IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/vrs/vaecst/v16y2025i2p59-82n1006.html

Bibliometric Analysis on the Evolution of Digital Platforms. Future Research Perspectives

Author

Listed:
  • Rakoș Ileana-Sorina

    (University of Petrosani, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Solomon Alina-Georgiana

    (Artifex University of Bucharest, Faculty of Finance-Accounting)

  • Stolojescu Bogdan Nicolae

    (1 Decembrie 1918 University, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Măgurean Maria

    (1 Decembrie 1918 University, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Popescu Gabriel

    (1 Decembrie 1918 University, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to conduct a bibliometric analysis aimed at identifying the major research directions and the scholarly impact associated with digital platforms. The study pursues two core objectives: (1) evaluating the performance of digital platforms through specific bibliometric indicators, and (2) mapping the scientific landscape related to digital platform research. The analysis draws on both national and international literature. Methodologically, the study employs a quantitative approach using bibliometric techniques and the analysis of several indicators relevant to the field. The dataset comprises 706 publications published between 1975 and 2024. The findings reveal a clear trend toward the expansion and consolidation of research on digital platforms. The conclusions emphasize the growing relevance of this domain for specialists in both economic and academic environments).

Suggested Citation

  • Rakoș Ileana-Sorina & Solomon Alina-Georgiana & Stolojescu Bogdan Nicolae & Măgurean Maria & Popescu Gabriel, 2025. "Bibliometric Analysis on the Evolution of Digital Platforms. Future Research Perspectives," Valahian Journal of Economic Studies, Sciendo, vol. 16(2), pages 59-82.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:vaecst:v:16:y:2025:i:2:p:59-82:n:1006
    DOI: 10.2478/vjes-2025-0016
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.2478/vjes-2025-0016
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.2478/vjes-2025-0016?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Raghu Garud & Arun Kumaraswamy, 1995. "Technological and organizational designs for realizing economies of substitution," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(S1), pages 93-109.
    2. Richard Schmalensee, 2000. "Antitrust Issues in Schumpeterian Industries," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 90(2), pages 192-196, May.
    3. Joseph Farrell & Garth Saloner, 1985. "Standardization, Compatibility, and Innovation," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 16(1), pages 70-83, Spring.
    4. Donthu, Naveen & Kumar, Satish & Mukherjee, Debmalya & Pandey, Nitesh & Lim, Weng Marc, 2021. "How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 285-296.
    5. Gawer, Annabelle, 2014. "Bridging differing perspectives on technological platforms: Toward an integrative framework," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(7), pages 1239-1249.
    6. Täuscher, Karl & Laudien, Sven M., 2018. "Understanding platform business models: A mixed methods study of marketplaces," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 319-329.
    7. Saadatmand, Fatemeh & Lindgren, Rikard & Schultze, Ulrike, 2019. "Configurations of platform organizations: Implications for complementor engagement," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(8), pages 1-1.
    8. David Tilson & Kalle Lyytinen & Carsten Sørensen, 2010. "Research Commentary ---Digital Infrastructures: The Missing IS Research Agenda," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 21(4), pages 748-759, December.
    9. Kimmo Karhu & Robin Gustafsson & Kalle Lyytinen, 2018. "Exploiting and Defending Open Digital Platforms with Boundary Resources: Android’s Five Platform Forks," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 29(2), pages 479-497, June.
    10. Youngjin Yoo & Richard J. Boland & Kalle Lyytinen & Ann Majchrzak, 2012. "Organizing for Innovation in the Digitized World," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(5), pages 1398-1408, October.
    11. Amrit Tiwana & Benn Konsynski, 2010. "Complementarities Between Organizational IT Architecture and Governance Structure," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 21(2), pages 288-304, June.
    12. Amrit Tiwana & Benn Konsynski & Ashley A. Bush, 2010. "Research Commentary ---Platform Evolution: Coevolution of Platform Architecture, Governance, and Environmental Dynamics," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 21(4), pages 675-687, December.
    13. Chaomei Chen, 2006. "CiteSpace II: Detecting and visualizing emerging trends and transient patterns in scientific literature," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 57(3), pages 359-377, February.
    14. Edward Iacobucci & Francesco Ducci, 2019. "The Google search case in Europe: tying and the single monopoly profit theorem in two-sided markets," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 15-42, February.
    15. Caputo, Andrea & Pizzi, Simone & Pellegrini, Massimiliano M. & Dabić, Marina, 2021. "Digitalization and business models: Where are we going? A science map of the field," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 489-501.
    16. Feng Zhu & Qihong Liu, 2018. "Competing with complementors: An empirical look at Amazon.com," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(10), pages 2618-2642, October.
    17. Jean-Charles Rochet & Jean Tirole, 2003. "Platform Competition in Two-Sided Markets," Journal of the European Economic Association, MIT Press, vol. 1(4), pages 990-1029, June.
    18. Daniel Trabucchi & Tommaso Buganza, 2021. "Landlords with no lands: a systematic literature review on hybrid multi-sided platforms and platform thinking," European Journal of Innovation Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 25(6), pages 64-96, March.
    19. Kevin Boudreau, 2010. "Open Platform Strategies and Innovation: Granting Access vs. Devolving Control," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 56(10), pages 1849-1872, October.
    20. Parida, Vinit & Burström, Thommie & Visnjic, Ivanka & Wincent, Joakim, 2019. "Orchestrating industrial ecosystem in circular economy: A two-stage transformation model for large manufacturing companies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 715-725.
    21. Miric, Milan & Boudreau, Kevin J. & Jeppesen, Lars Bo, 2019. "Protecting their digital assets: The use of formal & informal appropriability strategies by App developers," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(8), pages 1-1.
    22. de Reuver, Mark & Sørensen, Carsten & Basole, Rahul C., 2018. "The digital platform: a research agenda," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 80669, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    23. Rodolphe Durand & Robert M. Grant & Tammy L. Madsen & David P. McIntyre & Arati Srinivasan, 2017. "Networks, platforms, and strategy: Emerging views and next steps," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(1), pages 141-160, January.
    24. Jiatao Li & Liang Chen & Jingtao Yi & Jiye Mao & Jianwen Liao, 2019. "Ecosystem-specific advantages in international digital commerce," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(9), pages 1448-1463, December.
    25. Saeed Khanagha & Shahzad (Shaz) Ansari & Sotirios Paroutis & Luciano Oviedo, 2022. "Mutualism and the dynamics of new platform creation: A study of Cisco and fog computing," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(3), pages 476-506, March.
    26. Andreas Hein & Jörg Weking & Maximilian Schreieck & Manuel Wiesche & Markus Böhm & Helmut Krcmar, 2019. "Value co-creation practices in business-to-business platform ecosystems," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 29(3), pages 503-518, September.
    27. Cenamor, Javier & Parida, Vinit & Wincent, Joakim, 2019. "How entrepreneurial SMEs compete through digital platforms: The roles of digital platform capability, network capability and ambidexterity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 196-206.
    28. Nambisan, Satish & Wright, Mike & Feldman, Maryann, 2019. "The digital transformation of innovation and entrepreneurship: Progress, challenges and key themes," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(8), pages 1-1.
    29. Maximilian Schreieck & Manuel Wiesche & Helmut Krcmar, 2023. "Governing innovation platforms in multi-business organisations," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(4), pages 695-716, July.
    30. Michael L. Katz & Carl Shapiro, 1994. "Systems Competition and Network Effects," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 8(2), pages 93-115, Spring.
    31. Youngjin Yoo & Ola Henfridsson & Kalle Lyytinen, 2010. "Research Commentary ---The New Organizing Logic of Digital Innovation: An Agenda for Information Systems Research," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 21(4), pages 724-735, December.
    32. Rahul Kapoor, 2018. "Ecosystems: broadening the locus of value creation," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 7(1), pages 1-16, December.
    33. Kamalaldin, Anmar & Sjödin, David & Hullova, Dusana & Parida, Vinit, 2021. "Configuring ecosystem strategies for digitally enabled process innovation: A framework for equipment suppliers in the process industries," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Andreas Hein & Maximilian Schreieck & Tobias Riasanow & David Soto Setzke & Manuel Wiesche & Markus Böhm & Helmut Krcmar, 2020. "Digital platform ecosystems," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 30(1), pages 87-98, March.
    2. Jan Frederic Nerbel & Markus Kreutzer, 2023. "Digital platform ecosystems in flux: From proprietary digital platforms to wide-spanning ecosystems," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 33(1), pages 1-20, December.
    3. Fabian Schueler & Dimitri Petrik, 2022. "Objectives of platform research: A co-citation and systematic literature review analysis," Papers 2202.08822, arXiv.org.
    4. Cenamor, Javier, 2021. "Complementor competitive advantage: A framework for strategic decisions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 335-343.
    5. Jacobides, Michael G. & Cennamo, Carmelo & Gawer, Annabelle, 2024. "Externalities and complementarities in platforms and ecosystems: From structural solutions to endogenous failures," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(1).
    6. Liu, He & Li, Xuerong & Wang, Shouyang, 2021. "A bibliometric analysis of 30 years of platform research: Developing the research agenda for platforms, the associated technologies and social impacts," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    7. Mosterd, Lars & Sobota, Vladimir C.M. & van de Kaa, Geerten & Ding, Aaron Yi & de Reuver, Mark, 2021. "Context dependent trade-offs around platform-to-platform openness: The case of the Internet of Things," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    8. Hou, Hong & Shi, Yongjiang, 2021. "Ecosystem-as-structure and ecosystem-as-coevolution: A constructive examination," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    9. Zander, Udo & Lu, Lixin & Chimenti, Gianluca, 2025. "The platform economy and futures of market societies: Salient tensions in ecosystem evolution," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    10. Shi, Xianwei & Liang, Xingkun & Luo, Yining, 2023. "Unpacking the intellectual structure of ecosystem research in innovation studies," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(6).
    11. Kang, Zhengyao & Kou, Hongwei & Zhou, Di & Shi, Xinwei & Parente, Ronaldo & Rong, Ke, 2025. "Platform-based multinational corporations (PMNCs):A research agenda in the field of international business," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(3).
    12. Steffen, Nico & Wiewiorra, Lukas & Kroon, Peter, 2021. "Wettbewerb und Regulierung in der Plattform- und Datenökonomie," WIK Discussion Papers 481, WIK Wissenschaftliches Institut für Infrastruktur und Kommunikationsdienste GmbH.
    13. Tavalaei, M. Mahdi, 2020. "Waiting time in two-sided platforms: The case of the airport industry," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    14. Felix B. Buesching & Dennis M. Steininger & Daniel J. Veit, 2023. "Governing digital crisis responses: platform standards and the dilemma of COVID-19 contact tracing," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 93(1), pages 267-323, January.
    15. Jovanovic, Marin & Sjödin, David & Parida, Vinit, 2022. "Co-evolution of platform architecture, platform services, and platform governance: Expanding the platform value of industrial digital platforms," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    16. Rodrigo, Laura & Palacios, Miguel & Martínez-Corral, Alberto & Tafur, Javier, 2025. "Virtual virtuous cycles. Mapping value structure in digital platforms and online communities realms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    17. Tobias Pauli & Erwin Fielt & Martin Matzner, 2021. "Digital Industrial Platforms," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 63(2), pages 181-190, April.
    18. Pujadas, Roser & Valderrama, Erika & Venters, Will, 2024. "The value and structuring role of web APIs in digital innovation ecosystems: the case of the online travel ecosystem," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 121118, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    19. Pujadas, Roser & Valderrama, Erika & Venters, Will, 2024. "The value and structuring role of web APIs in digital innovation ecosystems: The case of the online travel ecosystem," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(2).
    20. Panos Constantinides & Ola Henfridsson & Geoffrey G. Parker, 2018. "Introduction—Platforms and Infrastructures in the Digital Age," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 29(2), pages 381-400, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • C80 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - General

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:vrs:vaecst:v:16:y:2025:i:2:p:59-82:n:1006. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Peter Golla (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.sciendo.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.