Alexander Neff

Ferdinand-Steinbeis-Institut

As a part of the German Mittelstand and one essential link in the supply chain of many national and international industries German, wholesale plays an important role in the German economy with a total revenue of 1,300 bn. € in the pre-COVID-19 year of 2019 (Statistisches Bundesamt 2022). Traditionally, a wholesaler purchases and resells products i...

Wholesale is one of the sectors that are currently most affected by the effects of digital change. Digital disruption threatens to fundamentally change the value chains and the wholesale value model. The economic position of the wholesale branch as an intermediary between industry, craft and retail needs to evolve in the face of changing conditions...

Wholesale in Germany is characterized by a high degree of diversity with traditional business models. In almost every branch of industry or trade an institutional wholesaler supplies and distributes all necessary products to manufacturers and retailers. During the last few decades, the core business model in wholesale – cost-efficient purchasing an...

With the emergence of Internet platforms in the manufacturing domain, new implications have evolved for existing businesses which force them to find new business areas or adapt their products and services in order to create added value. Furthermore, generic platforms build on these domain specific platforms to offer services across business areas,...

With the emergence of platforms in the manufacturing domain new implications evolve for existing businesses and force them to find new business areas or adapt its products and services in order to create added value. Furthermore, generic platforms build up on these specified platforms to offer services across domains which creates additional disrup...