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Internet and communication technologies have been growing at a rapid pace, enabling data sharing and many other applications. Online trading and e-commerce are important applications that provide ease of business as well as flexibility for buyers. In this paper, we provide an overview of social commerce (s-commerce) in the context of Saudi Arabia. This paper explains s-commerce, the background of Saudi Arabia, and its digital economy vision. This paper also highlights the importance of social media and networking, as well as novel web technologies for s-commerce. We also highlight the research gap in the analysis of s-commerce potential in the Saudi market. This paper conducts a detailed analysis of s-commerce in Saudi Arabia based on a sequential explanatory research design with a quantitative and qualitative phase. The quantitative phase involves a survey based on 504 responses. The qualitative phase involves interview questions of 25 participants. Based on this study, seven themes (each with two or more factors) to enhance s-commerce in Saudi Arabia were identified. Finally, future opportunities and challenges are also discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing environmental concern regarding the increasing quantity of packages in retail eCommerce. This study investigated the environmental impact of two returnable packaging formats, performing life cycle assessment (LCA) case studies based on the Canadian apparel eCommerce market. In case study 1, the brand owner sold and shipped its products to final consumers using an expendable mailer and a returnable mailer that was managed and supplied via the centralized model. In case study 2, the brand owner rented its products to final consumers and shipped them using an expendable corrugated paperboard box and a returnable box that was managed and supplied via the decentralized model. Comparative, contribution, and sensitivity analyses were conducted to analyze and compare the environmental performance of these packaging options. For case study 1, the LCA revealed that the returnable mailer had greater impact than the expandable mailer in 9 of the 10 environmental impact categories, even if the returnable mailer was reused for 40 cycles and the final consumer was in the same city as the brand owner; this was primarily due to the length of transportation. For case study 2, the returnable box had smaller environmental impact than the expendable corrugated paperboard box in 6 of the 10 environmental impact categories, even though the brand owner shipped packages to final consumers a cumulative distance of 9000 km from its starting location. The overall results imply that the environmental burden of returnable packaging is primarily affected by total trip distance and the number of reuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information Systems (IS) research has proposed digital nudges as a promising toolset for supporting consumers in making better decisions. However, there is a vivid academic debate regarding the ethical underpinnings of nudging and potential measures to alleviate ethical concerns. One particularly promising approach to digital nudging is leveraging salience effects. Yet, the potential of digital salience nudges remains underexplored in IS literature, and little is known about how measures proposed to alleviate ethical concerns affect their behavioural impact. In a preregistered online experiment (N = 600), we assess the effects of a digital salience nudge on the healthiness of food product choices. Additionally, we examine how two proposed ethical measures, namely transparency and self-nudging, influence the nudge's effects. We find that implementing the digital salience nudge in an online supermarket decreased the proportion of unhealthy food products chosen by 63% and increased the proportion of healthy alternatives by 30%. Notably, disclosing transparent information about the nudge did not impact its effectiveness. Offering the nudge as a self-nudge led to comparable effects to a preset nudge when combined with transparent information. We conclude that digital salience nudging is effective and that nudges can be ethically designed without compromising their behavioural impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated global digitalization, leading to significant changes in consumer behavior. This study investigates the impact of digital technologies on consumer behavior in the post-pandemic era, focusing on how digital marketing campaigns influence purchasing decisions. Through the analysis of data collected from the Google Ads campaigns of an online store, quantitative research was conducted to identify emerging trends and changes in consumer preferences. The results highlight a significant increase in online transactions, a growing preference for personalized digital interactions, and a greater reliance on mobile platforms. The conclusions underscore the importance of adapting marketing strategies to the new digital realities and offer recommendations for companies to optimize their online presence. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how digital technologies shape consumer behavior in the post-pandemic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial social media (social commerce in emerging market) have increasingly been used in many emerging markets as an evolutionary form of ecommerce. While this trend has recently been examined from an e-vender's perspective, little is known about how customers, specifically female millennials, perceive of their shopping experiences with commercial social media in relation to ecommerce. Thus, this study explores the underlying motivations for using one e-retailing type over the other. We consider the social constructs of trust, customer service quality and web design in the study. Drawing data from 20 in-depth interviews with young Omani women, the study revealed that ecommerce is most preferred to commercial social media. It highlights the role of unethical marketing practices; unsystematic delivery costs; unprofessional customer service quality; underdeveloped local market and uneasiness of commercial social media in influencing the decision-making of the customers to shift to ecommerce. The study further points to the intersection between product's price, quality and information in building trust; the role of professionalism, responsiveness and empathy in enhancing customer service quality; the importance of product quality and variety in the local market; and the easy navigation and online payment of e-retailing platforms. The study bears implications on enhancing the features and services of commercial social media. It also calls for transforming the local market to meet the customers' needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of digital technology means that creators can now use e-commerce platforms to sell their digital design works. However, the ease of access and digital nature of these designs raises concerns about potential copyright infringement. This is an article on the legal protection of digital design works sold on digital e-commerce platforms. Digital intellectual property, such as logos, illustrations, and icons, must be protected. In today's internet age, creators use e-commerce platforms as one of the main ways to sell their works to customers around the world. However, the ease of access and digital nature of these design works make copyright infringement easier. The researcher used normative legal research. Research with normative methods is conducted by examining literature sources as secondary data. In normative legal research, literature documents serve as a foundation of information to serve the research field. This research data is categorized as secondary data because it is obtained from a collection of rule-based literature reviews. especially intellectual property rights law, especially copyright and copyright of online magazines and digital works. The results show that digital design itself gets protection against ownership of intellectual property rights and gets exclusive rights to its creation for the creator. Efforts to resolve graphic design copyright issues; temporary legal remedies, civil legal remedies, and criminal legal remedies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze the factors that influence consumer purchasing decisions on the Tokopedia ecommerce platform in Bandung City. The factors evaluated include product quality, price, platform ease of use, consumer trust, promotion, and customer service. This research uses a quantitative approach with a survey method distributed to consumers in Bandung City who have made purchases on Tokopedia. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression to determine the effect of each factor on purchasing decisions. The results showed that product quality, price, and consumer trust have a significant influence on purchasing decisions, while other factors such as ease of use of the platform, promotions, and customer service have a lower but still important influence. The findings provide insights for e-commerce players in improving marketing and operational strategies to attract more consumers. From the results of the study, it can be concluded that the factors of product quality, price, and consumer trust are the main factors that influence consumer purchasing decisions on Tokopedia in Bandung City. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of e-commerce in trade has had a big impact on Indonesian society, especially in terms of very important legal issues. Legal protection in e-commerce is crucial to protect consumers who make buying and selling transactions via the internet. This development is driven by high demand and acceptance from the public, as evidenced by the emergence of various online stores such as Kaskus, Tokopedia, Bukalapak, Shopee, and Lazada. Rapid advances in technology have changed the method of buying and selling from physical stores to online transactions via the internet. E-commerce, as an information technology innovation, allows consumers to make transactions with just the touch of a finger without having to leave the house. However, the variety of e-commerce platforms available increases the potential for legal issues in online transactions. This research aims to understand how to legally protect consumers and help them if losses occur in e-commerce transactions. The method used is a normative approach, by reviewing literature and secondary data related to consumer legal protection in e-commerce transactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the swiftly evolving domain of online commerce, the significance of recommendation systems has risen alongside the rapid expansion of internet usage over the past decade. As online commerce continues to thrive, recommendation systems serve a crucial function in steering users towards pertinent products amidst the expansive online environment. Nonetheless, conventional collaborative filtering algorithms often encounter challenges such as sparse data and shifting user preferences, necessitating innovative approaches. Our proposed recommendation system aims to tackle these hurdles by seamlessly blending collaborative filtering and content-based filtering methodologies. It will offer product suggestions for both new and existing users. Through thorough examination of users' past purchasing behaviors, patterns, and feedback, our system customizes recommendations precisely to cater to existing users' needs. The initial stage involves feature extraction, wherein both content-based and collaborative features are obtained by creating user profiles, computing content similarity, identifying related items, generating recommendations, and suggesting items. Additionally, new users will receive recommendations for novel and trending products. Leveraging the Walmart Product rating Dataset, our system continuously enhances recommendations based on evolving user interactions, thus optimizing engagement and satisfaction levels. This study underscores the pivotal role of advanced recommendation techniques in transforming the online commerce landscape, ensuring informed purchasing decisions, heightened user satisfaction, and increased sales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We investigate applying and extending an exhaust data framework, using an empirical analysis to explore and compare different predictive analytic capabilities of both internal and external exhaust data for estimating sales. We use internal exhaust data that explores the relationship between app usage and web traffic data and estimation of sales and find the ability to predict sales at least 4 days ahead. We also develop predictive models of sales, using external data of Google searches, extending the previous research to include additional macroeconomic Google variables and Wikipedia pageviews, finding that we can predict at least 4 months ahead, suggesting a portfolio of exhaust data be used. We introduce the roles of internal and external exhaust data, direct and indirect exhaust data and transformed exhaust data, into an exhaust data framework. We examine what appear to be different levels of information fineness and predictability from those exhaust data sources. We also note the importance of the types of devices (e.g., mobile) and the types of commerce (e.g., mobile commerce) in creating and finding different types of exhaust. Finally, we apply an existing exhaust data framework to develop macroeconomic data exhaust variables, as the means of capturing inflation and unemployment information, using Google searches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Jurnal Sosial dan Sains (SOSAINS) is the property of Green Publisher and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Competition in the e-commerce industry is becoming increasingly fierce with the emergence of various platforms offering similar products and services. In response to this competition, Shopee, one of the e-commerce platforms with the highest number of site visits, has adopted augmented reality (AR) technology in its BeautyCam and SkinCam features. These mobile applications, which support AR features, enable marketers and companies to provide detailed information to consumers about products and services, thereby influencing consumer perceptions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate behavioral intention towards the AR-based Shopee application feature using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). In this study, TAM was used to measure perceptions of the usefulness of information technology (Perceived Usefulness), ease of use (Perceived Ease of Use), and perceived enjoyment, which affect individual attitudes toward using information technology (Attitude Towards Using). This, in turn, determines the degree of a person's intention to use information technology (Behavioral Intention). The research employed a quantitative approach by distributing questionnaires to users of Shopee's BeautyCam and SkinCam features. Data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volume of online shopping compared to offline shopping and the speed of change in consumer behavior from online to offline in Iran is much lower than the world average. Therefore, this research aims to design and validation of the change in the end-user's behavior model from offline to online in the FMCGs group. A mix of qualitative (grounded Theory) and quantitative (structural equation modeling) methods are used to identify components, indicators, and the relationship between them. In the qualitative section, the study population is experts in offline and online marketing and sales of FMCGs, and in the quantitative section, all online customers of FMCGs. In the qualitative section, 10 experts were selected by snowball sampling and in the quantitative section by Cochran's formula, 384 people were determined by simple random sampling. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect qualitative data, whereas questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data. Content validity and face validity were confirmed by the Delphi technique, construct validity and questionnaire structure by confirmatory factor analysis, reliability by Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and composite reliability in SmartPLS and SPSS softwares. MAXQDA software was used to analyze qualitative data. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for normality, the Friedman test for prioritizing components and indicators, and the structural equation modeling test for path analysis and model validation were used to analyze quantitative data. In the qualitative results, 8 components and 60 indicators were confirmed. Ranking of components based on quantitative results includes consumer decision-making structure, the consequences of consumer behavior in online platforms, FMCGs competitive advantage, consumer behavior models, marketing and advertising communication channels, consumer innovation, technology and e-commerce acceptance and marketing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research activity aims to analyze the influence of age on Tokopedia's brand awareness and the attractiveness of Tokopedia's online advertising to the audience. The research methodology used is a quantitative approach with survey methods. The survey acquisition data is then processed using the SPSS application. The results showed that the age variable did not significantly influence Tokopedia's brand awareness or the attractiveness of Tokopedia's online advertising to the audience. This study concludes that technological developments also have an impact on bringing progress and development in various fields. The Industrial Revolution 4.0, limited mobility due to the pandemic, and the discourse on the application of Society 5.0 have also encouraged the development of the internet and technology and its application to various aspects of life and the work sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ganesha festival has great cultural significance in the India which demands efficient organization with seamless communication between the organizer’s committees and devotees. To make it simple and easy, we are presenting “Data- Driven Ganesha Festival Management”. The system has multiple modules which includes an Ecommerce Platform for Ganesha Idols, Slot booking module for Ganesha Immersion, Request Module for Ammonium powder, Tank-on-wheel Request module etc. The main module of our system is an advanced NLP based Chatbot grievance system which has ability to solve the queries of devotees 24/7 and helps to reduce human intervention. Our advanced chatbot grievance system works with NLP and Machine Learning algorithms to ensure correct responses which enhances festival experience and helps to optimize resource allocation during festival. Our system uses collected data from past year’s festival events for Data Analytics, Covers Descriptive, Prescriptive, Sentiment, Machine Learning and Linear Regression analyses. After integrating all these technologies together, Our Data Driven Ganesha Festival Management System helps organizers with useful insights for resource allocation as well as optimization, Vendor Selection, Ticket Pricing and for event scheduling. Predictive analysis helps to predict future festival trends which allows proactive planning and improves festival experience. Our research links tradition with modern technology to celebrate festivals more innovatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aim is to provide a model for evaluating online stores, using the hierarchical analysis method and fuzzy theory. Methodology: The present study is an applied researche whose information has been collected according to expert opinions and then the result has been examined using multi-criteria decision models. Findings: The results show that user privacy is most important factors in online shopping. Overall, the results of this study provide a model for decision-makers to help them improve key performance index in ecommerce service design. Originality/Value: For the first time, this study seeks to propose a new hierarchical evaluation model for online sales firms based on the customer's point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal for Business, Economics & Ethics / Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts und Unternehmensethik is the property of Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Urban freight systems embed and reflect spatial inequities in cities and imbalanced power structures within transport decision-making. These concerns are principal domains of "transportation justice" (TJ) and "mobility justice" (MJ) scholarship that have emerged in the past decade. However, little research exists situating urban freight within these prevailing frameworks, which leaves urban freight research on socio-environmental equity and justice ill-defined, especially compared to passenger or personal mobility discussions. Through the lens that derives from TJ and MJ's critical dialogue, this study synthesises urban freight literature's engagement with equity and justice. Namely, the review evaluates: How do researchers identify equitable distributions of urban freight's costs and benefits? At what scale do researchers evaluate urban freight inequities? And who does research consider entitled to urban freight equity and how are they involved in urban freight governance? The findings help inform researchers who seek to reimagine urban freight management strategies within broader equity and justice discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a study on the online food delivery services market in Chandigarh, India, from a customer perspective. The study found that online food delivery services should prioritize attributes such as the ability to use the service anywhere anytime, order delivery time, and reasonable delivery and tax prices to enhance customer experience and satisfaction. The study provides valuable insights for stakeholders in the food delivery industry to improve their services and meet customer needs. However, the findings may not be representative of other cities or online food delivery platforms, and further research is recommended. [Extracted from the article]

Online grocery in China is on the rise. With large differences in brands' abilities to secure a portion of China's online pie, a key question is what drives these differences. The authors derive how a brand's total sales change as the online grocery share goes up, and they show that it depends on two indices: (1) the brand's online index (brand's online category share relative to its offline category share) and (2) the category's online index (category's grocery share online relative to its grocery share offline). The authors then identify brand and category factors that drive these indices. They estimate their model on 448 brands in 60 product categories in China using 2011–2015 data. Their analyses show that the brand online index mainly increases with higher levels of online availability, lower online-to-offline price ratios, and for "trusted," less "fun" brands. As for the category online index, expensive, less frequently bought categories benefit from the shift toward the online channel, whereas the opposite holds for perishable and heavy categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of blockchain technology represents a contemporary and innovative managerial approach embraced by businesses. The consequential impact of blockchain on business performance necessitates thorough examination. This study endeavours to evaluate the influence of blockchain technology on the efficacy of Accounting Information Systems and operational outcomes within businesses operating E-commerce platforms in Vietnam. The research framework, derived from a comprehensive literature review on blockchain technology, encompasses dimensions such as Information Transparency, Information Immutability, and Smart Contracts. Business performance is gauged through assessments of production outcomes, cost control results, and profitability. The metrics for evaluating the Accounting Information System's effectiveness and the factors in the model are meticulously defined. A survey was conducted, encompassing managers at various levels and accounting department employees in 139 businesses owning E-commerce platforms in Vietnam. Quantitative analysis involved processing data through a linear structural model within Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The findings indicate a positive correlation between blockchain technology and the efficiency of the Accounting Information System. Moreover, the heightened effectiveness of the Accounting Information System positively influences the business performance of Vietnamese companies that own E-commerce platforms. Drawing from the research outcomes, practical and policy recommendations are proposed for the government and businesses to enhance the integration of blockchain in Accounting Information Systems and improve business performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Synesis is the property of Synesis and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Transformations in Business & Economics is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

European Community (EC) Horizon-funded projects and Earth Observation-based Consortia aim to create sustainable value for Space, Land, and Oceans. They typically focus on addressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Many of these projects (e.g. Commercialization and Innovation Actions) have an ambitious challenge to ensure that partners share core competencies to simultaneously achieve technological and commercial success and sustainability after the end of the EC funds. To achieve this ambitious challenge, Horizon projects must have a proper governance model and a systematized process that can manage the existing paradoxical tensions involving numerous European partners and their respective agendas and stakeholders. This article presents the VCW-Value Creation Wheel (Lages in J Bus Res 69: 4849–4855, 2016), as a framework that has its roots back in 1995 and has been used since 2015 in the context of numerous Space Business, Earth Observation, and European Community (EC) projects, to address complex problems and paradoxical tensions. In this article, we discuss six of these paradoxical tensions that large Horizon Consortia face in commercialization, namely when managing innovation ecosystems, co-creating, taking digitalization, decision-making, tech-transfer, and sustainability actions. We discuss and evaluate how alliance partners could find the optimal balance between (1) cooperation, competition, and coopetition perspectives; (2) financial, environmental, and social value creation; (3) tech-push and market-pull orientations; (4) global and local market solutions; (5) functionality driven and human-centered design (UX/UI); (6) centralized and decentralized online store approaches. We discuss these challenges within the case of the EC H2020 NextLand project answering the call for greening the economy in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We analyze NextLand Online Store, and its Business and Innovation Ecosystem while considering the input of its different stakeholders, such as NextLand's commercial team, service providers, users, advisors, EC referees, and internal and external stakeholders. Preliminary insights from a twin project in the field of Blue Economy (EC H2020 NextOcean), are also used to support our arguments. Partners, referees, and EC officers should address the tensions mentioned in this article during the referee and approval processes in the pre-grant and post-grant agreement stages. Moreover, we propose using the Value Creation Wheel (VCW) method and the VCW meta-framework as a systematized process that allows us to co-create and manage the innovation ecosystem while engaging all the stakeholders and presenting solutions to address these tensions. The article concludes with theoretical implications and limitations, managerial and public policy implications, and lessons for Horizon Europe, earth observation, remote sensing, and space business projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista FSA is the property of Revista FSA (Faculdade Santo Agostinho) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the factors associated with trust in AI algorithms used in the e-commerce industry in Romania. The motivation for conducting this analysis arose from the observation of a research gap in the Romanian context regarding this specific topic. The researchers utilized a non-probability convenience sample of 486 college students enrolled at a public university in Romania, who participated in a web-based survey focusing on their attitudes towards AI in e-commerce. The findings obtained from an ordinal logistic model indicated that trust in AI is significantly influenced by factors such as transparency, familiarity with other AI technologies, perceived usefulness of AI recommenders, and the students' field of study. To ensure widespread acceptance and adoption by consumers, it is crucial for e-commerce companies to prioritize building trust in these new technologies. This study makes significant contributions to our understanding of how young consumers in Romania perceive and evaluate AI algorithms utilized in the e-commerce sector. The findings provide valuable guidance for e-commerce practitioners in Romania seeking to effectively leverage AI technologies while building trust among their target audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

With the explosion of e-commerce, the potential for new internet portals to mislead or fool consumers has grown significantly. This study investigates the influence of these deceptive actions on customer privacy and their information-sharing behavior. We have used online experimental research to demonstrate the influence of deception on information privacy and information-sharing behavior. We demonstrate that misleading activities such as falsification, concealment and equivocation reduce customers' trust in the platform and increase their privacy concerns, resulting in a lower willingness to disclose any information on the platforms. We further explain the impact of several types of deceptive tactics in the online purchasing environment and present a mediation model to understand the impact of deception. The study has implications for category managers and consumers of e-commerce platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Económicas CUC is the property of Corporacion Universidad de la Costa, CUC and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Accessibility is an increasingly important topic for Ecommerce, especially for individuals with vision problems. To improve their online experience, the design of a voice assistant has been proposed to allow these individuals to browse and shop online more quickly and efficiently. This voice assistant forms an intelligent system that can understand and respond to users' voice commands. The design considers the visual limitations of the users, such as difficulty reading information on the screen or identifying images. The voice assistant provides detailed product descriptions and ideas in a clear, easy-to-understand voice. In addition, the voice assistant has a series of additional features to improve the shopping experience. For example, the assistant can provide product recommendations based on the user's previous purchases and information about special promotions and discounts. The main goal of this design is to create an accessible and inclusive online shopping experience for the visually impaired. The voice assistant is based on a conversational user interface, allowing users to easily navigate an eCommerce website, search for products, and make purchases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online retail shops increasingly implement gamified marketing strategies to enrich consumers' online experience and increase engagement. This study aims to evaluate the ludic experience of consumers in online retail stores and the role of gamification and game mechanics in changing the online shopping experience. It seeks to assess, through a qualitative methodology, based on an exploratory study approach obtained through 30 interviews with Portuguese consumers, whether consumers have playful experiences when shopping in online retail shops and whether the introduction of game mechanics changes this experience by generating co-creation. The results show that online shopping can be playful and generate positive emotional benefits. However, gamification in online retail shops is not guided by a co-creation process, nor do game mechanics create greater online consumer engagement. There is a need to review how gamification is introduced in online retail shops, and strategies should be designed to co-create experience value and brand co-creation. This study is original, as it contributes to developing knowledge about gamification in the context of the online retail experience. Studies on this topic are scarce, and this study contributes to filling that gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the study of the theoretical process of formation and use of business models in e-commerce. The authors analyse the growth trend of digital business models research at the global level. The paper considers directions of principles of formation of corporate business models. As an example of using the Osterwalder’s canvas of a business model, the authors studied the online rental service Airbnb. The article shows the business model design of e-commerce based on the drop shipping business model. The paper defines the consistent and successive stages of development of this type of business and compares the advantages and disadvantages of adopting the drop shipping business model in business projects. Due to the research, there will be an increase in sales as a result of the use of the drop shipping business model. Essentially, the study acquired the importance of formation, evolution and use of business models in general company management, taking into consideration contemporary features of ecommerce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to understand the factors driving the consumer adoption of a cryptocurrency, in particular Bitcoin, as an electronic payment (e-payment) system for electronic commerce (e-commerce) transactions within a developing economy such as South Africa. The advent of e-commerce has led to increased online transactions facilitated by e-payment systems, which can fall prey to opportunistic hackers. Cryptocurrencies have been pegged as a solution to this security issue. However, little is currently known around consumer propensity to use a cryptocurrency as an e-payment option, particularly within a developing economy. The investigated factors that could influence user adoption were based on literature and tested on a South African representative sample of 814 respondents. Of the factors identified from literature, the study found that "perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use," "self-efficacy," "awareness," "trust," and "security" have the most significant influence on South African consumers adopting a cryptocurrency as an e-payment system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to explore consumer engagement with online retailers through gamification, the use of game mechanics, and co-creation. A qualitative methodology was used through an exploratory case study approach. The interviews were conducted with 30 Portuguese consumers. It was found that the majority of respondents do not consider online shopping as a substitute for other entertainment activities. Respondents stressed that in online shopping, the important thing is personal satisfaction and their needs. According to the Hexad model, these characteristics fit the free spirit gamer, the Barttle model the explorer and the BrainHex model the seeker. As far as co-creation is concerned, the results indicate that most of the interviewees do not value the tools that exist on the retailers' websites which allow them to create their own product. This study provides recommendations for retailers to implement a successful co-creation gamification strategy. Companies need to include gaming elements to enhance the retail experience and increase sales. In turn, this can increase competitive pressures among retailers by improving the services and products they offer. This paper provides empirical support for the current dearth of qualitative studies on the role of gamification and co-creation in the online retail experience. Many of the findings of this study are not in line with existing literature, allowing the conclusion that gamification alone is no longer enough to engage the online retail consumer with products and brands, requiring co-creation for the effective engagement of this consumer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]