| Summary: | The rise of platform companies such as Amazon, eBay, Ocado and many others has
caused great disruption to the traditional retail sector in the UK. The purpose of this
study is to therefore determine the impact of platforms in the UK retail sector and
evaluate how traditional retailers are responding through their supply chains and
logistics processes. Using a qualitative case study approach, this study analyzed six
UK retailers to understand how different players are responding in the platform era.
The findings indicate that platform retailers are indeed gaining traction in the UK
retail industry by leveraging on technology and fast logistics. However, traditional
retailers are not taking a back seat. They are also leveraging on their core product
offering, enhancing their supply chain and logistics systems, implementing focus
strategies and with some developing platform capabilities to match those of existing
platform retailers in order to remain competitive. This study therefore contributes
onto the growing body of platform research by adding a supply chain and logistics
perspective. Further it provides an understanding of how retailers can position
themselves to compete in the platform world.
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