The B2B sharing economy: Framework, implications, and future research

Abstract

The sharing economy (SE) has disrupted several sectors. Thus far, this has mainly occurred in consumer markets. Research has therefore focused on these sectors, leaving a research gap regarding the emergence of the SE in business-to-business (B2B) markets. We address this gap by first developing a literature-based framework defining the B2B SE as a service system composed of at least three actors (triadic + ), including an asset-light, intermediating platform that links at least two organizations, with one paying for temporary access to a physical asset from the other organization, for which granting this access is an ancillary service outside of the core business. We also delineate the B2B SE from related concepts, such as cooperatives and co-owning. Second, we provide managerial implications for platforms, incumbents, asset owners, and policymakers. Third, we outline areas for future research, for example, disruption trajectories, incumbent reactions, and the dark side of the B2B SE.