{"title":"Revisiting e-commerce platforms’ strategies of exercising channel power: a contingency perspective","authors":"Guangkuan Deng, Jianyu Zhang, Ying Xu, Lijuan He","doi":"10.1108/jbim-08-2023-0444","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Purpose</h3>\n<p>The integration of e-commerce platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) into the marketing channel ecosystem is challenging the explanatory capacity of traditional channel power theories, indicating a significant yet unaddressed research gap concerning the impact of these digital entities and AI on channel power exercise dynamics. This study adopts a contingency perspective to critically revisit how e-commerce platforms exercise channel power and the ensuing effects on channel conflicts. The purpose of this study is to extend the boundaries of traditional channel power theories, enhancing their relevance in today’s digital marketplace.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3>\n<p>Building on channel power theories, the authors developed a framework tested with survey data collected from 262 sellers. This framework incorporates three key contingent variables: inter-platform competition, AI capabilities and platform value co-creation. Regression analysis was used to perform the analyses.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Findings</h3>\n<p>This study finds that intense inter-platform competition mitigates the (positive) negative relationship between platform channel power and the exercise of (non-) coercive power. Moreover, a platform’s AI capabilities and value co-creation activities diminish the potential for channel conflicts induced by the exercise of coercive power. AI capabilities can also strengthen the negative relationship between the exercise of non-coercive power and channel conflicts.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Originality/value</h3>\n<p>This study contributes to the advancement of traditional channel power theories by integrating contemporary digital elements like AI and platform dynamics. This study provides theoretical and practical insights on navigating channel power in modern marketing environments, offering strategic guidelines for optimizing channel relationships.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->","PeriodicalId":48181,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing","FirstCategoryId":"91","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jbim-08-2023-0444","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"BUSINESS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose
The integration of e-commerce platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) into the marketing channel ecosystem is challenging the explanatory capacity of traditional channel power theories, indicating a significant yet unaddressed research gap concerning the impact of these digital entities and AI on channel power exercise dynamics. This study adopts a contingency perspective to critically revisit how e-commerce platforms exercise channel power and the ensuing effects on channel conflicts. The purpose of this study is to extend the boundaries of traditional channel power theories, enhancing their relevance in today’s digital marketplace.
Design/methodology/approach
Building on channel power theories, the authors developed a framework tested with survey data collected from 262 sellers. This framework incorporates three key contingent variables: inter-platform competition, AI capabilities and platform value co-creation. Regression analysis was used to perform the analyses.
Findings
This study finds that intense inter-platform competition mitigates the (positive) negative relationship between platform channel power and the exercise of (non-) coercive power. Moreover, a platform’s AI capabilities and value co-creation activities diminish the potential for channel conflicts induced by the exercise of coercive power. AI capabilities can also strengthen the negative relationship between the exercise of non-coercive power and channel conflicts.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the advancement of traditional channel power theories by integrating contemporary digital elements like AI and platform dynamics. This study provides theoretical and practical insights on navigating channel power in modern marketing environments, offering strategic guidelines for optimizing channel relationships.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing (JBIM) publishes research on new ideas concerning business-to-business marketing, that is, how one company or organization markets its goods/services/ideas to another company or organization. It is a valuable source for academics, directors and executives of marketing, providing them with new, fresh insights which are applicable within real life settings. JBIM''s emphasis on insistence of proof is one of the cornerstones of its success and its reputation. Contributors to the journal must not only present new theories or ideas, but also back them up with research. In the process, many myths are exploded, philosophies reinvented and the scene set for topical debate on critical issues in B2B marketing. The B2B landscape evolves and so does the research that explores the emerging features and properties of B2B markets. From 2019 the journal hosts the IMP Forum that invites research advancing the boundaries of B2B marketing. Prior research has evidenced that interactivity and interdependences characterize interorganizational business relationships. The Forum aims to bring out research that explores interactivity and interdependences in business relationships and their implications for marketing management, business development and for society at large. Coverage: -Competition and cooperation- Networks in business markets- Buyer behaviour – purchasing and supply management- Managing product offerings- New product development and innovation- Networks in business markets- Distribution and routes to market- Market and customer communication - Customer relationship management- Sales and key account management- Organizing for global markets -