Customer Acceptance Research Articles

USER PERCEPTION AND PREFERENCE STUDY ON BATIK MOTIFS FOR USE IN UPCYCLED PRODUCTS

User perception and preference play a crucial role in accepting upcycled products, with 85% of respondents valuing aesthetics as a key factor. The waste fabric is processed through creative innovation and upcycling to enhance its value. Batik was chosen for its cultural significance, with Buketan motifs as an example of motif application. This study examines user perceptions and preferences regarding Batik motifs on upcycling products, focusing on aesthetics and functionality. An online survey gathered responses from 68 female participants aged up to 35. Thematic analysis identified patterns in user views related to aesthetics, functionality, and cultural value. Findings suggest that Batik motifs can enhance the visual appeal of upcycled products and add cultural identity, though some motifs may lack versatility. While users see market potential, premium pricing could limit acceptance. This highlights the importance of balancing creative product development with sustainable thinking and customer acceptance to enhance the appeal of upcycled products with batik-based aesthetics.

Molecular Complex Gel Formulation of Glycolic Acid-Chitosan Combination with Variations Of Xanthan Gum Base Concentration And Irritation Test

External causes such as UV exposure cause more severe skin damage than internal factors, hence it is essential to utilize cosmeceutical treatments containing AHAs such as glycolic acid. Because using glycolic acid without modification or monitoring might cause skin irritation, a molecular compound of glycolic acid-chitosan is created in a gel preparation with a xanthan gum foundation to improve consumer comfort and effectiveness. The goal of this study was to create a molecular complex gel of glycolic acid and chitosan (AG-CS) with varying xanthan gum concentrations and conduct irritation testing. Xanthan gum, as a base, influences viscosity and pH, both of which are connected to customer acceptance. Gel formulations with varying concentrations of xanthan gum F1 (0.75%), F2 (1.0%), and F3 (1.5%) were examined for preparation properties. Organoleptic data, homogeneity, pH, and irritation were all examined descriptively. Viscosity, spreadability, and adhesion were all studied using linear regression. The irritation test was performed by examining erythema and edema in rabbits for 24, 48, and 72 hours. AG-KS molecular complex gel has a rose scent, is white to thick white, and is uniform. The gel's pH is F1 (5.28), F2 (5.92), and F3 (6.18). Increasing the concentration of xanthan gum increases gel viscosity and adhesive power while decreasing spread power. The irritation test on rabbit skin yields a score of 0, indicating that AG-KS molecular complex gel does.

Органолептическая оценка традиционных индийских десертов с добавлением сиропа агавы

Sugar is among the least beneficial foods for health and is often referred to as a sweet poison due to its numerous health hazards. To address this issue, the food industry needs to explore, study, and shift to healthier food choices, such as agave syrup, which has a good potential as a natural sweetener. This study explores the acceptance level of traditional Indian desserts seviyan kheer and rawa sheera where sugar was substituted with agave syrup. Sensory parameters were recorded for both the experimental samples and controls. The sensory evaluation involved two panels represented by culinary experts and semi-experts. The study included a nine-point hedonic scale test and a paired comparison test. Consumer acceptability was checked by calculating significant differences between the standardized formulations and the control samples. Seviyan kheer made with agave syrup showed better acceptance rates in both expert and semi-expert panels (p > 0.05). Both panels preferred the formulations with agave syrup. The results were confirmed by a high-reliability score (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.925); no significant differences occurred between the controls and the experimental samples after consumer acceptability trials. Seviyan kheer demonstrated a higher acceptance rate while rawa sheera was only marginally accepted. The results revealed a good potential of agave syrup as a substitute for sugar in traditional Indian desserts and helped to understand customers preferences for healthier sweeteners. The research also highlighted the value of sensory assessment in determining customer acceptability and provided guidance for future initiatives to create healthier food substitutes. Further research is needed to test the commercial viability and nutritive properties of agave syrup for a wider range of traditional Indian sweets with different combinations of ingredients.

Exploring perceived value's impact on attitudes in autonomous public transportation services: a multi-dimensional approach

As the growth of autonomous transportation services and customer acceptance has become increasingly important in the autonomous transportation industry, many studies have been conducted based on diverse theories of technology adoption. This study explores the relationships among the three sub-dimensions of perceived value, attitudes, and behavioral intention concerning autonomous public transportation services (APTS), based on the value-attitude-behavior framework. It examines the moderating effects of the need for interaction and traffic risk perception on the multi-dimensional aspects of perceived value, attitude, and behavioral intention. Data were collected from 270 valid responses in the US, considering the size and growth of APTS. Functional, emotional, and social values positively influenced attitudes toward APTS. Multi-group analysis indicated the moderating role of the need for interaction and traffic risk perception, particularly concerning functional value. This study makes a unique contribution by investigating how multi-dimension of customer perceived value is related to the autonomous transportation industry.

Examining Customer Adoption and Usage of Plastic Money in Kathmandu Valley

Background: Plastic money and virtual wallets are becoming increasingly popular due to their adaptability and convenience. Plastic money is becoming accepted everywhere as the world becomes more globalized with changing consumer behavior Objectives: This purpose of the study is to investigate the overall perception of plastic money among customers in Kathmandu Valley. It seeks to uncover the factors influencing users’ attitudes, pinpoint the challenges encountered by plastic money users, and evaluate managerial strategies for enhancing the utilization of plastic money. Methods: This study employs an explanatory research design. It considers customers using plastic money in Kathmandu Valley as the population and selects a sample of 404 using the convenience sampling method to analyze customer acceptance and use of plastic money. The questionnaire is self-administered and adapted from various sources. The data is analyzed both using MS-Excel and SmartPLS 4.0. Results: Findings show that behavioral intention, which in turn strongly predicts how people would utilize plastic money, is significantly influenced by effort anticipation, social influence, and habit. It is discovered that hedonic drive and perceived expectation are not very good indicators of behavioral intention. Conclusion: Effort expectancy, social influence and habit needs to be managed to enhance the people’s behavioral intention which will have impact on use behavior of plastic money. Some of the challenges while using plastic money are lack of availability of technology, lack of knowledge and expertise which can be minimized by increasing availability of technology and clear information.

Customer Acceptance of Cheque Truncation and Electronic Clearing Services in Nepal

Efficient financial systems are vital to the economic integration of nations, with technological connectivity playing a pivotal role. In Nepal, despite the introduction of electronic cheque clearing (ECC) services in early 2012, skepticism persists among users. This study investigates the factors influencing the adoption of clearing services in Nepal, employing primary data collected using structured survey questionnaire. The research explores the relationship between independent factors such as Risk, Convenience, Trust, and Relative Advantages in determining usage patterns. With a sample size of 375 respondents, the descriptive and inferential analyses reveal a strong negative correlation between risk perception and clearing service adoption, while Trust, Convenience, and Relative Advantage exhibit robust positive relationships. Notably, convenience emerges as a key driver of adoption. The findings indicate the need for banks to mitigate risks and enhance user confidence, while also emphasizing the importance of leveraging convenience and relative advantages to promote adoption. This research offers valuable insights into the dynamics influencing the adoption of clearing services in Nepal, informing strategic interventions to boost confidence and increase usage in the financial ecosystem.

Consumer Attitudes towards AI-based Financial Advice: Insights for Decision Support Systems (DSS) and Technology Integration

As financial technology (fintech) rapidly transforms the financial services landscape, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in providing financial advice becomes a focal point. This study delves into the intricate dynamics of AI-based financial advice adoption, focusing on technology integration, decision support systems, and the mediating role of perceived utility. The primary purpose of this research is to unravel the complex relationships between technology integration, Decision Support System (DSS), perceived utility, and their collective influence on consumer attitudes toward AI-based financial advice and technology adoption. Adopting a cross-sectional design, we target the Chinese population and utilize an online questionnaire for data collection. A sample size of 259 participants is determined using the rule of thumb technique, with random sampling ensuring representativeness. Data analysis will be conducted using the AMOS software, allowing for an in-depth examination of the relationships between variables. The study findings demonstrate how integrating technology enhances customers' perceptions and acceptance of it, especially when it comes to data security and compatibility. The study also demonstrates how customer attitudes and the uptake of AI-driven financial aid are significantly impacted by DSS aspects like decision transparency and predictive analytics precision. The study is unique because of its cross-cultural approach and perceived value as a mediating component. While this study focuses on the Chinese population, the researchers acknowledge the importance of cultural differences in shaping user perceptions and behaviors. While the findings may offer valuable insights into the Chinese context, caution is advised in generalizing the results to other cultural contexts.

Developing an Expert System for in Adoption of High Technology Consumer Durables

Objectives: There is extant research work that have investigated the influencing and mediating role personality factors or the Big Five traits play in determining a consumer’s environment friendly behaviours. The originality of this paper is in the fact that it is uses the prism of personality traits to study their moderating effect on consumer behavior in the presence of different sales promotion techniques, quality cues and privacy issues. Methods: The ANOVA results, using the SPSS program showed that with the trait of extraversion, sales promotion and quality, it had significant effect on the consumers’ deal, attitude and intention to purchase. Notably, the average value of high extraversion was statistically significant as compared to that of low extraversion. Findings: Based on the TPB framework and personality traits, this study can help practitioners better understand the benefits considering the personality traits of the target set respondents being called to the car clinics in order to efficiently obtain the best outputs from car clinics. Besides, it will be of use to regulatory bodies to devise better standards and regulations for vehicular data privacy. Conclusions: Mechanical advancement like the associated vehicle innovation can possibly acquire numerous positive changes like decrease street mishaps, clog, better natural manageability and so forth. Ultimately, this study helps society to reap the benefits by elucidating the factors in consumer behaviour in technology adoption to help marketers ensure better customer pre purchase consideration and acceptance of the innovation.

Effect of the External Pressure on Li-Ion Pouch Cell at High C-Rate Conditions

Rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are the power source used widely in portable electronic devices and are becoming increasingly important in the automotive industry applications. LIBs need to be high-energy, safe, and cost-effective to address the demand for large driving ranges of batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). Therefore, technologies for extending the cycle life of LIBs and solving component degradation problems are required. Recently, the recharging time for batteries in EVs is longer compared to the refueling time for gasoline-powered vehicles which prevents the widespread adoption of battery-powered EVs into the transportation sector. In that perspective, achieving fast charge has been considered as one of the most important directions for the progression of EVs in the market and it can possibly lead to increased customer acceptability by reducing charging time. However, fast charging of LIBs makes them susceptible to lithium plating and induces high temperatures, and the decomposition of electrolytes results in thermal runaway and explosion. Thus, understanding capacity fades and improving cell stability for long cycle life at a high C-rate are critical for designing LIBs. It has been known that external pressure has a positive influence on Li-ion pouch cell capacity fading during aging experiments. Nonetheless, the effect of external pressure under high C-rate conditions is not well understood and has not been extensively covered in many studies. Even in some of the research conducted experiments under high C-rate conditions, the concept of normalized capacity has been introduced, leading to studies that do not account for the initial capacity drop [1,2].This work analyzed the effect of external pressure on the battery’s sustainability under high C-rate conditions. The interrelationship of mechanical pressure and the electrochemical performance was investigated using 1.05 Ah graphite/NMC622 stacked LIBs. The charging speed was set to 1,5 and 10C-rates in the constant current/constant voltage (CC-CV) mode to test fast charging conditions. The pressure and thickness changes were analyzed using the pressure measurement system and 3-dimensional digital image correlation (3D-DIC). Also, the post-mortem analysis conducted to confirm the morphology of each cell component and internal resistance under fast charging conditions were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), respectively. The results demonstrate the negative influence of the external pressure was confirmed initial cycling stage increases the internal resistance which lowers the ionic conductivity. Overall, we propose that innovative pressurizing strategies to maximize cell cyclability and pressure sensing results could provide a non-destructive diagnostic approach to support the advancement of fast-charging battery technologies. This research highlights the significance of external active pressurization in systems operating at high C-rates. Reference [1] Mussa, A.S., et al., Effects of external pressure on the performance and ageing of single-layer lithium-ion pouch cells. Journal of Power sources, 2018. 385: p. 18-26[2] Chen, F., et al., Air and PCM cooling for battery thermal management considering battery cycle life. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2020. 173: p. 115154 Figure 1

The Influence of Thermal Management Concepts on the Battery Behavior - Insights from a New Coupled Numerical Modelling Approach on the Battery Module Scale and Corresponding Experiments

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are the future mainstream drivetrain solution for the individual mobility sector. However, the fast charging capability of BEVs, which is seen as a key enabler for a broad customer acceptance and a convenient e-mobility is a remaining challenge in the development of battery systems. During fast charging, increased heat losses occur in the battery cells and the electrical connectors of a battery module. The battery thermal management then plays a crucial role to keep the battery temperature in the recommended range and to avoid accelerated degradation of the cells. Most of the conventional battery thermal management concepts in today’s BEVs are not efficient in managing the increased heat losses which leads to currently limited fast charging rates. Therefore, new thermal management solutions are being discussed and developed. A promising approach is the direct liquid cooling of batteries, also known as immersion cooling. With immersion cooling, the cells, cell tabs and electrical connectors are in contact with a dielectric fluid. Immersion cooling has the potential to increase the temperature homogeneity within and between the cells and to decrease or even prevent subsequent cell degradation.For the development of efficient thermal management systems for future BEVs and to use the full potential of concepts like immersion cooling, the influence of the thermal management on the battery cells must be understood and evaluated in detail. Considering that, a deep understanding of the interacting electrical, electrochemical, thermal and fluid dynamic phenomena occurring inside a battery module is required. Therefore, in this contribution, numerical simulations and corresponding experiments with battery modules in application-related setups are combined to study the effects of the thermal management on the battery behavior. The two fundamentally different concepts of immersion cooling and state-of-the-art bottom cooling are investigated as well as variations of each of those concepts. In the immersion cooled module, particular attention is paid to the fluid flow distribution and the effect different flow concepts on the thermal and electrochemical conditions in the cell.The numerical studies are based on a new coupled modelling approach (Fig. 1). Detailed thermal models of the 65 Ah automotive NMC/Si-Gr pouch cells are set up in a 3D CFD environment based on the analysis of the disassembly of the cell and the measurements of its thermophysical properties. Then, networks of electrochemical models of the cell are electrically and thermally coupled to the 3D models and the module components. This holistic approach allows for the investigation of e.g., the interaction of the cooling fluid flow with the current and temperature distribution and its effect on the local electrochemical cell behavior like the anode potential during fast charging.The corresponding experimental battery modules in a 3s2p configuration (Fig. 2) are explicitly designed and built for the validation of the numerical models. The cells and module components are equipped with extensive temperature measurements to capture thermal gradients within and between the cells. The modules are then installed and operated in separate climate chambers and connected to individual cooling circuits (Fig. 3) to ensure defined and equal boundary conditions as basis for the comparison of concepts and concept variations.The performance differences in various operating points including fast charging are demonstrated and analyzed. Furthermore, the variation of boundary conditions e.g., the volume flow rate or the fluid temperature allows for the analysis of relevant differences in the cooling concepts’ operating principles.The results from simulation and experiment illustrate the weak spots of the conventional concepts that are used in today’s BEVs. Furthermore, the numerical models reveal the critical local conditions inside the cells that are provoked by high loads in combination with inefficient thermal management concepts. Furthermore, the results show the benefits of immersion cooling over conventional concepts and its potential to increase the lifetime of battery systems by steering the battery temperature and temperature homogeneity with suitable fluid flow conditions. At the same time, the fast charging capability of BEVs can be increased significantly with immersion cooling.The good agreement of numerical and experimental results (Fig. 4) show that the presented modelling approach can be used as a tool for the design and the optimization of thermal management concepts. The application-related setup in this study ensures transferability of the findings from experiment and simulation to automotive applications and will help researchers and developers from industry and academia towards developing better thermal management solutions for BEVs. Figure 1

VvARF19 represses VvLBD13-mediated cell wall degradation to delay softening of grape berries

Abstract The fruit softening directly impacts its storage life, transportability, and customer acceptance. Auxin plays a key role during fruit ripening, but the underlying mechanisms of how auxin regulates fruit softening remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the regulatory roles of auxin on berry cell wall degradation during grape (Vitis vinifera L.) softening. During grape berry development, berry firmness and auxin content are both firstly increasing and then decreasing, and peaks occur at 4-6 WAFB (weeks after full blooming). Exogenous NAA (α-naphthalene acetic acid, a synthetic auxin) treatment inhibits berry softening by delaying propectin, cellulose and hemicellulose degradation, which maintains cell wall integrity in the grape flesh. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) shows that VvLBD13 correlated with VvARF19 could be a key gene in this delaying of berry softening, which involved in auxin signal transduction and cell wall degradation metabolism. Over-expression and transient over-expression of VvLBD13 in tomato or in grape berry indicate that VvLBD13 accelerates hemicellulose degradation by binding the promoters of VvXTH10 (the xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase 10) and VvEXPLA1 (expansion-like A1), which results in rapid softening after veraison. Collectively, this research furnishes an exhaustive understanding of the auxin- driven regulatory mechanisms of grape berry softening.

Effect of different drying techniques on the physicochemical and nutritional properties of Moringa oleifera leaves powder and their application in bakery product

The study analyzed the influence of drying methods and conditions on the quality of moringa leaves powder (MLP) and determined the optimal MLP to wheat flour ratio for cake development. Cabinet drying temperatures enhanced mass and tapped density but reduced the angle of repose, water retention capacity, and oil retention capacity. The moisture content of cabinet-dried MLP samples exhibited a substantial reduction as temperature is increased. The crude protein and fat content increased with increasing drying temperatures. Vacuum dried samples had the highest fiber content (16.62 g/100 g). Cabinet dried samples at 60 °C had the highest ash content (8.37 g/100 g). The energy obtained from MLP dried in a cabinet at 70 °C was the highest (383.33 Kcal/kg). The mineral composition of MLP in vacuum drying showed the largest growth. Sun drying was less efficient in preserving antioxidant components, while vacuum drying was the most successful. But sun drying was more cost effective than that of other drying methods. The composition of cakes formulated from MLP and wheat flour blends exhibited notable variations characterized by an increase in protein content and decrease in carbohydrate content with the incorporation of MLP. 5 % and 10 % MLP enriched cakes showed the best customer acceptance.

Active cardboard box with palm wood waste powder and orange oil to prevent browning and quality loss in cabbage: Mode of action and potential for reuse.

Browning, caused by enzymatic activity and storage conditions, affects cabbage during cold storage and is crucial for customer acceptance. This study investigated the effect of cardboard packaging containing low concentrations of nano-orange oil (ONE) at 0.006% in palm wood waste powder for anti-browning and extending the shelf life of cabbage. The incorporation of ONE into palm wood powder (PWP) using different methods (soaking, vapor, vapor with ultrasonic device, and control) was examined before using the active PWP to develop cardboard cabbage packaging. The reuse of the active cabbage box packaging was also investigated for up to three reuses. The results showed that a greater anti-browning effect was achieved with cardboard packaging made from active PWP with orange oil vapor and an ultrasonic device compared to other adsorption methods, with significantly higher inhibition of the key browning enzyme activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD). Additionally, antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds were improved, maintaining the bright green color of cabbage after 21 days of storage. The shelf life of cabbage stored in active cardboard was extended to at least 21 days compared to 5 days for the control. The active cabbage box with PWP and ONE vapor with an ultrasonic device showed potential for reuse at least two times. Limonene was found on the surface of stored cabbage and may be a key factor in antimicrobial activity, helping to control microbial growth on the cabbage surface within standard limits during long-term storage. This finding provides valuable guidance for reducing cabbage waste during transportation and storage from farm to market. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This research offers new insights into active cardboard packaging made from palm wood powder with a low concentration of orange oil vapor to prevent browning and microbial growth in storage boxes. The optimal method for producing this packaging uses nano-orange oil vapor at 0.006% with an ultrasonic device, which could be feasible for large-scale production. The packaging effectively reduced PPO and POD enzyme activity, delaying browning and extending cabbage shelf life by at least threefold compared to the control, while maintaining color and freshness. This cost-effective method promotes the sustainable use of agricultural waste in the fresh vegetable industry, as it can be reused at least twice, benefiting farmers and reducing cabbage waste.

A Theoretical Model of Customer Acceptance and Use of Electronic Banking as a Distribution Channel for Banking Products and Services

A Theoretical Model of Customer Acceptance and Use of Electronic Banking as a Distribution Channel for Banking Products and Services

Consumer liking of steamed green Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis) cultivated in formulated vegetable waste-based organic hydroponic solutions

Chinese cabbage or pak choy (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis) is often consumed because of its high nutritional content and several health advantages. Due to their promotion as being healthier and more ecologically friendly, hydroponic vegetables have seen a recent spike in consumer interest. The production of Chinese cabbage involved the processing of the vegetable waste to create various hydroponic solution formulations (F1 = banana peels, eggshells, and bean sprouts; F2 = banana humps, onion peels, bean sprouts, and moringa leaves; F3 = moringa leaves, onion peels, and bean sprouts; and F4 = AB Mix solution). They were applied at concentrations of 600, 900, 1,200, and 1,500 parts per million. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the type of hydroponic growth solutions and Chinese cabbage customer acceptance. As a result, using a hedonic test of consumer liking, a panel of 32 untrained individuals was asked to show their liking score on sensory attributes of Chinese cabbage. There was a significant difference in the color liking of Chinese cabbage as an effect of hydroponic solution formulation. However, both organic vegetable waste-based formulations did not statistically substantially affect consumer acceptance, which includes color, taste, flavor, texture, and overall liking. Ultimately, vegetable waste-based organic formulations can be used to produce Chinese cabbage that is as acceptable to customers as those prepared with inorganic AB-Mix solution.

The Coming of Age of Venture Capital Investing in the New Fields of the Emerging MOGI Sectors: A Snapshot for the Future: Part 2

Venture Capital (VC) has become a chosen tool of investment in the areas of business where there seems to be potent promise but yet immature in terms of market, customer acceptance and political dynamics. Such uncertainties make bankers both nervous and hesitant,and where the risk takers like venture capitals thrive. In the first part of the article we discussed about how mineral,oil& gas and energy companies are becoming both investors of VC and attractive destinations for investment by other VCs. The VCs are mostly either Private Equities (PE) or the venture funds of established companies. They mostly invest in emerging technologies and risky, yet promising, opportunities. In this part we discuss how the risks are assessed and mitigated, what takes one to be the VC fund manager and the current dynamics in the VC investments. Risky as they are, VC investors always look for reasonable profit to exit investments, for the next set of investors to pursue the opportunities with the omnipresent risks.

Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Sustainable Banking Services: The Critical Role of Technological Literacy

This study explores how customers recognize and accept artificial intelligence devices (AIDs) in the realm of sustainable banking services, applying the Artificially Intelligent Device Use Acceptance (AIDUA) model. This research not only seeks to corroborate the AIDUA model in the banking sector, but also aims to enrich it by introducing technological literacy as a moderating factor, particularly in the perspective of sustainable banking. Data were collected through 435 valid, self-administered face-to-face surveys from bank customers in China, determined through convenience sampling. The hypotheses, covering both direct and moderating effects, were examined using structural equation modeling. This study verifies the applicability and reliability of the AIDUA model, in assessing customer acceptance of AIDs within sustainable banking services. The findings indicate that customer acceptance of AIDs unfolds in three distinct phases. Initially, the consumers’ perceptions of social influence (SI), hedonic motivation (HM), and perceived anthropomorphism (PA) positively influence their green performance expectancy (GPE) and green effort expectancy (GEE) concerning AIDs. As a result, greater GPE and GEE among bank customers lead to stronger positive emotions, which greatly contribute to increased AIDs usage and a reduction in resistance to their implementation. Additionally, the findings determine that technological literacy plays a substantial moderating role in the association connecting green performance expectancy and customer emotions in relation to adopting AIDs, thereby highlighting its importance in advancing sustainable banking initiatives.

Investigating the influence of perceived humanization of service encounters on value creation of chatbot-assisted services

PurposeWhile prior research has examined customer acceptance of humanized chatbots, the mechanisms through which they influence customer value creation remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the emerging concept of Perceived Humanization (PH), examining how hedonic motivation, social influence and anthropomorphism influence value creation through the serial mediation of PH and trust. The moderating roles of rapport and social presence are also explored.Design/methodology/approachBased on data from an online survey involving 257 respondents, this study employs Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling utilizing SmartPLS3 software.FindingsHedonic motivation leads to value creation via two routes: PH and affective trust; and PH and cognitive trust. Social influence and anthropomorphism also positively impact value creation through similar pathways. Rapport moderates the impact of social influence on PH, while social presence moderates the relationship between PH and both affective and cognitive trust. A cross-cultural analysis of China, India and New Zealand highlights varying cultural dimensions influencing PH and its effects on value creation.Practical implicationsFor practitioners in the tourism industry, the findings highlight the strategic importance of enhancing PH in chatbot interactions. By understanding and optimizing these elements, businesses can significantly improve their customer value-creation process.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the service marketing literature by generating a comprehensive framework for the comprehension and application of PH. Its cross-cultural perspective provides rich insights, offering valuable information for service marketers aiming to thrive in the dynamic and competitive tourism industry.

Survey on the salt usage among Fish Cracker (Keropok lekor) manufacturers in several districts of Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia

Fish crackers (keropok lekor) are known for their tastiness. Although rich in protein and iodine, it contains a high amount of salt or sodium. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the manufacturers’ practice in the preparation of keropok lekor, perception and challenges concerning salt usage, and motivation to reduce salt content. This study also aimed to estimate the sodium content in keropok lekor. Seven manufacturers of keropok lekor in Terengganu were interviewed either face-to-face or online to obtain relevant information. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed based on a thematic analysis framework. The recipes of keropok lekor were analyzed using the Nutritionist Pro software to determine the nutritional and sodium content, calculated based on the Malaysian and ASEAN Food Composition Tables. Based on the interviews, most manufacturers (90%) supported the effort to reduce salt in keropok lekor. However, the effort was met with several challenges, such as customer acceptance and negative perception of the taste, decreased sales, and increased material costs. The enabling factors include maintaining the original flavor of keropok lekor, customer requests, marketing opportunities, and the availability of salt substitutes. Support for marketing and financial technology know-how is also necessary. An estimate of 606.43 mg/100g of sodium content in keropok lekor was obtained in this study, which was mainly derived from the usage of sodium chloride and monosodium glutamate (MSG) during the preparation. This study revealed the high salt content in keropok lekor due to the addition of salt and seasonings. There is a potential to reduce salt content in keropok lekor with appropriate support provided to the manufacturers. Nevertheless, further research is needed to produce keropok lekor with reduced salt content, improved sensory, and enhanced microbial and physicochemical characteristics, which can improve customer perception.

Customer Acceptance for Self-Service Technologies in Malaysian Fast-Food Restaurants: An Empirical Study

Recently, the fast-food industry has witnessed an increase in adopting self-service technologies (SSTs) intended to offer customers increased convenience and efficiency. This study seeks to find out the factors influencing customer acceptance of SST in fast food restaurants in Melaka, Malaysia, using the Technology Acceptance Model. For that purpose, a structured questionnaire was presented to 350 customers of fast food and this data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. A test of the hypotheses revealed that perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU) are highly significant predictors of customers' attitudes toward using SSTs (ATU). More specifically, PU indicates stronger effects on acceptance such that customers are more willing to use SSTs when obvious practical benefits would be achieved from them regarding faster services and greater accuracy in placing orders. The findings also indicate that younger, highly educated customers with previous experience with SSTs are more likely to accept this innovation. These insights go a long way in helping the operator of fast food to design a better customer experience using technology-driven solutions. This covers the improvement of user interfaces, the emphasis on the practical benefits of SSTs, and tailoring marketing strategies to diverse customer segments.