Landlords with no lands: a systematic literature review on hybrid multi-sided platforms and platform thinking

Abstract

PurposeThis article is based on a systematic and comprehensive review of the literature on two-sided platforms, the business structure based on the concept of matchmaking groups of customers (e.g. Uber or Airbnb). The research aims to identify gaps in the existing literature while providing a structured summary of the existing knowledge in the field. Finally, we propose a conceptual framework enabling platform thinking, the ability to see hybrid multi-sided platforms as a useful resource-orchestration structure to unveil innovation opportunities.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a bibliometric approach, combing co-citation and text mining analyses of 196 papers, also implementing a longitudinal analysis that highlights the evolution of the field since its inception till today.FindingsThe novel aspect of the paper consists in taking a purely managerial stance of a very peculiar kind of platform, merging existing knowledge in comprehensive frameworks while providing potential avenues for research.Research limitations/implicationsFrom an academic perspective, this research highlights the double nature of two-sided platforms: as an operational choice or as a way to exploit (digital) assets and reach the economic sustainability. A research agenda is proposed, based on three pillars: a side-based standpoint, a business model perspective and an evolutionary stance to see how these businesses may evolve.Practical implicationsThe research identifies different literature streams that may help practitioners in identifying how two-sided platforms may help them in fostering innovation.Originality/valueThe identification of two-sided platforms as a different way to create value (transaction platforms) or to capture value (non-transaction platform), enhancing the debate on this innovative business model. A research agenda to bring the field forward is proposed.

Incentive and Coordination in the Two-Sided Market: Evidence from the P2P Lending Market

“…Although the platform is an information intermediary, it can optimize the trading results of participants, using strategies such as coupons, and promote the healthy development of the entire trading system. is result also complements the research of management perspective on two-sided platforms [12]. Secondly, the difference of the platform's benefits between adopting the coupon strategy and not doing so is inverted U-shaped with the coupon strategy investment.…”

“…We reestimate the regressions ( 19)-( 21) and find that the results remain significantly positive at the 1% and 10% levels, as shown in Table 14. Although some of the results are not significant in columns ( 6), ( 9), (10), and (12), they are significant at the 10% level. In other words, these results are significant overall.…”

“…Zhou et al [11] studied the value of a cashback website to an e-shop in both centralised and decentralised settings. However, as two-sided markets are more complex than single markets [12,13], and since it is necessary to coordinate the market participants on both sides, it is worth studying more in detail whether the coupon strategy in two-sided markets can coordinate both sets of participants.…”

“…In addition, Zhang et al [39] studied how online retailers employing discounted prices affected customer behaviour in the short and long term using a randomised field experiment with data from the Alibaba Group. Due to the complexity of twosided markets, the impact of coupon strategy should be further studied, which complements the research of management perspective on two-sided platforms [12].…”

What’s the tally? An Investigation into the Field(s) of Dominant Designs and Platforms

“…But anecdotal evidence suggests that this is possible, and that platform dominance can be at least successive (e.g., Myspace outcompeted Friendster and later lost to Facebook). Today's platforms my come under threat by distributed platforms relying on blockchain technology [63]. Twoor multi-sided markets may depend on the technology cycle of the focal product that is transacted on their platform.…”