Disruptive technology and AI in the banking industry of an emerging market
Abstract
Purpose: As disruptive technologies, such as the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled customer relationship management (CRM) systems, alter the processes and strategies that banks use in service delivery models, the impact of such technologies on consumer acceptance and buying behavior must continue to be examined. This research studies the impact of technology usage and acceptance of AI-enabled banking CRM systems in Nigeria on consumer buying behavior via the mediation of customer satisfaction and service quality. The study also investigates the negative impact of technology downtime, a frequent phenomenon in the emerging market, which has not, to this point, been studied on a large scale. Design/methodology/approach: The authors collect quantitative data via a face-to-face administered questionnaire from four hundred customers of ten different Nigerian banks regarding their perceptions of technology use in the banking sector. Findings: While the research finds that technology usage has positive and direct effects on service quality, customer satisfaction and consumer buying behavior, service quality was found not to have a significant effect on consumer buying behavior. The study also establishes that technology downtime has a moderating effect on technology usage, consumer buying behavior and customer satisfaction in the banking context. Originality/value: Scant literature exists that explores the importance of culture in technology usage and acceptance, specifically in developing countries like Nigeria. This study explores the impact of technology usage along with acceptance in the Nigerian setting on Nigerian consumers and their resulting satisfaction. Technology usage has been known to impact customer satisfaction in various ways, but no study has looked specifically at how technology in the banking sector can further be of help or harm from a Nigerian perspective. This study explores the technology usage in banking sector of Nigeria and its impact on the consumer buying behaviour. No studies in our knowledge have been known to consider the role of technology downtime, a frequent phenomenon in emerging market, as a factor, which will affect the customer satisfaction and buying behavior. Thus, this study (1a) explores the negative outcomes of technology downtime on both service quality and customer satisfaction, (b) explores the moderating relationship of technology downtime on the technology usage and consumer-related outcomes.