Reverse auction as purchasing tool: Literature review and research agenda

Abstract

Purpose: The study aims to organize and analyse the fragmented knowledge base on reverse auctions that has emerged across multiple disciplines due to global digitization. It seeks to identify key research themes, methodologies, and trends in both private and public sector applications. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review was conducted covering two decades of research indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases. Hundreds of articles addressing diverse aspects of reverse auctions were examined and categorized through network and content analysis to uncover thematic clusters and methodological tendencies. Findings: The analysis indicates a growing academic interest in reverse auctions within three main research areas: Computer Science, Engineering, and Business/Economics. In business-oriented studies, analytical, mathematical, theoretical, and conceptual methods dominate, often employing experiments, simulations, and comparative analyses. Four major thematic clusters were identified: Sustainability context, Decision-making support tools, Multi-attribute reverse auction design, and Insiders' view. Additionally, five promising directions for future research were proposed. Research limitations/implications: The study is limited to literature indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases and focuses primarily on English-language publications. Future research may broaden this scope by including regional or non-English studies and expanding to emerging digital auction platforms. Practical implications: The findings provide guidance for practitioners and policymakers interested in optimizing reverse auction design, integrating sustainability criteria, and improving decision-support mechanisms in procurement and supply chain management. Originality/value: This paper offers the comprehensive, multidisciplinary mapping of reverse auction research over two decades. By synthesizing diverse academic perspectives and identifying key themes, it provides a structured foundation for advancing both theoretical and practical understanding of reverse auctions.