In the 21st century, with the development of internet technology and trade globalization, various types of business related to e-commerce have emerged and entered our everyday lives. One of the representative examples is cross-border B2C e-commerce. ...
In the 21st century, with the development of internet technology and trade globalization, various types of business related to e-commerce have emerged and entered our everyday lives. One of the representative examples is cross-border B2C e-commerce.
Particularly, in China, markets for Cross-border B2C e-commerce are growing rapidly. China’s economy has been growing dramatically after joining the WTO. Chinese consumers’ consuming capacity and consciousness of consumption have been raised, and domestic consumers’ demand for overseas products has increased significantly, too. Cross-border B2C e-commerce has brought about major changes in consumers’ modes of consumption, and consumers’ demand for cross-border B2C e-commerce platforms is getting higher and higher. Major Chinese e-commerce companies such as Taobao and Jingdong have also established several cross-border B2C e-commerce platforms based on their domestic e-commerce. Therefore, it is considered necessary to study Chinese consumers’ satisfaction with cross-border B2C e-commerce platforms and continuous usage intentions.
In this study, the theory of experience economy was applied to understand satisfaction with cross-border B2C e-commerce platforms and continuous usage intentions, and analysis was done with perceived risk and user characteristics as variables. A web-based online survey was done on Chinese consumers in their 20s to 50s or older having experience in using cross-border B2C e-commerce platforms in consideration of their age and gender, and total 538 out of 600 questionnaire sheets were used for final analysis. The results of this study will be provided as basic data for consumer education and information provision that can induce consumers to use cross-border B2C e-commerce platforms efficiently. Also, from the standpoint of companies, the results will support their business operation by removing Chinese cross-border B2C e-commerce platform users’ perceived risk factors and figuring out their satisfaction and continuous usage intentions.
First, it was found that educational factors, entertainment factors, aesthetic factors, and escapism factors, which are key variables of the theory of experience economy for the cross-border B2C e-commerce platform, had a significantly positive(+) effect on satisfaction. Therefore, companies need to value educational factors from now on and also try to provide consumers with information about new overseas products, various consuming trends, and ways to use the platforms as much as possible. To improve consumers’ awareness of entertainment factors, they should endeavor to insert either short clips or music on their platform before providing consumers with information on overseas products. To enhance aesthetic factors, efforts should be made to ensure that the contents, colors, design, functions, and UI of the platform are placed in convenient and aesthetically pleasing ways. In addition, companies should try to allow consumers to get out of their routine and have distinct experience from the cross-border B2C e-commerce platform with the unique and fascinating goods or services provided in it.
Second, it has been found that financial risk and delivery risk out of the risks perceived about cross-border B2C e-commerce platforms have significantly negative effects on satisfaction. In order to reduce financial risk, it can be an important marketing strategy to set reasonable prices on overseas products being sold in the cross-border B2C e-commerce platform. Also, they should make efforts to mark delivery time clearly and ensure that the goods are delivered at the right time, and to reduce the risk of loss or damage during delivery.
Third, it has been learned that the degree of involvement, one of the user characteristics, has significantly positive effects on their satisfaction with the cross-border B2C e-commerce platform. In order to heighten consumer involvement and make them aware of practical value, companies should adopt ways to allow consumers to enjoy promotions or the latest information about the cross-border B2C e-commerce platform as much as possible. Moreover, to enhance consumers’ hedonic value, they should install UI design properly in the cross-border B2C e-commerce platform or add more contents such as music and videos.
Lastly, it has been found that satisfaction with the cross-border B2C e-commerce platform has positive effects on continuous usage intentions. Accordingly, to elevate consumer satisfaction, companies should provide better goods and services for consumers by collecting consumer needs and opinions and reflecting them in their marketing strategies and also examining their complaints importantly.