Pricing strategies for logistics robot sharing platforms. Issue 2 (17th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Shuai; Hua, Guowei; Cheng, T.C.E.; Choi, Tsan-Ming; Dong, Jing-Xin
• Is Part Of: International journal of production research. Volume 61:Issue 2(2023)
• Page Start: 410
• Page End: 426
• Publication Date: 2023-01-17
• Subjects: Sharing economy -- platform operations -- logistics robot -- service response speed -- additional services; Factory management -- Periodicals; 658.57
• DOI: 10.1080/00207543.2021.2009138
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7543

Abstract

Abstract : Sharing platforms play a key role in the development of the sharing economy. This paper considers a logistics robot sharing platform comprising logistics robot providers and customers that need to rent robots. We develop an analytical model to investigate pricing strategies of a sharing platform, incorporating service response speed and additional services. Afterward, we examine the impact and value of the logistics robot sharing platform. We interestingly find that a high service response speed does not necessarily bring benefits to the platform. In addition, when customers are sensitive to the additional services, despite the increased cost of providing additional services, the platform can still profit from them. Finally, we generate additional insights by exploring two extended models, namely (i) the model with endogenous additional services, and (ii) the case considering the service response speed.