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Post-sale customer care (PSCC) outsourcing is an effective supply chain strategy to reduce costs, but traditional outsourcing methods cannot ensure consumers' belief in PSCC quality, harming the firms' competitive strategy. To ensure consumer satisfaction through transparency, this article examines evolving supply chain strategies of leveraging blockchain to outsource PSCC operations of competing manufacturers to third-party agents. Based on consumers' beliefs and blockchain adoption cost, manufacturers have two choices; to outsource the PSCC operations with or without blockchain, resulting in multiple outsourcing strategies. Results show that the consumers' belief in one manufacturer's outsourcing strategy has detrimental effects on the stance of another manufacturer. Moreover, the blockchain cost and consumers' beliefs dictate the manufacturers' strategies for PSCC outsourcing, resulting in a 'quadruple zone of strategic fit', where both manufacturers adopt blockchain or neither adopt blockchain, or one adopts while the other does not. Interestingly, despite the low or zero blockchain cost, both manufacturers will outsource without blockchain if their traditional business models satisfy consumers. The extended analysis reveals contradictory results that manufacturers should outsource more often with blockchain to facilitate consumers when a long-term warranty is offered, or the product has a higher failure rate, even though, overall these factors increase costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an interview with Jim Spohrer, a director at IBM, a global technology and consulting company who discusses his dual role as a researcher and practitioner. Topics include value creation at IBM, focusing on its business-to-business (B2B) model with large-scale contracts and long-term corporate relationships, and the distinction between B2B and business-to-consumer (B2C), where B2C targets individual consumers with smaller transactions and lower switching costs.

Purpose: Drawing on the personalization–privacy paradox and guided by means–end analysis, this study explores how consumers balance their concerns for privacy and the benefits of smart home device personalization and the role that trust plays in the process. More specifically, this study aims to investigate how perceptions of smart device personalization and privacy concerns are shaped by consumers' experiences and the role of trust in the deliberation process. Design/methodology/approach: In-depth interviews were conducted across diverse demographic groups of smart device users to shed light on the balancing act between personalization and privacy. Findings: The study found that product experience, ownership type, perceived value of convenience and control and quality of life via "smart things" are key motivators for product usage. The benefits of tailored recommendations and high relevance are balanced against the risks of echo chamber effects and loss of control. The results also show the role of active involvement in the privacy calculus and trust level. The study points to the significance of an ecosystem-based service/business model in gaining consumer confidence when they balance between personalization and privacy. Originality/value: Although many studies have explored trust, privacy concerns and personalization in an artificial intelligence (AI)-related context, few have addressed trust in the context of both smart devices and the personalization–privacy paradox. As such, this study adds to the existing literature by incorporating the concept of trust and addressing both privacy concerns and personalization in the AI context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although customers often participate in cross-border e-commerce (CBEC), little is known about how customers obtain and process the knowledge they seek regarding cross-border e-commerce websites. This research explores cross-platform spillover effects of knowledge sharing in virtual communities on customers' perceived website quality and customer service of independent cross-border e-commerce websites and their subsequent purchase intentions. By applying cue utilization theory and expectation-disconfirmation theory, we develop a model that captures how CBEC-related knowledge sharing in virtual communities influences customers' purchase intentions on CBEC websites that are independent of these virtual communities. A quantitative survey of customers with CBEC purchase experience was conducted with three top virtual communities without associated CBEC websites, yielding 521 responses. The results suggest that CBEC-related knowledge sharing in virtual communities has significant positive effects on customers' perceptions of website quality and customer service, and, thereafter, their purchase intentions. This research demonstrates that spillover effects from virtual communities to independent CBEC websites indeed exist and identifies the underlying mechanisms that explain how these spillover effects move from virtual communities to CBEC websites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve ambitious United Kingdom decarbonization targets, consumers will need to engage with energy services more so than they have done to date. This engagement could be active or delegated, where in the latter consumers pass responsibility for engagement to a third party in return for ceding some control over decisions. To date, insight into the barriers to consumer adoption of future business models has been limited. To address this gap this study explored benefits, risks and enabling conditions using two extreme consumer-centric business models, third Party Control and Shared Economy. The approach yielded information from stakeholders on what would have to be true for one of the business models to dominate the market. The results show substantial agreement across the expert groups on five key issues that will need to be addressed in the near-term to enable energy business model innovation in the United Kingdom market. These are: 1) Create space to enable business model innovation; 2) Ensure smart devices and data are interoperable and secure; 3) Improve the service standards of energy businesses; 4) Ensure business models work for consumers in all situations; and 5) Implement targeted carbon regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalization has become more and more important for economic activities and economic development. E-commerce, as a part of local and international trade, is of increasing importance and is highly correlated with technological progress and innovation. Our research investigates the relevance of selected drivers that could explain the latest e-commerce adoption at global level. In our analysis, we used the UNCTAD B2C E-commerce Index (2014–2020, yearly data, covering 133 countries, 931 observations) which can be considered relevant to express an economy's readiness to support e-commerce. E-commerce adoption is assessed in our research by the following six factors: (i) wealth, economic freedom, and economic development; (ii) access and sophistication of the financial sector; (iii) education; (iv) regulations; (v) development of ICT infrastructure; and (vi) frontier drivers (such as AI, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain technologies). In our research, we used a panel data analysis framework using hard data provided by different databases (UNCTAD, World Bank, etc.). The results we obtained confirmed that developed countries with a higher income level are higher adopters of e-commerce, financial development and the accessibility of financial services significantly help e-commerce adoption, a regulatory system (particularly economic freedom and property rights) strongly supports e-commerce adoption, education has a positive impact on e-commerce adoption, ICT infrastructure increases the adoption of e-commerce and the readiness and use of AI, and frontier technologies generate an increased adoption of e-commerce. The results we obtained are consistent with the findings of similar studies (most of them using different research methodologies) and opens the ground for interesting discussions and further research developments. The novelty of our research consists in the exhaustive perspective on e-commerce adoption drivers (including frontier technologies such as AI or blockchain) based on hard country data collected from various sources for a consistent panel of countries and a relevant number of years, providing an alternative approach to the mainstream studies on e-commerce adoption that process data from surveys, interviews, or focus groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As e-commerce continues to expand, understanding the factors that drive consumer traffic to business-to-consumer (B2C) websites is crucial. This study investigates the interplay between website technological sophistication, brand recognition, and business model innovation in influencing website traffic among Korean B2C companies. Drawing on data from 9003 companies across seven key sectors—finance, retail, healthcare, technology, food, education, and media—we employ Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis to test our hypotheses. Our findings reveal that website technological sophistication is positively associated with monthly website visits. This relationship is particularly pronounced for companies with innovative business models, highlighting the synergistic effect of advanced website features and novel business strategies in attracting consumers. Conversely, the positive impact of website technological sophistication on traffic is less significant for well-established brands with high recognition levels, indicating that strong brand equity can mitigate the need for highly sophisticated websites. These results align with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT), and Signaling Theory (ST), providing a nuanced understanding of how technology, branding, and innovation intersect to drive online consumer behavior. Our study offers valuable insights for e-commerce firms seeking to optimize their digital presence and underscores the importance of investing in advanced website functionalities, particularly for lesser-known brands and companies with innovative business models. Future research should explore these dynamics in different cultural and industry contexts to enhance the generalizability of our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the inverse relationship between financial performance and capital structure for the Romanian B2C e-commerce companies, based on a representative sample of 437 companies active in the period 2005–2020. Statistical analyzes show the evolution of financial performance and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on it, depending on the company category. All company categories had better financial performance in 2020 compared to 2019, based on sample results. The study reveals valid reference values for the financial ratios of Romanian electronic commerce, being a model to be applied in any industry. The analysis of the causality of the financial variables and their correlations, on the sub-periods 2005–2008 and 2009–2020, both at the company category level and at the sample level, are the basis of the GMM approach. The econometric models Difference GMM and System GMM explain the relationship between financial performance and capital structure leading to interesting conclusions. As e-commerce has a sustainable development, the findings and conclusions of the study provide guidance for economic policies at the sectoral level. Financial performance in relation to strategic debt management depends on the company category. Stimulating the development of those categories of companies that ensure the efficient performance framework can be the key to a sustainable development of the national economy. The study is useful for managers, investors, financial analysts, decision makers, in financial education as well as for the banking system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deepening of crises and pandemics, the growth of armed conflicts actualize the ability of business to adapt to these changes, as well as the repurposing of industries in accordance with the goals of sustainable development. Industry 4.0 also creates a business environment based on innovation and adaptability to change. The lack of conflict identification in business leads to the creation of the wrong strategy and tools, losses and unprofitability. The article presents the results of a comparative analysis of the business models transformation for enterprises from different industries in the context of achieving sustainable development. The aim of the study is to identify factors that change the key elements of the business models under the influence of Covid-19 and Industry 4.0, as well as to adapt to meet the conditions of the sustainable development triangle. In the process of describing business models of enterprises, the authors proposed an approach based on the concept of sustainable development. Characterization of individual transformations of business models is based on the results of generalization of enterprises performance indicators by five sectors of the economy according to GICS. This allows for international comparability of research results. The authors found that business models of enterprises were transformed under the influence of COVID-19 and Industry 4.0. The analysis of CANVAS models allowed to identify the main transformational changes: an open system with multiple inputs and outputs, an interactive-innovative environment, a customer-oriented approach with a focus on millennials, the formation of a full range of End-to-End solutions in three areas (Operations, Solutions Delivery, Innovations). The authors confirmed the hypothesis that the business models of enterprises in the consumer and energy sectors have not adapted to the negative impact of COVID-19 and are difficult to adapt to Industry 4.0. Enterprises in other sectors of the economy have adapted to change and transformed their own business models as a result of the impact of COVID-19 and Industry 4.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-waste has one of the greatest impacts on the environment and is the fastest-growing waste stream globally. The ever-ongoing growth in our economy and unsustainable consumption patterns ask for a change. Use-oriented product-service systems (u-PSS) are a promising business model to address this change by acting toward a circular economy. However, the implementation of u-PSS can face various challenges because it requires a fundamental shift in how companies interact with consumers as well as consumers' preferences. Therefore, this study aims to identify factors of acceptance for adopting u-PSS for electronic devices in Austria. To gather specific data, an online survey was conducted with 287 participants. The hypotheses were tested using multiple regression analysis. The results reveal that out of the tested factors, environmental awareness and information are the most important factors of acceptance. For a successful implementation, key determinants include service provision, device durability, and comprehensive information about u-PSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is also expected that the Video-On-Demand business is growing rapidly with a 15% CAGR from the year 2020 to the year 2026. From around $83 billion in the year 2022, the demand is expected that there is a growth of CAGR of 17.6% to reach around $260 billion by the year 2029. This study was presented to analyze the business model in VDO and consumer behaviours. Here, the data were collected from the metro cities in India. The simple random technique was used for the analysis of the result. Then, the objective of this study is to examine the customer behaviours of VDO on watching with the OTT platform. Thereafter, the market growth of OTT, constructs of VDO services, and correlation matrix were analyzed and discussed. Moreover, the consumer's behaviours toward the OTT platforms were analyzed. The result indicated that the consumer base of the video-on-demand industry could be dramatically increased and the OTT services owing to the convenience and variety available without advertisement. Thereafter, the consumers were likely to switch the AVOD from the SVOD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The notion of obsolescence has transitioned from a naturally occurring phenomenon to a planned obsolescence, a strategic business model influenced by consumer demand, market forces, and technological progress. This paradigm began to take shape in the early 20th century and entails the production of pre-designed goods with a limited lifespan. Its widespread implementation has given rise to environmental degradation and increased waste generation. To tackle these challenges, we need to adopt responsible manufacturing practices. Currently, circular economy business models offer a chance to use more conscientious production methods. These methods focus on increasing output efficiency using fewer natural resources and materials. In addition, there is a focus on prioritising material reutilization and recyclability. This paper offers a detailed analysis of the development of planned obsolescence, including its historical evolution, causes, consequences and potential for modification of existing production practices to more fully implement the principles of the circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effect of bilateral political relations on cross-border M&As in the context of Sino-US strategic competition. Based on 996 cross-border M&A cases of Chinese enterprises over the period 2001–2020, our econometric analysis reveals that, in general, Sino-US strategic competition reduces the completion rate of Chinese enterprises' cross-border M&As. This effect is stronger for M&As in strategic industries and targets owned by government, suggesting direct government intervention. Moreover, M&As with higher investment irreversibility or in B2C industries are more exposed to this negative impact, suggesting investor and consumer caution with declining political affinity. However, in the long run, such a competition contrarily contributes to the improvement of the performance of Chinese enterprises. These findings challenge policymakers and scholars with a new emerging M&A theoretical framework regarding institutional uncertainty and risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's digital era, marketing through Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) has become a very effective strategy in reaching a wider audience and building consumer trust. KOLs, or often known as influencers, have the unique ability to influence the purchasing decisions of their followers through the content they share on various social media platforms. This article aims to achieve significant success in KOL marketing, especially in B2C (Business-to-Consumer) in the realm of social commerce, a well-planned strategy and proper execution are required. This study uses a qualitative approach by means of an in-depth literature review related to KOL Marketing for B2C in social commerce. The results of research on Impactful KOL Marketing for B2C in Social Commerce which includes the creation of strong, viral, and sustainable campaigns across various mediums and industries and efforts to measure their impact comprehensively may not be found in many specifics. In the use of Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) for B2C marketing strategies in social commerce, it is evident that this approach has great potential to increase brand exposure, consumer engagement, and ultimately, sales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This research paper aims to examine two hybrid models of logistics service quality (LSQ) and its influence on satisfaction, loyalty and future purchase intention in a business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce context. This study extends the literature for LSQ by incorporating the second-order assurance quality construct, which comprises personnel contact quality, order discrepancy handling and order returns, into one of the hybrid models. Design/methodology/approach: A survey-based approach is used to collect data. Participant responses to questions concerning multiple LSQ dimensions and behavioral perceptions from their most recent online shopping experience are measured using structural equation modeling. Findings: Findings highlight the importance of including a second-order construct assurance quality as a more explanatory model. Results illustrate that online ordering procedures and assurance quality impact customer satisfaction more than other prominent LSQ dimensions. Furthermore, the findings revealed a customer loyalty is a partial mediator between customer satisfaction and future purchase intention. This underscores the significance of improved logistics services as a competitive edge for e-commerce retailers. Research limitations/implications: Implications are limited to the e-commerce B2C domain. Practical implications: The findings of this study underscore critical LSQ dimensions that garner greater satisfaction and retention in the online shopping experience. The results indicate that the effective and efficient handling of the initial order and any order problem significantly influences customer satisfaction and reaps the long-term benefits of customer retention. Originality/value: The authors present and empirically test a hybrid model of LSQ in a B2C e-commerce domain that captures many of the important elements of the customer experience as espoused in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research of the quality control of logistics services relevancy is determined by the increasingly dynamic and competitive nature of the market requires companies to ensure the high quality of their logistics services, especially in the sphere of business-to-consumer (B2C). The research aims to analyse and identify optimal approaches and strategies for quality control of logistics services in B2C interactions. Among the methods used were the analytical method, statistical method, functional method, system analysis method, deduction method, synthesis method and comparison method. In the process of the study, the current practice of quality control in B2C logistics was analysed. An economic relevance assessment identified how service quality can affect business and also assessed the potential benefits of improving it. Approaches to quality control were analysed, including such methods as statistical data analysis, internal and external audits, application of quality standards, and use of technology for monitoring and tracking processes. Opportunities to optimise logistics processes and their impact on overall quality were also considered. A comparative analysis of practices in the industry identified best practices and innovations. The study summarised current trends and provided practical recommendations for companies seeking to optimise quality control of logistics services on a costeffective basis. The practical relevance of the findings is to provide companies with valuable tools and insights to improve their logistics operations and enhance customer service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Umsatzsteuer-Rundschau is the property of De Gruyter 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 book review titled "AI and Society: Tensions and Opportunities" by Christo El Morr Editor focuses on the social issues surrounding the use of artificial intelligence (AI), such as safety, privacy, bias, and ethics. The book is divided into four sections, covering topics such as AI in healthcare, AI's impact on society and the law, ethical challenges, and philosophical reflections. It explores the connection between AI and macromarketing, emphasizing the importance of considering consumer well-being and protecting the well-being of other stakeholders. The book provides insights into the implications of AI on society and culture, offering theories and frameworks from various disciplines. [Extracted from the article]

Customer relationship management (CRM) is a strategic approach to manage an organization's interaction with current and potential customers. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can analyze huge volume of data without human intervention. The integration of AI with existing legacy CRM system in the business to customer (B2C) relationship makes sense given the massive potential for growth of AI integrated CRM system. Failure to plan AI-CRM technology implementation in an organization could lead some to success and others to failure. The Contingency theory states that it is not possible for organizations to take decisions without a contingency plan and the optimal course of action depends on the internal and external circumstances. The Dynamic Capability View theory emphasizes the organizational ability to react adequately in a timely manner to any external changes and combines multiple capabilities of the organization, including organizational CRM and AI capabilities. Against this background, the purpose of this study is to examine the success and failure of implementation of AI integrated CRM system in an organization from B2C perspective using Contingency theory and Dynamic Capability View theory. The study finds that information quality, system fit, and organizational fit significantly and positively impact the implementation of AI-CRM for B2C relationship management. Also, there is a moderating impact of technology turbulence on both acceptance and failure of AI-CRM capability in the organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The automotive trade is one of the main drivers of world economies, contributing to the sustainability and competitiveness of countries at a global level. The luxury sub-segment is the one facing the most significant growth and the one which presents the greatest challenges in the business-to-consumer (B2C) relationship. Brand Attachment refers to the cognitive and effective connection between consumers and "their" brands. The central objective of this research is to analyze, measure, and understand the impact of Brand Attachment on consumer behavior, in the specific context of the luxury segment of the automotive market. The conceptual model that is proposed seeks to highlight and study the possible connections and associations between Brand Attachment, satisfaction, commitment, trust, expectations, and loyalty with the brand selected for this study, the luxury automotive brand Porsche. The selected methodology was based on a case study based in the Portuguese market and the application of a questionnaire to customers of Porsche from Portugal. The results obtained through the empirical data allowed us to reach the conclusion that respondents who have a stronger affective and emotional connection with Porsche (intense level of Brand Attachment) tend to be those who are more satisfied and confident with the brand and are, consequently, more loyal. This study represents an important contribution to research on Brand Attachment in marketing and strategic management in the automotive sector, particularly in the Portuguese market, and supports the definition of the best marketing strategies to promote fruitful B2C relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Telos is the property of Revista Telos 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 circular economy (CE) aims to deeply transform the current linear model of economy and society into a business model capable to extend the lifetime of resources and decrease environmental impacts. For this to happen, changes in societal systems and production sectors, from micro to macro, are required. The present research, based on a multiple case‐study explorative approach of circular start‐ups (CSUs), investigates their adoption of environmental impact assessment methods, environmental and social certifications and contribution to a better integration of the social dimension in the CE model. Results indicate that three out of six CSUs carefully measure and certify their environmental and social impacts. Life Cycle Assessment resulted the most adopted environmental assessment method, while two CSUs are also certified benefit corporations. CSUs are mainly oriented toward the use of quantitative methods for the measurement of environmental and social impacts. Additional efforts are still needed toward the implementation of qualitative methods to properly highlight the achievement of social benefits (environmental and social awareness, employees' engagement, work time and free time balance, consumers health and safety, among others) for their stakeholders (workers, local community, consumers). Nevertheless, CSUs case studies highlight their potential of supporting the transition toward a fair CE while at the same time facilitating the integration of social dimension aspects into the CE model. Finally, by developing appropriate business to consumer models, CSUs can strongly affect consumption behaviors and habits, making them also more aware and responsible of their environmental and social life cycle impacts and improvement potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In e-commerce, customer reviews play an important role in influencing the decisions made by customers. Before making a purchase, many people read positive customer reviews because they can offer useful information to potential buyers and increase their overall level of trust in the product. Positive customer reviews also help a store look more credible However, what happens to business actors is not as expected, so consumers act in bad faith by making bad judgments in marketplace product reviews. The purpose of this study is to analyze the good faith of business actors and how it impacts the law established by the Consumer Protection Law. This study uses a normative legal research study whose findings show that consumers are not liable for criticism that harms business entities, in accordance with the Consumer Protection Law (UUPK). In particular, Article 5a requires consumers to pay special attention to product descriptions listed in stores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there is burgeoning literature on luxury branding in B2C, there is a complete dearth of research vis-à-vis the relevance of luxury strategy in B2B. This paper uses a single case study methodology to examine Brembo, the global leader in the design and manufacturing of braking systems for the automotive industry, as a luxury B2B brand. Based on findings from the case study, we identify and discuss similarities and differences between luxury branding in B2C and B2B. We argue that the concept is more complex in B2B as the salience of luxury brand dimensions varies across stakeholders. Some dimensions such as quality are in line with the B2C literature, while other dimensions such as elitism and uniqueness are different in B2B. The interpersonal dimensions of luxury such as self-identity are found to be relevant in the BBC domain. This is the first study to discuss the luxury concept in B2B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on how gallery owners and artists attempt to contain arbitrage opportunities in the art market, which arise when investors exploit price differences between auction and private dealer markets. Topics include market structure, which consists of primary and secondary markets, with primary sales through art galleries and secondary sales through auction houses and dealers.

Online trade-ins are becoming a booming business for B2C platforms. A B2C platform usually pays the trade-in rebate by gift card, which can be used in both self-operated and third-party stores (WP) or can only be used in self-operated stores (SR). The recycling models of B2C platforms also vary. To address the decision-making issues B2C and Internet recycling platforms, this paper considers four models: Model BWP, Model BSR(i.e., the B2C platform recycling itself and using WP or SR to pay the trade-in rebate), Model TWP and Model TSR(i.e., the B2C platform collaborating with an Internet recycling platform and using WP or SR to pay the trade-in rebate).The results imply that the B2C platform's optimal trade-in payment method depends on the utility discount rate in the SR model and the commission rate charged by the B2C platform. We also find that if the commission rate is above a given threshold, the optimal trade-in effort level in the WP model is higher than that in the SR model and the B2C platform should offer a higher subsidy in Model TWP than in Model TSR. Moreover, the proportion of the trade-in cost shared by the Internet recycling platform becomes an essential factor in the selection of the recycling model and the optimal effort level under different recycling models. We ultimately find that the recycling platform should collaborate with a B2C platform that pays the trade-in rebate by WP and offer a lower trade-in rebate if the commission rate is very high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing digitization puts more pressure on brick-and-mortar businesses in the retail sector by creating new and more complex customer demands that increase the need for cooperative and trustful exchange relationships between supervisors and salespeople. A promising approach to tackle these challenges lies in implementing less hierarchical leadership structures. While sharing leadership on the team level gains traction among practitioners as a viable form of horizontal leadership, research provides little evidence on the conditions and mechanisms that enable a shared leadership work environment for retail salespeople. Especially the role of formal leaders in such a transition remains unclear. To fill this void, we followed a two-study design. We conducted a large-scale survey with 1,527 salespeople of a German fashion retailer to analyze how formal leadership contributes to the existence of a less hierarchically structured work environment for retail salespeople. Our multiple mediation analysis provides in-depth and context-sensitive insights into conditions and mechanisms that facilitate a shared leadership environment. A subsequent online-based scenario experiment confirms that transformational leadership is a driver for a shared leadership environment. We contribute to the literature by showing that transformational leadership matters not only in business-to-business (B2B) settings but also in traditionally more transactional business-to-consumer (B2C) retail sales settings to create a shared leadership environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovative business models are emerging to promote the popularization of electric vehicles. This study investigates a firm's service innovation strategy and the choice between sales and rental business models in the presence of consumer behavioral preferences and service innovation subsidies within a given supply chain. The optimal price and service quality decisions are unique and determined by a profit-maximization model. We find that when customers have an obvious preference for high quality service or a relatively low preference for traditional sales model, the firm will profitably invest in service innovation. The firm will choose the rental model and offer a higher level of service rather than the sales model when the customer preference for traditional sales is relatively low or customers are more constrained by the initial purchase price. We also examine the efficiency of service innovation subsidy policy and find that service innovation subsidy will promote the adoption of electric vehicles and improve service quality. Our analysis also suggests that policy makers should set the appropriate service innovation subsidy rather than the higher the better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of IDP: Revista de Internet, Derecho y Politica is the property of Universitat Oberta de Catalunya 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.)

Malaysians need more savings and a critical financial backup to protect themselves from adversity. Hence, a call for a digital platform is vital to further reach out in the current economic situation. The phenomenal growth of B2C e-commerce, particularly after the pandemic, has impacted almost every industry, including banking and financial services. This research suggests an integrated model of E-Takaful Participation Readiness (ETPR). However, academic research on digital takaful is still in its early stages. Most academics focus on technology and ignore the takaful institutions adopting it. Past studies have explored the topic of e-banking readiness, but limited studies have focused on its relation to the takaful area. This study is a pioneer in examining consumer participation readiness for e-takaful services, particularly during the digital shift process due to the pandemic. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for e-takaful adoption. Takaful institutions can use the proposed framework as a starting point for implementing e-takaful, and scholars can use it to expand, refine, and evaluate takaful technology (Takatech) research. The findings of this study can be shared with takaful industry stakeholders and regulatory bodies to help them develop innovative marketing strategies and customer-centric takaful products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zara, a renowned fashion retailer, has gained a reputation for its innovative approach to global supply chain management. Zara is committed to providing affordable luxury clothing, home décor, accessories, and footwear. The company's unique business model, characterizing them as "fast fashion," allows them to continuously change their product lines to reflect the consumer market. Their incredibly fast turnaround time and affordable costs for modern and trendy pieces can create value for their customers while keeping inventory costs low. Overall, Zara's supply chain practices reflect their success as a powerhouse in a highly competitive fashion industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Business is back bone of transaction between buyer and supplier firms. Evolution of internet has helped customers to do shopping online 24X7 using online shopping portal, this lead to categorization of e-commerce into B2C, B2B, C2C etc. Identifying the authentic manufacturer and suppliers is difficult as the online transactions are carried on. There are so many ways for finding out the authentic stackeholder. Here in this paper two stages have been made in first stage a game theory concept is used to identify authentic suppliers the manufacturer can choose for finding the reliable supplier's using Extensive decision tree with perfect information as decision metrics. In second stage after filtering the suppliers again Stackelberg model is used for analysis of profit and selecting suppliers who will gain huge profit. Overall, a comprehensive framework for analyzing the profitability of businesses using game theory principles. It can help manufacturer make informed decisions about their strategies and provide insights into the competitive landscape of the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of internet users has a major impact, especially in providing opportunities for producers and consumers to conduct business transactions online. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the marketplace can be said to be one of the businesses that has not experienced a decline like other conventional businesses. How to choose a marketplace that sells products at the cheapest price, product quality and the best online customer reviews is an interesting study to research. Research conducted on 5 marketplaces. The analytical tool used in this study uses the Weighted Product (WP) method. Tokopedia is the best marketplace that consumers can choose to shop. The marketplace with the cheapest price is owned by Blibli.com and the best online customer review is owned by Lazada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the factors that affect online trust in business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce transactions in India. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in e-commerce as people turned to digital channels for their purchases. However, this also created opportunities for digital fraudsters, raising concerns about online trust. The study found that online security, online privacy, and website appearance have a significant positive impact on online trust. Online trust was also found to be a predictor of purchase intention. The study suggests further research to explore new antecedents of online trust and to investigate the appearance of e-commerce websites in more depth. [Extracted from the article]

Over the years, the UCTD has become one of the core EU directives aiming at the protection of both businesses and consumers (B2C), i.e., at the achievement of the appropriate balance between the parties' rights and obligations. However, the UCTD has also left quite a number of important legal questions unanswered. Besides the general clauses on the assessment of the unfairness of contractual terms, there remains a high degree of uncertainty as to the meaning of the transparency requirement and the legal consequences of unfair contractual terms. As a result, in spite of CJEU settled case law, as well as European Commission interpretation guidelines, there are diverging patterns in the national case law of the Member States. The aim of this paper is to investigate these diverging patterns by looking more closely into national case law and into the relationship between the CJEU and the Member States courts, taking as a case study the way in which the UCTD was applied in five countries (Austria, Croatia, France, Italy and Poland) in cases involving consumer loans indexed to the Swiss franc. The survey shows that there are noticeable differences in the interpretation of core concepts underlying the UCTD, such as the unfairness test, the exclusions from the unfairness assessment, and the transparency requirement. The most problematic areas, however, concern the legal consequences of the unfairness of contractual terms. By relying on the analysis of these and related issues, the authors have come to the conclusion that 347 even after 30 years of the existence of the UCTD, there are still many important legal questions that need solving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two main forms of healthcare data exchange among entities are business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-customer (B2C). The former uses the electronic data interchange (EDI) technology between healthcare institutions, while the latter is usually conducted by providing web-based interfaces for patients. This research argues that both forms have inherent security and privacy weaknesses. Furthermore, patients lack appropriate transparency and control over their own Personally Identifiable Information (PII). We explore the issues of medical record exchange, analyze them and suggest appropriate solutions in the form of a new model to mitigate them. The vulnerabilities, ranging from critical to minor, include the possibility of Man-in-The-Middle (MiTM) and supply chain attacks, weak cryptography, repudiable transactions, single points of failure (SPOF), and poor access controls. A novel model will be presented in this research for healthcare data sharing which applies the best security practices. The proposed unified model will counter the listed vulnerabilities. It automates the healthcare processes in decentralized architecture by utilizing the smart contracts for B2C transactions such as medicine purchase. The model is based on the Blockchain and zero-knowledge proofs. It is made with novel controls which represent the latest advancements in cybersecurity. It has the potential of setting a new cornerstone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The research aims to qualitatively explore e-marketplace service quality (EMSQ) from the perspective of an industrial buyer as a sole decision-maker. It further intends to quantitatively examine its impact on the industrial buyer's perceived value (PV), overall satisfaction (SAT), and e-loyalty (ELOY) in the context of business-to-government (B2G) e-commerce. Design/methodology/approach: The research used an exploratory sequential mixed-method design. A qualitative exploratory study of EMSQ was conducted using a Straussian grounded theory (GT) technique, followed by an explanatory quantitative study using PLS-SEM to evaluate causal links between various research variables. Findings: In the area of e-services, the investigation found that the hierarchical structure of EMSQ encompasses six broadly applicable dimensions and one B2G context-specific dimension of the e-governance process quality. The study also reinforced previous research findings in the B2C and B2B e-commerce domains, highlighting that e-service quality positively impacts online buyer's PV, SAT and ELOY. Research limitations/implications: This research contributed to the area of e-service operations by developing and validating the EMSQ model in the B2G e-commerce settings. Further, it has opened up new research avenues in B2G e-commerce. Practical implications: The findings from this research highlighted that e-service operations managers should focus on usability, technological concerns, product/vendor quality concerns, customer support reliability, along with effective e-governance, ordering and logistics processes for e-business success. It also provides policymakers with guidelines for making B2G e-marketplaces sustainable. Originality/value: To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study employing the GT and PLS-SEM techniques to explore EMSQ from the viewpoint of industrial buyers in B2G e-commerce. The study contributed to prior literature by proposing and validating the hierarchical EMSQ model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the online brand image development and user engagement strategies of Canva and Visme, two companies that offer graphics-based online design tools. The study uses netnography to analyze the companies' Facebook pages and finds that Canva has been more successful in terms of user engagement and number of subscribers compared to Visme. The study highlights the importance of understanding the target audience and their cultural habits for a successful social media marketing campaign. Canva India's Facebook page covers a wide range of concepts, including cultural occasions, and actively engages with followers, while Visme's page has a higher number of posts but lower engagement. Overall, Canva has outperformed Visme in terms of followers, reach, and engagement rates. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: Supply chains are under increased scrutiny as consumers have become aware of the dark side of downstream production practices. Many articles and exposés have led consumers to be more conscious of purchasing products from companies who source materials in a socially responsible and ethical manner. As a result, business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumers (B2C) companies are under increased pressure to source raw materials in a transparent and ethical way. Because of the associated costs, companies then look to benefit from increased brand equity by promoting to consumers how ethical their products are. The purpose of this study is to look at the case of the food industry to analyze sustainability messaging on Twitter in both B2B and B2C companies to determine which of the dimensions of sustainability (people, profit, planet) are being emphasized. Design/methodology/approach: In this study, two published dictionaries were combined to capture the three dimensions of "sustainability," and these scales were then used to analyze Twitter posts. This study created a unique software package to classify, mine, collect and analyze Twitter data. This study used these tools to analyze 246,386 Twitter posts within a sample of 39 leading B2C and B2B food companies over a 10-year period (2012–2021) to explore brand messaging and engagement rate. Findings: This research revealed several interesting results. These include how B2B companies have emphasized the employee (people) dimensions of sustainability, while B2C companies have had a more balanced approach that overall has prioritized the economic dimension (profit) of sustainability. The data on audience engagement revealed a mismatch between the types of sustainability messaging B2B companies and B2C companies in the food industry are posting and what engages audiences. Originality/value: This study fills several gaps, including analyzing how B2B and B2C companies use sustainability language in their social media brand management, as well as looking at which dimensions of sustainability they emphasize and which ones engage audiences the most. This research is also novel in combining multiple existing scales under one project to analyze the triple bottom line in the analysis of qualitative texts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Drawing on the structural hole-bridging perspective of network theory, this paper aims to examine the adaptation strategies undertaken by housing industry actors following the recent pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative case study was adopted as the research methodology for this research. Data collected through online interviews involving 20 participants was used as primary data, while document analysis (both online and printed documents) was used as secondary data. The interviews were guided by the visual vignette method. Findings: This study's findings indicate that a health-based crisis like COVID-19 triggers housing developers to act outside their comfort zones. They undertake arbitrage and collaborative brokerage strategies to cope with business uncertainties. This study revealed the contextual embedding of the owner-occupier market (consumer market) and the investor market (business market). This study also revealed that firms that aggressively located structural holes and built new relationships in B2C and B2B markets before the COVID-19 pandemic were well-equipped to face turbulent times. Practical implications: The innovative strategies that housing developers adopt are transferable and applicable to other industries and countries. Therefore, awareness of these strategies is essential for industry practitioners, especially those badly hit by health-based crises. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first empirical study that combines relationship management, structural holes, the housing market and their implications for crisis adaptation. This study examined the grossly understudied phenomenon of demand for housing, which is a durable good, during a turbulent time. The findings of this study provide beneficial guidance for firms, buyers and policymakers facing COVID-19 and/or other similar crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of e-commerce, online reviews have become an important information source for consumers and e-commerce businesses. While the negative impact of deceptive online reviews has been well recognized, more research has to be done to help understand the linguistic manifestations of deceptive online reviews in order to help identify deceptive reviews and help increase the value and sustainability of e-commerce businesses. This study explores the linguistic manifestations of deceptive online reviews based on the reality monitoring theory, and then uses the data from Amazon.com online product reviews to examine perceptual cues, affective cues, detail cues, relevance cues, and cognitive cues of various deceptive online reviews. The results show that reviews for emotional catharsis are more extreme with affective cues, while perfunctory reviews often lack details with fewer prepositions and adjectives. In addition, deceptive reviews often lack relevance cues when these reviews are made to obtain the rewards provided by the vendors while paid posters tend to use more cognitive cues in deceptive reviews. Moreover, deceptive online reviews under all motives often lack perceptual cues. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the linguistic manifestations of deceptive online reviews and provide significant managerial implications for e-commerce businesses to employ high-quality online reviews for sustainable growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the sustainable consumption paradigms, corporate social responsibilities (CSR) across industries have been under scrutiny. However, little research exists on how brand's business model and consumers' characteristics are intertwined to influence CSR evaluation. Our study aims to examine how the brand type (e.g., fast vs. slow business model) influences the relationships among CSR‐brand fit, authenticity, and skepticism, thus improving attitudes toward the brand. In addition, based on the implicit theory, how the consumer's incremental mindset (vs. entity) influences a brand's CSR evaluations are studied. Through two studies, our findings demonstrate consumers perceived a higher CSR‐brand fit for the slow fashion/food brand than the fast fashion/food brand. A higher CSR‐brand fit heightened the CSR authenticity and alleviated skepticism, which in turn resulted in positive brand evaluations. Importantly, incremental mindsets weakened the effect of brand type on CSR‐brand fit. As one of the first studies to examine the relationship between consumers' implicit theory orientation and a brand's CSR message, our findings demonstrate that an incremental mindset is a powerful consumer characteristic in evaluating a brand's CSR activities that are less congruent with the brand's established business model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public sector sales market, i.e. Business-to-Government (B2G) market is large and relevant. It is similar, yet differs in several key aspects from other markets such as retail, consumer (B2C), or Businessto-Business (B2B). B2G is huge, at 2 trillion Euro per year in Europe, but insufficiently researched and it lacks proper tools and methods. Public contracts are difficult to access and require specialized expertise and a significant initial investment. This paper explores the implementation and evaluation of an IT platform that supports and automates public sector sales, Hermix, in a large company. This study had a qualitative longitudinal approach. It consisted of 7 workshops and 2 interviews with 8 case study participants, performed over the duration of a year. It highlights the implementation steps and results. Hermix automated a set of public sector sales processes for the host company, including: tender monitoring with email notifications, opportunity qualification, and market research, i.e. the analysis of the tactical and strategic context: buyers (public authorities), budgets, competition, partnership affinities, groups of interest, trends. It uses advanced data analytics, big-data and machine learning to provide market intelligence such as governmentgraphics, firmographics, geographics and monetary segmentation. Implementing public sector sales automation tools provides direct benefits to companies, related to: cost and time efficiency, improved proposal success rates, and strategic planning optimization. Indirect benefits for companies refer to delivery quality. Data analytics tools also support overall public procurement transparency, public spending efficiency and better public governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]