The purpose of this study is to offer a comprehensive typification of digital platforms within the context of supply chain management (SCM). It aims to dissect the multifaceted roles, functionalities and capabilities of digital platforms, facilitating a deeper understanding of their value propositions to global supply chains (SCs).
Adopting a qualitative methodology and abductive reasoning, this study analyzes value propositions from the websites of 155 platforms strongly linked to logistics and SCM, applying qualitative content analysis. The research employs an iterative typification development process, grounded in both conceptual and empirical data.
The study identifies three distinct archetypes of digital platforms relevant to SCM: data-oriented platform, matching platform and supply chain as a service platform. Each type delineates specific functions and strategic benefits, underscoring how digital platforms optimize SC and logistics operations.
This study contributes theoretically by introducing a dual-level typification that links abstract platform archetypes with real-world combinations. It responds to the digitally dominant paradigm, explains platform convergence through institutional isomorphism, and adds a strategic lens via platform envelopment to account for bundling-driven market expansion.
The typification provides a framework for evaluating and selecting digital platforms that support differentiated strategic objectives. It also offers guidance on how to build digital capabilities progressively from modular data and transaction platforms to fully integrated SCaaS models. The identification of empirically grounded platform combinations further helps organizations benchmark their digital transformation strategies under uncertainty and resource constraints.
This study contributes a typification of digital platforms in SCM, addressing the observed lack of coherent typification in the current literature. It advances the conceptualization of platform-based SCM as an orchestrated ecosystem by integrating empirical evidence, theoretical abstraction, and institutional context.
