Fluidity and the customer experience in digital platform ecosystems

Abstract

Fluidity is the ability of a digital platform ecosystem to change form to align with changing consumer preferences and stay relevant in the marketplace. This study advances that three dimensions and their five sub-dimensions determine the fluidity of a digital platform ecosystem. They are the (1) functional dimension with its two subdimensions of platform openness and platform quality (i.e., user-friendliness and quality of service offerings); (2) the mechanical dimension which consists mainly of platform design; and (3) the humanistic dimension with the sub-dimensions of network effects and network interactivity. This study advances that firms can manage these dimensions to improve the fluidity of their platforms. Furthermore, we propose that improved fluidity enhances the customer experience and increases switching costs.