Health Data Co-specialization Model. A Study of MedTech Incumbents-born Digital Healthcare Platforms

The limited success of digital healthcare platforms prompts discussion on how to benefit from digital innovations. So far, scholars have analyzed technological innovation, capabilities, network effect and business model contributions to advance digital healthcare platform performance. However, the role of health data as a co-specialized complementary asset is yet to be unveiled. We address this knowledge gap through the multiple-case study of three global digital healthcare platforms initiated and orchestrated by MedTech incumbents. The study conceptualizes data as a co-specialized complementary asset and explores the assumptions of health data co-specialization. We extend profiting from innovation (PFI) and platform literature by offering health data co-specialization model based on three components: data power mobility, data completeness, and data integrity. Furthermore, the study has practical implications for platform owners suggesting structural changes in collaboration to ensure data co-specialization critical to reap benefits from digital healthcare platforms.