Portuguese customer´s perception and intention of use of smart lockers

• Autor(a) principal: Machado, Maria do Carmo da Costa Lopes
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10071/30683
• topic: Smart lockers; Parcel lockers; Consumidor -- Consumer; Intention; Acceptance; Last-mile delivery; Portugal; Intenção; Aceitação

In today's digital landscape, e commerce has become increasingly prevalent, and the last mile problem has emerged as a significant challenge for businesses. Understanding the intricacies of the last mile problem and its dynamic relationship with evolving consumer behaviors is crucial for businesses to thrive. In this context, smart locker services emerge as a groundbreaking technological solution to tackle these challenges. While their utilization is expanding across Europe, their awareness and adoption within Portugal, a country with comparatively limited smart locker usage, warrant attention. This study aims to delve into the perception and intent of Portuguese consumers regarding the adoption of smart locker delivery services. It accomplishes this by integrating two key theoretical frameworks: the Innovation Diffusion Theory and the Resource Matching Theory. Primary data was garnered through a web survey, drawing responses from 226 individuals residing in Portugal, all of whom were at least 18 years old. This research assessed various facets, including convenience, reliability, complexity, privacy security, compatibility, and relative advantage. The findings indicate that all variables, except complexity, exhibit a positive and statistically significant correlation with the intention to use smart lockers. Furthermore, the study reveals that consumers predominantly favor residential areas, supermarkets, and shopping malls as ideal locations. This study not only bridges a gap in the existing literature but also offers valuable insights into consumer preferences that underpin their acceptance of smart locker services.