Digitizing local search: An empirical analysis of mobile search behavior in offline shopping

2023 | Decision Support Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Molitor, Dominik; Daurer, Stephan; Spann, Martin; Manchanda, Puneet

Abstract: Mobile devices have become increasingly prevalent in the context of consumers’ o ... Expand

Abstract: Mobile devices have become increasingly prevalent in the context of consumers’ offline search and shopping behavior by acting as personal decision support tools. This paper investigates the relationship between con­ sumers’ real-time location and their search behavior when shopping offline. We develop two location-specific measures based on mobile device usage to analyze the association between a consumer’s real-time location and their search behavior: Present store distance and present store density. We apply these measures to a unique dataset from a leading mobile product information app that includes >13 million search sessions from 2.5 million consumers searching for 1.8 million different products. Our findings show that store distance and store density significantly influence consumers’ mobile search behavior: detailed searches for product-specific attributes (search depth) increase as store distance decreases and store density increases, while the number of jointly searched products within the same category (search breadth) increases as store distance and density increase. We also find that durable products weaken the main effects of store distance and density on search depth but strengthen it for search breadth. These results provide insights for offline retailers to better understand locationspecific consumer demands and improve their mobile in-app targeting and product assortment decisions. Collapse

Topics: mobile application mobile system geographic information system global navigation satellite system location based service

Methods: descriptive statistic statistical hypothesis test theory development likelihood-ratio test robustness check

Theories: construal level theory

Combining Spatial Optimization and Multi-Agent Temporal Difference Learning for Task Assignment in Uncertain Crowdsourcing

2020 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 0

Authors: Sun, Yong; Tan, Wenan

Abstract: In recent years, spatial crowdsourcing has emerged as an important new framework ... Expand

Abstract: In recent years, spatial crowdsourcing has emerged as an important new framework, in which each spatial task requires a set of right crowd-workers in the near vicinity to the target locations. Previous studies have focused on spatial task assignment in the static crowdsourcing environment. These algorithms may achieve local optimality by neglecting the uncertain features inherent in real-world crowdsourcing environments, where workers may join or leave during run time. Moreover, spatial task assignment is more complicated when large-scale crowd-workers exist in crowdsourcing environments. The large-scale nature of task assignments poses a significant challenge to uncertain spatial crowdsourcing. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm combining spatial optimization and multi-agent temporal difference learning (SMATDL). The combination of grid-based optimization and multi-agent learning can achieve higher adaptability and maintain greater efficiency than traditional learning algorithms in the face of large-scale crowdsourcing problems. The SMATDL algorithm decomposes the uncertain crowdsourcing problem into numerous sub-problems by means of a grid-based optimization approach. In order to adapt to the change in the large-scale environment, each agent utilizes temporal difference learning to handle its own spatial region optimization in online crowdsourcing. As a result, multiple agents in SMATDL collaboratively learn to optimize their efforts in accomplishing the global assignment problems efficiently. Through extensive experiments, we illustrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed algorithms on the experimental data sets. Collapse

Topics: crowdsourcing Java Python social network decision making

Methods: computational algorithm experiment optimization model case study reinforcement learning

Digital Transformation Through Internet of Things Services

2019 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Keskin, Tayfun; Erciyes, Burcu Tan

Abstract: Internet of Things (IoT) have been disrupting industries through shifting novel ... Expand

Abstract: Internet of Things (IoT) have been disrupting industries through shifting novel services, and business models. Organizations should also redesign their business service models to navigate this disruption. A holistic understanding of digital transformation through IoT requires the cooperation of multiple disciplines ranging from engineering to economics. This paper utilizes a conceptual model to develop an analytical framework to investigate a number of pricing strategies enabled by different business models. Our findings demonstrate that the Internet of Things phenomenon has the potential to disrupt the way we do business by connecting markets and enabling new business models. Collapse

Topics: internet of things mobile system price management business model digital good

Methods: conceptual modelling mathematical model longitudinal research qualitative interview personal interview

Strategies for Interweaving Groupware and Organizational Structure

2008 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Janson, Marius; Brown, Ann; Cecez-Kecmanovic, Dubravka

Abstract: Many authors contend that realizing benefits of new information technologies req ... Expand

Abstract: Many authors contend that realizing benefits of new information technologies requires adjusting such technologies to fit with the organization’s context or, alternatively, they suggest adjusting organizational practices to accord with the new technologies (Rifkin, 1995). However, Orlikowski and Yates (2006) pointed out that the ways these prescriptions are applied in practice are yet ill defined. Our research yields practice-based suggestions for developing groupware, organizational processes, procedures, and organizational culture needed for successful implementation of information technology. Collapse

Topics: computer supported cooperative work business process management system support technology adoption computer software

Methods: qualitative interview cross sectional research case study internal company material

Theories: co-evolution theory

Battle of the Retail Channels: How Internet Selection and Local Retailer Proximity Drive Cross-Channel Competition

2007 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Brynjolfsson, Erik

Abstract: A key question for Internet commerce is the nature of competition with tradition ... Expand

Abstract: A key question for Internet commerce is the nature of competition with traditional brick-andmortar retailers. Although traditional retailers vastly outsell Internet retailers in most product categories, research on Internet retailing has almost entirely neglected this fundamental dimension of competition. How and where can Internet retailers win this battle? To answer this question, we collect a unique dataset on the local market structure and match it to a dataset on consumer demand through both Internet and catalog channels. We find that local market structure can significantly explain variations in demand through these two direct channels. Interestingly, we find that Internet sales of niche products, often unavailable in physical stores, are largely immune from competition by traditional retailers. Since the Internet channel sells proportionately more niche products than the catalog channel does, the competition between Internet and local store channels is less intense than that between the catalog and local store channels. Collapse

Topics: internet technology marketing management electronic commerce website telephone

Methods: regression analysis method instrumental variables estimation likelihood-ratio test descriptive statistic

Theories: economic theory

The Impact of Location on Consumer Purchases in Electronic Markets

2006 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Ghose, Anindya; Goldfarb, Avi

Abstract: The Internet has been thought of as a technological advancement that will bridge ... Expand

Abstract: The Internet has been thought of as a technological advancement that will bridge the geographical digital divide and remove the disparities between underserved communities and the rest of the society. In order to examine the existence of underserved communities, we examine how changes in the local supply of goods and services in the offline world changes consumer behavior in technology enabled electronic markets. For example, retail markets for consumer products such as books, music, and videos have traditionally been predominantly local. As local markets increase in size from small towns to large cities, consumers are affected in two ways. First, holding product offerings among retailers fixed, an increase in the size of a location encourages new firm entry that in turn lowers prices and improves service levels. Moreover, larger markets also allow retailers to provide a wider array of product offerings targeted to market segments that would be infeasible in smaller town settings. The emergence of new online retailing channels may act as a substitute for the benefits of urban concentration both by offering lower prices and by providing increased product differentiation for rural consumers. The open question is which of these phenomena are more important: how do consumers use online channels to substitute for offline supply deficiencies, and how does this vary across locations in the United States? We explore this problem using data from Amazon on the top selling books and DVDs for over 8626 unique locations in the US over 10 months between 2005-2006. We show that even controlling for product-specific preferences by location, there are still considerable differences in the responses of locations of different population sizes to price and popularity changes of DVDs and books. These can be attributed to differences in local supply conditions as well as other factors such as demographic characteristics and high speed internet penetration. Collapse

Topics: DVD internet technology digital divide electronic market electronic commerce

Methods: longitudinal research econometric modeling linear regression analysis archival research descriptive statistic

Understanding the confluence of retailer characteristics, market characteristics and online pricing strategies

2006 | Decision Support Systems | Citations: 14

Authors: Venkatesan, Raj; Mehta, Kumar; Bapna, Ravi

Abstract: Theories from Information Systems, Marketing and Economics suggest that product, ... Expand

Abstract: Theories from Information Systems, Marketing and Economics suggest that product, retailer, and market characteristics jointly serve as determinants of online retailers' ability to price differentiate. Until now, the empirical research has focused on examining the impact of these determinants in isolation. In this paper, we extend the prior online price dispersion literature by examining the interactions among product, retailer and market characteristics. We construct a multi-level hierarchical linear model to empirically test whether market level characteristics moderate retailer characteristics in explaining price dispersion. Our analysis is based on a dataset of 13,393 price quotes for 1880 best selling products across eight product categories from 194 online retailers. The analysis indicates that service quality has a positive effect on retailer price levels. We observe that the relationship between competitive intensity in a market and retailer price levels is inverted “U” shaped. In contrast, the influence of the interaction between a retailer's service quality and market level variables on retailer price levels is “U” shaped. These findings together provide the first known empirical evidence for the existence of mixed pricing strategies among online retailers. Contrary to conventional wisdom, we find that retailers providing quality service are able to charge higher prices as the competition increases. Collapse

Topics: service quality price management DVD video game electronic market

Methods: statistical hypothesis test conceptual modelling descriptive statistic regression analysis method hierarchical linear modeling

Internet Users' Information Privacy Concerns (IUIPC): The Construct, the Scale, and a Causal Model

2004 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 1263

Authors: Malhotra, Naresh K.; Sung S. Kim; Agarwal, James

Abstract: The lack of consumer confidence in information privacy has been identified as a ... Expand

Abstract: The lack of consumer confidence in information privacy has been identified as a major problem hampering the growth of e-commerce. Despite the importance of understanding the nature of online consumers' concerns for information privacy, this topic has received little attention in the information systems community. To fill the gap in the literature, this article focuses on three distinct, yet closely related, issues. First, drawing on social contract theory, we offer a theoretical framework on the dimensionality of Internet users' information privacy concerns (IUIPC). Second, we attempt to operationalize the multidimensional notion of IUIPC using a second-order construct, and we develop a scale for it. Third, we propose and test a causal model on the relationship between IUIPC and behavioral intention toward releasing personal information at the request of a marketer. We conducted two separate field surveys and collected data from 742 household respondents in one-on-one, face-to-face interviews. The results of this study indicate that the second-order IUIPC factor, which consists of three first-order dimensions -- namely, collection, control, and awareness -- exhibited desirable psychometric properties in the context of online privacy. In addition, we found that the causal model centering on IUIPC fits the data satisfactorily and explains a large amount of variance in behavioral intention, suggesting that the proposed model will serve as a useful tool for analyzing online consumers' reactions to various privacy threats on the Internet. Collapse

Topics: privacy information privacy concern internet technology behavioral intention consumer behavior

Methods: survey structural equation modeling personal interview psychometrics data transformation

Theories: theory of reasoned action contract theory

CUSTOMER ONLINE EVALUATION IN THE AGENT-BASED E-COMMERCE SYSTEM: CONTENT ANALYSIS

2002 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Wang, Ming; Huarng, Adam; Zhang, Shu

Abstract: This paper was to study customer online evaluations on the agent-based E-commerc ... Expand

Abstract: This paper was to study customer online evaluations on the agent-based E-commerce Web site. Content analysis was used to exam online text comments made by customers on a software agent Web site which links to multiple Internet stores. Through the investigation, key determinants affecting customer satisfaction were identified. The correlation between each factor and each customer’s overall star satisfaction rating was measured. The study revealed that there were more positive reviews than negative reviews in 106 customer online evaluations. The primary determinant in positive reviews was to receive the merchandise as ordered on time. The primary determinant in negative reviews was customer support services. Eight out of nine identified factors, were significantly correlated to customers’ overall star ratings. Some implications as well as future research directions were provided. Collapse

Topics: electronic commerce website web application software agent customer service

Methods: qualitative content analysis correlation analysis survey descriptive statistic

New Buyers' Arrival Under Dynamic Pricing Market Microstructure: The Case of Group-Buying Discounts on the Internet

2001 | Journal of Management Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Kauffman, Robert J.; Bin Wang

Abstract: Dynamic pricing mechanisms occur on the Internet when buyers and sellers negotia ... Expand

Abstract: Dynamic pricing mechanisms occur on the Internet when buyers and sellers negotiate the final transaction price for the exchange of goods or services. These mechanisms are used in online auctions (e.g., eBay.com, uBid.com) and name-your-own-price (Priceline.com) formats, for example. The current research studies the dynamics of one instance of dynamic pricing--group-buying discounts--used by MobShop.com, whose products' selling prices drop as more buyers place their orders. We collect and analyze changes in the number of orders for MobShop-listed products over various periods of time, using an econometric model that reflects our understanding of bidder behavior in the presence of dynamic pricing and different levels of bidder participation. We find that the number of existing orders has a significant positive effect on new orders placed during each three-hour period, indicating the presence of a positive participation externality effect. We also find evidence for expectations of falling prices, a price drop effect. This occurs when the number of orders approaches the next price drop level and the price level for transacting will fall in the near future. The results also reveal a significant ending effect, as more orders were placed during the last three-hour period of the auction cycles. We also assess the efficacy of group-buying business models to shed light on the recent failures of many group-buying Web sites. Collapse

Topics: business model website electronic market price management dynamic pricing

Methods: longitudinal research autocorrelation analysis descriptive statistic econometric modeling conceptual modelling