What builds consumer intention to use smart water meters – Extended TAM-based explanation

Abstract

Water scarcity is an issue that affects the life on earth. Technological advancements, such as IoT water meters, are proven to be effective when it comes to household water reduction. However, there is a lack of research on what influences consumer to apply such devices in their households. This research aims to investigate predictors of the intention to apply smart water meters by extending the Technology of Acceptance Model; hypothesizing that intention to apply IoT water meters is predicted by attitude towards them, which, is determined by perceived usefulness and ease of IoT water meter use. To extend the model frugality, personal innovativeness and environmental concerns were added as moderators of the relationship between perceived ease of use and usefulness as well as attitudes towards IoT water meters. Afterwards, a survey was constructed, and data were collected from 657 participants. The results supported the hypotheses. Intention to adopt water meters was determined by attitude, which was predicted by perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of IoT water meters. Regarding the moderators, environmental concern was found to be the only variable moderating the influence between perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness on attitudes towards IoT water meters.