Digital Logistics Platforms—Initial Approaches to Market Segmentation in Light of Traditional and New Providers

Thanks to comprehensive networking possibilities and improved information flow, platforms present themselves as catalysts of the logistics industry’s digital transformation. Providing a (digital) infrastructure enables the value-creating exchange of information, goods, or services between several players, the basis for the emergence of a functioning two-sided market. It is often startups that appear as new players in the digital logistics market, not infrequently from outside the industry and with a pronounced affinity for ICT. Digitization makes it significantly easier for new providers to enter the market, as entry barriers in the form of capital-intensive investments in vehicle fleets or warehouse capacity are eliminated. The market for digital logistics platforms is developing dynamically and offers a heterogeneous range of services that cannot be clearly defined and delimited. In addition, there is no meaningful overview of the provider structure. Platform users are faced with the question of which platform is best suited with its range of services for specific performance characteristics. This paper addresses these challenges and aims to segment the service spectrum of digital logistics platforms. This approach forms the basis for providing shippers, logistics service providers, platform operators, and investors with a market overview of the logistics’ digital platform landscape.