Introduction. The rapid digital transformation necessitates a revision of traditional approaches to business ecosystem management. This study develops a concept of transactional value in digital ecosystem interactions, aiming at systematizing value creation, distributing and accumulating processes within business ecosystems. The paper analyzes conventional ecosystem management approaches focused primarily on transaction cost minimization, while advocating for a transition to a value-oriented paradigm. The scientific contribution lies in developing the concept of transactional value for digital ecosystem interactions, which advances the economic theory of transaction valuation in ecosystem contexts.
Materials and methods. The research employs systemic logical analysis methodology, incorporating: critical examination of classical transaction cost theories (R. Coase, O. Williamson); systemization of contemporary approaches to digital interaction valuation; comparative analysis of various business ecosystem types; development of an original three-component transactional value model.
The empirical foundation comprises case studies of leading ecosystems and data from peer-reviewed articles indexed in Science Direct, ResearchGate, and E-Library databases.
Results and conclusions. The study reveals the following: 1) transactional value in ecosystem interactions constitutes a dynamic, multi-level outcome encompassing not only direct financial benefits but also intangible assets (trust, reputation, data capital, synergy effects, and network externalities) that collectively ensure ecosystem sustainability; 2) classical transaction cost theories require substantial adaptation to digital economy realities, where strategic value structure optimization and equitable value redistribution among participants supersede mere cost minimization as primary objectives; 3) the proposed conceptual framework addresses limitations of traditional models by providing analytical tools for comprehensive ecosystem efficiency assessment.
Discussion. The study develops further economic ecosystem theory through its novel transactional value framework, integrating tangible benefits, intangible assets, and emergent properties. The proposed approach transcends conventional models by systematically capturing digital interaction synergies.
The research acknowledges contextual limitations regarding value evolution across ecosystem lifecycles and regulatory impacts. Promising avenues for further investigation include: developing industry-specific valuation metrics; examining value dynamics under external shocks (technological, geopolitical); conducting typological comparisons of ecosystem architectures.
Implementation requires interdisciplinary collaboration among economists, data analysts, and domain experts to operationalize the framework for strategic decision-making.