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Analysis of institutional authors

Magro-Montero, MariaCorresponding AuthorMorales-Alonso, GustavoAuthor

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September 22, 2025
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Value creation and capture in innovation ecosystems: strategic cooperation between e-commerce platforms and third-party logistics (3PLs) providers

Publicated to:European Journal Of Innovation Management. - 2025-08-05 (), DOI: 10.1108/EJIM-11-2024-1385

Authors: Magro-Montero, Maria; Santarsiero, Francesco; Morales-Alonso, Gustavo

Affiliations

Univ Basilicata, Dipartimento Ingn, Potenza, Italy - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, Escuela Tecn Super Ingn Ind, Dept Ingn Org ADE & Estadist, Madrid, Spain - Author

Abstract

PurposeDigital innovation ecosystems are increasingly recognized for their role in fostering interconnected organizational networks that co-evolve to create and capture value. This study aims to analyse and understand the strategic dynamics of value creation and capture within the e-commerce innovation ecosystem, focusing on the strategic cooperation and relationships between e-commerce giant Amazon and its third-party logistics (3PLs) providers in the last mile of the supply chain. The research addresses the limited understanding of how these alliances innovate and contribute to broader logistics and e-commerce landscapes.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts a mixed-method approach. An exhaustive literature review and bibliometric analysis mapped trends in innovation, alliances and cooperation in last-mile logistics for e-commerce from 2000 to 2023, based on Scopus data. This was followed by a multiple-case study including in-depth interviews with experts in last-mile logistics and executives from 3PL companies in the Iberian Peninsula. A pattern-matching strategy enabled the identification and exploration of innovation mechanisms and strategic cooperation within the e-commerce innovation ecosystem.FindingsThe findings reveal how Amazon and its 3PLs have implemented significant innovations in their contractual agreements and strategic collaborations, creating mechanisms for shared value transferable to other e-commerce platforms. Four key dimensions of this cooperation were identified: ecosystem orchestration; business models; value creation; and value dynamics. The results underscore that the relationship between Amazon and its 3PL providers transcends mere commercial transactions and is rooted in a strategic collaboration model driving continuous innovation in last-mile logistics. Additionally, the practical implications are highly relevant for the e-commerce sector and can be extended to other supply chain stages and e-commerce platforms.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on digital innovation ecosystems by offering novel insights into how strategic co-opetition between e-commerce platforms and 3PL providers drives innovation. Additionally, the paper enriches the field of operations management by showing how these strategic alliances improve operational efficiency and optimize last-mile distribution. It highlights the transformative potential of such alliances to overcome last-mile distribution challenges, providing both theoretical advancements and practical implications for stakeholders in logistics and e-commerce. The findings are particularly relevant for understanding the role of digital platforms as orchestrators in complex, multi-stakeholder digital innovation ecosystems.

Keywords

3plAmazonCoopetitionCustomer valueDigital innovation ecosystemInventoryManagementMultiple-case studyNetworksPoliciesQualityRetailersStrategic cooperationSupply chainsTransport

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal European Journal Of Innovation Management due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position 77/420, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Management.

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-10-22:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 4 (PlumX).

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Italy.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (MAGRO MONTERO, MARÍA) and Last Author (MORALES ALONSO, GUSTAVO).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been MAGRO MONTERO, MARÍA.