eEnabled internet distribution for small and medium sized hotels: the case of hospitality SMEs in Athens

Advances in information and communications technologies (ICTs) have strategic implications for a wide range of industries. Tourism and hospitality have dramatically changed by the ICTs and the Internet and gradually emerge as the leading industry on online expenditure. The Internet revolutionised traditional distribution models, enabled new entries propelled both disintermediation and reintermediation and altered the sources of competitive advantage. This paper explores the strategic implications of ICTs and the perceived advantages and disadvantages of Internet distribution for small and medium-sized hospitality enterprises (SMEs). Primary research in Athens hotels demonstrates the effects of the Internet and ICTs for secondary markets, where there is lower penetration and ICT adoption. Interviews and questionnaires identified a number of strategies in order to optimise distribution. The analysis illustrates the strategic role of ICTs and the Internet for hospitality organisations and Small and Medium-sized organisations in general. Most hotels employ a distribution mix that determines the level and employment of the Internet. The paper demonstrates that only organisations that use ICTs strategically will be able to develop their electronic distribution and achieve competitive advantages in the future

Picnic : expanding the boundaries of online food retail

Mestrado Bolonha em ManagementThis case-study presents the challenges faced by Picnic intern, Mariana Torrão, in assessing which European country Picnic should expand to. Since its foundation, Picnic has been growing, year after year, becoming one of the most important food online retailers in the Netherlands. Picnic is the number one Dutch start-up and its business model relies on selling groceries with an app-only approach. The customer places the order, and an electric van deliver it at his door, with no extra fees. This case analyses the viability of Picnic's European expansion, reviews the trends that are shaping the online food retail industry, especially in the post COVID-19 period, defines the criteria for expansion and briefly characterizes the potential markets for its expansion. Lastly, the case also identifies which strategies should be implemented by Picnic, in order to be successful in a new market and achieve customer engagement and loyalty.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

SMEs e-business behaviour: a demographics and strategic analysis

The aim of this research was to understand the strategic uses of e-business systems and technologies by classifying companies and particularly small and medium businesses according to demographics as well as e-business behavior variables.The study was based on data from a large quantitative survey of European E-business W@tch for the period 2007 using questionnaire interviews (N=409). We employed two-step cluster analysis, multinomial logistic regression and stepwise descriminant analysis as the most appropriate methods for our analysis. The findings revealed six clusters associated to e-business adoption. The six groups differ in terms of demographic characteristics as well as e-business applications they use. We found that the following clusters exist: (a) Leaders: large companies that extensively use ebusiness in a strategic manner (b) innovators: use e-business in an way that allows them to innovate and differentiate from other companies (c Beginners: small and medium companies across all sectors that only recently start to use e-business (d) Unready Adopters: micro and small companies that lag behind (e) Late Adopters: small-size companies but larger that the Unready Adopters, that appear not to be interest in the advances of ICTs and (f) Laggards: micro companies with little use of e-business.The results of our survey can positively contribute to managers aiming to take advantage of technological advances in electronic business as well as to any researcher who study e-business management and applications

The supply side of innovation diffusion - A UK SME broadband adoption perspective

Recent research suggests that the majority of the Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) e-business research focusses primarily on studying innovation diffusion within the SMEs themselves with limited research into the supply-side of innovation diffusion This study examines the supply side of innovation diffusion to SMEs in south east United Kingdom (UK). It aims to examine and provide an indepth view of the broadband diffusion process to SMEs in UK by exploring the views and activities of the various groups involved in the process with a particular focus on the supply side. Innovation diffusion and social construction of technology theory are applied to extend a framework with a view to address some of the issues not covered in previous literature. Our research results suggest that even though the various social groups are working towards the same goal, both sides have a very different view of what the expectations are from the supply side of innovation diffusion. We believe that our results are useful to providers looking to diffuse broadband as well as other IT innovations to SMEs

Pengaruh faktor teknologi terhadap hubungan antara faktor organisasi dengan penerimaan media sosial dalam pemasaran penginapan bajet

Social media has been accepted as a new marketing medium for survival of various industries in Malaysia, especially in budget accommodation. However, its adoption among small and medium enterprises in the tourism industry is still at the initial stage. Previous studies showed that organization’s internal and external factors determine the success of budget accommodation marketing, yet technological factor was less emphasized. Accordingly, this study was conducted to identify the influence of the organization’s internal and external factors, and the technological factor on the adoption of social media in the budget accommodation marketing. The theoretical framework of this study was developed by combining the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT). The method used in this study was cross-sectional survey involving budget accommodation operators in Kedah, Perlis and Penang. A total of 112 respondents answered the questionnaires and the data were analyzed by using multivariate techniques of Structural Equation Modeling. Path Analysis showed that a large variance in the adoption of social media in the budget accommodation marketing was contributed by the organization’s internal factor, external factor and technological factor by 71.6 percent. The findings also revealed that organization’s external factor and technological factor have significant direct influences towards the social media adoption. Technological factor was also found to be significantly mediating the relationship between organization factors and social media adoption. This study contributes to the application of TAM and IDT in the context of adoption of social media for budget accommodation marketing, as well as a guide to the operators as a new marketing strategy in the current tourism sector