Search Results (584)

Advanced and Urban Air Mobility (AAM and UAM) represent emerging transportation concepts that involve the use of novel aircraft technologies to transport passengers and cargo within urban, regional, and intra-regional environments. These systems may include Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Short Take-off and Landing (STOL) aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which are being considered for a range of applications including passenger transport, cargo delivery, and other specialized operations. This study introduced a state-specific analytical framework that integrates different methodologies and data to enable a more precise evaluation of AAM viability in the State of Illinois, compared to generic national or global assessments, capturing the state’s unique mobility patterns, infrastructure constraints, and demographic distributions. One of the main goals is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the potential implications—both challenges and opportunities—associated with AAM and UAM operations. The analysis examines potential impacts on mobility, infrastructure, economic development, and public services, with particular emphasis on identifying key considerations for policy development. The research framework categorizes use cases into two broad types: AAM for the transportation of people and cargo, and AAM for functional applications such as emergency response, agriculture, and infrastructure monitoring. The study provides a detailed quantitative assessment of passenger air taxi services, including demand estimation, business model feasibility analysis, integration effects on existing transportation systems, and infrastructure requirements. For other AAM applications, the analysis identifies operational considerations, regulatory implications, and potential barriers to implementation, establishing a foundation for future detailed evaluation. Full article

The proactive adoption of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) by e-commerce platforms to enhance consumer experience is emerging as a predominant trend. This research investigates the influence of AI overview on consumers’ perceived usefulness of the customer reviews section on e-commerce platforms, thereby further expanding the scope of application of the technology acceptance model (TAM). Across three scenario-based experiments (n = 568), we examined the effects of AI overview and their underlying mechanisms. Results consistently confirmed a main effect: the presence of AI overview significantly enhanced perceived usefulness compared to its absence. Study 2 identified perceived diagnosticity as a mediator, while Study 3 revealed that need for cognition (NFC) moderated both the main effect and the mediation process. Specifically, for High-NFC participants, the presence or absence of AI overview made no significant difference, whereas for Low-NFC participants, AI overviews significantly increased perceived usefulness. These findings offer novel insights into the effectiveness of AI overview in shaping the consumer evaluations of online customer reviews. By clarifying the mediating role of perceived diagnosticity and the boundary condition of NFC, this study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of how AI can be strategically integrated into e-commerce platforms to enhance consumer decision-making and guide business development. Full article

Launched in 2013, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was originally devised to link East Asia and Europe through a network of physical and digital infrastructure. This article analyses the BRI’s development in the European context by offering a comparative analysis of 727 BRI and BRI-like projects within 46 European countries from 2005 to 2021. The analysis considers projects’ location, typology, status, and the main enterprises involved in each project. According to our results, there is a “two-speed Europe”. Indeed, while the vast majority of projects are included in the Digital Silk Road (e.g., telecommunication, transfer technology, data centre, 5G, fintech) and are located in North-Western Europe, traditional investments in infrastructure (e.g., ports, roads, railways, SEZ) are concentrated in South-Eastern Europe and the Balkan countries. While North-Western Europe is particularly concerned about cyber security and data protection issues, various South-Eastern European countries look favorably upon the development opportunities offered by the BRI. The BRI is clearly different from the Western approach to development (based on competition and economic liberalism) and integration (based on treaties). The BRI approach—including its platform, leveraging political flexibility, economic pragmatism, ability to mobilize resources, and ability to create synergies between state and business—could take advantage of the flaws of the European integration process. The BRI, with its strengths as well as weaknesses, represents an opportunity for the EU to understand the need for greater economic and political foresight, social cohesion, and economic flexibility to meet the development needs of its member countries. China, too, can draw inspiration from cooperating with EU countries on how to improve the reception of its investment initiatives by focusing on reciprocity, security guarantees, and protection of rights and the environment. Full article

As Generation Z increasingly dominates the consumer market, understanding their purchasing behaviour in online marketplaces has become crucial for businesses aiming to engage this digitally native and environmentally conscious demographic. The present study aims to explore Generation Z′s purchasing behaviour in e-commerce platforms through the lens of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), while incorporating additional factors such as sustainability and environmental awareness. A partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis using WarpPLS 8.0 was conducted on a sample of 636 Generation Z respondents from Romania. The results suggest that online marketplaces can enhance consumer engagement by integrating eco-friendly practices and emphasizing sustainable product offerings. This research contributes to the e-commerce literature by extending the TAM framework and by providing valuable insights for businesses targeting environmentally conscious digital consumers. Full article

Accelerated digital transformations and the evolution of consumer behavior in recent years underscore the need for a systemic perspective in marketing analytics to better comprehend the complex interplay between technology, data, and the profound changes triggered by global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed a massive shift toward digitalization and transformed e-commerce from an option to a necessity for both businesses and consumers. This paper analyzes the total store and non-store sales, as well as total e-commerce sales, of the US retail trade across six main business categories and nine subcategories from the first quarter of 2018 to the first quarter of 2024. The data was divided into three time spans, corresponding to pre-, during, and post-COVID-19 pandemic periods, to examine the changing behavior of US consumers over time for different business categories. The statistical and econometric methods employed are the partial autocorrelation function (PACF), autocorrelation function, autoregressive integrated moving average model, inferential statistics, and regression model. The results indicate that the pandemic significantly increased non-store retailer sales compared to the pre-pandemic period, underscoring the importance of e-commerce. When physical stores reopened, e-commerce sales did not decline to pre-pandemic levels. The PACF analysis showed seasonality and lagged correlations. Thus, the pandemic-induced buying behaviors of US consumers continue to influence current sales patterns. The pandemic was more than just a temporary disruption, which permanently changed the retail sector. Retailers that quickly adapted to online models gained a competitive edge, whereas US consumers became accustomed to the convenience and flexibility of e-commerce. The behavior of US consumers adapted not only in response to immediate needs during the pandemic but also led to longer-term shifts in spending patterns, with each category reacting uniquely based on product type and perceived necessity. The analysis of how the COVID-19 pandemic transformed consumer behavior in the US reveals several important implications for both consumers and trade policymakers. First, the long-lasting and structural shift toward e-commerce is confirmed, representing a fundamental change in the dynamics of demand and supply. For consumers, the convenience, flexibility, and accessibility of digital channels have moved beyond mere situational advantages to become a behavioral norm. This shift has empowered consumers by giving them greater access to price comparisons, more diverse options, and increased informational transparency. Additionally, the data shows the emergence of hybrid consumption models: essential goods are mainly purchased online, while purchases of branded clothing, electronics, furniture, luxury items, and similar products continue to favor the traditional retail experience. Full article

This paper examines the risks linked to E-business collaboration between China and West Africa, with particular emphasis on Ghana as a pivotal digital commerce centre. This research employs the Hesitant Fuzzy Best–Worst Method (HF-BWM) to systematically identify and prioritise the institutional, technological, sociocultural, and legal issues affecting cross-border e-business operations. This study combines Transaction Cost Theory (TCT), the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and Commitment–Trust Theory to create a comprehensive framework for analysing the interplay of these risks and their effects on transaction costs and company sustainability. The findings indicate that institutional risks constitute the most substantial obstacles, with deficient digital transaction legislation and inadequate data governance recognised as the principal drivers of uncertainty and increased transaction costs. The research indicates that these institutional challenges necessitate immediate focus, as they immediately affect corporate operations, especially in international digital commerce. Technological risks, such as cybersecurity vulnerabilities, insufficient IT skills, and deficiencies in digital infrastructure, were identified as the second most critical factors, leading to considerable operational disruptions and heightened expenses. Sociocultural hazards, such as language difficulties and varying consumer behaviours, were recognised as moderate concerns that, although significant, exert a weaker cumulative impact than technological and institutional challenges. Eventually, legal risks, especially concerning cybercrime legislation and the protection of intellectual property, were identified as substantial complicators of e-business activities, increasing the intricacy of legal compliance and cross-border contract enforcement. The results underscore the imperative for regulatory reforms, investments in cybersecurity, and methods for cultural adaptation to alleviate the identified risks and promote sustainable growth in China–West Africa e-business relationships. This study offers practical insights for governments, business leaders, and investors to effectively manage the intricate risk landscape and make educated decisions that foster enduring collaboration and trust between China and West Africa in digital trade. Full article

With the maturity of haptic technology and complex systems, tactile interaction has gradually become realized through specific hardware and software configurations in the e-commerce and business industries. As an innovative form depending on haptic systems, tactile interactive advertising could help both advertisers and consumers enhance the haptic experience of products through technology-mediated virtual environments and provide tactile information for purchase decision making that relies on restoring the real sense of touch. On the basis of the value-based adoption model (VAM) and the need for touch (NFT) from a preference for haptic information in a system, we conduct quantitative research and construct a partial least squares structural equation model, which aims to study the influencing factors that characterize the user preference of tactile interactive advertisements empowered by haptic systems among Chinese consumers. A total of 509 valid questionnaires were collected through online and offline channels. The study revealed that the perceived enjoyment (PE) and telepresence (TEL) of tactile interactive advertisements as benefit factors positively influence the perceived value (PV) and that the perceived fee (PF) as a sacrifice factor negatively influences PV, which further impacts the attitude and intention to use (IU). In addition, the study verified that a higher NFT positively affected PE, PU, and PF and IU for the perception of tactile interactive advertising. Through this study, we aim to provide insights from a consumer perspective to enhance the advertising effect and user experience through tactile interaction in further e-commerce, which transforms how we interact with digital systems and virtual environments. Full article

This paper presents the SMALLDERS project, a European initiative aimed at transforming smallholders’ business models through an innovative technological platform. The platform functions as an e-marketplace that connects small farmers directly with consumers while simultaneously promoting environmental sustainability and collaboration across the agri-food value chain. The study evaluates the platform’s commercial viability and acceptance through a mixed-methods approach, incorporating qualitative and quantitative data. Research methods include focus group sessions, interviews with key stakeholders—such as transport companies, large distributors, and public administrations—and a consumer survey assessing intentions and attitudes toward the e-marketplace. Results indicate limited overall consumer readiness to adopt the platform; however, 48.6% of respondents expressed willingness to use it provided competitive prices and personal benefits are assured. Smallholders regard e-commerce as a promising opportunity, yet they face significant barriers, including limited resources, low digital literacy, and logistical constraints. Stakeholders generally view the platform positively, emphasizing that its success depends on achieving a critical mass of business volume. To foster adoption, SMALLDERS proposes three business models for smallholders: sustainable, cooperative, and technological. The platform includes a user-friendly feature to assist smallholders in transitioning among these models, complemented by training and support services designed to encourage more resilient and innovative agricultural practices. Full article

The aim of the study was to evaluate the digital business transformation across EU countries and its relationship with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The Digital Business Transformation Index, developed from eleven digital technology indicators related to e-business and e-commerce, is constructed using Principal Component Analysis to provide a comprehensive framework for assessing digitalization at the enterprise level. The results reveal substantial disparities among member states, with northern and western countries leading, while southern and eastern countries are lagging behind. Regression analyses show a strong positive relationship between digital business transformation and SDG 9 and a negative association with SDG 13. Cluster analysis identifies six groups of countries with varying levels of digital and sustainability performance and emphasizes the need for tailored policy responses. Evidence confirms a digital–green trade-off in many EU countries; however, strategic policy integration can mitigate this challenge. The findings underline the importance of targeted investments in R&D, digital infrastructure, and ICT training, particularly in underperforming regions. Tailored measures are essential to ensure that digital business transformation aligns with inclusive and sustainable development across the EU. Full article

Background: Rapid urbanization has intensified the challenges of freight transport, particularly in last-mile (LM) delivery, leading to rising costs and environmental externalities. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have emerged as a promising innovation to address these issues. While much of the existing literature emphasizes business and operational perspectives, this study focuses on the acceptance of AVs from the standpoint of e-consumers—individuals who make purchases via digital platforms—in an emerging market context. Methods: Grounded in an extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2), which is specifically suited to consumer-focused technology adoption research, this study incorporates five constructs tailored to AV adoption. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied to survey data collected from 304 e-consumers in Northeast Brazil. Results: The findings reveal that performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, and environmental awareness exert significant positive effects on acceptance and intention to use AVs for LM delivery. Social influence shows a weaker, yet still positive, impact. Importantly, price sensitivity exhibits a minimal effect, suggesting that while consumers are generally cost-conscious, perceived value may outweigh price concerns in early adoption stages. Conclusions: These results offer valuable insights for policymakers and logistics providers aiming to implement consumer-oriented, cost-effective AV solutions in LM delivery, particularly in emerging economies. The findings emphasize the need for strategies that highlight the practical, emotional, and environmental benefits of AVs to foster market acceptance. Full article

Governments worldwide are mandating e-invoicing and real-time VAT reporting, yet many cash-intensive service SMEs continue to under-report VAT, eroding fiscal revenues. This study investigates whether financial technology (FinTech) adoption can reduce this under-reporting among tourism SMEs in Greece—an economy with high seasonal spending and a persistent shadow economy. This is the first micro-level empirical study to examine how FinTech tools affect VAT compliance in this sector, offering novel insights into how technology interacts with behavioral factors to influence fiscal behavior. Drawing on the Technology Acceptance Model, deterrence theory, and behavioral tax compliance frameworks, we surveyed 214 hotels, guesthouses, and tour operators across Greece’s main tourism regions. A structured questionnaire measured five constructs: FinTech adoption, VAT compliance behavior, tax morale, perceived audit probability, and financial performance. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling and bootstrapped moderation–mediation analysis, we find that FinTech adoption significantly improves declared VAT, with compliance fully mediating its impact on financial outcomes. The effect is especially strong among businesses led by owners with high tax morale or strong perceptions of audit risk. These findings suggest that FinTech tools function both as efficiency enablers and behavioral nudges. The results support targeted policy actions such as subsidies for e-invoicing, tax compliance training, and transparent audit communication. By integrating technological and psychological dimensions, the study contributes new evidence to the digital fiscal governance literature and offers a practical framework for narrowing the VAT gap in tourism-driven economies. Full article

This study synthesizes the rapidly expanding evidence on how digital technologies reshape international trade, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Guided by two research questions—(RQ1) How do digital tools influence the volume and composition of cross-border trade? and (RQ2) How do these effects vary by countries’ development level and firm size?—we conducted a PRISMA-compliant systematic literature review covering 2010–2024. Searches across eight major databases yielded 1857 records; after duplicate removal, title/abstract screening, full-text assessment, and Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT 2018) quality checks, 86 peer-reviewed English-language studies were retained. Findings reveal three dominant technology clusters: (1) e-commerce platforms and cloud services, (2) IoT-enabled supply chain solutions, and (3) emerging AI analytics. E-commerce and cloud adoption consistently raise export intensity—doubling it for digitally mature SMEs—while AI applications are the fastest-growing research strand, particularly in East Asia and Northern Europe. However, benefits are uneven: firms in low-infrastructure settings face higher fixed digital costs, and cybersecurity and regulatory fragmentation remain pervasive obstacles. By integrating trade economics with development and SME internationalization studies, this review offers the first holistic framework that links national digital infrastructure and policy support to firm-level export performance. It shows that the trade-enhancing effects of digitalization are contingent on robust broadband penetration, affordable cloud access, and harmonized data-governance regimes. Policymakers should, therefore, prioritize inclusive digital-readiness programs, while business leaders should invest in complementary capabilities—data analytics, cyber-risk management, and cross-border e-logistics—to fully capture digital trade gains. This balanced perspective advances theory and practice on building resilient, equitable digital trade ecosystems. Full article

With rising environmental awareness, numerous firms are transitioning to green investment, such as low-carbon production. However, the consumer adoption of low-carbon products remains low due to transparency concerns. Many firms are leveraging blockchain to address information asymmetry in the supply chain, thereby building consumer confidence in low-carbon products. The purpose of this work is to provide decision support for business firms by analyzing the strategic choices regarding the manufacturer’s green investment and the e-retailer’s adoption of blockchain technology. Three strategy combinations are considered, including the baseline strategy combination without green investment and blockchain technology (NN), the strategy combination with only green investment (LN), and the strategy combination with both green investment and blockchain technology (LB). The optimal pricing and green level decisions are derived, and the conditions under which green investment and blockchain technology are beneficial to the supply chain members are examined. The findings suggest that the e-retailer can obtain the highest profit without adopting blockchain technology if it holds a substantial or extremely low market share, if the consumers’ low-carbon preference is at a low to medium level, or if the consumer green trust coefficient is high when the manufacturer implements the green investment strategy. When consumers exhibit a weak preference for low-carbon products, the strategy combination NN is optimal for the supply chain members. The strategy combination LB becomes optimal if the consumer green trust coefficient is near or below the moderate threshold, if the market share of a channel is neither extremely high nor low, or if consumers exhibit a strong preference for low-carbon products. Full article

The electric vehicle (EV) business model integrates advanced battery technology, dynamic power train architectures, and intelligent energy management systems with ecosystem strategies and digital services. It incorporates environmental sustainability through lifecycle analysis and renewable energy integration. China, with 9.49 million EV sales in 2023 (33% market share), faces infrastructure gaps constraining further growth. China is strategically mitigating CO₂ emissions while fostering economic expansion, notwithstanding constraints such as suboptimal battery technology advancements, elevated production expenditure, and enduring ecological impacts. This Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, Environmental (PESTLE) assessment, operationalized through a survey of 800 stakeholders and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences IBM SPSS SPSS (Version 28) quantitative analysis (factor loading = 0.73 for Technology; eigenvalue = 4.12), identifies infrastructure gaps as the dominant barrier (72% of stakeholders). Political factors (β = 0.82) emerged as the strongest adoption predictor, outweighing economic subsidies in significance. The adoption of EVs in China presents a significant prospect for reducing CO₂ emissions and advancing technology. However, economic barriers, market dynamics, inadequate infrastructure, regulatory uncertainty, and social acceptance issues are addressed in the assessment. The study recommends prioritizing infrastructure investment (e.g., 500 K fast-charging stations by 2027) and policy stability to overcome adoption barriers. This study provides three key advances: (1) quantification of PESTLE factor weights via factor analysis, revealing technological (infrastructure) and political factors as dominant; (2) identification of infrastructure gaps, not subsidies, as the primary adoption barrier; and (3) demonstration of infrastructure’s persistence post-subsidy cuts. These insights redefine EV adoption priorities in China. Full article

Prior research has focused on the technical and institutional challenges of blockchain adoption. However, little is known about how blockchain ventures claim categorical space in the market and how such domain positioning influences their visibility and evaluation. This study investigates the relationship between strategic domain positioning and market recognition among blockchain-based ventures, with a particular focus on applications relevant to e-commerce, such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and decentralized finance (DeFi). Drawing on research on categorization, legitimacy, and the technology lifecycle, we propose a domain lifecycle perspective that accounts for the evolving expectations and legitimacy criteria across blockchain domains. Using BERTopic, a transformer-based topic modeling method, we classify 9665 blockchain ventures based on their textual business descriptions. We then test the impact of domain positioning on market recognition—proxied by Crunchbase rank—while examining the moderating effects of external validation signals such as funding events, media attention, and organizational age. Our findings reveal that clear domain positioning significantly enhances market recognition, but the strength and direction of this effect vary by domain. Specifically, NFT ventures experience stronger recognition when young and less institutionally validated, suggesting a novelty premium, while DeFi ventures benefit more from conventional legitimacy signals. These results advance our understanding of how categorical dynamics operate in emerging digital ecosystems and offer practical insights for e-commerce platforms, investors, and entrepreneurs navigating blockchain-enabled innovation. Full article