The trust model of enterprise purchasing for B2B e-marketplaces

Abstract

Electronic commerce and online marketplaces have rapidly become critical transaction channels. Many studies of online marketing have focused on the purchasing behaviors of general buyers. However, many business to business (B2B) e-marketplaces allow professional procurement personnel from various businesses to electronically search for and purchase commodities; this facilitates price referencing and helps procurement personnel complete the tasks associated with direct purchasing functionalities. Despite this trend, few studies have examined the purchasing behavior of procurement personnel in B2B e-marketplaces. To fill this research gap, this study examines the relationships between trust in intermediaries and sellers; trust in commodity information; and the online purchase intentions of the procurement personnel in B2B e-marketplaces. This study also investigates the mediating effect of perceived value on the relationship between trust in commodity information and online purchase intention. The results indicate that the relationship between trust in commodity information and online purchase is mediated by perceived value. In addition, both intermediary trust and seller trust positively and significantly influence trust in commodity information, and intermediary trust positively influences seller trust. This finding is a valuable reference for professionals working in B2B e-marketplaces.