Purpose, originality and value – This dissertation aims at fulfilling a major gap present in the literature: the lack of a complete and structured study on the role of technology providers and platforms in the implementation of Supply Chain Finance solutions, especially as regards the taxonomy of their business models. Thus, this study’s goal is to analyse the technology SCF providers’ market both through a qualitative analysis aimed at its classification, segmentation and mapping, and through a deep investigation of their business models to identify and develop a classification of recurrent archetypes of providers. Design, methodology and approach – To conduct the study, classified as a “theory bulding” one, a multi-step process has been followed, starting from the review of three different academic and practitioner literature streams – SCF, platform management and business model –, which has led to the development of a research framework. Its applicability has been validated both through theory and multiple case studies on technology SCF providers’ business models. Tools such as direct and indirect interviews, secondary sources and direct participations to workshops, conferences and round-tables hold by Osservatorio Supply Chain Finance at Politecnico di Milano have been deployed in the study. Findings – The twofold outputs of this dissertation are (1) a classification and mapping of technology SCF providers’ world markets which considers the openness degree of the platform (closed, open finance, open) and the number and quality of offered collateral service (basic, medium, advanced), and (2) a taxonomy of their recurrent business model archetypes. Three representative and mutually-exclusive archetypes have been identified, presented and mapped on the real-world market: (1) borderline collaborative e-providers, (2) supplier-driven open pool and (3) buyer-driven exclusive club. Practical and managerial implications – While the theory building approach makes the findings particularly relevant under a theoretical contribution perspective, this study is developed with the final purpose to address practitioners and real-world companies – and specifically their management – as the main beneficiaries and end-users of the research. Taken together, the two outputs represent a useful tool to help technology SCF providers’ customers in learning how to distinguish and choose the alternative which best fits their own corporate needs among the several SCF platforms offered by the market. The archetypes represent a tool also for the technology SCF providers themselves to evaluate their internal business model, check their positioning on the market, the alignment and consistency of their offering with their target customers and level of provided functionalities. Limits and future research – The technology SCF market is constantly and rapidly changing, thus future researchers are required to further analyse and revision periodically the offer of SCF providers and the characteristics of the technology implemented to reflect the latest state-of-practice, focusing in particular on innovative solutions and new entrant start-ups.
Scopo, originalità e valore – Questa tesi ha lo scopo di rispondere alla principale lacuna presente in letteratura: la mancanza di uno studio completo e dettagliato sul ruolo dei provider tecnologici e delle piattaforme per l’implementazione di soluzioni di Supply Chain Finance, soprattutto per quanto concerne l’assenza di una tassonomia dei loro business model. Pertanto, l’obiettivo di questo studio è di analizzare il mercato dei provider tecnologici per soluzioni di SCF sia attraverso un’analisi qualitativa volta a classificare, segmentare e mappare l’offerta del mercato, sia attraverso una dettagliata indagine dei loro business model volta ad identificare e sviluppare una classificazione di archetipi ricorrenti per questi provider. Design, metodologia e approccio – In questo studio, classificato come “theory building”, è stato seguito un approccio a più fasi, partendo dall’analisi di tre diversi filoni di letteratura – SCF, gestione di piattaforme e business model –, sia accademica che di professionisti del mercato, che ha portato allo sviluppo del modello adottato. In seguito, abbiamo testato e validato la bontà del modello sia tramite la teoria che con diversi casi di studio sui business model dei provider tecnologici per la SCF. Inoltre, in questo studio sono stati impiegati strumenti quali interviste dirette e indirette, fonti secondarie e la partecipazione diretta a seminari, conferenze e tavoli di lavoro organizzati dall’Osservatorio Supply Chain Finance del Politecnico di Milano. Risultati – Il duplice output di questa tesi comprende (1) una classificazione e mappatura del mercato globale dei provider tecnologici di servizi di SCF che considera il grado di apertura della piattaforma (closed, open finance, open) ed il numero e la qualità dei servizi aggiuntivi offerti (basic, medium, advanced), e (2) una tassonomia dei loro archetipi di business model ricorrenti. In particolare, abbiamo identificato tre archetipi rappresentativi e mutuamente esclusivi, che sono stati presentati e mappati sull’attuale mercato studiato: (1) borderline collaborative e-providers, (2) supplier-driven open pool e (3) buyer-driven exclusive club. Implicazioni pratiche e manageriali – Se da un lato l’approccio “theory building” rende il contributo di questo studio particolarmente interessante dal punto di vista teorico, questo studio si rivolge in primo luogo ad aziende reali operanti in questo mercato e al loro comitato direttivo in qualità di principali beneficiari e fruitori finali della ricerca. I due output conseguiti rappresentano infatti uno strumento utile ad aiutare i clienti dei provider tecnologi di soluzioni di SCF nell’imparare a distinguere e scegliere l’alternativa che meglio si adatta ai loro bisogni aziendali tra le diverse piattaforme di SCF offerte sul mercato. Inoltre, gli archetipi costituiscono anche uno strumento per gli stessi provider tecnologici di programmi di SCF per valutare il loro business model, verificare il loro posizionamento sul mercato e l’allineamento e coerenza delle loro funzionalià offerte con i clienti target. Limiti e ricerche future – Il mercato della tecnologia a supporto della SCF continua rapidamente ad evolversi, pertanto i ricercatori dovranno analizzare ulteriormente e revisionare periodicamente l’offera dei provider di SCF e le caratteristiche delle tecnologia implementata per essere rappresentativa delle ultime tendenze, focalizzandosi in particolare sulle soluzioni di SCF innovative e l’entrata di nuove start-up sul mercato.
The business models of supply chain finance : an investigation on technology providers
LAMPERTI, FEDERICA MADDALENA;FERRARI, JESSICA
2015/2016
Abstract
Purpose, originality and value – This dissertation aims at fulfilling a major gap present in the literature: the lack of a complete and structured study on the role of technology providers and platforms in the implementation of Supply Chain Finance solutions, especially as regards the taxonomy of their business models. Thus, this study’s goal is to analyse the technology SCF providers’ market both through a qualitative analysis aimed at its classification, segmentation and mapping, and through a deep investigation of their business models to identify and develop a classification of recurrent archetypes of providers. Design, methodology and approach – To conduct the study, classified as a “theory bulding” one, a multi-step process has been followed, starting from the review of three different academic and practitioner literature streams – SCF, platform management and business model –, which has led to the development of a research framework. Its applicability has been validated both through theory and multiple case studies on technology SCF providers’ business models. Tools such as direct and indirect interviews, secondary sources and direct participations to workshops, conferences and round-tables hold by Osservatorio Supply Chain Finance at Politecnico di Milano have been deployed in the study. Findings – The twofold outputs of this dissertation are (1) a classification and mapping of technology SCF providers’ world markets which considers the openness degree of the platform (closed, open finance, open) and the number and quality of offered collateral service (basic, medium, advanced), and (2) a taxonomy of their recurrent business model archetypes. Three representative and mutually-exclusive archetypes have been identified, presented and mapped on the real-world market: (1) borderline collaborative e-providers, (2) supplier-driven open pool and (3) buyer-driven exclusive club. Practical and managerial implications – While the theory building approach makes the findings particularly relevant under a theoretical contribution perspective, this study is developed with the final purpose to address practitioners and real-world companies – and specifically their management – as the main beneficiaries and end-users of the research. Taken together, the two outputs represent a useful tool to help technology SCF providers’ customers in learning how to distinguish and choose the alternative which best fits their own corporate needs among the several SCF platforms offered by the market. The archetypes represent a tool also for the technology SCF providers themselves to evaluate their internal business model, check their positioning on the market, the alignment and consistency of their offering with their target customers and level of provided functionalities. Limits and future research – The technology SCF market is constantly and rapidly changing, thus future researchers are required to further analyse and revision periodically the offer of SCF providers and the characteristics of the technology implemented to reflect the latest state-of-practice, focusing in particular on innovative solutions and new entrant start-ups.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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2016_12_Ferrari_Lamperti.pdf
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Descrizione: Testo della tesi
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/131082