Antecedents and Consequences of Consumers' Attitude toward Social Commerce Sites

Drawing upon technology acceptance model (TAM), this study investigates the antecedents and consequences of consumers' attitude toward social commerce sites. In addition to the antecedents of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use from TAM, the study includes such factors as perceived trust, perceived shopping enjoyment, perceived shopping risk, and perceived social presence. The study results suggest that consumers' attitudes toward social commerce sites are significantly impacted by perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived shopping enjoyment, and perceived shopping risk. The study also finds that consumers' attitudes toward social commerce sites significantly influence the effects of e-word-of-mouth (eWOM) intention, intention to return, and e-purchase intention. This study provides an integrative approach to evaluating antecedents and consequences of consumers' attitude toward social commerce sites. Limitations and future research are discussed.     

The effect of trust,channel technology,and transaction type on the adoption of self-service bank channels

Few studies have examined customers' beliefs and intentions across different self-service technology channels and different intended uses of these channels. The present work integrates (a) technology acceptance variables (b) trusting beliefs and trusting intention as two distinct constructs, (c) level of customers' information about the channel, in order to test their effect on use intention for two channels, Internet and phone banking, and three banking transactions. Findings from a sample of 762 bank customers reveal that patterns of adoption are quite similar for the two channels but differ across transactions. Furthermore, the trusting intention has a strong mediating role between trusting beliefs and technology-acceptance variables on one hand, and intention to use these channels on the other hand. Several implications for developing intention to use technology-based channels are discussed.     

Assessing customers perception of online shopping risks: A structural equation modeling–based multigroup analysis

Increasing evidence shows the role of perceived risk in customers' attitude and intention to use online shopping services. However, the literature shows disagreement regarding the types of risks that influence purchase intention. Therefore, this study aims to empirically identify the most relevant sources of risks and uncertainties associated with online shopping services and to investigate the influence of sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., gender, age, and online shopping experience) on the levels of perceived risk using data collected through a survey questionnaire. A total of 558 participants were selected across three countries (Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait). The responses were evaluated using structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis. The analysis showed that of the tested types of risks and uncertainty, only three had a significant influence on customers' purchase decisions: financial risk, information risk, and privacy risk. Regarding the moderating role of sociodemographic variables, the analysis showed that previous experience has a significant moderating effect. At the same time, gender and age were found not to affect the relationship between perceived risks and customers' purchase intention. These findings may help online stores understand customers’ concerns when considering online shopping. The limitations and theoretical and managerial implications of the present study are discussed.     

How perceived trust mediates merchant's intention to use a mobile wallet technology

As mobile wallets are in constant demand and growing over the past few years, there is a need to identify views of different stakeholders involved in the process. Several studies have been done to investigate consumers' perspective intensively. On the other hand, review of perception and adoption of wallet services by other participants, in particular merchants, is often neglected. The present study aims to fill this gap. This study used an empirical model to measure merchant's intention to use a mobile wallet technology. The study includes the variables, perceived compatibility, perceived usefulness, awareness, perceived cost, perceived customer value addition and perceived trust, and aims to determine their influence on intention to use. Our study also tested the mediating effect of perceived trust on the influence of perceived usefulness to predict merchant's intention. The study includes results of the survey of 315 Indian merchants by an online survey method. We find the highest effect of perceived customer value addition on merchant's intention, followed by perceived usefulness of technology. The proposed mediation effect of perceived trust was small but significant on perceived usefulness. The results of the study can help mobile payment companies to understand factors that are relevant to increase adoption of technology in the context of merchants.     

Who are the online grocers?

Online grocery sales experienced a surge in Singapore in the early half of 2003 during the SARS outbreak. This research uses the technology acceptance model and some basic demographic variables to study the intended usage of online supermarkets. Based on a sample size of 211 shoppers, it was found that those 21–40 years old have a higher propensity to use the online grocery stores while those having income lower than S$2000 a month have less inclination to make use of e-grocery shopping. The stepwise discriminant analysis shows that two perceived variables, usefulness and ease of use, and two demographic variables, age and income are significant in differentiating the intended customers. Our results are different from past studies, where gender and education were found to be significant. This may be due to the fact that the bulk of the respondents were under 41 years old with at least tertiary education.     

Enjoyment and social influence: predicting mobile payment adoption

Models of technology adoption, notably the Technology Acceptance Model and the Unified Theories of Acceptance and Use of Technology, provide good theoretical foundations for understanding mobile payment adoption. This study extends these frameworks by incorporating perceived enjoyment, social influence, knowledge and perceived risk. Replications of established theories are tested in a new context of young people's adoption of mobile payment. Subsequent hypotheses test an extended theoretical framework using an online survey (N?=?316). The extended model improves previous models by explaining 62% of variation in intention to use. Against expectations, perceived ease of use had no significant effect on perceived usefulness and intention to use. The study contributes to advancing understanding of perceived enjoyment which had no direct effect on adoption intention but a significant effect on perceived ease of use and usefulness. Social influence reduces perceived risk, and further contribution is made by noting that perceived enjoyment lowers perceived risk.     

Behavioural intention to use a contact tracing application: The case of StopCovid in France

This research aims to study citizens' intention to download and use the COVID-19 tracing app in France. The theoretical framework considered the theory of technology acceptance model, the theory of goal-directed behaviour, and the theory of privacy to explain the intention to use the COVID-19 tracing app. The methodology included an online survey to examine the theoretical model, which was tested using structural equation modelling. The results show that anticipated emotions, perceived usefulness, privacy concerns, and perceived permission sensitivity significantly contribute towards the intention to adopt the StopCovid app. Subjective norms and goal desire do not exert a direct impact. These findings provide both theoretical and practical implications by adding the extrinsic social value dimension to the analyses of the StopCovid app and presenting antecedents for enhancing its design and safety.     

Adoption of Online Social Networks to Communicate with Financial Institutions

Spain's financial sector is not in a healthy state, and the problems that some financial institutions currently face perpetuate the widespread perception of risk across the entire sector. Moreover, the online social networks (OSN) that emerged a decade ago are suddenly at the very heart of digital society. In this study we develop a predictive model to determine that the motivational factors that influence Spanish users' intention to use OSN to communicate with financial institutions are quality management, availability of information, external conditions, trust, perceived compatibility, perceived usefulness, attitude, and intention. Data were collected from 335 Spanish OSN users through an online survey. The results suggest that quality management has a highly significant and positive effect on perceived usefulness and that perceived usefulness has a positive and significant effect on the intention to use social networks to communicate with financial institutions.     

Chatbots in retailers’ customer communication: How to measure their acceptance?

Currently, online retailers evaluate whether chatbots—software programs that interact with users using natural languages—could improve their customers' satisfaction. In a retail context, chatbots allow humans to pose shopping-related questions and receive answers in natural language without waiting for a salesperson or using other automated communication forms. However, until now, it has been unclear which customers accept this new communication form and which factors determine their acceptance. In this paper, we contrast the well-known technology acceptance model (TAM) with the lesser known uses and gratifications (U&G) theory, applying both approaches to measure the acceptance of the text-based “Emma” chatbot by its target segment. “Emma” was developed for the prepurchase phase of online fashion retailing and integrated into Facebook Messenger by the major German online retailer Zalando. Data were collected from 205 German Millennial respondents in a usability study. The results show that both utilitarian factors such as “authenticity of conversation” and “perceived usefulness,” as well as hedonic factors such as “perceived enjoyment”, positively influence the acceptance of “Emma”. However, privacy concerns and the immaturity of the technology had a negative effect on usage intention and frequency. The predictive power of both models was similar, showing little deviation, but U&G gives alternative insights into the customers’ motivation to use “Emma” compared to the TAM.     

What motivates customers to shop in smart shops? The impacts of smart technology and technology readiness

With the rapid diffusion of smart technologies, a new retail mode, the smart shop, has received increasing attention from both academia and practitioners in the 5G era. However, previous studies on smart shops have largely focused on the effects of smart technologies on technology adoption rather than customer shopping behaviors. To fill this gap, this study applies the hedonic information systems acceptance model (HISAM) to identify the utilitarian and hedonic motivations affecting consumer shopping intention. In addition, we characterize a second-order formative construct, technology readiness, as a technology-related personality to test its moderating role in the research model in the marketing context when consumer behaviors may differ due to individual characteristics. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), we applied SmartPLS 3.2.8 to analyze 298 valid samples. The results show that perceived ease of use significantly affects perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment, in turn, these three factors directly influence shopping intention. Additionally, perceived ease of use will have a stronger impact on perceived usefulness and shopping intention when the customer has a high level of technology readiness. Finally, theoretical and practical suggestions and future research directions are also discussed.     

Why Do Consumers Go Internet Shopping Again? Understanding the Antecedents of Repurchase Intention

Consumer intention of reusing online websites for shopping is a major consequence for an electronic commerce company's profitability. Therefore, understanding the factors that influence online customers' repurchase intentions is of great importance to the EC companies. Drawing on specific dimensions of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), Information Systems continuance model, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and empirical findings from prior studies as antecedents, the related factors were adapted and integrated within the context of Internet shopping repurchase intentions and were tested in a field study. Empirical data for hypotheses testing were collected from the online virtual store of 7-ELEVEN in Taiwan, yielding 444 valid samples. The results show that online consumer repurchase intention is determined by satisfaction, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and Internet shopping self-efficacy. Satisfaction is influenced by perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, confirmation, and positive Internet shopping experience. Perceived usefulness, in turn, is influenced by behavior modeling, positive Internet shopping experience, Internet shopping self-efficacy, and confirmation. Confirmation is affected by positive Internet shopping experience and behavior modeling. In addition, confirmation has significant effects on perceived ease of use. Finally, positive Internet shopping experience appeared to have a significant impact on Internet shopping self-efficacy. From the empirical data, meaningful findings and conclusions are derived, and suggestions for future research are also discussed.     

Shopping intention at AI-powered automated retail stores (AIPARS)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the way retail stores operate. AI-Powered Automated Retail Stores are the next revolution in physical retail. Consumers are facing fully automated technology in these retail stores. Therefore, it is necessary to scrutinize the antecedents of consumers' intention to shop at AI-Powered Automated Retail Stores. This study delves into this area to find the predictors of consumers’ intention to shop at AI-Powered Automated Retail Stores. It extends the technology readiness and acceptance model by the addition of AI context-specific constructs such as Perceived Enjoyment, Customization and Interactivity from the present literature. The proposed model is tested by surveying 1250 consumers & the data is analyzed using the PLS-SEM technique and empirically validated. The outcome of the study reveals that Innovativeness and Optimism of consumers affect the perceived ease and perceived usefulness. Insecurity negatively affects the perceived usefulness of AI-powered automated retail stores. Perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, customization and interactivity are significant predictors of shopping intention of consumers in AI-powered automated stores. This research presents insightful academic and managerial implications in the domain of retailing and technology in retail.     

Elderly consumers: problems and behaviours

The purpose of this study was to explore older consumers' problems and behaviour. Data were collected by interviewing. Responses of 150 older Wisconsin residents were analysed using chi square to determine significant differences in consumer problems and behaviour related to the demographic variables: age, sex, place of residence, marital status and education. The distribution of responses was most frequently influenced by marital status. The demographic variables of age, sex and place of residence were also found to influence the response distribution, although less frequently than marital status; there were no significant differences in responses by education. Based on the findings, recommendations are made for consumer education programmes designed specifically for older persons.     

Determinants of customers' intentions to use hedonic networks: The case of Instagram

The emergence of the internet is a challenge for classical economic analysis, as it has a huge impact on people's habits and also on their living standards all over the world. In recent years, a particular attention has been paid to the study of the effect of Internet use and in particular, the impact of social networks on consumer behavior. The aim of this study is to develop a specific model that examines the impact of hedonic technology, such as Instagram, and integrates for the purpose some social factors. The key studied factors are eschewed by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). These are perceived pleasure and social identity. In addition, this paper tries to explore social CRM and provide theoretical and practical implications. This study tries also to validate the results of a first study by using a qualitative study. The results confirm the positive effect of perceived pleasure, social identity (cognitive, affective and evaluative) and perceived ease of use on intention to use Instagram. However, we found no empirical support for the significant and positive effect of perceived usefulness on the intention to use social networks. The results of the qualitative study could not validate the impact of perceived usefulness on the intention to use Instagram. The valuable insights gained from this study can be used to improve management practices and to help companies to develop more effective intervention programs to attract, encourage, motivate and influence their potential clients to participate in their social CRM programs.     

Consumer Acceptance of Cloud Computing

To date, little research has focused on the consumer's perspective of cloud computing acceptance. Thus, this article explores the drivers of voluntary consumer acceptance of cloud computing in a sample of Moroccan students. Results indicate that in addition to ease of use and perceived usefulness, structural trust is important for voluntary cloud computing acceptance. However, unlike prior studies, results indicate that perceived ease of use has a stronger effect on intention to use cloud computing, than perceived usefulness. The results of this study contribute to theory and provide strategies for cloud computing service providers to attract and retain individual consumers.     

The role of customer values in accepting information technologies in the public information service sector

Many government agencies have outsourced their information systems to software vendors. Firms in the information service industry have to realize the needs of customers in the public sector. This study investigated the causal relationship between users' perception and information technology acceptance. Empirical results suggest that the perceived value of users plays an important and mediating role in the causal relationship among social influence process, cognitive instrumental process, and intention to use.     

External pressure or internal culture? An innovation diffusion theory account of small retail businesses’ social media use

COVID-19 put unprecedented external pressure on small businesses to adopt or increase use of social media while not all small businesses are internally ready for this rapid change. This study investigated the roles of external pressures and organizational culture of openness and learning in driving small retail business owners'/managers' social media use decisions by impacting their perceived usefulness and barriers, based on the innovation-decision process model from the diffusion of innovations theory and the theory of reasoned action. An online survey with structured measurements was administered to 411 U.S. small retail business owners/managers. Results from structural equation modeling revealed that external pressures positively influenced small business owners'/managers’ perceived usefulness and barriers and social media use intention. In addition, the culture of openness and learning positively influenced the perceived usefulness while mitigating the perceived barriers, thereby directly and indirectly influencing the social media use intention. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.     

基于感知价值的消费者接受行为模型和实证研究

用户接受行为研究可以有效地帮助理解和解释资讯科技创新应用的用户接受意向。本文在对主要的用户接受理论和模型梳理的基础上,通过回归消费者感知价值的概念,提出基于感知价值的消费者接受行为模型,并对澳门某大学学生对网络游戏的接受意向进行了实证研究,结果表明对于资讯技术应用的消费者接受意向,感知价值作为最重要的影响因素反映出消费者的基础特征,人际影响、便利条件以及从众效应等因素的作用也较为明显。     

How do customers change their purchasing behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic?

This study focuses on examining how customers' shopping behaviors have changed during the pandemic and contributing variables. Three primary shopping modes include online purchases, curbside pickup, and in-store shopping. The dependent variables are the changes in customers' spending in those three modes during the pandemic. The theory of fear appeal was used as the theoretical foundation for selecting independent variables. Based on this theory, two groups of independent variables were identified, fears for health and fears for financial conditions due to COVID-19. Additionally, demographic variables were also included in the analysis. The data from Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey Phase 3.1 collected from June 23 to July 5, 2021, was used with 24,998 useable cases. Logistic regression was used to analyze the data to test the effects of independent variables on customers' shopping behavior changes in the three modes. The results show that both fears for health and fears for financial conditions have effects on the shopping behavioral changes. Due to those fears, residents change their shopping behaviors by considering the shopping modes that allow them to deal with or avoid the risks. Additionally, demographic variables, including age, gender, race, income, and marriage status, also have significant impacts on their shopping decisions.     

Investigating Antecedents of Behavioral Intentions in Mobile Commerce

ABSTRACT

Despite the importance of mobile commerce (m-commerce) as an emerging channel of communication, marketing, and sales in business, few studies address how consumers decide to use m-commerce. In this study, we develop a conceptual framework for investigating the role of the perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and perceived enjoyment in determining consumers' intention to use m-commerce. We also investigate the importance of social influence in determining intention to use m-commerce. We draw on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to develop our theoretical model. The empirical examination of our research model indicates that extrinsic and intrinsic motivations positively impact intention to use m-commerce. The current research model and its results could provide a rigorous basis for understanding consumers' behavior in wireless contexts.