Consumer acceptance of voice-activated smart home devices for product information seeking and online ordering

• Published in: Computers in human behavior Vol. 119; p. 106714
• Main Authors: Canziani, Bonnie, MacSween, Sara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elmsford Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2021; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Amazon Alexa; Consumers; Hedonic; Opinion seeking; Product information; Recommendation agents; Smart buildings; Technology Acceptance Model; Technology utilization; Voice; Voice-activated device; Amazon Alexa; Voice-activated device; Recommendation agents; Opinion seeking; Hedonic
• ISSN: 0747-5632; 1873-7692
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2021.106714

This paper explores how voice-activated smart home devices (SHDs) like Amazon Alexa and Google Home influence consumers' retail information seeking and ordering behaviors. The impacts of device utility and hedonic perceptions of voice are examined in an extension of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The authors augment existing principles of technology acceptance theories by adding specific drivers of opinion-seeking behavior to better comprehend consumers’ perceptions of device utility for online retail activity. Both gender and generation were found to influence consumer intentions to use SHDs for online ordering of products. A rationale for future research on consumer interaction with SHDs is offered. •Consumers like the convenience of voice-activated smart home devices (SHDs).•We explore how opinion seeking and SHD utility impact voice-activated ordering.•Hedonic attitude toward voice and device utility are primary drivers of SHD ordering.•Facilitating conditions supporting use of SHDs are more important for men than women.•For Millennials, choice confusion is a significant influencer of SHD device utility.