Resource-Advantage Theory in Digital Marketing Capabilities: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research

Authors

  • Yose Andri Universitas Negari Padang
  • Vidyarini Dwita Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia
  • Abror Abror Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia
  • Yunia Wardi Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55681/economina.v5i5.2051

Keywords:

Resource-Advantage Theory; Digital marketing capabilities; Competitive advantage; Business performance;

Abstract

This article aims to analyze how the literature on digital marketing capabilities explains competitive advantage and to assess the extent to which Resource-Advantage Theory can be used as an integrative lens for understanding the relationships among resources, capabilities, and market outcomes. This study employs a systematic literature review approach following the PRISMA. The review was conducted through descriptive bibliometric analysis and keyword mapping using VOSviewer, based on metadata and abstracts. The findings show a significant increase in publications in 2024-2025, with dominant themes including digital marketing, competitive advantage, business performance, social media, big data/AI, data governance, marketing agility, customer experience, and sustainability. The review also confirms that the resource-based view and dynamic capabilities are the dominant theoretical foundations, whereas Resource-Advantage Theory has not yet been used explicitly. Accordingly, this study proposes a Resource-Advantage process model and a future research agenda that emphasizes innovation, trust, data governance, and sustainability.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Alawneh, O. M., Allahham, M., Habeeb, A. F. H., Almajali, W., Al-Nsour, I. A., & Jawabreh, O. (2025). Evaluating how big data analysis mediates the impact of digital marketing strategies on tourism development in Jordan. Geojournal of Tourism and Geosites, 62(4), 2053–2062. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.62405-1571

Althuwaini, S., Aljabari, M., Bouguerra, A., Allahham, M., Al-Amro, A., & Alqurashi, D. R. (2025). The role of sustainable performance in mediating the effects of digital marketing tactics on market volatility: Evidence from Jordan. International Journal of Data and Network Science, 9(4), 1019–1030. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.ijdns.2024.9.019

Barney, J. B. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108

Bashar, A., Alkadash, T., Nyagadza, B., & Muposhi, A. (2025). Sustainable digital marketing (SDM): Review, taxonomy, conceptualisation and future research avenues mapping. Quality & Quantity. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-025-02438-7

Cerquetti, M., & Romagnoli, A. (2023). Milieu and cultural heritage as a resource for digital marketing: Exploring web marketing strategies in the wine industry. Corporate Governance and Organizational Behavior Review, 7(3 Special Issue), 347–364. https://doi.org/10.22495/cgobrv7i3sip10

Cherkasova, V. A., & Slepushenko, G. A. (2021). The impact of digitalization on the financial performance of Russian companies. Finance: Theory and Practice, 25(2), 128–142. https://doi.org/10.26794/2587-5671-2021-25-2-128-142

Davenport, T., Guha, A., Grewal, D., & Bressgott, T. (2020). How artificial intelligence will change the future of marketing. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 48, 24–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-019-00696-0

Day, G. S. (1994). The capabilities of market-driven organizations. Journal of Marketing, 58(4), 37–52. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224299405800404

Diez-Martin, F., Blanco-Gonzalez, A., & Prado-Roman, C. (2019). Research challenges in digital marketing: Sustainability. Sustainability, 11(10), 2839. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102839

Duralia, O., Ogrean, C., Ţichindelean, M., & Ţichindelean, M. (2025). Decoding the personalization-privacy paradox: From thematic scholarly clusters to practical insights. Studies in Business and Economics, 20(2), 70–97. https://doi.org/10.2478/sbe-2025-0025

Elkington, J. (1997). Cannibals with forks: The triple bottom line of 21st century business. Capstone. (DOI not available)

Figueiredo, R., Agag, G., Yousaf, A., & Soliman, M. (2026). Digital marketing capability: Its impact on marketing agility and service innovation in the hospitality industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 135, 104607. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2026.104607

Hunt, S. D., & Morgan, R. M. (1995). The comparative advantage theory of competition. Journal of Marketing, 59(2), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224299505900201

Hunt, S. D., & Morgan, R. M. (1996). The resource-advantage theory of competition: Dynamics, path dependencies, and evolutionary dimensions. Journal of Marketing, 60(4), 107–114. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224299606000410

Lemos, C., Ramos, R. F., Moro, S., & Oliveira, P. M. (2022). Stick or twist—The rise of blockchain applications in marketing management. Sustainability, 14(7), 4172. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14074172

Liang, X., Hussain, W. M. H. W., & Kadir, R. A. (2025). Digital marketing and competitive advantage in Malaysian education agencies: Unveiling the mediating effects of Generation Z interaction and business resilience. Asian Journal of University Education, 21(3), 1075–1089. https://doi.org/10.24191/ajue.v21i3.70

Lorenzo-Romero, C., Andrés-Martínez, M.-E., & Mondéjar-Jiménez, J.-A. (2020). Omnichannel in the fashion industry: A qualitative analysis from a supply-side perspective. Heliyon, 6(6), e04198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04198

Miklosik, A., Kuchta, M., Evans, N., & Zak, S. (2019). Towards the adoption of machine learning-based analytical tools in digital marketing. IEEE Access, 7, 85705–85718. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2924425

Morgan, N. A. (2012). Marketing and business performance. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 40(1), 102-119. (DOI not available)

Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., et al. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71

Ruiz-Real, J. L., Uribe-Toril, J., Torres, J. A., & Pablo, J. D. E. (2021). Artificial intelligence in business and economics research: Trends and future. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 22(1), 98–117. https://doi.org/10.3846/jbem.2020.13641

Sakas, D. P., Reklitis, D. P., Trivellas, P., Vassilakis, C., & Terzi, M. C. (2022). The effects of logistics websites’ technical factors on the optimization of digital marketing strategies and corporate brand name. Processes, 10(5), 892. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10050892

Sakas, D. P., Reklitis, D. P., Giannakopoulos, N. T., & Trivellas, P. (2023). The influence of websites user engagement on the development of digital competitive advantage and digital brand name in logistics startups. European Research on Management and Business Economics, 29(2), 100221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iedeen.2023.100221

Singla, M. L., & Durga, A. (2015). How social media gives you competitive advantage. Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 8(S4), 90–95. https://doi.org/10.17485/ijst/2015/v8iS4/60363

Teece, D. J., Pisano, G., & Shuen, A. (1997). Dynamic capabilities and strategic management. Strategic Management Journal, 18(7), 509–533. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(199708)18:7<509::AID-SMJ882>3.0.CO;2-Z

Tornatzky, L. G., & Fleischer, M. (1990). The processes of technological innovation. Lexington Books.

van Eck, N. J., & Waltman, L. (2010). Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping. Scientometrics, 84(2), 523–538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-009-0146-3

Vargo, S. L., & Lusch, R. F. (2004). Evolving to a new dominant logic for marketing. Journal of Marketing, 68(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkg.68.1.1.24036

Verhoef, P. C., Broekhuizen, T., Bart, Y., Bhattacharya, A., Dong, J. Q., Fabian, N., & Haenlein, M. (2021). Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda. Journal of Business Research, 122, 889–901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.09.022

Venith Vijay, M., Selvaraj, V., Muzhumathi, R., & Balamurugan, P. S. (2025). Leveraging strategic marketing analytics to drive competitive advantage in data-driven markets. Archives for Technical Sciences, 17(34), 647–659. https://doi.org/10.70102/afts.2025.1834.647

Vorhies, D. W., & Morgan, N. A. (2005). Benchmarking marketing capabilities for sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Marketing, 69(1), 80–94. https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkg.69.1.80.55505

Vrontis, D., Thrassou, A., & Amirkhanpour, M. (2017). B2C smart retailing: A consumer-focused value-based analysis of interactions and synergies. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 124, 271–282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.10.064

Xavier, J., & Picoto, W. N. (2023). Regulation of data-driven marketing and management theory: Bibliometric analysis, systematic literature review and research agenda. International Journal of Law and Management, 65(5), 461–482. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLMA-02-2023-0022

Yasa, N. N. K., Sukaatmadja, I. P. G., Ekawati, N. W., Guntara, A. A., Pharamadita, I. P. A. W., Rahmayanti, P. L. D., & Tirtayani, I. G. A. (2025). Impact of product innovation and digital marketing strategy on competitive advantage: Brand image as a mediating factor. Corporate and Business Strategy Review, 6(3), 216–225. https://doi.org/10.22495/cbsrv6i3art20

Zong, Z., Anwar, M. A., Khan, S., Asmi, F., & Hussain, N. (2025). Big-data AI analytics in value-chain innovation and international marketing strategy: Insights from SMEs in cultural and creative industries. International Marketing Review, 42(4), 556–584. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMR-02-2024-0049

Downloads

Published

2026-05-30

How to Cite

Andri, Y., Dwita, V., Abror, A., & Wardi, Y. (2026). Resource-Advantage Theory in Digital Marketing Capabilities: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research . JURNAL ECONOMINA, 5(5), 908–924. https://doi.org/10.55681/economina.v5i5.2051