Digital Platform Ecosystems and Value Creation

Digital platform ecosystems represent interconnected networks in which a central digital infrastructure enables multiple independent actors—such as developers, service providers and end users—to co-create, deliver and capture value. Underpinned by modular architectures, these ecosystems harness network effects whereby the utility of the platform grows with each additional participant. Value is generated through the orchestration of complementary resources, design rules and boundary objects that facilitate innovation and exchange. Governance mechanisms—ranging from API standards and revenue-sharing models to quality controls—mediate interactions and shape incentives for participation. Recent developments emphasise the extension of value creation beyond individual firms to entire ecosystems, incorporating human-centred services alongside technological assets. Industrial applications illustrate how data-driven coordination and digital twins transform operational efficiency, while consumer platforms demonstrate rapid scaling through multi-sided markets. Globally, such ecosystems drive economic growth by lowering entry barriers, fostering cross-sector collaboration and enabling new business models. Their significance spans from Smart Manufacturing and Internet of Things to health-tech and finance, offering practical benefits in responsiveness, customisation and sustainable resource use. As research advances, attention turns to balancing value capture, equitable participation and resilient governance to ensure long-term ecosystem health.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Digital Platform Ecosystems and Value Creation publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in digital platform ecosystems and value creation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Digital platform ecosystem: A networked configuration of a core digital platform and its complementors, where diverse actors co-create, exchange and capture value through shared infrastructure and governance rules.

Value creation: The process through which platforms generate new benefits or utility for users and stakeholders, often by coordinating resources, facilitating interactions and enabling innovation.

Complementor: An independent actor or organisation that contributes modules, services or content to a platform to enhance its overall value proposition and network effects.

Digital twin: A virtual representation of physical assets or systems, used to simulate performance, support decision-making and enable cross-organisational ecosystem-level applications.

References

1. Literature review on industrial digital platforms: A business model perspective and suggestions for future research. Technological Forecasting and Social Change (2023).
2. Shifting focus of value creation through industrial digital twins—From internal application to ecosystem-level utilization. Technovation (2023).
3. Bridging differing perspectives on technological platforms: Toward an integrative framework. Research Policy (2014).
4. Digital platform ecosystems. Electronic Markets (2019).
5. A Design Theory for Digital Platforms Supporting Online Communities: A Multiple Case Study. Journal of Information Technology (2015).