Electronic Markets - The International Journal on Networked Business

16/09/2025

We have published a discussion paper on "How will the digital euro work? A preliminary analysis of design, structures, and challenges" by Volker Brühl, Center for Financial Studies, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-025-00822-7

This discussion paper takes an in-depth look at the proposed design and architecture of the digital euro. The authors examine the complexities of integrating the digital euro into the current payment system and the challenges that lie ahead.
The research highlights key success factors for the project, including a high adoption rate, clear communication of its benefits, and sufficient incentives for banks and payment service providers. The findings offer valuable insights into the future of digital payments.

The ECB has been working on the potential introduction of a digital euro for several years. This article provides an overview of how a digital euro is intended to work. An examination of the prospective design features and architecture of the digital euro reveals the complexity of the project and th...

15/09/2025

We have published new research: "Optimizing AI strategies in e-commerce customer service: An agent-based simulation" by Yali Zhang, Zhenbin Ding, Jun Sun, Xingfang Zhao, Xu Hu & Zhaojun Yan.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-025-00821-8

This publication explores how e-commerce companies can optimize their AI strategies for customer service.
Using a simulation model, the study evaluates three strategies: human-only, AI-only, and human-AI collaboration.
The findings show that the optimal approach depends on task complexity, service volume, product margin, and other factors. This paper offers valuable insights for companies seeking to improve their customer service operations through the effective deployment of AI.

This paper is part of our Special Issue on "Service research in the digital era": https://link.springer.com/collections/jbeibcbdfj

10/09/2025

We have published new research: "AI-powered predictive modeling for food-service crowdfunding success: An integrated approach with business intelligence and supervised machine learning for smart business ecosystem" by Minwoo Lee, Yoon Koh, Araceli Hernandez & Taehyee Um.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-025-00824-5

This paper investigates using machine learning (ML) to predict the success of food-service crowdfunding projects.

The study analyzed data from over 22,000 Kickstarter projects using seven different supervised ML algorithms. The results suggest that deep learning and XGBoost are effective models for predicting crowdfunding success.

This study advances our understanding of success factors in online crowdfunding and provides valuable insights for entrepreneurs using these platforms.

This study investigates the potential of machine learning (ML) for predicting food-service crowdfunding success, addressing a gap in online crowdfunding platform and smart business ecosystem. Drawing on costless signaling theory and insights from crowdfunding literature, five reputational and eleven...

08/09/2025

We have published new research: "AI-powered travel recommendations and decision-making: The role of spatio-temporal efficiency, destination type, and travel party composition" by Sunyoung Hlee, Zhijun Yan & Ping Li, School of Management, Beijing Institute of Technology.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-025-00825-4

The new article examines how real-time, location-aware AI recommendations affect travelers.

The study found that spatio-temporal AI recommendations are perceived as more helpful than non-spatio-temporal alternatives, particularly by individuals searching for tourist attractions and those traveling with companions. These results provide valuable insights for tourism research and the practical application of AI in the travel industry.

The paper is part of our Special Issue on "Smart Tourism 2.0: Perspectives with geospatial data and AI" (https://link.springer.com/collections/afidjgfjga)

This study examined the influence of AI-driven recommendation systems on perceived helpfulness in travel decision-making, emphasizing spatio-temporal efficiency, destination type, and travel party composition. Although AI-driven travel recommendations are becoming more common, current research has m...

04/09/2025

We have published new research: "What role do data network effects play for multihoming complements? An empirical analysis of platform complementors’ strategies for consumer value creation" Clarissa Knorr, Matthias Erath, Julie Saesen, Bastian Kindermann & Steffen Strese.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-025-00817-4

This study examines the strategic choices of complementors in digital ecosystems, which are increasingly relevant due to data network effects. Based on an analysis of iOS gaming apps, the research investigates how complement multihoming affects consumer quality.

The paper offers an updated perspective on the value of multihoming and emphasizes the importance of software autonomy for complements. Additionally, it offers insights into how complement monetization can impact perceived quality.

This study contributes to a better understanding of value creation and capture in platform markets, providing practical insights for complementors and platform providers alike.

The growing relevance of artificial intelligence (AI) and data in digital platform ecosystems shapes value creation, recently discussed by scholars as data network effects. Complementors significantly contribute to the value that consumers derive from a platform through its offerings. The potential....

01/09/2025

The new collection of free access papers is now available until October 31, 2025.

These five featured papers are free access for two months and focus on digital communications between firms and investors; customer usage of digital platforms and spatial agglomeration; sellers’ platform dependence and fairness perceptions; augmented reality (AR) and the enhancement of mental imagery; and on a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) on the formation of Internet platform companies’ social responsibility risks.

You can find them here: https://link.springer.com/journal/12525/updates/23971536

We hope you enjoy reading them!

29/08/2025

We have published new research: "From hesitation to participation in industrial data ecosystems: Analysis of motives and incentives in the automotive industry" by Marc Brechtel, Universität Potsdam.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-025-00818-3

This study employs a two-step qualitative approach and 28 expert interviews within the Catena-X data ecosystem to analyze the various motives and incentives for participating in data ecosystems within the automotive supply chain. The study provides valuable insights and recommendations for ecosystem initiators to promote participation at various stages of the supply chain.
It is a valuable resource for anyone interested in industrial data ecosystems and inter-firm data sharing.

Industrial firms are increasingly dependent on data from business partners, raising the need for and value of inter-firm data sharing. Yet, many industrial firms are hesitant to join and share data within industrial data ecosystems. Existing research neglects the diversity of actor groups along indu...

15/08/2025

We have published new research: "The road not taken: Representing expert knowledge for route similarities in sustainable tourism using machine learning" by Jessica Bollenbach, Dominik Rebholz & Robert Keller.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-025-00816-5

This paper presents a method for identifying suitable alternative routes in support of sustainable smart tourism. Using machine learning models trained on expert surveys, the researchers calculate route similarities, outperforming traditional distance-based algorithms. This study lays the groundwork for future initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable tourism by offering a data-driven approach to identifying alternative routes that align with visitor preferences.

The article is part of the Special Issue on "Smart Tourism 2.0: Perspectives with geospatial data and AI": https://link.springer.com/collections/afidjgfjga

29/07/2025

We have published a new Call for Papers for the special issue on "Digitalization for responsive and circular supply chains".

The special issue is guest edited by Günter Prockl, Alexander Pflaum, Haozhe Chen, Marcel Papert. Submission deadline is: February 01, 2026.

You can find more information on our website: https://link.springer.com/collections/cchghgejbh

We look forward to receiving many interesting submissions!

28/07/2025

We have published a new research paper: "Unveiling the relationship between virtual streamer characteristics and consumer purchase intention in live streaming commerce: Insights from source credibility perspective" by Ri Na, Anan Hu, Qingfeng Zeng, Ruyi Ge & Ruohong Hao.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-025-00813-8

This study explores how consumers' perceptions of the characteristics of virtual personalities influence their purchase intentions. Using source credibility theory, the study found that perceived attractiveness, intelligence, interactivity, and congruence are significantly associated with purchase intentions, as mediated by trust and affection.

Interestingly, the findings suggest that attractiveness is more strongly linked to affection, while intelligence is more strongly linked to trust. The authors also used fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to identify configurations that lead to high purchase intentions.

This study provides valuable insights for developing effective marketing strategies in the ever-changing world of live streaming commerce.

24/07/2025

We have published new research: "Investigating data value co-creation in the digital servitization ecosystem: An evolutionary game perspective" by Yongtao Peng, Jiawei Sun & Yanchao Hou.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-025-00804-9

Our latest research, "Investigating Data Value Co-Creation in the Digital Servitization Ecosystem: An Evolutionary Game Perspective," is now available. The study examines the interactions among digital service integrators, product suppliers, and customers within the evolving digital servitization ecosystem, focusing on how they achieve value co-creation through data sharing.

Using a three-agent evolutionary game model, we identify stable strategies and key factors that influence the development of the ecosystem. Our findings underscore the importance of integrators' and suppliers' data benevolence, customers' comprehensive sharing, and the positive impact of data value conversion capability, data resource quality, digital service level, and penalty amounts. We also note the negative effects of speculative gains and risk costs.

This research offers valuable insights into fostering effective data resource sharing for sustainable value creation in digital servitization.

The digital servitization ecosystem is a multidimensional organizational environment that empowers the manufacturing industry’s service transformation via digital technology, aiming at value co-creation. However, whether effective data resource sharing can be achieved among multiple entities is a ...

23/07/2025

We have published new research: "Striking a balance: Designing a blockchain-based solution to navigate coopetition dynamics in supply chain management" by Jonathan Lautenschlager, Jan Stramm, Tobias Guggenberger & Nils Urbach.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-025-00809-4

This paper addresses the growing impact of coopetition dynamics in digital supply chains. Although blockchain systems offer significant benefits for cooperation and automation, they often struggle to manage competitive dependencies and the disclosure of sensitive information within transparent networks.

Utilizing a design science research approach, the authors propose a blockchain architecture tailored to the construction industry. Their solution focuses on components that manage competition and privacy-enhancing technologies. It aims to balance the benefits of cooperation with the critical need to protect sensitive business data in supply chain automation.

This study contributes to the scientific discourse by providing design principles and implementation guidelines for a blockchain solution that facilitates coopetitive data exchange and the successful adoption of blockchain technology.

Coopetition dynamics, which refer to the simultaneous competition and cooperation, increasingly affect the management of digital supply chains. Current research profoundly explores the benefits and drawbacks of using blockchain systems in coopetition strategies to boost cooperation and automation in...