The retail industry is a competitive environment moving towards being rather service-oriented than product-oriented. It is hence essential for businesses to comprehend the market and act accordingly to differentiate themselves. A way of gaining competitive advantage and engage consumers is to invest in innovative technology. Self-scanning services are a fast-improving technology offering consumers a convenient way of shopping. To self-scan through scanners and via self-checkout cashiers are common on the Swedish food retail market. The retailing group ICA is however unique in the sense that they since 2014 additionally offer mobile self-scanning through their smartphone application “ICA Handla”[1]. Despite the increasing use of self-scanning services, there is a lack of research on this area. Thus it is of interest to further investigate the views regarding self-scanning. An interesting concept is ‘Service Fascination’, which is defined as a positive emotional state arising through conscious and subconscious effects when using innovative technology. By reviewing ‘Service Fascination’, it is possible to investigate how innovative technology is adopted. The thesis hence proves to what extent Service Fascination can be measured regarding self-scanning services using the Service Fascination Evaluation Model (SFEM). Based on the model, the essay suggests areas of improvement within ‘Service Fascination’ and depicts the views on self-scanning from the perspectives of consumers, retailers and experts. Tailored communication regarding self-scanning, depending on if the receiver is a non-user, a user or a retailer, is suggested to be further elaborated on. The quality of the self-scanning equipment and the appearance/features are moreover also key conclusions which are proposed to be further developed. Self-scanning services used in the right way are by the thesis' results argued to be a useful tool to differentiate on the Swedish food retail market. [1]http://www.ica.se/appar/ica-handla/ / Livsmedelsdetaljhandeln är en konkurrenskraftig marknad som rör sig mot ett serviceinriktat klimat där upplevelser väger tyngre än produkter. Det är således viktigt för företag att förstå marknaden och anpassa sig för att särskilja sig. Ett sätt att uppnå konkurrensfördel och på samma gång engagera kunder är att investera i innovativ teknik.  Självscanningstjänster är en snabbt växande teknik som erbjuder kunder ett bekvämt sätt att handla. Idag är det vanligt förekommande med självscanning genom scanners och “snabbkassor” på den svenska livsmedelsmarknaden. Detaljhandelsföretaget ICA är dock unika med sin tjänst att självscanna via mobiltelefonen med hjälp av “ICA Handla”-appen[1] som lanserades 2014. Trots den ökande användningen av självscanningstjänster finns det ett behov av mer forskning på området. Således är det av intresse att vidare undersöka synen på självscanning. Ett intressant begrepp är ”Service Fascination”, ett positivt känslotillstånd som uppkommer genom medveten och omedveten användning av innovativ teknik. Genom att studera ”Service Fascination” är det möjligt att undersöka hur innovativ teknik anammas. Uppsatsen visar därför till vilken grad Service Fascination kan mätas (gällande självscanning) med hjälp av “Service Fascination Evaluation”-modellen (SFEM). Baserat på modellen föreslår uppsatsen utvecklingspotential inom området Service Fascination och illustrerar synen på självscanning från kunders, ICA-handlares och experters perspektiv.  Slutsatser som är föreslagna att arbeta vidare med är skräddarsydd kommunikation beroende på om mottagaren är en icke-användare, användare eller ICA-handlare. Kvaliteten på utrustningen och självscanningsenheters utseende/funktioner föreslås också att vidareutvecklas. Uppsatsens resultat motiverar för att självscanning som används på rätt sätt är ett användbart verktyg för att skapa konkurrensfördel på den svenska livsmedelsmarknaden. [1]http://www.ica.se/appar/ica-handla/

Value-added (VA) technologies can help farmers in the specialty crop industry generate new products, increase off-season income sources, expand market access, and improve overall profitability. These technologies can support the development of rural economies through the generation of new businesses and job creation. The USDA defines VA products as those 1) changed physical, 2) produced in a manner that enhances their value, and 3) physically segregated in a manner that results in enhancement of their value. Drawing from this definition, this study investigated VA technologies such as drying, cutting into customer-ready portions, washing and labeling specialty crops. The objectives of this study are threefold. First, we analyze how market access and diversification drive specialty crop farmers to adopt VA technologies. Second, we address the potential endogeneity between the adoption of VA technologies (vertical diversification) and the number of crops (horizontal diversification). Lastly, we investigate how market access drives farmers to utilize food labels for VA products. Data for this study came from a 2019 web-based survey of specialty crop farmers. A total of 766 farmers completed the survey, with a response rate of 21.5%. The questionnaire included questions related to farmer’s demographics (i.e., educational attainment, gender, farming experience), farm characteristics (i.e., crops, markets, and growing technologies), and farmers’ beliefs regarding their farm system. Results suggest that market access is a significant driver of VA technology adoption. Also, the size of the farm, networks, farmer’s perceptions, and employment growth influence adopting VA technologies. The results also show us that farmers adopting VA technologies tend to experience economic growth.

Background: Social networking mobile applications are designed to socially connect users among each other to consume but also to produce content. Especially because these apps represent a high potential to acquire revenue streams through advertisements, but also to gain customer insights, companies are interested in entering this market by creating new social networking apps. However, switching costs for users are high due to the varied user base of established social networking apps. Accordingly, marketing strategies need to be created to enter the market to target users’ interests. One concept to do so is distributing invitations for the social networking app that can be shared among users. The invite-only strategy has been successfully used to establish themselves in the market by for example Facebook, but also recently with the social networking app Clubhouse. To apply it effectively the motivators of the users to initially adopt invite-only social networking apps are important to understand. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to generate an in-depth understanding of the motivators that foster the initial user adoption of social networking mobile apps based on the invite-only strategy. To investigate the motivators, it is crucial for this study to gain knowledge from the user perspective. In that case, we will contribute our derived knowledge to the theory of technology acceptance, scarcity in digital marketing, and virtual social networking apps. Research Question: Why do users initially adopt social networking mobile applications using an invite-only strategy? Method: Ontology – Relativism; Epistemology – Social Constructionism; Approach –Inductive; Data Collection – 14 Semi-Structured In-Depth Interviews; Sampling –Purposive, Convenience, Snowball; Data Analysis – Grounded Analysis Conclusion: As a result, a framework was derived depicting the main motivators for users to initially adopt invite-only social networking apps. Through our empirical data, we found out that Artificial Scarcity, Closed Network, and Social Influence motivate users to initially adopt invite-only social networking apps. Additionally, Contributing Factors were identified to influence the initial adoption, although they are not directly influenced by the invite-only strategy. The framework further describes the interrelations between the identified sub-categories affecting the initial adoption. We conclude that the main motivators are desire- and fear-driven. The framework can be used by marketers to design invite-only strategies more effectively and consistently to attract a large group of initial users and establish themselves in the market.

Background: Emerging in December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic profoundly changed consumer behaviour leading to social distancing and mitigating physical contact. Statistics show an increased use of contactless and mobile payment usage and adoption during the pandemic. It is unclear how valid previous models on mobile payment adoption explain adoption behaviour in emergency situations. While there are few studies approaching the adoption behaviour during the pandemic, there is also little previous research on mobile payment adoption prior to the pandemic in Germany. Purpose: The present thesis intends to advance several previously researched technological adoption frameworks to focus on and measure consumers’ perception of mobile payment technology adopting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, our model provides a basis to understand mobile payment adoption in Germany during the pandemic. Method: Based on hypotheses derived from an adapted UTAUT2 model, we conducted quantitative deductive research reaching 258 questionnaire participants based in Germany. The empirical data was analysed through structural equation modelling. Conclusion: The findings show that Performance Expectancy still represents the primary driver of intention to adopt mobile payments during the pandemic, yet it is strongly supported by the initially contextualised Contamination Avoidance element and complemented by Habit, Effort Expectancy. Practitioners benefit from the study to better tailor campaigns in accordance with the main driver of adoption behaviour, while our findings contribute new insights into technology adoption in Germany during emergency situations.

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Durante los últimos meses, el COVID-19 ha generado diversos cambios en el ámbito económico, social y personal de la sociedad. Tanto en el Perú como en todos los países del mundo se enfrentan a un entorno cambiante que los forza a adaptarse a los nuevos hábitos de vida y de consumo. De este modo, los rubros más importantes y básicos de la sociedad se vieron en la obligación de incurrir a nuevas formas de atención al consumidor, sin dejar la buena experiencia de consumo y de calidad de servicio para el usuario. El presente artículo destaca un enfoque en la intención de uso de plataformas eHealth, a partir del modelo UTAUT 2. Del mismo modo, nos basamos en la revisión de la literatura de los constructos incorporados en el modelo UTAUT 2 en un contexto pandémico que permitirá comprender los factores de la adaptación e intención de uso de las herramientas tecnológicas eHealth. / In recent months, COVID-19 has generated various changes in the economic, social and personal sphere of society. Both in Peru and in all the countries of the world they face a changing environment that forces them to adapt to new habits of life and consumption. In this way, the most important and basic areas of society were forced to incur new forms of customer service, without leaving a good consumer experience and quality of service for the user. This article highlights a focus on the intention to use eHealth platforms, based on the UTAUT 2 model. In the same way, we are based on the literature review of the constructs incorporated in the UTAUT 2 model in a pandemic context that will allow us to understand the factors of adaptation and intention to use eHealth technological tools. / Trabajo de investigación

No description available.

Due to the digitalization revolution within the financial sector fintech companies are challenging the traditional banking institutes with new technologies and innovations. Robo-advisors are the new way to get personalized investment services online instead of using traditional advisory.The aim is to research the consumer adoption of robo-advisory in the Swedish financial sector. Additionally, the core emphasis throughout this thesis is on; consumers personal traits, as well as behavioral factors that impact consumers investment decision. Theories used are mostly innovation theories and behavioural theories. To investigate the aim aquantitative approach is used and a survey with 435 respondents were conducted and two probit and margin regressions was made, one for securities as the dependent variable and one for robo-advisory as the dependent variable. The results show that the adoption of robo-advisoryhas been slow in Sweden due to lack of transparency and information. Lastly, gender was the most significant factor in both regressions. / På grund av digitaliseringen inom finanssektorn utmanar fintech företagende traditionella bankinstitut en med ny teknik och nya innovationer. Robotrådgivare är det nya sättet att få personliga investeringsråd istället för att använda traditionell rådgivning. Syftet är att undersöka konsumenternas uppfattning kring robotådgivning i den svenska finans sektorn. Uppsatsen kommer baseras på konsumenternas personliga egenskaper samt beteendemässiga faktorer som påverkar konsumenternas investeringsbeslut. Teorierna som används är innovationsteorier och beteendeteorier. För att undersöka frågeställningarna har ett kvantitativt tillvägagångssättanvänts. En enkätundersökning genomfördes som resluterade i 435 respondenter. Datan från enkäten analyserades via grafer samt två probitregressioner med olika beroende variabler, värdepapper samt robotrådgivning. Resultaten visar att adoptionen av robotrådgivning har varitlångsam i Sverige på grund av bristande transparens och information. Den mest signifikanta faktorerna i båda regressionerna var kön.

Introduction: To predict the future, how a coming day, week, or month will look has become even more crucial than ever for a firm, due to recent pandemic crises, and wars. Being able to predict the future will enable firms to reduce costs and increase time efficiency. Processes such as forecasting have been at the forefront to aid managers in these matters by improving decision-making and planning. Greater forecasting capabilities have been achieved by adopting technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). As it has shown to aid practitioners in predicting the future with high accuracy. Thus, leading to improved decision making and planning. Problem discussion: AI is still in its infancy, and technology adoption is a staged-based process. More research is needed to identify the potential barriers a firm faces when looking to adopt AI into their forecasting process. As well as how these barriers are mitigated, and what barriers are relevant depending on the stage of adoption. Purpose and Research question: The purpose of this study is to investigate the barriers of AI pre-adoption in forecasting and how these barriers are mitigated. To answer the following research question: How does a manufacturing firm mitigate AI pre-adoption barriers in the forecasting process? Method: First, a scoping review is conducted to identify barriers in AI adoption with the support of the TOE framework, (Technological, Organizational, and Environmental). Later, the thesis follows a qualitative approach, conducting a single case study. The primary source of empirical data was collected from five in-depth semi-structured interviews. The data is collected from an international manufacturing firm located in Sweden that is looking to adopt AI-ML into its forecasting process. The findings collected from the firm are later discussed with an expert in the field of AI and forecasting to further bring validity and input to the findings. Findings: Organizational readiness, Top management, Poor data, Inappropriate technology infrastructure, and Partnership were identified as key barriers in the AI-ML pre-adoption for the forecasting process. The barrier could be mitigated by building a strong business case, creating managerial awareness and understanding, interactive data platform, comprehensive dataset, and incentives. Conclusion: The study provides theoretical contributions as well as managerial implications. By shedding light on the barriers in the pre-adoption phase and providing insight as to how to mitigate the barriers. Future research is recommended to study the same phenomena at another firm.

Augmented reality (AR) has seen a rise in public and corporate interest in recent years and with Apple's announcement of the Vision Pro headset, it is an exciting time to study the technology. The question on many people's minds is if AR is the computing platform of tomorrow or if it is a fad. However, this uncertainty is generally the case for emerging technologies and challenges exist with adoption for it to go from interest to value creator. This research paper explores technology adoption and the current state of Augmented Reality (AR) adoption in a mobile context, by utilizing common innovation frameworks. These frameworks were Diffusion of Innovations, Hype Cycle, and Disruptive Innovations. There seems to be a disparity between the practical and theoretical understanding of technology adoption. Some concepts are misused or unused in practice but well understood in theory and the other way around. This ambiguity and disparity could lead to suboptimal theory development and practical application. The purpose of this paper is to explore emerging technology adoption and to nuance the academic and practical knowledge of technology adoption, by studying the AR. It is important to evolve understanding in this area to decrease resource waste and to increase societal and technological progress. This paper analyzed Google's ARCore data, search topic data, and research publications data and interviewed AR companies to answer the research questions. The results were first that the level of mobile AR adoption is at 40 percent of the total AR mobile market. Secondly, the current interest in AR is 50 to 60 percent compared to the peak interest in 2016 while research isincreasing exponentially. Finally, the study found that the technology is not disruptive to a high degree at the moment. / Argumented reality (AR) eller förstärk verklighet har fått ett ökat intresse bland allmänheten och företag under de senaste åren, och med Apples tillkännagivande av Vision Pro-headsetet är det en spännande tid att studera tekniken. Frågan som många ställer sig är om AR är morgondagens datorplattform eller om det är en modefluga. Denna osäkerhet är dock generellt sett fallet för ny teknik och det finns utmaningar med införandet för att den ska gå från intresse till värdeskapande. I det här forskningsdokumentet undersöks teknikadoption och det aktuella läget för Augmented Reality (AR) i en mobil kontext, genom att använda vanliga innovationsramverk. Dessa ramverk var Diffusion of Innovations, Hype Cycle och Disruptive Innovations. Det verkar finnas en skillnad mellan den praktiska och teoretiska förståelsen av teknikadoption. Vissa begrepp missbrukas eller används inte i praktiken, men är väl förstådda i teorin och tvärtom. Denna tvetydighet och skillnad kan leda till suboptimal teoriutveckling och praktisk tillämpning. Syftet med denna artikel är att utforska ny teknik och nyansera den akademiska och praktiska kunskapen om teknikadoption genom att studera AR. Det är viktigt att utveckla förståelsen inom detta område för att minska resursslöseriet och öka de samhälleliga och tekniska framstegen. I den här artikeln analyserades Googles ARCore-data, data om sökämnen och data om forskningspublikationer, och AR-företag intervjuades för att besvara forskningsfrågorna. Resultaten var för det första att användningen av mobil AR ligger på 40 procent av den totala mobila AR-marknaden. För det andra är det nuvarande intresset för AR 50 till 60 procent jämfört med toppen 2016, samtidigt som forskningen ökar exponentiellt. Slutligen visade studien att tekniken för närvarande inte är särskilt disruptiv.