scholarly journals An application of retailing service quality practices influencing customer loyalty toward retailers

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 842-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Achchuthan Sivapalan ◽  
Charles Jebarajakirthy
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Customer Loyalty ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Customer Base ◽  
Quality Practices ◽  
Personal Interaction ◽  
Loyal Customer ◽  
Favorable Evaluation

Purpose Enhancing retailing service quality (RSQ) serves as a basic strategy for gaining competitive advantage in the retailing industry and enables retailers to make a loyal customer base. The purpose of this paper is to propose and empirically investigate a comprehensive mechanism for enhancing customer loyalty to retail stores via service quality practices. This study suggests information on retailers can be the antecedent of the RSQ and its dimensions, thereby proposing a comprehensive mechanism for enhancing customer loyalty to retailers. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected using questionnaire surveys from 2,375 customers of three main supermarkets in Sri Lanka. After testing the measurement model, two structural models were run to test hypotheses. Findings The findings showed that the RSQ positively influenced customer loyalty. From all the RSQ dimensions, the store’s physical aspects, personal interaction and policy had a significant influence on customer loyalty. The findings also demonstrated that information on retailers contributes to enhancing a customer’s favorable evaluation of the supermarket’s physical aspects, personal interaction and retailing policy. Research limitations/implications This study was conducted with supermarket customers in one country using the cross-sectional data. Hence, the model should be replicated among retail customers in other countries with the longitudinal data. Practical implications Practically, this study recommends to retailers which dimensions of service quality they need to focus to enhance customer loyalty to their business. The study furthermore recommends certain dimensions that need to be emphasized while retailers design their promotional and communication programs. Originality/value Information on retailers has been suggested as an antecedent for enhancing supermarkets’ service quality practices. Thus, this study proposes a comprehensive mechanism for enhancing customer loyalty to retailers via service quality practices.

The Role of Service Quality in Developing Customer Loyalty in the Banking Sector: A Case study of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 339
Author(s):  
Tariq Saeed Mian
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Customer Loyalty ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia ◽  
Customer Base ◽  
Loyal Customer

Maintaining a strong and loyal customer base is the objective of every organisation. However, in reality this is difficult to achieve in the current competitive environment. When the widespread challenges of the business environment are taken into account, organisations cannot simply plan to absorb new customers but instead adopt the strategy of preserving existing customers and promoting their loyalty to the organisation. This study examined customer loyalty in the banking sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A theoretical model was constructed through an extensive literature review and by extracting the most relevant and important variables for customer loyalty. A questionnaire was used to collect data from customers of different banks. Regression results showed that service quality significantly influences customer satisfaction and customer trust. Furthermore, customer satisfaction and trust significantly affect customer loyalty towards banks. In this respect, service quality is imperative to maintain customer loyalty through customer satisfaction and trust. 

Mediators of the relationship between service quality and customer loyalty

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 540-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Makanyeza ◽  
Lovemore Chikazhe
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Customer Loyalty ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Corporate Image ◽  
Bank Failures ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Direct ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose There is a dearth of studies that have investigated mediators of the effect of service quality on customer loyalty under the conditions prevailing in Zimbabwe; where bank customers’ confidence in the banking system has been dented by bank failures. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediators of the effect of service quality on loyalty among bank customers in Zimbabwe. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey of 310 bank customers was conducted in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe. A questionnaire with Likert type questions was used to collect data. Customers were randomly intercepted as they walked out of five major banks. Structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed relationships. Findings The study found that service quality, satisfaction and corporate image all have positive direct effects on loyalty. It was also found that satisfaction and corporate image all mediate the effect of service quality on loyalty. Research limitations/implications The study was conducted in Chinhoyi, one of the emerging towns in Zimbabwe. There is a need to conduct more similar studies in other parts of the world in future in order to have a better understanding of this subject. Practical implications Banks are advised to address issues to do with service quality, customer satisfaction and corporate image when designing marketing programmes intended to increase customer loyalty. Originality/value Studies that have investigated mediators of the relationship between service quality and customer loyalty in banking environments such as in Zimbabwe are scarce. This study was conducted to address this knowledge gap. Relationships among customer loyalty and its antecedents are not likely to change due to conditions prevailing in a particular banking environment.

Service quality, satisfaction, trust, and loyalty: the moderating role of main-bank and wealth status

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 278-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Boonlertvanich
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Customer Loyalty ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Retail Banking ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Wealth Status ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Behavioral Loyalty ◽  
Main Bank

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a comprehensive model representing the relationships among service quality, customer satisfaction, trust and loyalty in a retail banking service. Because many banks now emphasize acquiring more high-wealth and main-bank customers, this study also focuses on investigating the moderating roles of main-bank and wealth status on such relationships.Design/methodology/approachThis study applies a hierarchical model to measure service quality in line with recent advances in the general-marketing and consumer-behavior literature. A total of 400 valid samples were obtained from customers of a large commercial bank in Thailand. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis.FindingsCustomer-perceived service quality directly and indirectly affects, via satisfaction and trust, attitudinal and behavioral loyalty. Service quality affects customer loyalty less if the customer holds main-bank status. It affects behavioral loyalty less for high-wealth customers than regular customers; however, its impacts on attitudinal loyalty are identical. Main-bank and wealth status have a co-moderating impact on the relationship between service quality and customer loyalty.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was conducted on a cross-sectional basis; further, longitudinal analysis could help to assess causality and time-dependent effects among variables.Practical implicationsThe present study reconceptualizes the loyalty model, forging a deeper understanding of the moderating effects of main-bank and wealth status and thus helping banks to formulate better strategies to win customer loyalty.Originality/valueThis study aims to contribute to further discussions regarding the direct and indirect effects of service quality on loyalty to help banks formulate effective strategies for acquiring main-bank and high-wealth customers.

Do channel integration efforts pay-off in terms of online and offline customer loyalty?

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 859-873 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Frasquet ◽  
Maria-José Miquel
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Customer Loyalty ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Customer Base ◽  
Channel Integration ◽  
Multichannel Retailing ◽  
Loyal Customer ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of multichannel integration (MCI) on customer loyalty. The specific objectives are to provide an appropriate reliable measure of the construct, and to analyse the impact of MCI on offline and online loyalty, both directly and by mediation of customer satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach The paper focusses on the retail apparel sector of Spain and the UK. The authors applied a scale development process and tested the model with data of 761 multichannel apparel shoppers. The proposed theoretical model was estimated through EQS 6.1 and a mediation test was calculated. Findings The findings show, first, that the construct of channel integration has two dimensions: reciprocity, which refers to the possibility of crossing the channels while shopping, and coordination, which refers to the alignment of offline and online offers. Second, that MCI affects positively both offline and online loyalty both directly and through satisfaction, which partially mediates the relationship. Research limitations/implications Culture might play a moderating role in the relationships found that are not analysed. Practical implications The findings have implications for the managers of multichannel retail companies as they help to understand the benefits of channel integration in creating a loyal customer base both online and offline. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature on multichannel retailing in two main ways: first, by developing a scale to measure MCI, and second, by demonstrating that MCI has strong effects on customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Loyalty towards Islamic banking: service quality, emotional or religious driven?

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dwi Suhartanto ◽  
Christopher Gan ◽  
Ira Siti Sarah ◽  
Setiawan Setiawan
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Customer Loyalty ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Islamic Banking ◽  
Emotional Attachment ◽  
Islamic Banks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Service Quality ◽  
Islamic Bank ◽  
Bank Managers

Purpose This paper aims to integrate and examine three loyalty routes (i.e. service quality, emotional attachment and religiosity) in developing customer loyalty towards Islamic banking. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 412 Islamic bank customers from Indonesia. Variance-based structural equation modelling was applied to evaluate the association between service quality, emotional attachment, religiosity and customer loyalty. Findings This study reveals that customer loyalty is more driven by emotional attachment and religiosity rather than by perceived service quality. Although not directly affecting customer loyalty, service quality strengthens customer satisfaction towards Islamic banks. Practical implications This study provides an opportunity for Islamic bank managers to increase their customer loyalty through the development of emotional attachment and religiosity. To improve customer loyalty, this study suggests that Islamic banks have to provide prompt, accurate and non-personal service. It is also important for Islamic bank managers to keep the bank operation compliant with the Sharia law. Originality/value This study is the first attempt to assess the three loyalty routes simultaneously in influencing customer loyalty.

Customer satisfaction with sommelier services of upscale Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 532-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tommy Lau ◽  
Man Lai Cheung ◽  
Guilherme D. Pires ◽  
Carol Chan
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Customer Loyalty ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The abolishment of the wine tax in Hong Kong has led to increased wine consumption and increased demand for wine-related professionals, such as sommeliers. Yet the importance of sommeliers’ value-adding performance in the context of upscale Chinese restaurants has not been examined. To address this gap, the SERVQUAL framework is adopted to examine the influence of sommeliers’ service quality (SQ) on customer satisfaction (CS) and loyalty in the context of upscale Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong. Design/methodology/approach The survey method is used to collect data from 302 units of the population of interest, partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) is used to test the links between constructs. Findings Four of the seven dimensions of sommeliers’ service quality, namely, empathy, tangibles, credibility and assurance, have a significant positive impact on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty, whereas the impact of perceived value and responsiveness on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty is positive but only marginally significant. Reliability has a weak and non-significant impact on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. Research limitations/implications Examining a small number of upscale Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong limits generalisation of the findings to other contexts. Replication of the research in different contexts will enhance generalizability. In terms of implications, the discussion highlights the importance of sommeliers’ service performance on customers’ SQ perceptions SQ, CS and loyalty, all of which are important variables for restaurateurs. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study of the influence of the quality of sommelier’s SQ on CS and loyalty in upscale Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong. Given the lack of attention to this service role in the literature, the study contributes theory from which further understanding can develop.

Mobile communications: a comprehensive hierarchical modelling approach

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Daniel Clemes ◽  
Xin Shu ◽  
Christopher Gan
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Customer Loyalty ◽  
Mobile Communications ◽  
Switching Costs ◽  
Important Determinant ◽  
Perceived Value ◽  
Corporate Image ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Customer Perceived Value

Purpose – Global mobile communication is one of the most dynamic and important service markets. Several researchers suggest using a theoretical approach to develop a much deeper insight into key marketing constructs such as service quality, customer perceived value, customer satisfaction, perceived switching costs, corporate image, and customer loyalty is of vital importance to the mobile communications market. This study aims to develop and test a comprehensive hierarchical model of these six important constructs. The model also incorporates the retailing function of a major mobile communication provider. Design/methodology/approach – The research sample of 516 was drawn from customers of one of the largest mobile communications service providers in China. The data were analysed using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling. Findings – The results of the study support using a hierarchical and multidimensional approach for conceptualising and measuring customers' perceptions of service quality in the mobile communications market. In addition, the findings illustrate that service quality is an important determinant of customer perceived value, customer satisfaction, corporate image, and perceived switching costs. Customer perceived value is also an antecedent of customer satisfaction. Corporate image, customer satisfaction, and perceived switching costs are three key drivers of customer loyalty. However, the findings also indicate that corporate image is not an important determinant of customer satisfaction and that customer perceived value is not a key driver of customer loyalty. Originality/value – This is the first paper that has developed and tested a comprehensive hierarchical model of the mobile communications market.

Service journey quality: conceptualization, measurement and customer outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Elina Jaakkola ◽  
Harri Terho
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Customer Loyalty ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Service Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Critical Determinant ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe quality of the customer journey has become a critical determinant of successful service delivery in contemporary business. Extant journey research focuses on the customer path to purchase, but pays less attention to the touchpoints related to service delivery and consumption that are key for understanding customer experiences in service-intensive contexts. The purpose of this study is to conceptualize service journey quality (SJQ), develop measures for the construct and study its key outcomes.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a discovery-oriented research approach to conceptualize SJQ by synthesizing theory and field-based insights from customer focus group discussions. Next, using consumer survey data (N = 278) from the financial services context, the authors develop measures for the SJQ. Finally, based on an additional survey dataset (N = 239), the authors test the nomological validity and predictive relevance of the SJQ.FindingsSJQ comprises of three dimensions: (1) journey seamlessness, (2) journey personalization and (3) journey coherence. This study demonstrates that SJQ is a critical driver of service quality and customer loyalty in contemporary business. This study finds that the loyalty link is partially mediated through service quality, indicating that SJQ explains loyalty above and beyond service quality.Research limitations/implicationsSince service quality only partially mediates the link between service journey quality and customer loyalty, future studies should examine alternative mediators, such as customer experience, for a more comprehensive understanding of the performance effects.Practical implicationsThe study offers concrete tools for service managers who wish to understand and develop the quality of service journeys.Originality/valueThis study advances the service journey concept, demonstrates that the quality of the service journey is a critical driver of customer performance and provides rigorous journey constructs for future service research.

The role of service fairness in the service quality – relationship quality – customer loyalty chain

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 744-776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Apostolos Giovanis ◽  
Pinelopi Athanasopoulou ◽  
Evangelos Tsoukatos
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Customer Loyalty ◽  
Higher Order ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Order Construct ◽  
Service Fairness

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to extend the well-established nomological network of service quality-relationship quality-customer loyalty by introducing service fairness – a distinct service evaluation concept. Specifically, the study aims to investigate the impact of service fairness on relationship quality as a complementary to service quality driver, and the direct and indirect effect of service fairness on customer loyalty in the presence of service quality and relationship quality in a no failure/recovery effort service context. Design/methodology/approach – A telephone survey of a random sample of 408 customers of auto repair and maintenance services was implemented using a structured questionnaire with established scales. Data were analyzed with partial least squares path methodology, a structural equation modeling methodology. Findings – Interactional fairness is the most important formative determinant of customers’ overall fairness perception, followed by procedural and distributive fairness. Relationship quality measured as a higher order construct, made of satisfaction; trust; affective and calculative commitment, is the main determinant of customer loyalty. Also, it partially mediates, along with service quality, the relationship between service fairness and customer loyalty and fully mediates the effect of service quality on customer loyalty. Finally, service fairness has the highest overall effect on customer loyalty. Research limitations/implications – The sample is industry-specific and this may affect generalizability of findings. Also, the cross-sectional design adopted does not reflect temporal changes. Practical implications – Interactional fairness is of utmost importance to customers of the investigated industry. So, customers should be fairly treated at every point of contact. Also, service quality is heavily affected by service fairness. Thus, fair service leads to high-perceived service quality. Third, service quality affects customer loyalty only through relationship quality. Only when service quality is coupled by long-term quality relationships, signs of customer loyalty appear. Finally, service fairness influences customer loyalty mainly through service and relationship quality and has the highest overall effect on customer loyalty. So, fairly treating customers is crucial for developing long-term relationships that lead to customer loyalty. Originality/value – The role of service fairness in the service quality-relationship quality-customer loyalty chain is investigated and using a higher order construct for relationship quality.

scholarly journals Influence of Perceived Service Quality on Customer Loyalty

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-121
Author(s):  
Madumere Humphrey Ikenna ◽  
Dickson Ben Uche ◽  
Agu Godswill Agu
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Customer Loyalty ◽  
Road Transport ◽  
Quality Model ◽  
Perceived Service Quality ◽  
The Road ◽  
Customer Base ◽  
Transport Industry ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
The Relationship

The purpose of this was to investigate the relationship between perceived service quality and customer loyalty in the road transport industry in Nigeria. Leveraging the RATER service quality model, only reliability, tangibles and responsiveness were explored. Participants were drawn from the customer base of organized road transport firms operating in the South East of Nigeria. Being a quantitative survey, results from 318 valid responses were analyzed with SPSS version 21.  Findings indicate that the three constructs (reliability, tangibles, and responsiveness) are significant predictors of customer loyalty, with reliability having the greatest influence, followed by responsiveness and tangibles. The study recommends steady monitoring of service quality as a step towards customer loyalty in the highly competitive road transport industry in Nigeria.

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