Hitting or missing the target: resources and capabilities for alternative e-commerce pathways in the fashion industry

This exploratory and longitudinal research investigates how firms may succeed in implementing an e-commerce strategy and move from perceived needs to e-supply chain configurations. The study investigated four Italian companies in the fashion industry, through in-depth interviews with 35 interviewees collected over 2011–2019. The companies were examined from the perspective of Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capabilities to address the links between antecedents, e-supply chain configuration resources, capabilities, and alternative paths of evolution. A theoretical framework and three relevant propositions are also provided. Results indicate two key resources – namely, network structure and flows and service architecture – and four key capabilities – namely, relationship governance capabilities, exploitation of information asymmetry, core logistics capabilities and e-CRM and digital capabilities – which determine the alternative pathways of evolution. The pathways have been finally identified and described.