Creation of a digital market to connect small producers, restaurants, and hotels in Helsinki
Prado Andrade, Juan Carlos (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025110427044
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025110427044
Tiivistelmä
The hospitality industry in Helsinki has faced significant challenges in recent years, including business closures, supply disruptions, and increasing procurement costs. These factors have affected the operations of small restaurants, hotels, and local producers, highlighting the need for more efficient and sustainable connections between them. This thesis explores the creation of a digital marketplace to link small producers with hospitality businesses in Helsinki, aiming to improve procurement efficiency, strengthen local supply chains, and enhance sustainability.
The theoretical framework combines the concepts of the platform economy, network effects, digital transformation in supply chains, circular economy principles, sustainability in hospitality, and the service design framework. A qualitative research approach was employed, using semi-structured interviews with eight participants representing restaurant owners, producers, and distributors in the local market.
The findings indicate that a digital B2B marketplace could significantly reduce procurement time, expand access to reliable suppliers, and promote sustainable practices by connecting local actors directly. However, its success depends on trust, usability, and cost efficiency. The study concludes that service design methods and stakeholder involvement are essential to ensure the adoption and long-term viability of the digital marketplace.
The theoretical framework combines the concepts of the platform economy, network effects, digital transformation in supply chains, circular economy principles, sustainability in hospitality, and the service design framework. A qualitative research approach was employed, using semi-structured interviews with eight participants representing restaurant owners, producers, and distributors in the local market.
The findings indicate that a digital B2B marketplace could significantly reduce procurement time, expand access to reliable suppliers, and promote sustainable practices by connecting local actors directly. However, its success depends on trust, usability, and cost efficiency. The study concludes that service design methods and stakeholder involvement are essential to ensure the adoption and long-term viability of the digital marketplace.