Mobile wallets in cash-based economies during COVID-19

PurposeThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic altered business and personal activities globally especially stimulating contactless financial transactions. However, despite the similar national lockdowns in cash-based economies, the adoption of contactless transactions through the widely available mechanism, mobile wallets, remained low. This research aimed to identify the factors surrounding this peculiarity.Design/methodology/approachThe study was investigated using a composite model based on the diffusion of innovation theory (DIT), technology acceptance model (TAM) and information systems success model (ISSM). Data were collected from 621 Cameroonian mobile wallet users and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation (PLS-SEM) modeling.FindingsThe key findings revealed that the usage of mobile wallets, in the current form, were not affected by the perceived ease of use and did not match the existing lifestyle of users in Cameroon (no compatibility). The branding of mobile wallets (image) which was based on global messaging did not appeal to Cameroonians;in fact, the branding gave mobile wallets a negative image.Originality/valueThese key findings reveal the dangers of assuming that global strategies which have been effective in dealing with the pandemic will be effective in low-income or cash-based economies. The findings suggest that considering essential contextual dispositions is critical.

Guest editorial: Digital transformation strategy and impacts during emergency situations

In line with the interdisciplinarity of the Industrial Management and Data Systems (IMDS) journal, this Special Issue (SI) was focused on exploring the digital transformation phenomenon from different angles, with particular attention on the interplay between operations management, supply chain and information systems related fields, during emergencies and environmental uncertainty contexts. [...]this SI aims to inspire debate and discussion with scholars, practitioners and decision-makers working on governments by reporting the finest science and valuable practical and policy insights to advance the literature, practices and policy formulation. 2. [...]R&D's higher prior investment creates higher levels of digital technology, supporting the firm's resilience. [...]the authors point out that retailers can use blockchain for permission marketing strategies. The results reveal that top management support plays an important mediation effect. [...]the study points out the moderation effect that environmental factors exert on big data analytics adoption.

Guest editorial: Bridging the research-practice gaps in supply chain management: lessons from COVID-19

[...]in response to the need to address some of these new research questions that the COVID-19 pandemic has raised in front of the supply chain managers, we organized a special issue (SI) to develop theoretical debates to broaden our understanding of supply chain management during the pandemic and how in future supply managers can tackle some of these challenges that the entire humanity faced following the COVID-19 crisis due to lack of adequate understanding of the nature of the problem and how to design supply chain for such unprecedented crisis resulting from the COVID-19. [...]we understand that the analytical-based articles have significantly contributed to advancing operations and the supply chain management field (Boyer and Swink, 2008) by solving problems. [...]the importance of review-based articles cannot be ignored as we know that the literature review helps identify the potential research gaps and provide future research agenda that motivates scholars to shape their research strategies. [...]in the past, operations and supply chain management scholars have heavily relied on a few popular organizational theories such as resource-based theory (see, Hitt et al., 2016), institutional theory (Kauppi, 2013), relational view (Dyer and Singh, 1998;Chen and Paulraj, 2004;Chen et al., 2013;Moshtari, 2016), resource dependence theory (Handfield, 1993;Singh et al., 2011;Jajja et al., 2016) and information processing theory (Srinivasan and Swink, 2018;Dubey et al., 2021).

Embracing mobile shopping: what matters most in the midst of a pandemic?

Purpose>The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes to the lives of many people. One of which is the accelerated digitalization in the commerce sector. Hence, this study looks to determine the antecedents that affect users' mobile shopping actual use during a pandemic.Design/methodology/approach>The research model was founded on the integration of the Protection Motivation Theory and Transactional Theory of Stress. This is in addition to further extending the integrated research model with other constructs to develop a multi-dimensional framework that accounted for the health, personal, technological and social dimensions. The data was collected from users of mobile shopping through an online survey which was then analyzed via Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling.Findings>This study provides empirical support to establish the major role of COVID-19 pandemic in affecting the actual usage of mobile shopping. Furthermore, the determinants of actual usage of mobile shopping were found to be multi-dimensional. In particular, the Importance-Performance Map Analysis revealed that emphasis should be place on perceived vulnerability.Originality/value>As other studies focused on users' intentions, this study looked into the factors that influence the actual usage of mobile shopping. Furthermore, this study emphasizes on the contextualization of time and situation in addition to a multi-dimensional approach toward the subject matter. Overall, this study offers practical insights to stakeholders to better tailor their mobile shopping services in times of a pandemic and advances the literature on actual usage of mobile shopping.