More Than Infrastructure Providers – Digital Platforms' Role and Power in Retail Digitalisation in Germany

Please always quote using this URN: urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-287297
  • Digital platforms, such as Amazon, represent the major beneficiaries of the Covid‐19 crisis. This study examines the role of digital platforms and their engagement in digitalisation initiatives targeting (small) brick‐and‐mortar retailers in Germany, thereby contributing to a better understanding of how digital platforms augment, substitute or reorganise physical retail spaces. This study applies a mixed‐method approach based on qualitative interviews, participant observation as well as media analysis. First, the study illustrates theDigital platforms, such as Amazon, represent the major beneficiaries of the Covid‐19 crisis. This study examines the role of digital platforms and their engagement in digitalisation initiatives targeting (small) brick‐and‐mortar retailers in Germany, thereby contributing to a better understanding of how digital platforms augment, substitute or reorganise physical retail spaces. This study applies a mixed‐method approach based on qualitative interviews, participant observation as well as media analysis. First, the study illustrates the controversial role of digital platforms by positioning themselves as supporting partners of the (offline) retailers, while simultaneously shifting power towards the platforms themselves. Second, digital platforms have established themselves not only as infrastructure providers but also as actors within these infrastructures, framing digital as well as physical retail spaces, inter alia due to their role as publicly legitimised retail advisers. Third, while institutions want to help retailers to survive, they simultaneously enhance retailers' dependency on digital platforms.show moreshow less

Download full text files

Export metadata

Additional Services

Share in Twitter Search Google Scholar Statistics
Metadaten
Author: Sina Hardaker
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-287297
Document Type:Journal article
Faculties:Philosophische Fakultät (Histor., philolog., Kultur- und geograph. Wissensch.) / Institut für Geographie und Geologie
Language:English
Parent Title (English):Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie
Year of Completion:2022
Volume:113
Issue:3
First Page:310
Last Page:328
Source:Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie 2022, 113(3):310–328. DOI: 10.1111/tesg.12511
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/tesg.12511
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 55 Geowissenschaften, Geologie / 550 Geowissenschaften
Tag:Covid‐19; digitalisation initiative; e‐commerce; framing; platform economy; two‐sided markets
Release Date:2023/01/17
Licence (German):License LogoCC BY-NC-ND: Creative-Commons-Lizenz: Namensnennung, Nicht kommerziell, Keine Bearbeitungen 4.0 International