International Journal of Electronic Business (8 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Factors affecting consumers’ behavioural intention to book travel products online using e-commerce: a case of online travel agencies  
  by Sujood, Sheeba Hamid, Naseem Bano, Syed Talha Jameel, Sarah Hussain 
  Abstract: Tourism and internet are very well connected because tourism products and services have the appropriate features to sell online. Hence, it is of utmost importance to identify the factors which influence consumers’ behavioural intention to buy travel products online. This paper aims at identifying the factors that affect consumers’ behavioural intention to book travel products online and explore the relationship among TPB, trust, discount offer, and behavioural intention to book travel products using e-commerce (OTAs). Data from 425 respondents has been collected by using a survey instrument. The data was analysed using SEM. The empirical results indicate that attitude, trust, and discount offer are significantly related and positively affect behavioural intention to book travel products using OTAs. However, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control are found to be not significant. The implications, limitations and future research opportunities are discussed.
  Keywords: TPB; behavioural intention; trust; discount offer; online travel agencies; OTAs.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2023.10054743
   
  
• Exploring the success factor of social media marketing strategies among micro-enterprises in Malaysia  
  by Noor Fadhiha Mokhtar, Zuha Rosufila Abu Hasan 
  Abstract: As a part of a marketing platform, social media has currently shown a tremendous increase in businesses. Social media allows businesses to integrate communications between sellers and customers and minimise business operating costs. In spite of the benefits of social media marketing for businesses, micro-enterprises are faced with obstacles in implementing their marketing strategies. Hence, this article explores the success factors of social media marketing strategies among micro-enterprises in Malaysia by extending the technology-organisation-environment (TOE) model. In-depth interviews were carried out with 36 micro-enterprises in Peninsular Malaysia. Furthermore, a thematic analysis was applied to analyse the research data. As a result, technology, organisation, environment, and demographic factors were recorded as the success factors of social media marketing among micro-enterprises in Malaysia. The identified success factors would help business owners, government agencies, and policy-makers plan and design comprehensive business support activities to assist micro-enterprises to survive in the highly competitive marketplace. The findings would guide business owners in considering the key success factors in the implementation of social media marketing. However, provided that this research solely concentrated on general micro-enterprises perspectives, future research could be extended to a specific sector of micro-enterprises, which is to gather niche perspectives.
  Keywords: social media; marketing strategies; micro-enterprises; success factor; TOE model; Malaysia.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2023.10054783
   
  
• Interceding of repurchase intention between e-loyalty and word of mouth advocacy: a study of behavioural consequences and antecedents of e-loyalty  
  by Shabnam Gulati, Gursimranjit Singh, Arvind Kumar 
  Abstract: Internet is nowadays the new medium for shopping and the emergence of e-commerce is catalysing the demand for e-shopping globally. India, the second largest consumer base worldwide, is at present the fifth greatest destination for the online retail globally and stands merit for providing new growth avenues to future retailers as well as the existing retailers facing saturation levels in the west. This study examines the antecedents and the behavioural consequences of e-loyalty in Indian context to draw meaningful insights for the apparel retailers, especially when home stay restrictions of COVID-19 have forced brick-and-mortar retailers to shift to only e-retail mode. The findings received from a survey of 1200 female e-shoppers from India suggest that e-REP, e-SAT, e-trust, e-CO and e-PV are the antecedents of e-loyalty while e-WOM advocacy and RI are its behavioural consequences. Therefore, by taking care of e-REP, e-SAT, e-trust, e-CO and e-PV of female shoppers, the e-retailers can ascertain improved bottom lines along with costless WOM advocacies.
  Keywords: loyalty; online shopping; satisfaction; trust; service quality; retailing.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2023.10055009
   
  
• Online shopping spree in times of COVID-19 pandemic  
  by Lilia Khrouf, Souad Maghraoui 
  Abstract: This article aims at shedding the light on the role played by the user's psychological states on online compulsive shopping and the resulting attitude towards online shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on escape theory, we proposed a conceptual model tested through a survey conducted on 300 internet users. Data was analysed through a partial least squares analysis and revealed that online compulsive buying appears in consumers whose personalities are marked by materialism (acquisition centrality), anxiety about COVID-19, and boredom due to lack of activity. In addition, it was proven that online compulsive shopping leads to positive attitudes towards online shopping. The results contribute to theoretical and managerial understanding of online compulsive shopping in times of sanitary crisis.
  Keywords: compulsive buying; pandemic; online shopping; attitude towards online shopping.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2022.10050766
   
  
• Trust and online purchase intention: a systematic literature review through meta-analysis  
  by Hemantkumar P. Bulsara, Pratiksinh S. Vaghela 
  Abstract: Trust is a significant factor that influences consumers' online purchase intentions. This paper performed a meta-analysis to investigate the influence of trust on purchase intention in the online shopping context. It also examines this relationship for the effect of the factors such as trust type (trust in website and trust in e-retailers) and types of purchase decision (initial purchase intention and repeat purchase intention). The meta-analysis of 25 selected studies found that trust and online purchase intention are positively related. The study results also show that the type of trust intention does not affect this relationship. Both trust in websites and trust in e-retailers have a positive influence on online purchase intention. Further, the relationship results did not change irrespective of online purchase type: purchase intention or repeat purchase intention. In cases, trust and purchase intention relationships are positive.
  Keywords: review; trust; online shopping; purchase decision; purchase intention; repeat purchase intention; systematic review; meta-analysis.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2022.10053045
   
  
• Measuring the influence of social commerce dimensions on Iranian customer brand loyalty  
  by Nima Hassanzadeh Sarhangi, Navid Nezafati, Parisa Zomorodi 
  Abstract: The present study aims to measure the impact of the dimensions of social commerce on brand loyalty in customers. Social commerce is a form of e-commerce in the space of social media. The recent global market trend has turned purchasing and marketing experiences into a model of combining customers' social lives and shopping experiences through social commerce. As a result, customers purchasing behaviour using social media has undergone extensive changes. They have access to a type of knowledge and social experience that supports them in better understanding the goals of purchasing and deciding to purchase more accurately and consciously. The present study collected valid questionnaires from 385 customers of certain brands in the social commerce environment examined using partial least squares (PLS) method. The results revealed that information quality, interactivity, perceived trust, social norms, and CFSMIP positively affect Iranian customers' brand loyalty, respectively.
  Keywords: social commerce; brand loyalty; trust; social media; customer.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2023.10053138
   
  
• The impact of augmented reality on behavioural intention and E-WOM  
  by Mohammad Hamdi Al Khasawneh, Aya Rabata 
  Abstract: This research aims to thoroughly examine the impact of augmented reality (AR) on behavioural intention and electronic word of mouth (E-WOM). To achieve this objective, a theoretical model has been developed, which includes five independent variables: perceived usefulness, interactivity, perceived innovation, virtual experience, and enjoyment, which impact the dependent variables: behavioural intention and E-WOM through the mediating variable, which is engagement. In particular, this research had seven hypotheses which were all accepted, and an online survey was conducted which resulted in 374 successful responses in total. Moreover, the current research was analysed using AMOS 22 software to analyse the data and evaluate the results. Consequently, through the analysis conducted, this research shows that all variables had a positive impact on behavioural intention and E-WOM. Thus, this research will present a comprehensive analysis and recommendations as revealed in the theoretical and practical implications.
  Keywords: augmented reality; behavioural intention; electronic word of mouth; E-WOM; engagement.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2023.10053895
   
  
• Impulsive buying in Vietnamese mobile commerce: from the perspective of the S-O-R model  
  by Thanh-Binh Phung, Thanh Tung On, Doan Viet Phuong Nguyen 
  Abstract: Vietnam is a fast-expanding country with tremendous potential for the mobile commerce (m-commerce) industry. From the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) approach, the study utilises the structural equation modelling to analyse the impact of various types of stimuli, including the platforms' review quality, observational learning, visual appeal, and price discount to create the impact that influences customers to buy impulsively. The result demonstrates the positive effects of the mentioned stimuli on customers' cognition and affection reaction, including perceived usefulness and positive emotions, which subsequently affect their mental state by forming an urge to buy impulsively.
  Keywords: SOR; mobile commerce; impulse buying; perceived usefulness; positive emotions; review quality; observational learning; visual appeal; discount price.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2023.10053499