The impact of customer perceived value on customer satisfaction and loyalty toward the food delivery robot service

Abstract

Purpose

Food delivery robot service (FDRS) is a novel service using autonomous delivery robots that alters human delivery in mobile food ordering. Despite FDRS companies’ skyrocketing service expansions throughout the USA, there has been limited understanding of customer perceived value, customer satisfaction and loyalty which is imperative to promote repeat sales. Therefore, this study aims to examine customer perceived value of FDRS, identify antecedents of customer satisfaction with FDRS and investigate the additional impact of customer satisfaction and loyalty toward FDRS and the restaurant using FDRS.

Design/methodology/approach

As a sample population, this study targeted the US customers over 18 years old and have used FDRS within the past 12 months. With a total of 323 responses, descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were conducted for data analysis.

Findings

The findings of this study demonstrate the positive impacts of functional, price and emotional value on customer satisfaction. The current study also shows that customer satisfaction positively influences customer loyalty toward FDRS and the restaurant.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the current study is arguably the first to investigate customers’ post-purchase experience with FDRS, which enhances understanding of customer behavior toward the service. Moreover, with a multidimensional consumption value approach from the theory of consumption values, this study provides a single framework to explore the relations between customer perceived value, satisfaction and loyalty in the FDRS context.

研究目的

食品配送机器人服务（FDRS）是一种使用自主配送机器人改变移动食品订购的新型服务。尽管FDRS公司在美国各地的服务扩张迅猛, 但对于顾客感知价值、顾客满意度和忠诚度的理解仍有限, 而这对于促进重复销售至关重要。因此, 本研究旨在考察顾客对FDRS的感知价值, 确定影响顾客对FDRS满意度的先决条件, 并调查顾客对FDRS及使用FDRS的餐厅的满意度和忠诚度的影响。

研究方法

本研究以美国18岁以上并且在过去12个月内使用过FDRS的顾客为样本, 共收集到323份回答。采用描述性统计、确认性因素分析和结构方程模型进行数据分析。

研究发现

本研究的结果显示功能性、价格和情感价值对顾客满意度有积极影响。当前研究还表明, 顾客满意度对FDRS及餐厅的忠诚度有积极影响。

研究创新/价值

本研究可以说是首次调查顾客对FDRS购买后的体验, 从而增进对顾客对该服务行为的理解。此外, 本研究采用了来自消费价值理论的多维消费价值方法, 为探索FDRS背景下顾客感知价值、满意度和忠诚度之间的关系提供了一个单一的框架。

Citation

Hong, C., Choi, E.-K.(C)., Joung, H.-W. and Kim, H.-S. (2023), "The impact of customer perceived value on customer satisfaction and loyalty toward the food delivery robot service", Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, Vol. 14 No. 5, pp. 908-924. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-11-2022-0305