonlinear marginal incremental effect. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the influence of platform firms' tax compliance on competitive advantage effects is constrained by factors such as tax administration strength, information transparency, firm size, and regional variations. These findings deepen our understanding of the relationship between tax compliance and platform enterprises' competitive advantage, offering valuable insights for such enterprises’ decision-making concerning competitive strategies.

A Study on the Design of Incentive Contracts for Platform Economy Regulation Based on Dual Principal–Agents

A system of incentives can be established to encourage several parties to unite as a community of interest and become jointly committed to the platform economic governance. The platform economy involves progressively more complex subjects of interest and relationships, which are not the typical principal–agent one-time cooperative relationship. This study investigates the problem of regulatory incentives in the platform economy, specifically focusing on the relationship between the government, platform enterprises, and merchants. It analyzes this issue under conditions of asymmetric information by constructing and solving a dual principal–agent model. The findings indicate the following: (1) the government’s incentives and regulatory mechanisms can be considered as interchangeable to some extent, with decisions made by evaluating their respective costs; (2) the government’s optimal incentives and regulations ultimately shape the self-regulatory behavior of merchants through platform enterprises; and (3) the optimal level of incentives for both the government and the platform enterprise is influenced by factors such as the ability coefficient, the social transformation coefficient, and the merchants’ reliance on the platform enterprise. Additionally, the optimal effort level of the platform enterprise and the merchants increases with higher levels of the regulatory effort, risk sensitivity coefficient, and ability coefficient. A win–win scenario and a long-term, stable cooperative partnership can be reached by the three parties under the ideal incentive intensity. The study’s conclusions can serve as a theoretical foundation and support for the creation of incentive contracts for platform economy regulation.

Optimization and Innovation of the Operation Model of Mobile Social E-commerce under AI Empowerment: Taking the Female Community Platform “Little Red Book” as an Example

This article takes the female community platform “Little Red Book” as an example to explore the optimization and innovation of mobile community e-commerce operation mode under Artificial Intelligence (AI) empowerment. Firstly, the relevant concepts were defined, and then the unique attributes of mobile community e-commerce were analyzed. As a typical representative of mobile community e-commerce, Little Red Book introduces the background and characteristics of its platform, analyzes its mobile community operation mode, and focuses on exploring how to establish a mobile community e-commerce platform and effective operation mode under the empowerment of AI technology, to provide some reference and inspiration for the development and operation of Little Red Book and other e-commerce platform enterprises.

Digital tax reform in Indonesia: Perspective on tax policy development

In Indonesia tax reform has undergone multiple revisions in recent years, all within a brief timeframe. Digital tax reform in Indonesia began with significant milestones in recent years to adapt to the digital economy’s challenges. The specific start date for digital tax reform in Indonesia can be traced back to the passing of the Tax Regulations Harmonization Law on 7th October 2021, which officially became Law No 7/2021 on 29th October 2021. This law marked a crucial step in Indonesia’s journey towards modernizing its tax system to address the implications of the digital economy. The provisions of this law have varying effective dates, such as for income tax purposes from the 2022 fiscal year and for VAT purposes from 1st April 2022. These changes under the Tax Regulations Harmonization Law are extensive and wide-reaching, signifying a pivotal moment in Indonesia’s digital tax reform efforts. This shows that the Indonesian government intends to radically overhaul the tax system, yet there are inconsistent approaches to deciding on the long-term course of tax policy. It is critical to investigate the concept of tax legislation in Indonesia in order to provide legal clarity on digital tax reform. Normative juridical research methodology is employed, together with a qualitative research strategy and descriptive-analytical research specifications. The findings suggest that the Indonesian government’s efforts to establish strict policies governing taxes on digital activity are inadequate and uneven. In order to apply to digital platform enterprises, the definition of permanent establishment as outlined in a number of national regulations must incorporate a substantial economic presence criterion. Legislative progress toward the establishment of a framework for digital tax collection is necessary to mitigate the possible income loss of states in this area, which could result from the rapid advancement of information technology. The OECD consensus is still in the process of drafting an international tax reform that will require adjustments from national tax reform. Therefore, it is imperative that the Indonesian government establish a thorough framework for tax regulation that can ensure robustness, economic efficiency, fairness, against motivation compatibility, administrative ease, and avoidance.

Environmental, Social, and Governance Performance, Platform Governance, and Value Creation of Platform Enterprises

Under the concepts of sustainable development and a sharing economy, the ESG performance of platform enterprises has played a significant role in measuring the operating status and responsible investment of platform enterprises. Platform enterprises have different typical characteristics from traditional enterprises. The mechanisms of ESG and financial performance needs to be further explored. The empirical analysis finds that: (1) the ESG performance of platform enterprises and its S index and G index has a positive impact on corporate financial performance. (2) Media attention plays a positive moderating role between the ESG and ROA. (3) Platform data governance and platform reputation governance are two internal and external paths for platform enterprises’ ESG performance to improve financial performance. (4)There is heterogeneity in the relationship between ESG and ROA in terms of platform enterprise scale and platform type. Based on the above conclusions, this paper provides reference experience for the ESG governance and value creation of platform enterprises.

The Impact of Food Delivery Riders’ Perception of Fairness on Organizational Identification in the Digital Economy: Based on the Intermediary Perspective of Organizational Trust in the Context of Digital Technology

With the rapid rise in the gig economy driven by advancements in digital technology and financial technology, this study focuses on the work experiences and psychological perceptions of food delivery riders in platform-based employment. This study used a sample of food delivery riders from 19 cities in China (such as Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, etc.) and multiple delivery platforms (such as Meituan, Ele.me) to collect data through a combination of online and offline questionnaires. The impact relationship between perceived fairness, organizational trust, and organizational identity of food delivery riders was examined through factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and mediation effect modeling. The results of the survey and statistical analysis indicate that fairness perception and its dimensions (distributive fairness, procedural fairness, and interactional fairness) significantly influence riders’ organizational identification, with organizational trust serving as a critical mediating factor. The integration of digital technology has substantially enhanced the operational efficiency of platform-based employment by enabling real-time tracking, transparent communication, and data-driven decision-making. Innovations in financial technology, such as digital payment systems and financial management tools, offer riders safer and more convenient compensation methods, thereby contributing to their financial stability and fostering trust in the platform. The establishment of trust alleviates the riders’ concerns regarding compensation stability and bolsters their optimistic attitudes toward accessing platform resources and meeting their needs. This study provides significant insights and recommendations for leveraging digital technology and financial technology to improve the relationship and operational efficiency between riders and platform enterprises.

Service pricing and charging strategy for video platforms considering consumer preferences

AbstractHeterogeneity of consumer preferences is a crucial feature of the platform economy, and service price and charging strategies crucially influence customer choice behavior. To enhance consumer experience and boost product value, video platforms offer value‐added services, also known as premium membership features. For instance, Youku's benefits of value‐added service include seamless video playback, high‐definition picture quality, and exclusive episodes. This study constructs a two‐stage Hotelling model from monopoly to duopoly competition. Considering the heterogeneity of consumer preferences for product quality and platform usage costs, we analyze the impact mechanism of the customer preferences heterogeneity and the service pricing of video platform enterprises. In addition, we analyze the Nash equilibrium strategies of competing enterprises in the competition scenario, and we consider two charging strategies: freemium and bundled sales. The results indicate that the consumer sensitivity factors significantly impact the optimal pricing of services and the profits of enterprises and that this impact varies with the heterogeneity of customer composition and the type of charging strategies. For the optimal solutions in a competition scenario, the proportion of quality‐sensitive customers is positive for the freemium model, whereas it is negative for the bundled sales model. Furthermore, we analyze the impact of heterogeneous customer composition on the choice of charging strategy utilizing numerical analysis. This study provides a theoretical basis and decision support for product development and value‐added service pricing that can be applied to video platform enterprises and other media platforms.

Governance of corporate social responsibility: a platform ecosystem perspective

PurposeThe sustainable development of the platform economy has been hindered by the absence and alienation of platform corporate social responsibility. Previous studies have mainly focused on the contents and governance models for platform corporate social responsibility. This study seeks to explore which strategy participants choose in the governance of platform corporate social responsibility and their influencing factors.Design/methodology/approachUsing a platform ecosystem approach, a quadrilateral evolutionary game model was developed, and the stabilities of subjects’ behavioral strategies and their combinations in various scenarios were analyzed. Additionally, the effects of key parameters on the system’s evolutionary path were simulated.FindingsThe ideal steady state system is achieved when platform enterprises, complementors and consumers adopt positive strategies while the government adopts lax regulation. Moreover, the evolutionary strategies of the subjects are influenced by several factors, including the participation costs of governance, the rewards and punishments imposed by platform enterprises, as well as the reputational losses of platform enterprises and complementors due to media coverage.Practical implicationsThis study offers insights into improving the governance effectiveness of platform corporate social responsibility for managers and practitioners.Originality/valueThis study contributes to existing literature by considering the rational orientation of platform ecosystem members and revealing the interaction mechanisms among members. Furthermore, this study combines collective action theory and reputation theory to clarify the influencing factors on members’ behaviors.

Evaluation of the value of Internet platform Enterprises in the digital economy by the big data cooperation asset valuation model

With the innovation of information technology, the national industry has been adjusted and upgraded, and the development of the Internet industry has had a huge impact on economic development. The investment and financing of network enterprises and the merger and acquisition of network companies need to evaluate the value of network companies. In this regard, this paper evaluated the value of Internet platform enterprises under the digital economy based on the Big Data (BD) cooperation asset valuation model. This paper analyzed the factors affecting the value evaluation of Internet enterprises and discussed the advantages of BD cooperative asset valuation model in the value evaluation of Internet enterprises in the digital economy. The BD cooperation asset valuation model was constructed, and the value evaluation experiment of Internet platform enterprises under the digital economy was carried out. The experimental results of this paper showed that in the evaluation of the profitability value of Internet enterprises, the difference between the net sales interest rate was 0.14%–0.51 %. The difference between the net interest rate of equity was 0.09%–0.67 %, and the difference between the net interest rate of total assets was 0.19%–0.92 %; in terms of the evaluation of the operating capacity of Internet enterprises, the difference between the current asset turnover rate was 0.05–0.16. The difference of non-current asset turnover rate was 0.02–0.15, and the difference of total asset turnover rate was 0.01–0.16. The evaluation value based on the BD cooperation asset valuation model was not different from the actual enterprise value, which showed that the BD cooperation asset valuation model had good advantages in the evaluation of the value of Internet enterprises.

Sustainable Value-Sharing Mechanisms of the Industrial Internet of Things Platforms: A Case Study of Haier’s Service-Oriented Transformation

Ensuring fairness and equity in value distribution is crucial for the sustainability of platform ecosystems. However, existing approaches to distributing benefits among cooperative entities often find it difficult to accurately assess each stakeholder’s contributions. This paper tackles this challenge through a case study of the Haier COSMOPlat IIoT platform. By analyzing its value creation and value distribution processes, the research uncovers how platform enterprises can overcome existing limitations by quantifying and revealing intangible customer relationships alongside financial metrics. This revised value-sharing mechanism encourages a shift from “post-event value-sharing” to “mid-event adjustment”, promoting a fair and equitable profit distribution framework that motivates stakeholders toward sustainable value co-creation.

Sustainable Development of Platform Enterprises: A Synthesis Framework

Enterprises are the most important core organizations of the country and modern society, and their growth has always been a focal point in the theoretical field. This paper aims to focus on the sustainable development of platform enterprises by exploring the mechanism of platform growth. Thus, this paper reviews the literature and analyzes the challenges faced by platform enterprises during the four stages of birth, expansion, leadership, and self-renewal, as well as the strategies they have adopted. The main aims of this paper are to help understand the growth process of platform enterprises and identify three key points that need to be addressed for sustainable growth, including the disadvantages of resource externalities, the importance of the restructuration of business models, and the urgency of fulfilling social responsibility. To address the exogenous nature of resources, platform enterprises should pay attention to the initiative of complementors, the distribution of benefits, and ecological orchestration. The impact of technology, especially artificial intelligence, on business models and the application of technology to restructure business models should be given attention. It is also necessary to pay attention to how platform enterprises undertake their social responsibilities. A synthesis framework with seven propositions for future research has been proposed.

Exploration of the Deep Impact of Digital Platforms on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Activities of Entrepreneurs under the Information Management Framework

With the rapid development of information technology, digital platforms (DPs) have emerged as an indispensable aspect of the entrepreneurial landscape, which has a profound impact on entrepreneurial innovation and practice. However, there remains a gap in understanding the specific ways in which DPs influence the entrepreneurial process. Therefore, within the framework of information management theory, this study aims to deepen the understanding of how DPs foster entrepreneurial innovation and enhance entrepreneurial effectiveness, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of DPs. Firstly, the concept of information management in contemporary social enterprise management is thoroughly examined and reviewed to establish a robust theoretical foundation for further research. Secondly, the conceptual framework and core elements of DPs are extensively discussed, elucidating their role and function in the entrepreneurial process. On this basis, a theoretical model illustrating the impact of DPs on entrepreneurial innovation and activities is formulated, along with six specific research hypotheses. These hypotheses encompass the effects of DPs on entrepreneur behavior, enterprise development, and the platform–entrepreneur relationship. To verify the validity of these hypotheses, a questionnaire survey involving 398 entrepreneurs is conducted to facilitate in-depth communication. Simultaneously, the various attributes of entrepreneurs are categorized, and the resulting classifications are thoroughly analyzed and evaluated. The results show that the DP plays a positive role in promoting the development of platform enterprises, improving intrapreneurship activities, and enhancing the ability of intrapreneurship. In addition, DPs can effectively regulate the relationship between platform enterprises and entrepreneurs and promote the self-development of entrepreneurs. Furthermore, the entrepreneurial growth process has positively influenced platform enterprises. This finding strongly supports the practical application of DPs and provides valuable guidance for entrepreneurs to leverage them effectively in fostering innovation and entrepreneurial activities in the digital era. Meanwhile, this offers crucial insights for platform enterprises on enhancing their service offerings to entrepreneurs and fostering the sustainable development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. In summary, through rigorous theoretical discourse and empirical analysis, this study emphasizes the significant role of DPs in the entrepreneurial journey, providing robust backing for their continued advancement and utilization in the entrepreneurial realm.

CSR of Platform Enterprises in the Era of Digitalization

The concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has a long history and has always been a topic of controversy. Scholars have continuously researched it without pause. During the traditional phase dominated by manufacturing industries, scholars debated whether companies should assume social responsibility and what specific responsibilities they should fulfill. The theories of shareholder orientation and stakeholder theory emerged in this context. In the present era of digitalization, which has reshaped traditional business models and significantly impacted people’s work and lives, platform enterprises have not only contributed to economic development but have also brought forth prominent social issues. These issues include allegations of monopolistic behavior, leakage of user information, and infringement of consumer rights. To varying degrees, these challenges expose the lack of social responsibility in platform enterprises and the absence of effective legislation and regulation. This paper explores the legal and regulatory dilemmas faced by platform enterprises in fulfilling social responsibility in the digital age, and discuss the innovation and governance of social responsibility from individual, corporate, and societal perspectives.

The two‐stage presale pricing for online products considering anchoring effect and payment pain reduction

AbstractOnline product pricing is an important research field in the platform economy, and a two‐stage mixed presale is a mainstream mode of online sales. In the process of online consumption, the payment method and presale mode have an important impact on consumer behaviour and product pricing. Based on the two‐stage mixed presale mode, this study considers the impact of anchoring and the payment pain reduction effect on consumer behaviour, establishes the corresponding product pricing model and obtains the optimal presale price, sales and profit. It sheds light on the influence mechanism of anchoring and the payment pain reduction effect on consumer behaviour and online product pricing. Theoretical and numerical analyses reveal that the payment pain reduction effect can help to raise the product price, stimulate market vitality and bring higher profits for online retailers, and the anchoring effect and consumers' loss aversion psychology can enhance the profits and sales of online retailers, but they will discourage setting high prices for products. The research results will further enrich the relevant research on customer behaviour and product pricing in the platform economy and will provide decision bases for platform enterprises and online retailers to participate in presale activities and formulate product pricing strategies.

Impacts of digital technology innovation for social responsibility of platform enterprises on shareholder value

PurposeConsidering rapid digitalization development, this study examines the impacts of digital technology innovation on social responsibility in platform enterprises.Design/methodology/approachThe study applies the event study method and cross-sectional regression analysis, taking 168 digital technology innovations for social responsibility issued by 88 listed platform enterprises from 2011 to 2022 to study the impact of digital technology innovations for social responsibility announcements of different announcement content and platform attributes on the stock market value of platform enterprises.FindingsThe results show that, first, the positive stock market reaction is produced on the same day as the digital technology innovation announcement. Second, the announcement of the platform’s public social responsibility and the announcement of co-innovation and radical innovation bring more positive stock market reactions. In addition, the announcements mentioned above issued by trading platforms bring more positive stock market reactions. Finally, the social responsibility attribution characteristics of the announcement did not have a significant differentiated impact on the stock market reaction.Originality/valueMost scholars have studied digital technology innovation for social responsibility through modeling rather than second-hand data to empirically examine. This study uses second-hand data with the instrumental stakeholder theory to provide a new research perspective on platform social responsibility. In addition, in order to explore the different impacts of digital technology innovation on social responsibility, this study has classified digital technology innovation for social responsibility according to its social responsibility and digital technology innovation characteristics.

Affording digital transformation: The role of industrial Internet platform in traditional manufacturing enterprises digital transformation

This study aims to investigate the role of industrial Internet platform in facilitating the digital transformation of traditional manufacturing enterprises. While prior research has predominantly focused on industrial Internet platform enterprises, there is a noticeable dearth of research concerning traditional manufacturing enterprises lacking the resources to establish such platforms. To address this research gap, we conduct an exploratory case study and propose an affordances upgrade model that elucidates the digital business transformation process of these manufacturing enterprises leveraging industrial Internet platforms. The research findings can be summarized from two key perspectives. Firstly, the industrial Internet platform offers valuable technical support and potential opportunities for manufacturing enterprises to achieve digital business transformation through three distinct affordances: consonance, resonance, and adaptation. These affordances enable enterprises to align their operations with the capabilities and possibilities provided by the platform, thus facilitating their digital transformation. Secondly, to effectively harness these affordances, enterprises must strategically leverage the platform's technical services and systems in their production and operational practices. Through the accumulation of practical experiences, enterprises gradually transition their production modes from experience institutionalization and standardization to a state of refinement. The dynamic leapfrogging process of digital transformation in traditional manufacturing enterprises, facilitated by the industrial Internet platform, is reflected in the realization of these three affordances and their underlying resource capabilities. This research significantly contributes to the field by expanding the scope of inquiry to encompass traditional manufacturing enterprises and presenting a stage model for their digital transformation utilizing industrial Internet platform.

Analyzing horizontal integration and market efficiency in platform enterprises: A case study of exchanges

AbstractAs a platform for the trading of bulk commodities, securities, and futures, exchanges, characterized by platform‐like attributes, provide inexhaustible power for the further development of commodity economy through horizontal integration. This paper examines the international integration landscape of the modern exchanges through the lens of platform economy theory, specifically examining the ramifications of their horizontal integration on market efficiency. Employing the net utility hypothesis within the Hotelling model, we construct a nuanced trader utility model. Through a comparative analysis of platform profit, trader utility, and social welfare, the research discerns the impact of exchanges' horizontal integration. We highlight the intrinsic incentives for such integration within exchanges and put forth pertinent policy recommendations, adding a dimension of practical relevance to the academic discourse. The paper concludes by highlighting the role of government in promoting the efficiency of platform enterprises.