A Qualitative study on Innovation and Dimensional aspects of Omnichannel Retail Business Model

The purpose of the study is to elucidate linkage of Omnichannel retail business model with innovation and technological advancements. The study is exploratory and qualitative in nature, based on primary and secondary data sources collected from varied retail sectors such as fashion, furniture, eyecare and electronics . The study has used Business Model Canvass (BMC) as a tool for strategic analysis. The study presents findings about business model and strategies in Omnichannel context from Indian retailers. The findings of the study posits four main dimensions resultant of digitalization and technological advancements in Omnichannel retail, namely Omnichannel Intensity, Organizational Structure Integration, Operations and Supply Chain Management Innovation, Data Analytics and Intelligence. Cross-channel Integration and Data Analytics & Intelligence have been found to be contributing enormously towards the strategic growth of Omnichannel retailers, thus emerging as the prominent managerial implications of the study.

Channel integration affects usage intention in food delivery platform services: the mediating effect of perceived value

PurposeStructural equation modeling was conducted, and a sample with 577 consumers was investigated.Design/methodology/approachBased on the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) model, this study aims to explore how channel integration affects usage intention through perceived value in food delivery platform (FDP) services. Moreover, the author also examines the moderating effects of personal innovativeness and experience on the relationships in the model.FindingsThe study found that channel integration affects usage intention through perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment and perceived price. Moreover, the moderating effects of personal innovativeness and experience are both significant in the model.Research limitations/implicationsThis study found that perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment and perceived price are three major values influencing the relationship between channel integration and usage intention in FDP services. Moreover, for consumers with high personal innovativeness, perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, social image and perceived risk affecting usage intention will be weaker than for consumers with low personal innovativeness. However, for highly experienced consumers, perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment and perceived price affecting usage intention will be stronger than for less experienced consumers.Practical implicationsThis study suggests that practitioners should develop value-driven innovative services and activities by integrating various channels for customers. Moreover, they should segment consumers on the basis of different levels of personal innovativeness and experience to provide different strategies for increasing the intention to use the service.Originality/valueThis study advances the extant knowledge of the SOR model in the context of online-to-offline commerce.

Customer Engagement and Loyalty Issues in Omnichannel Fast-Food Industry

Building on Social Exchange Theory and Congruity Theory, this study aims to examine the relationships between channel integration quality (i.e., channel-service configuration and integrated interaction) and congruity (i.e., self-brand image congruity and value congruity) towards customer engagement; as well as the impacts of customer engagement on customer behavioural loyalty (i.e., repurchase intention and positive WoM). Adopting convenience and snow-ball sampling methods, a total of 151 valid questionnaires were collected and analysed using SPSS 25 and SmartPLS 3.0 software. Congruity aspects play significant roles in influencing customer engagement, while channel integration qualities do not. This result could be attributed to the unique characteristics of the fast-food products and Malaysian fast-food consumers. Importantly, customer engagement influences both transactional (i.e., repurchase intention) and emotional (i.e., intention to spread positive word of mouth) loyalty positively. The findings provide useful insights to both academicians and practitioners to plan for different omnichannel strategy in the effort to increase customer engagement and desired post purchase behaviours.

Determinants of Consumers’ Willingness to Participate in Fast Fashion Brands’ Used Clothes Recycling Plans in an Omnichannel Retail Environment

Omnichannel retailing and sustainability are two important challenges for the fast fashion industry. However, the sustainable behavior of fast fashion consumers in an omnichannel environment has not received much attention from researchers. This paper aims to examine the factors that determine consumers’ willingness to participate in fast fashion brands’ used clothes recycling plans in an omnichannel retail environment. In particular, we examine the impact of individual consumer characteristics (environmental attitudes, consumer satisfaction), organizational arrangements constitutive for omnichannel retailing (channel integration), and their interplay (brand identification, impulsive consumption). A conceptual model was developed based on findings from previous research and tested on data that were collected online from Chinese fast fashion consumers. Findings suggest that consumers’ intentions for clothes recycling are mainly determined by individual factors, such as environmental attitudes and consumer satisfaction. Organizational arrangements (perceived channel integration) showed smaller effects. This study contributes to the literature on omnichannel (clothing) retail, as well as on sustainability in the clothing industry, by elucidating individual and organizational determinants of consumers’ recycling intentions for used clothes in an omnichannel environment. It helps retailers to organize used clothes recycling plans in an omnichannel environment and to motivate consumers to participate in them.

Spherically Stratified Point Projection: Feature Image Generation for Object Classification Using 3D LiDAR Data

Three-dimensional point clouds have been utilized and studied for the classification of objects at the environmental level. While most existing studies, such as those in the field of computer vision, have detected object type from the perspective of sensors, this study developed a specialized strategy for object classification using LiDAR data points on the surface of the object. We propose a method for generating a spherically stratified point projection (sP2) feature image that can be applied to existing image-classification networks by performing pointwise classification based on a 3D point cloud using only LiDAR sensors data. The sP2’s main engine performs image generation through spherical stratification, evidence collection, and channel integration. Spherical stratification categorizes neighboring points into three layers according to distance ranges. Evidence collection calculates the occupancy probability based on Bayes’ rule to project 3D points onto a two-dimensional surface corresponding to each stratified layer. Channel integration generates sP2 RGB images with three evidence values representing short, medium, and long distances. Finally, the sP2 images are used as a trainable source for classifying the points into predefined semantic labels. Experimental results indicated the effectiveness of the proposed sP2 in classifying feature images generated using the LeNet architecture.

Toward the inter-channel synergy renaissance in emerging markets: evidence from adding clicks to bricks in Serbia

PurposeNewly established intersections between offline and online channels create room for enhancing inter-channel synergies. The nature and structure of emerging markets only further emphasize the need to expand existing knowledge. Consequently, this study investigates inter-channel synergy creation during offline–online retail integration in emerging markets.Design/methodology/approachData collected from 97 companies in Serbia that incorporated online channels into their offline retailing businesses were analyzed using the structural equation modeling method.FindingsThe results show that retailers who have undergone click-to-brick integration in the emerging markets struggle to leverage physical presence for inter-channel synergy creation through digital channels. Essentially, retailers integrating clicks into bricks in emerging markets are less likely to achieve immediate omni-channel synergy, resorting to a multi-iterative transition process.Originality/valueThis research synthesizes knowledge on inter-channel synergy creation in an omni-channel context, as well as existing findings regarding inter-channel integration. This paper presents the first comprehensive study on inter-channel synergy creation during click-to-brick integration in emerging retail markets. Moreover, this study outlines challenges facing retailers seeking channel synergy during click-to-brick integration. The study results have theoretical and practical implications regarding inter-channel synergy creation in the multi-channel environment of emerging markets.

Omni-channel integration: the matter of information and digital technology

PurposeThis paper aims to explore how omni-channel data flows should be integrated by specifying what data, omni-channel agents and information and digital technologies (IDTs) should be considered and connected.Design/methodology/approachA multiple case study method is used with 17 British companies. The studies are supported by 68 interviews with the case companies and their consumers, 5 site visits, 4 focus group meetings and the companies’ archival data and documentations.FindingsThis paper provides novel frameworks for omni-channel data flow integration from consumer and business perspectives. The frameworks consist of omni-channel agents, their data transactions and their supporting IDTs. Relatedly, this paper formalizes the omni-channel data flow integration in the forms of horizontal, vertical and total integrations and explores their contributions to the adaptability of omni-channel, as a complex adaptive system (CAS). It also discusses that how inter-organizational governance mechanisms can support data flow integration and their relevant IDT implementations.Research limitations/implicationsThe breadth and depth of the required IDTs for omni-channel integration prove the necessity for omni-channel systems to move toward total integration. Therefore, supported by CAS and inter-organizational governance theories, this research indicates how data flow integration and IDT can transform the omni-channel through self-organization and autonomy capability enhancement.Originality/valueThis research’s recommended frameworks provide a robust platform to formalize data flow integration as the omni-channel's core driver. Accordingly, it moves the literature from a basic description of “what omni-channel is” and provides a novel and significant debate on what specific data should be shared at what levels between which agents of the omni-channel, and with what type of relationship governance mechanism, to assure omni-channel horizontal, vertical and total integrations.

Brand effects of omnichannel-based pickup service on consumption value and service satisfaction

As an online and offline integrated service of refund, replacement, and after-sales service, omnichannel is placing itself as a major service used in the online shopping market, as efficiency and an integrated operation system develop according to channel integration due to ICT development. Centered on young people who have recently put importance on in-store experience and direct experience, offline pickup service is reinforced beyond online delivery. This study aims to analyze the effects of a distribution company’s brand factors on customer consumption value and satisfaction targeting the omnichannel-based pickup service. The research model was designed to find out whether brand image, identity, attachment, and trust factors affect consumption satisfaction factors through the intervention of emotional and functional consumption value factors. This study targeted 324 consumers using Korea’s omnichannel-based pickup service and carried out a questionnaire survey. According to the analysis result, the brand image and brand identity had a positive (+) effect on the emotional value and functional value. Brand attachment and brand trust positively affected emotional value but the hypothesis on functional value was rejected. Hence, brand factors were confirmed to work on improving a consumer’s emotional value effectively.