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Understanding digital platform ecosystems is a central theme in information systems research. Particularly complementors’ characteristics, motivations, and their heterogeneity are examined in contemporary research. However, little is known about heterogeneity across both sides of the platform market and how digital platforms enable interactions across these heterogeneous sides. With a single case study of a digital logistics platform’s ecosystem, we investigate how a platform enables interactions in a market exhibiting heterogeneity in the use of technology across both sides. We find cross-market-side heterogeneity, a new dimension in the relationship between platform owner and complementor. Our results suggest that platform owners offer auxiliary services that enable complementors to interact on an equal footing with consumers. We explain how platform owners can enable complementors to overcome the resulting differences in professionalization.

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Jan 17th, 12:00 AM

Professionalizing Small Complementors in a Heterogeneous Platform Ecosystem. A Logistics Case

Understanding digital platform ecosystems is a central theme in information systems research. Particularly complementors’ characteristics, motivations, and their heterogeneity are examined in contemporary research. However, little is known about heterogeneity across both sides of the platform market and how digital platforms enable interactions across these heterogeneous sides. With a single case study of a digital logistics platform’s ecosystem, we investigate how a platform enables interactions in a market exhibiting heterogeneity in the use of technology across both sides. We find cross-market-side heterogeneity, a new dimension in the relationship between platform owner and complementor. Our results suggest that platform owners offer auxiliary services that enable complementors to interact on an equal footing with consumers. We explain how platform owners can enable complementors to overcome the resulting differences in professionalization.