Two‐sided (or multisided) platforms are significantly transforming the competitive landscape. Companies like Airbnb and Uber entered and challenged traditional industries by adopting business models able to innovatively exploit the opportunities provided by digital technologies. Recent studies have pointed out that the characteristics of multisided platforms might inspire traditional businesses to foster innovation, enabling different kinds of value creation and capture. This paper aims to explore this possibility through a longitudinal case study of an Italian tour operator that moved from a traditional linear value chain model to a multisided platform. Relying on the literature about multisided platforms and the modalities adopted by incumbents in fostering innovation, this research offers contributions to both theory and practice. Firstly, it shows how incumbents can reinterpret their resources and relationships in order to conceive new multisided platforms. Secondly, it investigates how the experience gained by incumbents can unveil technological opportunities. Thirdly, it shows how the incumbents can manage complexity and adopt a systemic perspective in developing multisided platforms. Thus, the contribution to the academic dimension is in enriching the knowledge of how multisided platforms can help incumbents in dealing with their ‘typical curse’.

中文翻译：

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开发现有企业的潜力：从线性价值链到多边平台

双面（或多面）平台正在极大地改变竞争格局。像Airbnb和Uber这样的公司通过采用能够创新地利用数字技术提供的机会的商业模式，进入传统行业并对其提出挑战。最近的研究指出，多边平台的特征可能会激发传统企业促进创新，从而实现各种价值创造和获取。本文旨在通过对意大利旅行社的纵向案例研究来探讨这种可能性，该旅行社已从传统的线性价值链模型转变为多面平台。依靠有关多平台和现有企业促进创新的方式的文献，这项研究为理论和实践都做出了贡献。首先，它显示了现有企业如何重新解释其资源和关系，以构想新的多面平台。其次，它研究在位者获得的经验如何揭示技术机会。第三，它显示了现任企业如何在开发多平台的过程中管理复杂性并采用系统的观点。因此，对学术领域的贡献在于丰富了关于多平台如何能够帮助在职人员处理“典型诅咒”的知识。它显示了现有企业如何在开发多平台时管理复杂性并采用系统的观点。因此，对学术领域的贡献在于丰富了关于多平台如何能够帮助在职人员处理“典型诅咒”的知识。它显示了现有企业如何在开发多平台时管理复杂性并采用系统的观点。因此，对学术领域的贡献在于丰富了关于多平台如何帮助老牌企业应对“典型诅咒”的知识。