Factors hindering the integration of Russian companies into digital platforms

Aim. The presented study aims to identify the main factors (and the degree of their influence) hindering the integration of companies into digital and non-digital platforms that are actively developing in the Russian economy and opening up new horizons of development, removing traditional organizational barriers and boundaries.

Tasks. The authors conduct a pilot qualitative study of twenty companies and twenty platform holders of different levels to identify, systemize, and rank factors affecting the decision of companies to integrate into a specific platform.

Methods. This study uses the methods of in-depth semi-structured interviews, content analysis, systematization, and Spearman’s rank correlation to investigate the relationship between the responses of company executives and platform holders.

Results. It is shown that nine main factors mentioned by both groups of respondents prevent companies from mutually beneficial cooperation with platforms. However, the ranking of determinants produces ambiguous results.

Conclusions. Research makes an ascertainable contribution to science. In particular, it complements existing scientific literature and business practices in several areas. Conceptually new information is obtained about what prevents companies from cooperating with platforms from the perspective of platform holders and company managers. The quantitative ranking of barriers for both groups is presented, making it possible to identify existing and potential problems that platform holders may face, evaluate them, and effectively manage the processes of overcoming barriers with allowance for their rating. Scientific results form a foundation for future research, since the information obtained during the interviews can be used as a basis for indepth quantitative analysis that would make it possible to further generalize and use the results.

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