Understanding the persistence of digital platform firms: A delphi study of India's consumer durables industry

Abstract

This study aims to identify the factors that influence the persistence of digital platform firms in India's consumer durables industry and to develop a conceptual framework showing how these factors interact to support persistence in a dynamic digital environment. A two round Delphi survey was conducted among twelve experts, comprising eight industry practitioners and four academics, to identify and achieve consensus on the factors influencing the persistence of digital platform firms in the consumer durables sector. The findings highlight four critical factors—network effects, complementors, business model, and platform design—as significant drivers of persistence among digital platform firms in the industry.The study presents a conceptual framework linking these factors to strategy formulation. While the expert panel provided valuable insights, future research may benefit from incorporating the perspectives of additional stakeholders, such as consumers, regulators, and investors, to develop a more comprehensive understanding of platform persistence. The findings offer practical guidance for managers formulating and implementing strategies to sustain digital platform firms during periods of intense competition, thereby helping reduce the likelihood of failure. This study contributes to the underexplored area of digital platform persistence by focusing specifically on the consumer durables industry in India, an important yet understudied context.