Critical review of the e-loyalty literature: a purchase-centred framework

Over the last few years, the concept of online loyalty has been examined extensively in the literature, and it remains a topic of constant inquiry for both academics and marketing managers. The tremendous development of the Internet for both marketing and e-commerce settings, in conjunction with the growing desire of consumers to purchase online, has promoted two main outcomes: (a) increasing numbers of Business-to-Customer companies running businesses online and (b) the development of a variety of different e-loyalty research models. However, current research lacks a systematic review of the literature that provides a general conceptual framework on e-loyalty, which would help managers to understand their customers better, to take advantage of industry-related factors, and to improve their service quality. The present study is an attempt to critically synthesize results from multiple empirical studies on e-loyalty. Our findings illustrate that 62 instruments for measuring e-loyalty are currently in use, influenced predominantly by Zeithaml et al. (J Marketing. 1996;60(2):31-46) and Oliver (1997; Satisfaction: a behavioral perspective on the consumer. New York: McGraw Hill). Additionally, we propose a new general conceptual framework, which leads to antecedents dividing e-loyalty on the basis of the action of purchase into pre-purchase, during-purchase and after-purchase factors. To conclude, a number of managerial implementations are suggested in order to help marketing managers increase their customers’ e-loyalty by making crucial changes in each purchase stage

Modelling 3D product visualisation for online retail atmospherics

Purpose: The Stimulus (S) Organism (O) Responses (R) paradigm has been extensively studied in conventional retailing but has received little attention in the online context. This study aims to investigate the effects of an online retailer atmospheric using three dimensional (3D) product visualisation. Design/methods/approach: We operationalise 3D antecedents, the main online atmospheric cues, as the “stimulus” (S) that attracts consumers’ attention towards the online retailer, authenticity of the 3D, hedonic and utilitarian value as the “organism” (O) part, and consumers’ behavioural intention as the “responses” (R) part. A hypothetical retailer Web site presents a variety of laptops using 3D product visualisations. Findings: The control and animated colours represent the main stimuli (S). Furthermore, 3D authenticity, hedonic and utilitarian values are the main determinants of behavioural intentions. The proposed conceptual model achieves acceptable fit and the hypothesised paths are all valid. Practical implications: Retail website designers can contribute to enhancing consumers’ virtual experience by focusing more on utilitarian and hedonic value. Any 3D flash should include the essential information that consumers seek and consumers should be able to click to any part of the 3D flash to access further information. Originality/values: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first in the U.K. that uses a U.K. sample to investigate the effects of using 3D product visualisation on consumers’ perceptions and responses. Our research makes an important contribution to the online atmospheric literature by providing a rich explanation of how authenticity of the 3D virtual models adds more information, fun and enhances consumers’ responses towards the online retailer

Using 3D product visualisation to tap consumers’ experience with online retailers: From telepresence to authenticity

This study investigates the effects of authentic three dimensional (3D) product visualisation versus 3D telepresence on consumers’ virtual experience. A hypothetical retailer Web site presents a variety of laptops using 3D product visualisations for the within-subjects laboratory experiment. The first stage uses two-way repeated measures ANOVA to determine the effects of the progressive levels of control and animated colours on 3D authenticity (the dependent variable). In a second stage, we use structural equation modelling to test the proposed hypothesis. This research uses a U.K. sample to investigate the effects of 3D authenticity and 3D telepresence on willingness to purchase and reveals significant differences between telepresence and authenticity constructs. Authenticity is more significant in simulating an online retailer’s products, and control and animated colours represent the main antecedents of authenticity. The proposed conceptual model achieves acceptable fit and the hypothesised paths are all valid

An improved negative selection algorithm based on the hybridization of cuckoo search and differential evolution for anomaly detection

The biological immune system (BIS) is characterized by networks of cells, tissues, and organs communicating and working in synchronization. It also has the ability to learn, recognize, and remember, thus providing the solid foundation for the development of Artificial Immune System (AIS). Since the emergence of AIS, it has proved itself as an area of computational intelligence. Real-Valued Negative Selection Algorithm with Variable-Sized Detectors (V-Detectors) is an offspring of AIS and demonstrated its potentials in the field of anomaly detection. The V-Detectors algorithm depends greatly on the random detectors generated in monitoring the status of a system. These randomly generated detectors suffer from not been able to adequately cover the non-self space, which diminishes the detection performance of the V-Detectors algorithm. This research therefore proposed CSDE-V-Detectors which entail the use of the hybridization of Cuckoo Search (CS) and Differential Evolution (DE) in optimizing the random detectors of the V-Detectors. The DE is integrated with CS at the population initialization by distributing the population linearly. This linear distribution gives the population a unique, stable, and progressive distribution process. Thus, each individual detector is characteristically different from the other detectors. CSDE capabilities of global search, and use of L´evy flight facilitates the effectiveness of the detector set in the search space. In comparison with V-Detectors, cuckoo search, differential evolution, support vector machine, artificial neural network, na¨ıve bayes, and k-NN, experimental results demonstrates that CSDE-V-Detectors outperforms other algorithms with an average detection rate of 95:30% on all the datasets. This signifies that CSDE-V-Detectors can efficiently attain highest detection rates and lowest false alarm rates for anomaly detection. Thus, the optimization of the randomly detectors of V-Detectors algorithm with CSDE is proficient and suitable for anomaly detection tasks

A conceptual model of channel choice: measuring online and offline shopping value perceptions

This study tries to understand how consumers evaluate channels for their purchasing. Specifically, it develops a conceptual model that addresses consumer value perceptions of using the Internet versus the traditional (physical) channel. Previous research showed that perceptions of price, product quality, service quality and risk strongly influence perceived value and purchase intentions in the offline and online channel. Perceptions of online and offline buyers can be analyzed to see how value is constructed in both channels. This model enables comparisons between online and offline shoppers perceptions. As such, it is possible to determine the factors that encourage or prevent consumers to engage in online shopping.

A comprehensive structural model of factors affecting online consumer travel purchasing

The purpose of this research was to develop a comprehensive model to study consumers\u27 online purchase intention of travel products. Related literature reviews suggested antecedents of consumers\u27 online purchase intention including EC travel web site design, past purchase experience, consumer trust, consumer\u27s attitudes toward online shopping of travel products; The model was developed by integrating one existing theoretical model (Shim\u27s Online Pre-purchase Intentions Model) with several important factors which were guided by theories: (1) social cognitive theory, (2) self-efficacy theory, (3) theory of planned behavior (TPB), (4) attitude-behavior consistency theory, (5) theory of consumer trust, and (6) communication theory. As a prior attempt to integrate these theories in the context of hospitality industry, the scope of this study was limited to empirically test the model with data collected from leisure travelers in United States. The study proposed seven hypotheses. The data was collected via Internet survey. A structural equation modeling analysis revealed that six hypotheses hold true in this study; The overall results indicated that the Theory of Planned Behavior, attitude-behavior consistency theory, theory of consumer trust, and communication theory provide a good understanding those factors. The results revealed a strong support for the importance of designing a travel Web site. In consumers\u27 perspective, a good travel Web site should provide consumers with detailed, timely, and accurate information, reliable system operation, and excellent service quality. A well design e-travel agency can significantly influence consumers\u27 attitude, purchase experience, consumer trust, and online purchase intention. The findings also showed the significance of managing consumers\u27 attitude by creating convenience perception, good merchant image, and value perception in consumers\u27 mind. The importance of previous online shopping experience illustrates the strategic point of turning existing online consumers into repeat customers by providing them with satisfying online shopping experience. Although there is one contradicting finding in the hypotheses, this study still provided a more comprehensive model to explore consumers\u27 online purchase intention of travel products; Future researchers can use result of this study to create a new model to explore customer\u27s repurchase intention and to develop an effective consumer loyalty program

Intention to Adopt E-Commerce: A Comparative Review Across Developed and Developing Economies

The purpose of this study is to conduct a comprehensive literature review of online purchase intention and present a comparative case between developed and developing economies over a 20-year period to reveal insightful implications for academia and industry. Online purchase intention refers to the intended behavior of an individual to buy a product or service from an online store. Prior research has failed to present a review that compares an individual’s online purchase intention across developed and developing economies in order to disclose the largest and smallest influencing factors, theories, and models in e-commerce. Our sample consists of 97 relevant articles focusing on online purchase intention retrieved from various quality databases, specifically from 53 peer-reviewed and validated journals. This research, in brief, will show different phases of analysis to better understand the current landscape of e-commerce behavioral intention and provide useful insights to researchers and professionals

Bearings of Perceived Product Quality, Skepticism towards Store Promotion and Price Orientation on Online Purchase Intention: A First-Hand Reconnaissance

Online shopping, also known as e-tailing, is gaining importance every day. There are more people who are using the internet to make apurchase than ever before. This has resulted in competition between online retailers and physical stores. The literature on the subject brings out that perceived product quality influences online purchase intention. In fact perceived product quality is agauge of consumer purchase conduct once consumers have evaluated the product. However, efforts to promote the products by sellers face skepticism of potential buyers which ultimately affects purchase intention. Consumers have diverse shopping orientations which influence purchase intention and price is one of them. It is true that the buyers expect the prices to be lower when buying online but this is also true that in thecase of customized and conspicuous consumption price plays a limited role. For the customized products buyers are willing to pay extra.The data for this project was collected with the help of a questionnaire. The questions were constructed with the help of published literature and standardized statements were considered. A five point Likert type scale was used to get responses.Reliability and validity tests were run on the constructs for testing the consistency before multiple regression was employed to arrive at results. The results show that perceived product quality, price orientation and skepticism towards online promotion have a significant effect on online Purchase intentio

The Influence of Website Design on Online Trust in Electronic Commerce Retailing Environments

E-commerce retail sales continue to experience significant growth in the United States (U.S.) annually. However, the contribution of e-commerce retail sales towards total retail sales in the U.S. remains low. Furthermore, the growth of e-commerce retail sales from year to year as a percentage of total retail sales in the U.S. is also fractional. The lack of online trust by consumers has been cited as a significant barrier to transacting online and a possible cause of this slow-moving trend. E-commerce retail sales are paramount to the success and profitability of online merchants. It remains critical to understand the underlying determinants of online trust as a precursor to online purchase intention. This study sought to explore the effect of one such determinant namely, website design, on online trust. Using constructs and scales synthesized from the salient literature, the effects of visual design, social-cue design, and content design on online trust were measured and reported. Additionally, the mediating influence of online trust on online purchase intention was investigated. Demographic factors of age and gender were also examined for possible moderating effects of website design on online trust. A conceptual model of the influence of website design on online trust and the influence of online trust on purchase intention in e-commerce retailing environments was also tested. The study involved scenario-based survey research methodology. Participants were presented with two websites along with a fictitious purchase scenario and post-scenario survey. The survey captured their responses with respect to the design elements of each website, their inclination to trust each website, and their intention to make a purchase from each website. Participants’ age range and gender were also captured in the survey. A total of 502 participants took part in the study. The results found that each of the components of website design namely, visual design, social-cue design, and content design had a statistically significant effect on online trust. Online trust was also found to mediate the effect of these design factors on purchase intention. Finally, no significant effects of age or gender on website design’s relationship with online trust were found. Subsequently, implications and suggestions for future research are presented