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1 – 9 of 9Giada Salvietti, Marco Ieva and Cristina Ziliani
This study aims to advance knowledge of channel integration, a key feature of omnichannel retailing, by investigating the role of specific touchpoints in delivering a consistent…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to advance knowledge of channel integration, a key feature of omnichannel retailing, by investigating the role of specific touchpoints in delivering a consistent integration perception.
Design/methodology/approach
Quantitative methods were adopted, by testing a model built on the stimulus-organism-response framework. Data collection used a panel survey across the grocery and fashion sectors (1,031 and 739 consumers, respectively). An ordinary least squares regression with clustered standard errors was conducted, combined with a multiple correspondence analysis, followed by a mediation analysis.
Findings
This study identifies touchpoints relevant for channel integration perception and shows that they differ across product category and customer types (first time vs repeat customers). Furthermore, it pinpoints touchpoints that are directly and indirectly related to patronage intention, thereby exposing the mediating role of channel integration. By drawing on categorization theory, it discusses individual touchpoints’ contribution to channel integration perception, at general level and on different customer targets.
Practical implications
This study offers a new vision of channel integration perception that highlights touchpoints’ role. It contributes to the established channel integration quality framework by showing that integrated information is concerned not only with consistency of information across channels but also with the specific touchpoints through which such information is disseminated.
Originality/value
This study provides directly actionable managerial implications, by through strategic insights for customer journey and customer experience design/redesign and by offering a practical methodology for retailers to identify the touchpoints they can leverage to improve their customers’ channel integration perceptions – with consequences for patronage intention.
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This paper aims at understanding the role of customer inspiration in driving loyal (versus competitive) showrooming behaviour and positive word of mouth towards a retailer.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims at understanding the role of customer inspiration in driving loyal (versus competitive) showrooming behaviour and positive word of mouth towards a retailer.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper designed a model of customer inspiration in the showrooming context and tested it with data from more than 600 showroomers.
Findings
Showroomers are inspired in-store by salesperson quality and offline-to-online integration services. Inspired-by is positively related to inspired-to, which in turn drives loyal showrooming behaviour and positive word of mouth.
Originality/value
This paper develops the construct of customer inspiration in an omnichannel context and uncovers novel antecedents and consequences. The outcome provides useful implications for retailers in dealing with showroomers, with the aim of increasing their loyalty.
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This study explores the mediating effects of relationship marketing orientation (RMO) and service quality orientation (SQO) on market orientation, selling orientation, and…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explores the mediating effects of relationship marketing orientation (RMO) and service quality orientation (SQO) on market orientation, selling orientation, and policyholder retention in non-life insurance services. Additionally, it offers important recommendations for non-life insurers in Taiwan for policy development and improving policyholder retention.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from a sample of policyholders belonging to the top five non-life insurance companies in Taiwan. The data were then analyzed with structural equation modeling.
Findings
RMO and SQO mediate the effects of the salesperson’s market orientation on policyholder retention. Thus, RMO and SQO are key factors influencing policyholder retention. Consequently, high levels of market orientation should be maintained to increase RMO and SQO, strengthening the retention rate of non-life insurance policyholders.
Research limitations/implications
The main limitation of this study is its cross-sectional nature. In the future, researchers should collect data from other countries and service industries (e.g. banks, securities, and other financial institutions), expand to different insurance contexts (e.g. life insurance), and conduct longitudinal studies or experimental research.
Practical implications
The results of this study can act as a guide for providers of non-life insurance services. Based on the research results, we recommend decision-makers pay increased attention to increasing policyholder retention rates by strengthening their firm’s RMO and SQO.
Originality/value
Few studies have investigated the relationships among market orientation, selling orientation, RMO, SQO, and policyholder retention in non-life insurance services within Asian contexts in general and specifically in Taiwan. Thus, this study’s theoretical contributions, managerial implications (especially for decision-makers), and the proposed future research directions represent timely and valuable additions to the literature.
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Ruchi Mishra, Rajesh Kumar Singh and Justin Paul
This paper aims to explore the factors influencing the behavioural intention of Gen Y consumers to avail omnichannel service and to identify the relative influence of predictors…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the factors influencing the behavioural intention of Gen Y consumers to avail omnichannel service and to identify the relative influence of predictors in explaining the behavioural intention of Gen Y consumers to use omnichannel service.
Design/methodology/approach
Data collected through surveys from 287 Gen Y consumers has been analysed through structural equation modelling to examine direct and mediated relationships between the constructs influencing behavioural intention to use omnichannel service.
Findings
Findings indicate that perceived ease of use, social influence, perceived trust, and personal innovativeness positively affect behavioural intention to use omnichannel service, with the result accounting for 48% of the variance. We also demonstrate that perceived value and perceived ease of use mediate the association between personal innovativeness and behavioural intention to use omnichannel service.
Research limitations/implications
The study provides valuable insights into adopting technology-based offerings for Gen Y customers. The presented model can be extended for analysing consumers' behavioural intentions by considering additional variables, such as consumer personality traits and diverse cultural settings. The study may help managers and policymakers formulate a consumer-focussed strategy to win over modern retail consumers.
Originality/value
This study explores the behavioural intention of Gen Y consumers in availing omnichannel services. Further, the study contributes to the technology acceptance model (TAM), unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) or UTAUT2 theories that may need to be extended in the omnichannel shopping context.
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Francesca De Canio, Maria Fuentes-Blasco and Elisa Martinelli
The pandemic impacted consumers' shopping processes, leading them to approach the online channel for grocery shopping for the first time. The paper contributes to the retailing…
Abstract
Purpose
The pandemic impacted consumers' shopping processes, leading them to approach the online channel for grocery shopping for the first time. The paper contributes to the retailing literature by identifying different grocery shopper segments willing to switch online moved by heterogeneous motivations. Integrating the technology acceptance model 2 (TAM-2) and the protection motivation theory (PMT), this study identifies technology-related and Covid-related motivations jointly impacting channel switching.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixture regression model was estimated on the 370 valid questionnaires, filled out by Italian shoppers, delivering four internally consistent segments.
Findings
The results reveal the existence of four segments willing to switch towards the online channel for grocery shopping in the aftermath of the pandemic. Utilitarian shoppers would switch online as they consider the online channel useful and easy to use. Responsive shoppers will prefer the online channel driven by the fear of being infected in-store. Novel enthusiasts show interest in the online channel to not catch the virus and cope with emotional fear, although they consider online shopping as an enjoyable and useful activity as well. Smart shoppers consider online shopping as an easy-to-use alternative for their grocery purchases.
Originality/value
This paper identifies technology-related and Covid-related motivations jointly impacting shoppers' channel switching to online and presents a novel method – i.e. mixture regression – allowing for the identification of shopper segments motivated by different reasons, both emotional and utilitarian, to switch towards the online channel for their grocery shopping. Among other motivations, the fear of Covid-19 is identified as a relevant motivation to switch to online.
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Julio César Acosta-Prado, Oscar Hernán López-Montoya and Arnold Alejandro Tafur-Mendoza
This study aims to examine the relationship between training and development (TD) of human talent and innovative performance (IP) while considering the mediating role of knowledge…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the relationship between training and development (TD) of human talent and innovative performance (IP) while considering the mediating role of knowledge generation (KG).
Design/methodology/approach
An explanatory design with latent variables was used, represented through a system of structural equations made up of observable and latent variables. The study had a sample of 1,572 companies belonging to the Colombian manufacturing industrial sector between 2017 and 2018. The instrument used in this research was the survey on technological development and innovation in the manufacturing industry EDIT IX. The statistical approach for estimating the parameters of the structural equation model (SEM) was the variance-based or PLS-SEM approach.
Findings
The results link the existing theory on the relationship between TD of human talent and IP with the empirical evidence in Colombian manufacturing companies. In addition, the research highlights the role of KG in the relationship presented, which leads to the conclusion that it is an essential factor for any organization today.
Originality/value
The findings obtained are practical use for the various agents involved in the management of manufacturing companies. At present, it is not only important for companies to generate good economic returns. It is necessary to focus on IP, which will favor the economic and non-economic firm performance, which involves the improvement in the quality of the products and services offered.
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Ajai Pal Sharma, Slađana (Sladjana) Starčević (Starcevic) and Raiswa Saha
Advances in digital technologies and the growing number of touch points have had a significant impact on the shopping behaviour of omnichannel customers. Several research papers…
Abstract
Purpose
Advances in digital technologies and the growing number of touch points have had a significant impact on the shopping behaviour of omnichannel customers. Several research papers have explored different facets of omnichannel, but only a few have thoroughly explored the literature on showrooming and webrooming simultaneously. This paper aims to identify the key groups of antecedents influencing customer buying behaviour in omnichannel, under the influence of digital technologies, with a particular focus on showrooming and webrooming.
Design/methodology/approach
Our study conducted a systematic literature review to identify the factors influencing customers’ buying behaviour in omnichannel, which have been the subject of academic discussion over the last decade. We finalized 149 articles for the thematic analysis and identified three groups of antecedents: channel-related, product-related and consumer-related with their subgroups.
Findings
Under channel-related antecedents, cost and perceived benefits, search convenience, need for interaction and situational circumstances have been identified as major attributes. The expressiveness of the product, product demonstration and search and experienced products have been identified under product-related antecedents, followed by price consciousness, past experiences, perceived risks and shopping motivations as leading attributes under consumer-related antecedents. The study revealed the multifaceted influence of digital technologies on omnichannel buying behaviour. Digital technologies are shaping the antecedents related to channels, products and consumers. Digital technologies simultaneously mediate between antecedents and the selection of a specific path within an omnichannel environment. Showrooming and webrooming should no longer be seen as general concepts. The rise of digital technologies has led to the development of new consumer journey patterns and the blurring of distinctions between showrooming and webrooming. A conceptual framework has been proposed to understand consumers' omnichannel behaviour, having considered the identified antecedents and the role of digital technologies.
Practical implications
This study advances the academic understanding of consumer behaviour in omnichannel under the influence of digital technologies and provides important implications for omnichannel management. With the advancement of digital technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality, retailers should implement channel integration strategies to bridge the gap between online and offline channels, providing a memorable shopping experience for omnichannel customers.
Originality/value
This study is unique because it identifies and analyses the antecedents of consumer behaviour in omnichannel settings under the influence of digital technologies. It also uncovers new potential combinations of showrooming and webrooming patterns. The proposed framework can help retailers in their future planning of omnichannel strategies.
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Eunye Jeong and Hyeon Jo
This research aims to examine the integral elements of omnichannel retailing, an evolving approach that blends online and offline shopping experiences. It focuses on how various…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to examine the integral elements of omnichannel retailing, an evolving approach that blends online and offline shopping experiences. It focuses on how various factors – merchandise variety, monetary saving, personal interaction, complaint handling, social influence, perceived crowd and skepticism – affect relative advantage, consumer satisfaction and word-of-mouth (WOM) advocacy in an omnichannel context.
Design/methodology/approach
A comprehensive survey was conducted with 258 participants, and the data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). This methodology provided insights into the complex relationships between different omnichannel retailing factors and their impact on customer satisfaction and WOM.
Findings
The study found that monetary saving influences both relative advantage and satisfaction. Personal interaction was observed to affect complaint handling and relative advantage. Importantly, relative advantage was found to impact both satisfaction and WOM. Additionally, the study highlighted the roles of social influence and satisfaction in enhancing WOM.
Originality/value
This research adds to the existing literature by providing a nuanced understanding of the dynamics of consumer engagement in omnichannel retailing. It bridges a gap in existing research by concurrently examining the impact of online and offline retail factors on consumer satisfaction and WOM in an omnichannel setting.
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Tayfun Yörük, Nuray Akar and Neslihan Verda Özmen
The purpose of this study is to reveal the research trends in guest experiences of service robots in the hospitality industry.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to reveal the research trends in guest experiences of service robots in the hospitality industry.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, a review was carried out on the Web of Science (WoS) database with the assistance of bibliometric analysis techniques. Cluster analysis was also employed for this to group important data to determine the relationships and to visualize the areas in which the studies are concentrated. The thematic content analysis method was used to reveal on which customer experiences and on which methods the focuses were.
Findings
On the subject of experiences of service robots, the greatest number of publications was in 2021. In terms of country, China has come to the fore in the distribution of publications. As a result of thematic content analysis, it was determined that the leading factor was the main dimension of emotional experience. In terms of sub-dimensions, social interactions attracted more attention. Most of the studies discussed were not based on any theory. Apart from these, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Service Quality Model (SERVQUAL) and Perceived Value Theory (PVT) were featured more prominently among other studies.
Research limitations/implications
In this study, only the WoS database was reviewed. In future studies, it would be possible to make contextual comparisons by scanning other databases. In addition to quantitative research designs, social dimensions may be examined in depth following qualitative research methods. Thus, various comparisons can be made on the subject with mixed-method research designs. Experimental research designs can also be applied to where customers have experienced human-robot interactions (HRIs).
Originality/value
In the hospitality industry, it is critical to uncover every dimension of guests' robot acceptance. This study, which presents the current situation on this basis, guides future projections for the development of guest experiences regarding service robots in the hospitality industry.
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