Switching Intention of Potential Smart Home Users: The Co-action of Innovation Diffusion Theory and Switching Costs

Abstract

This study proposed a comprehensive model based on Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT) and switching costs theory, which theorized and verified how the dimensions of innovation attributes and switching costs of the smart home affect the switching intention of potential smart home users and captured both positive and negative factors that affect switching intention. To empirically test the switching intention of potential smart home users, this study conducted an online survey on 407 potential smart home users and analyzed the data using Partial least squares (PLS). The results showed that relative advantage and compatibility have significant negative effects on procedural switching costs, but complexity has no statistical significance on procedural switching costs. Complexity has a significant positive impact on financial switching costs, while compatibility has a significant negative impact on financial switching costs. Both the innovation attributes and the switching costs perceived by potential users have significant positive or negative effects on the switching intention, which validated our hypotheses. In addition, in terms of the results from testing of mediation effects, except for procedural switching costs, which do not have a mediating role between complexity and switching intention, all others play a significant mediating role.