Selecting the right platform – the perspective of logistics service providers

Abstract

Purpose: Digital platforms provide logistics service providers (LSPs) the opportunity to increase their capacity utilization. Since there are a large number of reasonable alternatives, LSPs should be able to systematically assess different platforms. How-ever, there is little knowledge on specific dimensions for such an assessment. Thus, the objective of this paper is to identify important dimensions to assess digital plat-forms from the perspective of LSPs. Methodology: We conducted semi-structured interviews with LSPs and platform op-erators. Based on a qualitative content analysis we identify specific dimensions for assessment of digital platforms. Findings: We find four specific dimensions for assessing platform potential. First, matching mechanisms that facilitate transaction processes and reduce search costs. Second, gatekeeping mechanisms that assure the quality of platform actors and in-crease trust. Third, pricing mechanisms that affect direct costs, and fourth, factors that lead to lock-in-effects. Originality: There are a large number of studies on criteria to select business part-ners, e.g., suppliers. Although the number of platform users increases rapidly, and their disruptive potential is high, there is only little knowledge on platform-specific evaluation criteria. In this paper, we identify relevant platform-specific dimensions for the selection of suitable platforms as an extension of existing partner selection criteria.