Purpose

Warehouses are of crucial importance to manage increased e-commerce. This study will explore and analyse the warehouse as a relational business model.   

Design/methodology/approach

The complex reality of warehouse business development is researched by a qualitative approach analysed in terms of service logic business models. Theoretically, service innovation literature is used to develop understanding of value creation related to e-commerce warehousing.  

Findings

Facility location and warehouse management relies of theoretical premises that business is foreseeable. The business model innovation in which real estate actors and logistics actors co-create flexible warehouse solutions is in development. A substantial contribution to logistics and supply chain efficiency and effectiveness is from real estate actors. Logistics actors need logistics facilities to create value for their customers and their competences are related to their network, relations and solution making. Real estate actors’ competences are in developing logistics facilities, which is a way of servitizating service providers. The relationship between real estate actors and logistics providers thereby become of strategic importance for both.  

Research limitations/implications

The warehouse as a relational business model opens up for future research by exploring use of and need of new sets of competences.

Practical implications

Logistics service providers’ may further develop and broaden their core competences. 

Original/value

Business model considerations are of value to e-commerce logistics actors.