How do Finnish companies view and capitalise on opportunities in the evolving platform economy? Interview study

Over the last 10–20 years, the business environment has changed dramatically via enablers such as digitalization, the internet and smart mobile devices. A phenomenon originating in Silicon Valley known as the "platform economy" has caught on, and we understand it as a way of creating value and organizing layered (business or other) activities enabled by digital platforms, information and data.

This report presents an interview study that explores how Finnish companies view and capitalise on opportunities in the evolving platform economy. This research problem is addressed through the following four research questions: (1) How do Finnish companies understand the concept of the platform economy in general and in their business sector? (2) What opportunities and threats do Finnish companies perceive in terms of the technological, social and political aspects of the platform economy? (3) What factors act as drivers or barriers in the process of Finnish companies entering the platform economy? (4) How do the findings from Finnish companies compare to those from the USA?