Organisational mechanisms of the sharing economy: how platform and social capital integration enhances collaborative capabilities in SMEs supply chains

Purpose This study aims to examine how organisational mechanisms of the sharing economy, driven by digital platforms and social capital, contribute to enhancing the collaborative capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the supply chains of emerging economies. It develops an integrated conceptual framework that links platform theory (PT) with social capital theory (SCT) and examines a structural model of key factors, including value chain (VC), information management (IM), market orientation (MO) and relationship management (RM). Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods research approach was used, using qualitative data from expert interviews to develop the model. This model was then tested using questionnaire data collected from 1,600 Thai SMEs, analysed through covariance-based structural equation modelling. Findings The analysis results indicate that VC integration, IM and MO significantly influence RM and enhance the collaborative capabilities of SMEs. The findings further demonstrate that VC integration functions as a strategic organisational mechanism that coordinates information, market responsiveness and relational governance. Crucially, the qualitative insights reveal that in environments characterised by institutional voids, social capital serves as a functional substitute for formal governance, “activating” digital platform mechanisms to alleviate resource constraints. The integrated PT–SCT model effectively explains how relational trust and structural platforms jointly configure collaborative behaviour among SMEs in the digital economy. Originality/value This research provides a novel, empirically validated model that demonstrates the generative integration of PT and SCT. It offers a unique perspective on how social capital serves as a functional substitute for institutional trust within SMEs supply chains in emerging economies. The findings fill significant theoretical gaps regarding the boundary conditions of PT in developing contexts like Thailand.