Impact of information presentation modes on online shopping: An empirical evaluation of a broadband interactive shopping service

With the increasing cost-effectiveness of communication technologies, online shopping has emerged as one of the most important areas of electronic commerce. A major problem facing online shopping service providers is the heterogeneity of user profile. Unlike organizational systems that have a well-defined universe of users and system boundary, these shopping services are designed for public users with very different cognitive and demographic profiles. The major challenge lies in designing friendly and effective user interfaces for online shoppers. Previous studies on online shopping suggest that a good user interface with an appropriate mode of information presentation is the key to system acceptance. In this article, we report on an empirical study that looks at product information presentation modes in an actual broadband supermarket shopping environment. Four prototypes with different combinations of text and picture displays were developed and evaluated in an experimental setting. The findings suggest that there is a close relation between product familiarity and shopping effectiveness. When the system is used to purchase familiar product items, pictures are better than text in terms of both efficiency and effectiveness. However, when users are not familiar with the product items, the advantages of pictures over text diminish. Implications of the findings and future research areas are discussed.published_or_final_versio

Intended Usage of Online Supermarkets: The Singapore Case

The online grocery sales experienced a surge in Singapore especially in the early half of 2003 during the SARS outbreak. The Technology Acceptance Model and some basic demographic variables will be used to study the intended usage of online supermarkets. Based on a sample of size 211 shoppers, it was found that those 21-40 years old have a propensity in using the online grocery. However, those having income lower than $1,500 have less inclination in using the e-grocery. The stepwise discriminant analysis shows that two perceived variables, usefulness and ease of use, and two demographic variables, age, income are significant in differentiating the intended customers. Our results are different from the past studies where the gender and education are found to be significant. This may be due to the fact that most respondents in the sample are under 41 years old with at least tertiary and above education

Determinants of continuance intention to use mobile self-scanning applications in retail

Retailers are increasingly using self-service technologies to improve customer experience and reduce costs. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that could explain the level of continuance intention of mobile self-scanning applications in retail. Based on previous theoretical streams, the present study integrates technology readiness (TR) and service quality into the technology acceptance model (TAM). Using data collected through an online survey of 217 users of a mobile self-scanning application of a large supermarket chain operating in Portugal, the study uses partial least squares structural equation modeling to test the proposed hypotheses. The results indicate that the continuance usage of the self-scanning Apps is directly driven by users’ satisfaction, and perceived usefulness. Findings also show that technology readiness has a positive and significant impact on ease of use and perceived usefulness. Ease of use has a positive impact on users’ satisfaction and perceived usefulness but has no direct effect on the continuance intention to use the application. Perceived quality has a positive direct effect on satisfaction, and a positive indirect effect on continuance intention. Finally, need for interaction has a negative effect on technological readiness. This work contributes to a better understanding of the emerging market for mobile self-scanning applications in retail applications, particularly relevant in a digital transition context.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

An analysis into early customer experiences of self-service checkouts:lessons for improved usability

The research aims to examine the perceptions of relative novice users of self-service checkouts (SSCOs) and if these perceptions change before, during and following use. Employing a diary approach with 31 respondents relatively unfamiliar with SSCOs, the research will document their experiences with this technology across stationary, hardware and grocery stores in two Scottish cities (Glasgow and Dundee). Findings suggest that the majority of respondents were motivated to use the technology because of time saving and convenience. However, the actual experience of using SSCOs was not always considered quicker when compared to staffed checkouts because of technical issues, lack of staff assistance and the impersonal, sometimes stressful and controlled nature of the cramped SSCO environment. Following post-use reflections, the majority of respondents’ opinions did not change from their initial perceptions and indicated that they would prefer not to use the technology in the future. Based on the findings, this study makes some practical suggestions centring on the design and usability of SSCOs, which may go some way to reducing customer dissatisfaction and frustration with the technology, especially from the perspective of new users of the technology

Exploring the Influential Factors of Consumers’ Willingness to Purchase Fresh Agricultural Products Online: A Meta-Analysis

What are the key influential factors of consumers’ willingness to purchase fresh agricultural products online? A large number of existing studies indicate that even the same factor has significant inconsistency or even opposite conclusion. Based on this contradiction, this study uses meta-analysis and uniform effect values to analyze the existing researches, and find a more unified conclusion. The results show the degree of self-health concern, the quality, safety and price, online shopping evaluation, the consumers\u27 perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and perceived risk in online shopping for fresh agricultural products all have a significant impact on consumers’ online shopping willingness

Designing appliances for mobile commerce and retailtainment

In the emerging world of the new consumer and the `anytime, anywhere' mobile commerce, appliances are located at the collision point of the retailer and consumer agendas. The consequence of this is twofold: on the one hand appliances that were previously considered plain and utilitarian become entertainment devices and on the other, for the effective design of consumer appliances it becomes paramount to employ multidisciplinary expertise. In this paper, we discuss consumer perceptions of a retailtainment commerce system developed in collaboration between interactivity designers, information systems engineers, hardware and application developers, marketing strategists, product development teams, social scientists and retail professionals. We discuss the approached employed for the design of the consumer experience and its implications for appliance design

Consumer Acceptance of Technology Contact: Extending Web-Based eCommerce to Technology-Based Services

This paper theoretically defines the concept of technology contact, as a specific service characteristic, that is referred to the level of customer-technology interaction the service requires. Moreover, it defines technology contact of a service as a construct with three dimensions: time of interaction with technology, medium sophistication and task complexity. Then, we develop a conceptual model for consumer acceptance of technology-based services that includes the notion of service technology contact. It is hypothesized that technology contact, as a unique service characteristic, affects performance expectancy, ease of use and behavioral intentions, but these relationships are moderated by individual’s anxiety with technology and the type of shopping trip. The scenario of technology-based dynamic product information service in supermarket stores is used in order to empirically test our model. The technology contact of the service is manipulated at three levels using service scenarios with different supporting technologies (electronic shelf labels, electronic kiosk and PDA) that are presented to 575 grocery store shoppers. Results confirm the hypotheses and the paper concludes that the level of technology contact is an important service characteristic that should be taken into account when designing and evaluating technology-based services

Empowering smart customer to participate in electricity supply system: Extended of technology acceptance model

Based on the literature on the technology acceptance model (TAM) and related efforts in technology adoption research, this paper proposed an extended model for analyzing supply system acceptance of users. Innovation adoption has been widely researched in academe, industry and the public sector. The user readiness to adopt and use smart grid will be evaluates using Technology Acceptance Model. This literature review is based on articles relating to TAM model being identified and observed to have been published in journals from databases EBSCOhost , Emerald, Proquest New Platform, Science Direct and IEEE Explore between the year 1998-2013. The most recent studies investigate the TAM model in information system and involved service industries in its scope have been reviewed. A discussion on the TAM model and factor on consumer acceptance smart grid is presented and conceptual framework and model are proposed

e-Consumer Behaviour

Purpose – The primary purpose of this article is to bring together apparently disparate and yet interconnected strands of research and present an integrated model of e-consumer behaviour. It has a secondary objective of stimulating more research in areas identified as still being underexplored. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is discursive, based on analysis and synthesis of econsumer literature. Findings – Despite a broad spectrum of disciplines that investigate e-consumer behaviour and despite this special issue in the area of marketing, there are still areas open for research into econsumer behaviour in marketing, for example the role of image, trust and e-interactivity. The paper develops a model to explain e-consumer behaviour. Research limitations/implications – As a conceptual paper, this study is limited to literature and prior empirical research. It offers the benefit of new research directions for e-retailers in understanding and satisfying e-consumers. The paper provides researchers with a proposed integrated model of e-consumer behaviour. Originality/value – The value of the paper lies in linking a significant body of literature within a unifying theoretical framework and the identification of under-researched areas of e-consumer behaviour in a marketing context