Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research

19 pages, 2366 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Moderating Role of Readers’ Perspective in Evaluations of Online Consumer Reviews

by Ehsan Abedin, Antonette Mendoza and Shanika Karunasekera

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3406-3424; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070184 - 13 Dec 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4128

Abstract

Drawing upon the heuristic–systematic model (HSM) and considering the readers’ perspective, this study predicts that readers’ involvement and homophily between the reader and the review author (source) moderate the relationships between the credibility perception of online reviews and its antecedent factors. To test [...] Read more.

Drawing upon the heuristic–systematic model (HSM) and considering the readers’ perspective, this study predicts that readers’ involvement and homophily between the reader and the review author (source) moderate the relationships between the credibility perception of online reviews and its antecedent factors. To test our hypotheses, we performed a user study on the Amazon Mechanical Turk platform. The results show that reader’s involvement moderates source credibility, internal consistency, review objectivity, and review sidedness on review credibility. In addition, homophily between the reader and the source also moderates the relationship between review credibility and its source. Our study contributes to information processing literature, especially in the context of online reviews, and suggests a better classification of the attributes related to online reviews using the HSM. Besides, it helps e-commerce platforms to customize online reviews for each reader to satisfy their information need and help them to make a better purchasing decision. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Digital Marketing and the Connected Consumer)

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31 pages, 1362 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Deploying Big Data Enablers to Strengthen Supply Chain Agility to Mitigate Bullwhip Effect: An Empirical Study of China’s Electronic Manufacturers

by Chih-Hung Hsu, Xue-Hua Yang, Ting-Yi Zhang, An-Yuan Chang and Qing-Wen Zheng

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3375-3405; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070183 - 10 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5297

Abstract

With the development of economic globalization, the uncertainty of supply chains is also increasing, and alleviating the bullwhip effect has become an important issue. From previous discussions on alleviating the bullwhip effect, there was no research on alleviating it by enhancing supply chain [...] Read more.

With the development of economic globalization, the uncertainty of supply chains is also increasing, and alleviating the bullwhip effect has become an important issue. From previous discussions on alleviating the bullwhip effect, there was no research on alleviating it by enhancing supply chain agility through improving big data. Moreover, it has not been found that quality function deployment is used to analyze the interdependence between big data and supply chain agility, as well as between supply chain agility and the bullwhip effect. In particular, the interaction of bullwhip effect factors are not considered. In this study, the multicriteria decision-making integrated framework is proposed and the largest relay manufacturer in China is taken to identify key big data enablers to enhance supply chain agility and mitigate the bullwhip effect, thus providing an effective method for electronic equipment manufacturing enterprises to develop a supply chain that can quickly respond to changes and uncertainties. These big data enablers can enhance supply chain agility and reduce the bullwhip effect. This framework provides an effective method for electronic manufacturers to formulate supply chain agility indicators and big data enablers to mitigate the bullwhip effect and also provides a reference for other manufacturing enterprises in supply chain management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research and Developments of Digitalization Transformation and innovation in Businesses)

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19 pages, 1228 KiB

Open AccessReview

E-Commerce in Agri-Food Sector: A Systematic Literature Review Based on Service-Dominant Logic

by Mengzhen Zhang and Sami Berghäll

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3356-3374; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070182 - 5 Dec 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 17235

Abstract

Agricultural e-commerce (AE) has attracted substantial attention within various research disciplines for several years. In this paper, we present a literature review of the recent state of AE research published from 2000 through to 2021 in 83 journals. Based on Service-Dominant Logic (S-D [...] Read more.

Agricultural e-commerce (AE) has attracted substantial attention within various research disciplines for several years. In this paper, we present a literature review of the recent state of AE research published from 2000 through to 2021 in 83 journals. Based on Service-Dominant Logic (S-D logic) and Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), we identify six research themes, and a theoretical continuum is applied to reveal how research themes and scholarly approaches fit into the S-D logic framework. A general increasing trend in the number of articles confirms the escalating interest in AE research; however, different themes perform unevenly with S-D logic. Even though research themes such as Consumer Willingness are getting closer to S-D logic premises, and ideologies that are increasingly approaching S-D logic have been applied to analyzing AE topics, unfortunately, there remains a paucity of papers that wield S-D logic in the AE field. Our research focuses on an innovative emerging AE field and, simultaneously, provides an approach of integrating S-D logic into analyzing academic papers in the AE domain. This research may shed some light on future possibilities that S-D logic could support the co-creation of value between consumers and agribusiness managers, and other broader disciplines such as management and marketing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Digital Marketing and the Connected Consumer)

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16 pages, 1012 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determinants of Consumers’ Willingness to Participate in Fast Fashion Brands’ Used Clothes Recycling Plans in an Omnichannel Retail Environment

by Peng Shao and Hermann Lassleben

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3340-3355; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070181 - 3 Dec 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 11060

Abstract

Omnichannel retailing and sustainability are two important challenges for the fast fashion industry. However, the sustainable behavior of fast fashion consumers in an omnichannel environment has not received much attention from researchers. This paper aims to examine the factors that determine consumers’ willingness [...] Read more.

Omnichannel retailing and sustainability are two important challenges for the fast fashion industry. However, the sustainable behavior of fast fashion consumers in an omnichannel environment has not received much attention from researchers. This paper aims to examine the factors that determine consumers’ willingness to participate in fast fashion brands’ used clothes recycling plans in an omnichannel retail environment. In particular, we examine the impact of individual consumer characteristics (environmental attitudes, consumer satisfaction), organizational arrangements constitutive for omnichannel retailing (channel integration), and their interplay (brand identification, impulsive consumption). A conceptual model was developed based on findings from previous research and tested on data that were collected online from Chinese fast fashion consumers. Findings suggest that consumers’ intentions for clothes recycling are mainly determined by individual factors, such as environmental attitudes and consumer satisfaction. Organizational arrangements (perceived channel integration) showed smaller effects. This study contributes to the literature on omnichannel (clothing) retail, as well as on sustainability in the clothing industry, by elucidating individual and organizational determinants of consumers’ recycling intentions for used clothes in an omnichannel environment. It helps retailers to organize used clothes recycling plans in an omnichannel environment and to motivate consumers to participate in them. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Emerging Topics in Omni-Channel Operations)

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19 pages, 621 KiB

Open AccessReview

Business Data Sharing through Data Marketplaces: A Systematic Literature Review

by Antragama Ewa Abbas, Wirawan Agahari, Montijn van de Ven, Anneke Zuiderwijk and Mark de Reuver

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3321-3339; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070180 - 3 Dec 2021

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 9551

Abstract

Data marketplaces are expected to play a crucial role in tomorrow’s data economy, but such marketplaces are seldom commercially viable. Currently, there is no clear understanding of the knowledge gaps in data marketplace research, especially not of neglected research topics that may advance [...] Read more.

Data marketplaces are expected to play a crucial role in tomorrow’s data economy, but such marketplaces are seldom commercially viable. Currently, there is no clear understanding of the knowledge gaps in data marketplace research, especially not of neglected research topics that may advance such marketplaces toward commercialization. This study provides an overview of the state-of-the-art of data marketplace research. We employ a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach to examine 133 academic articles and structure our analysis using the Service-Technology-Organization-Finance (STOF) model. We find that the extant data marketplace literature is primarily dominated by technical research, such as discussions about computational pricing and architecture. To move past the first stage of the platform’s lifecycle (i.e., platform design) to the second stage (i.e., platform adoption), we call for empirical research in non-technological areas, such as customer expected value and market segmentation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 34th Bled E-Conference Digital Support from Crisis to Progressive Change)

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22 pages, 432 KiB

Open AccessReview

Influence of Personality Traits on Choice of Retail Purchasing Channel: Literature Review and Research Agenda

by Anna Hermes and René Riedl

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3299-3320; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070179 - 3 Dec 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 10465

Abstract

Consumers can choose to buy products through various retail channels (e.g., online or in-store), resulting in a need for retailers to provide a well-integrated shopping experience. However, individual factors, such as a customer’s personality, can influence how a channel is perceived and, as [...] Read more.

Consumers can choose to buy products through various retail channels (e.g., online or in-store), resulting in a need for retailers to provide a well-integrated shopping experience. However, individual factors, such as a customer’s personality, can influence how a channel is perceived and, as such, can alter their subsequent behavior. Thus, it is critical for retailers to better understand personality-related influences and how these can affect a customer’s purchase channel decision. Against this background, the purpose of this structured review is to analyze the extant literature on the influences of personality traits on purchasing channel decisions. After extensive initial screening, 24 papers published in 2003–2021 were included in the analysis and synthesis phase of this literature review. The results show how personality traits (including Big Five factors and more fine-grained factors like playfulness) influence the choice of retail purchasing channels. Among other results, we find that online shopping intentions have been studied most as an outcome variable and that, in contrast to people high in openness to experience, people high in agreeableness are less likely to shop online. While we synthesize findings in the domains of mobile commerce, social commerce, mall shopping, and augmented and virtual reality as well, little research has compared the effects of personality traits on multiple channels. Based on our findings, we discuss managerial implications as well as directions for future research which are described in the form of a research agenda. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Emerging Topics in Omni-Channel Operations)

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17 pages, 1836 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Ubiquitous Clinic Recommendation System Using the Modified Mixed-Binary Nonlinear Programming-Feedforward Neural Network Approach

by Yu-Cheng Lin and Toly Chen

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3282-3298; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070178 - 24 Nov 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2397

Abstract

Most of the existing ubiquitous clinic recommendation (UCR) systems adopt linear mechanisms to aggregate the attribute-level performances of a clinic to evaluate the overall performance. However, such linear mechanisms may not be able to explain the choices of all patients. To solve this [...] Read more.

Most of the existing ubiquitous clinic recommendation (UCR) systems adopt linear mechanisms to aggregate the attribute-level performances of a clinic to evaluate the overall performance. However, such linear mechanisms may not be able to explain the choices of all patients. To solve this problem, the modified mixed binary nonlinear programming (MMBNLP)–feedforward neural network (FNN) approach is proposed in this study. In the proposed methodology, first, the existing MBNLP model is modified to improve the successful recommendation rate using a linear recommendation mechanism. Subsequently, an FNN is constructed to fit the relationship between the attribute-level performances of a clinic and its overall performance, thereby providing possible ways to further enhance the recommendation performance. The results of a regional experiment showed that the MMBNLP–FNN approach improved the successful recommendation rate by 30%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Entrepreneurship, Innovation, FinTech Accounting and Industry 4.0)

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13 pages, 348 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How to Improve Customer Engagement in Social Networks: A Study of Spanish Brands in the Automotive Industry

by Luis Matosas-López and Alberto Romero-Ania

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3269-3281; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070177 - 23 Nov 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5079

Abstract

The objective of this research is to identify to what extent volumes, components, time slots, and publication topics improve customer engagement with Spanish automotive brands through social networks. The study considers thirteen brands and the total number of publications created by them in [...] Read more.

The objective of this research is to identify to what extent volumes, components, time slots, and publication topics improve customer engagement with Spanish automotive brands through social networks. The study considers thirteen brands and the total number of publications created by them in 2020 (23,670 publications) on the social network Twitter. Applying machine learning algorithms followed by multiple linear regression techniques, the authors examine how the variables previously mentioned affect a customer engagement indicator developed for this purpose. The results reveal that while publication components (links, mentions, and hashtags) and the publication time slot do not affect customer engagement, the volume of retweets made by the brand and publications on customer experience topics (without a direct commercial purpose) significantly improve the customer engagement indicator. The authors conclude that customer engagement in social networks can only be improved by conducting exhaustive analyses of activity data for these platforms. However, such analyses must not be done via generic multisector analyses, which only generate superficial and inapplicable knowledge, but rather through detailed studies for each sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection The Connected Consumer)

21 pages, 2541 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Competition Strategies for Location-Based Mobile Coupon Promotion

by Pengcheng Xia, Gang Li, T.C.E. Cheng and Ao Shen

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3248-3268; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070176 - 22 Nov 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3547

Abstract

Location-based service heightens consumers’ shopping convenience. By utilizing spatial flexibility of consumers, retailers can target consumers via location-based mobile coupons (LBMCs) to enhance market performance. Considering the strategies for LBMC promotion for two competing retailers, we find that under different market intensities, only [...] Read more.

Location-based service heightens consumers’ shopping convenience. By utilizing spatial flexibility of consumers, retailers can target consumers via location-based mobile coupons (LBMCs) to enhance market performance. Considering the strategies for LBMC promotion for two competing retailers, we find that under different market intensities, only no adoption and symmetric adoption of LBMC promotion are the possible equilibria for the competing retailers at a low marginal targeting cost. Then, we extend our model to consider vertical (quality) differentiation and analyze the implications of adopting LBMC promotion for a superior-quality firm (with higher product valuation) and an inferior-quality firm (with lower product valuation). Mixed strategies for LBMC promotion emerge when firms’ products have different qualities. Our research findings provide useful guidance for managers and marketing practitioners to formulate strategies for targeted LBMC promotion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Emerging Topics in Omni-Channel Operations)

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30 pages, 1745 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Resilience Innovations and the Use of Food Order & Delivery Platforms by the Romanian Restaurants during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Mirela Cătălina Türkeș, Aurelia Felicia Stăncioiu, Codruța Adina Băltescu and Roxana-Cristina Marinescu

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3218-3247; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070175 - 22 Nov 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 10996

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic, the blocking of activity by the government and the restrictions imposed in Romania had detrimental effects on the activity of restaurants, imposing their adaptation to new situations and generating creative innovations that caused changes in the way restaurants deliver food [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic, the blocking of activity by the government and the restrictions imposed in Romania had detrimental effects on the activity of restaurants, imposing their adaptation to new situations and generating creative innovations that caused changes in the way restaurants deliver food to consumers through food order & delivery platforms. Exploring the nature and implications of such innovations on resilience, this study analyzes their impact on the attitude and intention to use food delivery platforms by restaurant managers in Romania during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the proposed structural model, the authors integrate innovations in resilience by joining together the new components of the established TAM model. This research was conducted on a sample of 402 restaurant managers in Romania. The data was collected based on a questionnaire, and it was analyzed with the SmartPLS3 software. The results of the study show that the four variables of innovation, namely business strategy innovations, technological innovations, financial innovations and social innovations, exert different effects on behavioral intention and attitude towards using the order & delivery platforms. The results of the study can be key points in the more efficient management of material, financial and human resources, thus improving the commercial performance of restaurants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Resilience and Economic Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic Era)

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16 pages, 2421 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Protective Effect of Digital Financial Inclusion on Agricultural Supply Chain during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from China

by Da Fang and Xiaoke Zhang

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3202-3217; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070174 - 21 Nov 2021

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5976

Abstract

Financial inclusion plays a positive role in protecting agriculture during or after disaster. This paper focuses on the protective effect of digital financial inclusion on the agricultural supply chain and analyzes three mechanisms of the protective effect: financial widening, financial deepening, and financial [...] Read more.

Financial inclusion plays a positive role in protecting agriculture during or after disaster. This paper focuses on the protective effect of digital financial inclusion on the agricultural supply chain and analyzes three mechanisms of the protective effect: financial widening, financial deepening, and financial services digitization. Based on the Gravity Equation, we conduct an empirical study using agricultural logistics and digital financial inclusion data from China. The regression results indicate that a 1% increase in the digital financial inclusion, measured by the Peking University Digital Inclusion Index, increases agricultural trade during the COVID-19 pandemic by approximately 1.6%. Furthermore, heterogeneous protective effects exist between regions in China. Digital financial inclusion is more effective in the Eastern regions in protecting the ASC than in other regions. This paper enriches the understanding of financial inclusion in helping agriculture supply chain recovery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Advances in Supply Chain Management in the Era of Electronic Commerce)

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18 pages, 3405 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Dual-Channel Retailer’s Channel Synergy Strategy Decision

by Peng Zhang, Bei Xia and Victor Shi

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3184-3201; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070173 - 19 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3081

Abstract

The main research question asked in this paper is whether and when a dual-channel retailer (retailer in short) should adopt the “buy online and pick up in store” (BOPS) strategy. To answer this question, we first derive the optimal price decision using the [...] Read more.

The main research question asked in this paper is whether and when a dual-channel retailer (retailer in short) should adopt the “buy online and pick up in store” (BOPS) strategy. To answer this question, we first derive the optimal price decision using the non-BOPS and BOPS strategies. Subsequently, we compare the performance of retailers under non-BOPS and BOPS scenarios. Our main findings are that under the monopoly scenario, retailers may not always benefit from the BOPS strategy. Retailers will benefit only if the offline operational costs are low and the degree of customer acceptance of the online channel is high. However, the BOPS strategy cannot improve dual-channel retailers’ market share. Furthermore, under a Stackelberg game scenario with e-retailers as leaders, when the value of a product is medium and the transaction costs of the offline channel are high, retailers can use the BOPS strategy to enhance their market share. If the degree of customer acceptance of the online channel is also high, retailers can further improve their profits by using the BOPS strategy. Overall, these findings not only provide decision support for retailers, but also enrich the theories on dual-channel retailing in operations management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section e-Commerce Analytics)

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27 pages, 6957 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Impact of Electronic Commerce on Employment Rate: Panel Data Evidence from European Union Countries

by Ștefan Cristian Gherghina, Mihai Alexandru Botezatu and Liliana Nicoleta Simionescu

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3157-3183; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070172 - 18 Nov 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 12130

Abstract

The objective of this study is to explore the impact of electronic commerce on employment rate for a sample covering the whole 27 Member States of the European Union (EU-27), from 2010 to 2019. Moreover, this research explores the clusters of nations with [...] Read more.

The objective of this study is to explore the impact of electronic commerce on employment rate for a sample covering the whole 27 Member States of the European Union (EU-27), from 2010 to 2019. Moreover, this research explores the clusters of nations with reference to electronic commerce adoption and employment rate dynamics. The outcomes of cluster analysis show that Western Europe reveals the most developed e-commerce marketplace in EU-27, shown by Internet accessibility and high penetration rate of digital tools, and the lowest figures are registered in the Eastern part of Europe. Furthermore, the empirical findings of the panel data fixed-effects and the generalized least squares regressions suggest that electronic commerce influences employment rate positively. By including country-level control variables (real GDP growth rate, research and development expenditure, employed ICT specialists, enterprises with Internet access), the outcomes reveal that one percentage change in enterprises’ total turnover from e-commerce sales, enterprises’ turnover from web sales, and enterprises with e-commerce sales of at least 1% turnover will increase employment rate by 0.205, 0.258, and 0.350 percentage points. Furthermore, the econometric evidence from the method of moments quantile regression models with fixed effects reinforces our findings. Enterprises’ total turnover from e-commerce sales and the percentage of enterprises with e-commerce sales of at least 1% turnover positively influence employment rate for all quintiles, but in the case of enterprises’ turnover from web sales, the effect is positive only for the quintiles ranging from 0.5–0.8. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in E-commerce and Retail Online)

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21 pages, 4228 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting Final User Satisfaction Using Momentary UX Data and Machine Learning Techniques

by Kitti Koonsanit and Nobuyuki Nishiuchi

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3136-3156; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070171 - 18 Nov 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5861

Abstract

User experience (UX) evaluation investigates how people feel about using products or services and is considered an important factor in the design process. However, there is no comprehensive UX evaluation method for time-continuous situations during the use of products or services. Because user [...] Read more.

User experience (UX) evaluation investigates how people feel about using products or services and is considered an important factor in the design process. However, there is no comprehensive UX evaluation method for time-continuous situations during the use of products or services. Because user experience changes over time, it is difficult to discern the relationship between momentary UX and episodic or cumulative UX, which is related to final user satisfaction. This research aimed to predict final user satisfaction by using momentary UX data and machine learning techniques. The participants were 50 and 25 university students who were asked to evaluate a service (Experiment I) or a product (Experiment II), respectively, during usage by answering a satisfaction survey. Responses were used to draw a customized UX curve. Participants were also asked to complete a final satisfaction questionnaire about the product or service. Momentary UX data and participant satisfaction scores were used to build machine learning models, and the experimental results were compared with those obtained using seven built machine learning models. This study shows that participants’ momentary UX can be understood using a support vector machine (SVM) with a polynomial kernel and that momentary UX can be used to make more accurate predictions about final user satisfaction regarding product and service usage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Customer Relationship Management in the Digital Era)

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16 pages, 842 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploratory and Exploitative Internationalization: Effects of Social Capital Antecedents and Fit Moderators of Innovation Consequence

by Hang Wu and Yiying Qu

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3120-3135; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070170 - 13 Nov 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3913

Abstract

Implementing international strategy is essential to enhance corporate innovation and achieve sustainable development. Existing research has theoretically illustrated the concept and importance of carrying out both exploratory and exploitative internationalization, yet our understanding of the antecedents and consequences of both activities remains unclear. [...] Read more.

Implementing international strategy is essential to enhance corporate innovation and achieve sustainable development. Existing research has theoretically illustrated the concept and importance of carrying out both exploratory and exploitative internationalization, yet our understanding of the antecedents and consequences of both activities remains unclear. Based on the data of Chinese international manufacturing firms, this paper examines the differential effects of business, government and knowledge network capital on exploratory and exploitative internationalization, and probes into how organizational, strategic, and environmental factors moderate the innovation effectiveness of exploratory and exploitative internationalization. Results indicate that business network capital has the same positive impact on exploratory and exploitative internationalization; government network capital influences the implementation of exploratory internationalization, whereas knowledge network capital influences the execution of exploitative internationalization. Furthermore, our findings reveal that, to maximize innovation performance, pursuing exploratory internationalization is more beneficial for firms with older age, firms entering into countries with low host–home country similarity, and operating in a more dynamic international environment. By contrast, pursuing exploitative internationalization is more effective for younger firms, firms entering into countries with high host–home country similarity, and in more stable international environment. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Technological Entrepreneurship, Internationalization of High-Tech Companies, and International e-Business)

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21 pages, 2130 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Cryptocurrency Trading Websites on Airlines’ Advertisement Campaigns

by Damianos P. Sakas, Nikolaos T. Giannakopoulos, Dimitrios P. Reklitis and Thomas K. Dasaklis

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3099-3119; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070169 - 12 Nov 2021

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 6597

Abstract

In future years, airline companies will be leaning more and more towards cryptocurrencies to implement their digital marketing strategies as leaders seek to gain an understanding of the factors affecting airlines’ visibility parameters. Cryptocurrency investment websites are currently experiencing rising demand, making them [...] Read more.

In future years, airline companies will be leaning more and more towards cryptocurrencies to implement their digital marketing strategies as leaders seek to gain an understanding of the factors affecting airlines’ visibility parameters. Cryptocurrency investment websites are currently experiencing rising demand, making them an appropriate site for paid advertisements. The above factors suggest the need for airlines to harvest cryptocurrency investment and platform users in their favour. To this end, it can be beneficial for airlines’ web promotions to link certain web analytics metrics to cryptocurrency trading site metrics. For research purposes, web analytics data were monitored and gathered for 2 consecutive years from 10 globally leading cryptocurrency trading companies and 10 airline websites. A three-stage model was adopted by the authors. In the first stage, statistical analysis was implemented using cryptocurrency and airline metrics, followed by fuzzy cognitive mapping and agent-based modelling stages. The findings of the study indicate that engagement with cryptocurrency trading websites has a positive impact on airline websites’ global ranking and visibility parameters. The outcomes of this research provide noteworthy digital marketing strategies which can be addressed by airline companies to increase their website visitors and optimise visibility parameters with the assistance of cryptocurrency trading websites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Blockchain Commerce Ecosystem)

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21 pages, 6938 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Blockchain Technology Adoption in Supply Chain Finance

by Arief Rijanto

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3078-3098; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070168 - 8 Nov 2021

Cited by 77 | Viewed by 16437

Abstract

Supply Chain Finance (SCF) faces the complex problem of implementing inventory, purchase order and accounts receivable financing automation in terms of transaction data trust and validation. This paper aims to explore how blockchain technology adoption solves the SCF problem using a multi-case method [...] Read more.

Supply Chain Finance (SCF) faces the complex problem of implementing inventory, purchase order and accounts receivable financing automation in terms of transaction data trust and validation. This paper aims to explore how blockchain technology adoption solves the SCF problem using a multi-case method based on the Technological Acceptance Model (TAM). With purposive sampling, 30 cases were selected on the criteria of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use in solving SCF problems. The results show that trust, validity and distributed ledger transaction data as perceived usefulness are the main drivers of blockchain adoption because it provides solutions to SCF automation problems such as Know Your Customer (KYC), accounting, and transaction settlement. Smart contracts offer easy and fast transactions such as in L/C export processing as perceived ease to use. Of the 30 blockchain projects, 21 offer the usefulness of automated accounts receivable financing, 15 offer easy-to-use purchase order financing and 8 offer easy-to-use inventory financing processes. This study provides the current state of blockchain technology adoption by exploring 30 real application cases in SCF globally. Blockchain advantages provide automation solutions in global supply SCF practices with smart contracts, transparency and security of distributed ledger data feature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Blockchain Commerce Ecosystem)

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15 pages, 636 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Online Reviews on Student Satisfaction Seen through a Service Quality Model

by Mostafa Torabi and Charles H. Bélanger

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3063-3077; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070167 - 5 Nov 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 8757

Abstract

University or college is a challenging reality leading to a sometimes elusive career path. By consulting social media and review websites, students have more alternatives to consider in their choice determination. This study develops a multifaceted model to recognize the influence of service [...] Read more.

University or college is a challenging reality leading to a sometimes elusive career path. By consulting social media and review websites, students have more alternatives to consider in their choice determination. This study develops a multifaceted model to recognize the influence of service quality and e-word of mouth on customer satisfaction and the impact of customer satisfaction on word of mouth. Data gathered from a sample of 150 university students are analyzed by SPSS and PLS-SEM. The findings indicate that service quality dimensions and e-WOM have positive impacts on customer satisfaction. Furthermore, this study reinforces that customer satisfaction has a positive influence on customers’ WOM intentions. This research recommends that university management should consider the importance of service quality factors and social media channels to meet and exceed students’ expectations in order to bolster the quality of services and boost customer satisfaction. Full article

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20 pages, 644 KiB

Open AccessArticle

SMEs Must Go Online—E-Commerce as an Escape Hatch for Resilience and Survivability

by Joana Costa and Rafael Castro

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3043-3062; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070166 - 5 Nov 2021

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 14123

Abstract

The recent emergence of e-commerce has brought a shifting paradigm into global markets. This revolutionary framework relying upon technological progress has conveyed a new era of commerce. More than ever, businesses are using digital marketplaces to stay relevant and competitive. Suddenly, buying online [...] Read more.

The recent emergence of e-commerce has brought a shifting paradigm into global markets. This revolutionary framework relying upon technological progress has conveyed a new era of commerce. More than ever, businesses are using digital marketplaces to stay relevant and competitive. Suddenly, buying online has become part of their daily routines. Accessibility, flexibility, and convenience make the internet the ideal platform for modern age consumers. Small and medium enterprises predominate in almost every industry generating employment, income, and sustainability. Nonetheless, e-commerce adoption among these organizations is yet to be widely undertaken. This article has a twofold objective: first, it gathers data regarding the emergence of e-commerce adoption by SMEs through a systematic literature review encompassing 32 indexed articles (published between 2003 and 2021). Secondly, it provides a quantitative and qualitative analysis identifying strategic options and guidelines for a smooth digital transition among these players. Lastly, some recommendations to policy makers were clipped to work as facilitators, given SMEs specificities. The future is digital and the struggle for e-commerce adoption and exploitation among these organizations is at the top of the agenda. It is central in maintaining the vibrancy of the business ecosystem, and is therefore a turnkey for economic recovery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Entrepreneurship, Innovation, FinTech Accounting and Industry 4.0)

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18 pages, 446 KiB

Open AccessArticle

I Wish I Could Be Like Her/Him! How Self-Congruence Stimulates a Desire to Mimic

by Li Xiao, Aysha Saleem, Sana Muhammad Tariq, Junaid Ul Haq and Mengmeng Guo

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3025-3042; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070165 - 2 Nov 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 7781

Abstract

Influencer marketing acquires customers who follow their favorite celebrities, who have shared beliefs and opinions. This research explores the self-motives and influencer-related factors that lead to influencer congruence. Influenced customers subsequently recommend those influencers to others. No concrete scale of recommendation is available [...] Read more.

Influencer marketing acquires customers who follow their favorite celebrities, who have shared beliefs and opinions. This research explores the self-motives and influencer-related factors that lead to influencer congruence. Influenced customers subsequently recommend those influencers to others. No concrete scale of recommendation is available so far. This research also conceptualizes, develops, and validates a scale for recommendations. In this study, 451 respondents answered questions about the influencers they follow. Normality, reliability, and validity were used for hypothesis testing. Results show the positive and direct impacts of all proposed hypotheses. The findings contribute to the literature by presenting a balanced approach to studying two parallel yet integral aspects of influencer marketing: the influencer and the consumer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Social Media Marketing on Online Consumer Behavior in Digital Era)

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22 pages, 3834 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Consumer Marketing Strategy and E-Commerce in the Last Decade: A Literature Review

by Albérico Rosário and Ricardo Raimundo

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3003-3024; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070164 - 1 Nov 2021

Cited by 90 | Viewed by 70329

Abstract

E-commerce is deemed as the sale and purchase of goods and services through the internet in exchange for money and data transfer to complete the transactions. E-commerce is at the forefront of transforming marketing strategies, based on new technologies, and facilitates product information [...] Read more.

E-commerce is deemed as the sale and purchase of goods and services through the internet in exchange for money and data transfer to complete the transactions. E-commerce is at the forefront of transforming marketing strategies, based on new technologies, and facilitates product information and improved decision-making. In this way, marketing strategy increasingly require large amounts of information to better understand client needs, which raises the question of choosing the right marketing strategy to better fit consumer expectations. This literature review aims to shed light on both the recent growth of e-commerce literature and its interplay with consumer marketing strategy. Extant research has examined this change in human interaction due to social network building, mostly through the themes of online marketing and social media marketing, also comprehending issues such as cost efficiency, information quality and trust development towards online shopping. Nevertheless, existing research has not shown in full all the research streams, how they interact with each other and its potential knowledge development. Thus, a literature review on consumer marketing strategy for e-commerce in the last decade is opportune. This paper aims to identify research trends in the field through a Systematic Bibliometric Literature Review (LRSB) of research on marketing strategy for e-commerce. The review includes 66 articles published in the Scopus^® database, presenting up-to-date knowledge on the topic. The LRSB results were synthesized across current research subthemes. The following findings are presented: Amidst the current competitive global business environment, companies tend to respond with strategies for e-commerce and online businesses that resort to e-commerce platforms and social networking to better understand consumer needs, facilitate consumer marketing strategy and share innovative information. The originality of the paper relies on its LRSB method, together with extant review of articles that have not been categorized so far. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section e-Commerce Analytics)

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22 pages, 1601 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Free-of-Charge Phenomena in the Network Economy—A Multi-Party Value Exchange Model

by Ya-Wen Lin, Tsung-Xian Lin and Cheng-Kiang Farn

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 2981-3002; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070163 - 29 Oct 2021

Viewed by 3238

Abstract

The long-standing economic model is one where customers receive and pay for goods and services. However, in today’s modern network economy, why are vendors willing to provide free services and goods to free-riders at an apparent loss? The objective of this study is [...] Read more.

The long-standing economic model is one where customers receive and pay for goods and services. However, in today’s modern network economy, why are vendors willing to provide free services and goods to free-riders at an apparent loss? The objective of this study is to provide a theoretical framework explaining why free network services emerge and how they work. This study adopted the multi-case study method, summarized 28 types of revenue model patterns from 51 indicative free network services, and inferred the causes for the antecedent conditions of each revenue model with Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), in order to confirm the causal relationship between the various antecedent conditions, configurations, and revenue models as conclusive evidence. In addition, this study established seven conditional propositions via their links with related theories, which were taken as the basis for providing in-depth explanations of the revenue model of the free network service, and expanded the demonstration of the original network economy. Full article

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16 pages, 2436 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Discovering Customer Purchase Patterns in Product Communities: An Empirical Study on Co-Purchase Behavior in an Online Marketplace

by Kenan Kafkas, Ziya Nazım Perdahçı and Mehmet Nafiz Aydın

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 2965-2980; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070162 - 28 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4230

Abstract

Marketplace platforms gather and store data on each activity of their users to analyze their customer purchase behavior helping to improve marketing activities such as product placement, cross-selling, or customer retention. Market basket analysis (MBA) has remained a valuable data mining technique for [...] Read more.

Marketplace platforms gather and store data on each activity of their users to analyze their customer purchase behavior helping to improve marketing activities such as product placement, cross-selling, or customer retention. Market basket analysis (MBA) has remained a valuable data mining technique for decades for marketers and researchers. It discovers the relationship between two products that are frequently purchased together using association rules. One of the issues with this method is its strict focus on binary relationships, which prevents it from examining the product relationships from a broader perspective. The researchers presented several methods to address this issue by building a network of products (co-purchase networks) and analyzing them with network analysis techniques for purposes such as product recommendation and customer segmentation. This research aims at segmenting products based on customers’ purchase patterns. We discover the patterns using the Stochastic Block Modeling (SBM) community detection technique. This statistically principled method groups the products into communities based on their connection patterns. Examining the discovered communities, we segment the products and label them according to their roles in the network by calculating the network characteristics. The SBM results showed that the network exhibits a community structure having a total of 309 product communities, 17 of which have high betweenness values indicating that the member products play a bridge role in the network. Additionally, the algorithm discovers communities enclosing products with high eigenvector centralities signaling that they are a focal point in the network topology. In terms of business implications, segmenting products according to their role in the system helps managers with their marketing efforts for cross-selling, product placement, and product recommendation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section e-Commerce Analytics)

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22 pages, 10598 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Welfare Analysis under Different Levels of Consumers’ Privacy Regulation

by Xudong Lin, Xiaoli Huang, Shuilin Liu, Yulin Li, Hanyang Luo and Sumin Yu

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 2943-2964; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070161 - 27 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2517

Abstract

With the rapid development of information technology, digital platforms can collect, utilize, and share large amounts of specific information of consumers. However, these behaviors may endanger information security, thus causing privacy concerns among consumers. Considering the information sharing among firms, this paper constructs [...] Read more.

With the rapid development of information technology, digital platforms can collect, utilize, and share large amounts of specific information of consumers. However, these behaviors may endanger information security, thus causing privacy concerns among consumers. Considering the information sharing among firms, this paper constructs a two-period duopoly price competition Hotelling model, and gives insight into the impact of three different levels of privacy regulations on industry profit, consumer surplus, and social welfare. The results show that strong privacy protection does not necessarily make consumers better off, and weak privacy protection does not necessarily hurt consumers. Information sharing among firms will lead to strong competitive effects, which will prompt firms to lower the price for new customers, thus damaging the profits of firms, and making consumers’ surplus higher. The level of social welfare under different privacy regulations depends on consumers’ product-privacy preference, and the cost of information coordination among firms. With the cost of information coordination among firms increasing, it is only in areas where consumers have greater privacy preferences that social welfare may be optimal under the weak regulation. Full article

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21 pages, 983 KiB

Open AccessArticle

More Haste, Less Speed: How Update Frequency of Mobile Apps Influences Consumer Interest

by Xuan Gong, Amar Razzaq and Wei Wang

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 2922-2942; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070160 - 27 Oct 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4485

Abstract

The present study proposes a theoretical framework that uncovers the joint effects of the update frequency of apps and product type of the update on consumer interest and its underlying mechanisms. Building on the theory of mental accounting and regulatory focus, we propose [...] Read more.

The present study proposes a theoretical framework that uncovers the joint effects of the update frequency of apps and product type of the update on consumer interest and its underlying mechanisms. Building on the theory of mental accounting and regulatory focus, we propose that the effects of update frequency on consumer interest are different for hedonic products and utilitarian products. The authors give insights into the main effects with an empirical analysis of a field data set and establish an understanding of the fundamental mechanisms by two laboratory experiments. The findings show that for hedonic products, high update frequency contributes to higher consumer interest by affecting the benefit perception of consumers. For utilitarian products, low update frequency results in higher consumer interest by influencing the risk perception of consumers. Furthermore, the level of update can affect the combined effects of product type and update frequency on consumer interest and, particularly for low update levels, the aforementioned association can be reversed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Enhancing Consumer Experience through Mobile Commerce: Challenges and Opportunities)

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24 pages, 3467 KiB

Open AccessArticle

User Intention of Anonymous Social Application “Soul” in China: Analysis based on an Extended Technology Acceptance Model

by Zhiyuan Yu and Xiaoxiao Song

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 2898-2921; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070159 - 25 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6032

Abstract

Anonymity is an inherent attribute of the Internet. Depending on pseudonyms, cyber citizens can role play and present themselves by reconstructing a different identity. In order to satisfy the needs of anonymous self-expression, anonymous social applications have become popular worldwide. In this paper, [...] Read more.

Anonymity is an inherent attribute of the Internet. Depending on pseudonyms, cyber citizens can role play and present themselves by reconstructing a different identity. In order to satisfy the needs of anonymous self-expression, anonymous social applications have become popular worldwide. In this paper, we conduct a survey regarding user intention (UI) of “Soul”, which is a popular anonymous social media application in China, especially for the youth. For this purpose, we design an adapted technology acceptance model (TAM) consisting of seven influencing factors, i.e., perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), perceived anonymity (PA), perceived privacy riskiness (PPR), subjective norms (SN), emotional attachments (EA) and perceived interactivity (PI). Both the measurement and structural models are tested via partial least squares structural equation model. The results show that PU, PEOU, PPR and PI have a significant relationship with UI. Therein, both SN and EA can impact PU, and meanwhile, the direct paths between PI → PEOU, PA → PPR also exist. Contrary to expectation, the effect of SN on UI is not directly significant. The proposed model is able to explain 64.1% of variance for UI among Soul users. The results suggest that the proposed constructs provide relatively good explanations for the continuous intention to use the Soul app. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section e-Commerce Analytics)

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15 pages, 11844 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of the Operation Process of the E-Commerce Oriented Ecosystem of 5Ge Base Station, Which Supports the Functioning of Independent Virtual Network Segments

by Viacheslav Kovtun and Ivan Izonin

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 2883-2897; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070158 - 23 Oct 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2136

Abstract

According to specifications, flexible services for traffic management should be implemented within the 5G platform in order to improve its efficiency, which is and will remain an actual task. For the first time, the article presented here proposes a mathematical model for the [...] Read more.

According to specifications, flexible services for traffic management should be implemented within the 5G platform in order to improve its efficiency, which is and will remain an actual task. For the first time, the article presented here proposes a mathematical model for the operation process of an e-commerce-oriented ecosystem of a 5Ge base station, the information environment of which supports the operation of independent virtual network segments that provide terminal–segment information interaction services. In contrast to existing models, the presented model describes the studied process as a multi-pipeline queuing system, the inputs of which are coordinated with the flows of requests for communication with the relevant virtual network segments. The distribution of the total resources between the weighted virtual network segments in the simulated system is dynamically conducted by the appropriate software control mechanism. It considers the address intensities of new incoming requests and the maintenance of received incoming requests, but throughout the scale of the information environment of the 5Ge base station ecosystem. Based on the created mathematical model, a functional algorithm for the forced termination of an active terminal–segment information interaction session in the overloaded virtual network segment and the control mechanism of the distribution of the released system resources between other virtual network segments that takes into account the degree of their overload are formulated. The simulation and computational experiments showed that the implemented forced termination algorithm and system resource management mechanism allow the 5Ge base station to continue receiving incoming requests despite the overload of individual virtual network segments. It is empirically shown that the proposed services are effectively scaled concerning the value that is generally available for the distribution of the number of system resources and the allocation method within the guaranteed amounts of system resources for individual virtual network segments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Entrepreneurship, Innovation, FinTech Accounting and Industry 4.0)

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25 pages, 623 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Consumer Experience through Development of Implicit Attitudes Using Food Delivery Applications

by Daniel Adrian Gârdan, Gheorghe Epuran, Carmen Adina Paștiu, Iuliana Petronela Gârdan, Daniel Constantin Jiroveanu, Alina Simona Tecău and Diana Magdalena Prihoancă

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 2858-2882; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070157 - 22 Oct 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 7278

Abstract

In the context created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the aim of the research in this article is to highlight how the consumer experience is constructed, starting from the consumer’s attitudes—which we consider to be implicitly positive—and from the formation of habits of using [...] Read more.

In the context created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the aim of the research in this article is to highlight how the consumer experience is constructed, starting from the consumer’s attitudes—which we consider to be implicitly positive—and from the formation of habits of using mobile applications for food supply. Data were collected from 610 people—users of applications for food delivery in urban areas—in the spring of 2021, using a quantitative type of research in the form of a field survey based on questionnaire completion; for the model validation, we used confirmatory factor analysis. The online questionnaire link was sent out in April 2021, followed by the consumers’ completion of the questionnaire in the same month. The proposed theoretical model highlights the influence of variables that are specific for technology acceptance models on the perceived utility and development of implicit attitudes based on it, as well as the habits of using the application. The results of the research validate the proposed model, showing that attitudes in the form of an implicit-type attitudes developed in time are influencing habits and aid the development of a certain usage behavior depicted by a consumption experience that has specific content. Our paper contributes to a better understanding of the consumer experience development process within the context of technology acceptance in the field of food delivery services, emphasizing the importance of satisfying hedonic motivations as an integral part of the compensatory mechanisms determined by the effects of the pandemic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Enhancing Consumer Experience through Mobile Commerce: Challenges and Opportunities)

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15 pages, 735 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digitalization and Labor Market—A Perspective within the Framework of Pandemic Crisis

by Grigore Ioan Piroșcă, George Laurențiu Șerban-Oprescu, Liana Badea, Mihaela-Roberta Stanef-Puică and Carlos Ramirez Valdebenito

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 2843-2857; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070156 - 21 Oct 2021

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 11631

Abstract

The current pandemic crisis, which is far from being over, has led to a significant paradigm shift in economics. In a turbulent environment in which the labor market has encountered a long series of changes generated by the processes of automation, robotization and [...] Read more.

The current pandemic crisis, which is far from being over, has led to a significant paradigm shift in economics. In a turbulent environment in which the labor market has encountered a long series of changes generated by the processes of automation, robotization and digitalization, the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that a workforce with digital skills can quickly adjust to new circumstances. Since novel issues, such as restrictions on internal movement and distorted supply chains, put major stress on the labor market, it seems that there is an urgent need for reshaping economies and following up-to-date technological trends. Moreover, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number of scholars and policymakers expressed their concerns about the volatility of employment and the weak ability of labor to adapt to new types of jobs. Within this framework, our paper aims to analyze the plausible impacts of digital efficiency on the future development of the labor market. Based upon the assumption that employment is facing ongoing challenges and the labor market is constantly being reshaped by technological trends, our study attempts to provide a pragmatic analysis of the effects of digital skills and the use of the Internet on salaries and wages in EU member states. Since, according to our results, the levels of salaries and wages are strongly correlated with digital proficiency and Internet usage, a consistent effort to increase the digital skills of individuals may be required to achieve a more effective and flexible labor market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Resilience and Economic Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic Era)

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19 pages, 910 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evolutionary Game Analysis of Blockchain Technology Preventing Supply Chain Financial Risks

by Rui Sun, Dayi He and Huilin Su

J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 2824-2842; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070155 - 21 Oct 2021

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 5314

Abstract

Because of the risks existing in supply chain finance, taking accounts receivable factoring business as the research object, this paper uses the evolutionary game method to analyzes the factors affecting the decision-making of the participants in supply chain finance, constructs an evolutionary game [...] Read more.

Because of the risks existing in supply chain finance, taking accounts receivable factoring business as the research object, this paper uses the evolutionary game method to analyzes the factors affecting the decision-making of the participants in supply chain finance, constructs an evolutionary game model between small and medium-sized enterprises and financial institutions, and analyzes the mechanism of blockchain to solve the financial risks of the supply chain by comparing the changes of evolutionary stability strategies before and after the introduction of blockchain technology. This paper aims to reduce financing risks by analyzing the mechanism of blockchain technology in supply chain finance. It is found that, firstly, blockchain technology can reduce the credit risk of financial institutions and solve financing problem. Credit risk plays a decisive role in whether financial institutions accept financing business decisions. Blockchain technology can reduce the operational risk of financial institutions and improve the business income of financial institutions. Secondly, the strict regulatory environment formed by blockchain technology makes the default behavior of small and medium-sized enterprises and core enterprises in a high-risk state at all times. No matter the profit distribution proportion that small and medium-sized enterprises can obtain through collusion, they will not choose to default, which effectively solves the paradox that small and medium-sized enterprises cannot obtain loans from financial institutions despite the increased probability of compliance. Then, the evolutionary game between financial institutions and small and medium-sized enterprises is balanced in that financial institutions accept business applications, small and medium-sized enterprises abide by the contract, and the convergence effect is better. Therefore, blockchain technology not only reduces the financing risk of financial institutions but also helps to solve the financing problems of small and medium-sized enterprises. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Blockchain Commerce Ecosystem)

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