IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/elmark/v32y2022i2d10.1007_s12525-022-00540-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Data-driven forwarding: a typology of digital platforms for road freight transport management

Author

Listed:
  • Christoph Heinbach

    (Smart Enterprise Engineering)

  • Jan Beinke

    (Smart Enterprise Engineering)

  • Friedemann Kammler

    (Smart Enterprise Engineering)

  • Oliver Thomas

    (Smart Enterprise Engineering
    Osnabrück University, Information Management and Information Systems)

Abstract

The omnipresence of digital platforms (DPs) across industries yields platform-based business concepts that disrupt the road freight market, enabling the digitalization of road freight transport management (RFTM). However, the data-driven service capabilities of DPs in supporting RFTM are manifold, and platform research provides opportunities to explore the emerging digital business concepts following the core process of transport management systems (TMSs). This, in particular, results from the side of road freight operators engaged in the transport management process that are increasingly forced to provide customer-centric RFTM via DPs to remain profitable and competitive within a fragmented business environment. Against this backdrop, this paper aims to explore DPs in the road freight transport domain to gain insights into digital freight services and support logistics companies involved in the transportation process with a novel navigation for the identification of required platform-based services. Following the grounded theory methodology, we present a morphological box encompassing 14 dimensions and eight DP types aligned to RFTM. We reveal digital services of DP visibility, optimization, and analytics. With the insights obtained by our research, we contribute to developing a comprehensive understanding of DPs for the enhanced decision-making of transport stakeholders in the area of digital transport management. Our findings provide an established theoretical research ground that guides platforms as markets for practitioners and proposes further research avenues for scholars toward data-driven and digitalized transport logistics.

Suggested Citation

  • Christoph Heinbach & Jan Beinke & Friedemann Kammler & Oliver Thomas, 2022. "Data-driven forwarding: a typology of digital platforms for road freight transport management," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(2), pages 807-828, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:elmark:v:32:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s12525-022-00540-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s12525-022-00540-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12525-022-00540-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s12525-022-00540-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stefan Tönnissen & Jan Heinrich Beinke & Frank Teuteberg, 2020. "Understanding token-based ecosystems – a taxonomy of blockchain-based business models of start-ups," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 30(2), pages 307-323, June.
    2. Gawer, Annabelle, 2014. "Bridging differing perspectives on technological platforms: Toward an integrative framework," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(7), pages 1239-1249.
    3. Mark Armstrong, 2006. "Competition in two‐sided markets," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 37(3), pages 668-691, September.
    4. Jean-Charles Rochet & Jean Tirole, 2003. "Platform Competition in Two-Sided Markets," Journal of the European Economic Association, MIT Press, vol. 1(4), pages 990-1029, June.
    5. Amrit Tiwana & Benn Konsynski & Ashley A. Bush, 2010. "Research Commentary ---Platform Evolution: Coevolution of Platform Architecture, Governance, and Environmental Dynamics," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 21(4), pages 675-687, December.
    6. de Reuver, Mark & Sørensen, Carsten & Basole, Rahul C., 2018. "The digital platform: a research agenda," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 80669, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Hagiu, Andrei & Wright, Julian, 2015. "Multi-sided platforms," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 162-174.
    8. Anuradha Jain & Rob van der Heijden & Vincent Marchau & Dirk Bruckmann, 2020. "Towards Rail-Road Online Exchange Platforms in EU-Freight Transportation Markets: An Analysis of Matching Supply and Demand in Multimodal Services," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-28, December.
    9. Tim Gruchmann & Nadine Pratt & Jan Eiten & Ani Melkonyan, 2020. "4PL Digital Business Models in Sea Freight Logistics: The Case of FreightHub," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-14, May.
    10. Jaroslaw Witkowski & Jakub Marcinkowski & Maja Kiba-Janiak, 2020. "A Comparative Analysis of Electronic Freight Exchanges in the United States and Europe with the Use of the Multiple Criteria Decision-Making Method “Promethee”," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special 1), pages 476-487.
    11. Marcel Papert & Alexander Pflaum, 2017. "Development of an Ecosystem Model for the Realization of Internet of Things (IoT) Services in Supply Chain Management," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 27(2), pages 175-189, May.
    12. Daniel Trabucchi & Tommaso Buganza & Laurent Muzellec & Sébastien Ronteau, 2021. "Platform‐driven innovation: Unveiling research and business opportunities," Post-Print hal-03718524, HAL.
    13. Nandiraju, Srinivas & Regan, Amelia, 2008. "Freight Transportation Electronic Marketplaces: A Survey of the Industry and Exploration of Important Research Issues," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt9fj2c4jw, University of California Transportation Center.
    14. Elbert, Ralf & Gleser, Michael, 2019. "Digital forwarders : a market oriented taxonomy," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 117450, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    15. Erik Hofmann & Florin Osterwalder, 2017. "Third-Party Logistics Providers in the Digital Age: Towards a New Competitive Arena?," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 1(2), pages 1-28, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Rainer Alt, 2022. "Electronic Markets on platform transformation," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(2), pages 401-409, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fabian Schueler & Dimitri Petrik, 2022. "Objectives of platform research: A co-citation and systematic literature review analysis," Papers 2202.08822, arXiv.org.
    2. Mosterd, Lars & Sobota, Vladimir C.M. & van de Kaa, Geerten & Ding, Aaron Yi & de Reuver, Mark, 2021. "Context dependent trade-offs around platform-to-platform openness: The case of the Internet of Things," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    3. Malgorzata Poniatowska-Jaksch & Katarzyna Nowicka, 2021. "Transport Platforms in the EU towards Sustainable Development," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2), pages 779-797.
    4. Bixiang Shi & Fangcheng Tang & Fenfen Wei, 2022. "The Path Constitution of Platform Evolution: An Organizational Momentum View," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-22, July.
    5. Andreas Hein & Maximilian Schreieck & Tobias Riasanow & David Soto Setzke & Manuel Wiesche & Markus Böhm & Helmut Krcmar, 2020. "Digital platform ecosystems," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 30(1), pages 87-98, March.
    6. Carmelo Cennamo & Hakan Ozalp & Tobias Kretschmer, 2018. "Platform Architecture and Quality Trade-offs of Multihoming Complements," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 29(2), pages 461-478, June.
    7. Martin Poniatowski & Hedda Lüttenberg & Daniel Beverungen & Dennis Kundisch, 2022. "Three layers of abstraction: a conceptual framework for theorizing digital multi-sided platforms," Information Systems and e-Business Management, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 257-283, June.
    8. Carmen Leong & Silvia Lin & Felix Tan & Jie Yu, 2024. "Coordination in a Digital Platform Organization," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 35(1), pages 363-393, March.
    9. Alexander Gleiss & Marco Kohlhagen & Key Pousttchi, 2021. "An apple a day – how the platform economy impacts value creation in the healthcare market," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 31(4), pages 849-876, December.
    10. Tobias Wulfert & Robert Woroch & Gero Strobel & Sarah Seufert & Frederik Möller, 2022. "Developing design principles to standardize e-commerce ecosystems," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(4), pages 1813-1842, December.
    11. Benedict J. Drasch & Gilbert Fridgen & Tobias Manner-Romberg & Fenja M. Nolting & Sven Radszuwill, 2020. "The token’s secret: the two-faced financial incentive of the token economy," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 30(3), pages 557-567, September.
    12. Veile, Johannes W. & Schmidt, Marie-Christin & Voigt, Kai-Ingo, 2022. "Toward a new era of cooperation: How industrial digital platforms transform business models in Industry 4.0," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 387-405.
    13. Jan Frederic Nerbel & Markus Kreutzer, 2023. "Digital platform ecosystems in flux: From proprietary digital platforms to wide-spanning ecosystems," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 33(1), pages 1-20, December.
    14. Roma, Paolo & Vasi, Maria, 2019. "Diversification and performance in the mobile app market: The role of the platform ecosystem," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 123-139.
    15. Zhong Wang & Rui Xu, 2022. "Price Controls and Platform Ecosystem: A Comparative Analysis of Parking Applications between Beijing and London," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, May.
    16. Hou, Hong & Shi, Yongjiang, 2021. "Ecosystem-as-structure and ecosystem-as-coevolution: A constructive examination," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    17. Yuki Inoue & Takeshi Takenaka & Takami Kasasaku & Tadafumi Tamegai & Ryohei Arai, 2023. "How to design platform ecosystems by intrapreneurs: Implications from action design research on IoT-based platform," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 33(1), pages 1-26, December.
    18. Teubner, Alexander & Stockhinger, Jan, 2020. "IT/IS strategy research and digitalization: An extensive literature review," ERCIS Working Papers 34, University of Münster, European Research Center for Information Systems (ERCIS).
    19. Mucha, Tomasz & Seppälä, Timo, 2020. "Artificial Intelligence Platforms – A New Research Agenda for Digital Platform Economy," ETLA Working Papers 76, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    20. Jabbour, Chady & Rey-Valette, Hélène & Maurel, Pierre & Salles, Jean-Michel, 2019. "Spatial data infrastructure management: A two-sided market approach for strategic reflections," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 69-82.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Digital platform; Transport management; End-to-end visibility; Freight forwarding; Data-driven service systems; Smart logistics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:elmark:v:32:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s12525-022-00540-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.