Conceptualizing Platform Revenue Models

The platform economy is increasingly shaping entire industries and transforming value creation structures. For organizational decision-makers, the question increasingly shifts from whether the platform economy affects their business to how innovative platform business models and their underlying revenue models can be designed. A structured design of revenue models is a prerequisite for sustainable economic success, yet rigorous methodological approaches are lacking in practice.

This doctoral thesis addresses this gap by offering an empirically grounded taxonomy of platform revenue models using a Design Science research approach. Based on a comprehensive literature review, core dimensions and characteristics are identified, consolidated, and applied in multiple case studies. The taxonomy is evaluated experimentally and extended through taxonomy-based design approaches, including a design canvas and a set of pattern cards. The thesis contributes both actionable design knowledge for the systematic design of platform revenue models and a robust methodological foundation for future research.