E-Commerce Service Quality On Customer Satisfaction, Belief and Loyalty: A Proposal
E-Commerce Service Quality On Customer Satisfaction, Belief and Loyalty: A Proposal
E-Commerce Service Quality On Customer Satisfaction, Belief and Loyalty: A Proposal
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Mutia Sobihah
Mahadzirah Mohamad
Nor Azman Mat Ali
Wan Zulqurnain Wan Ismail
Doi:10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2p260
Abstract
E-commerce system websites have helped to grow the business into the international field. In the long term in view, it is very
important for a business to manage satisfaction, belief, and customer loyalty in the adoption of E-commerce services for
business development. In the hotel industry in Malaysia, there is lack of studies on the quality of E-commerce services and has
prompted this study to be done. Examine the perception of foreign tourists to the service factors of E-commerce website that
influence satisfaction, belief and loyalty are the main objective of this study. Adopting from the previous studies, a conceptual
framework of the relationship between E-commerce service quality with satisfaction, belief, and customer loyalty in the hotel
industry in Malaysia is established to adapt with this study. The tourism sector is the seventh major provider to the Malaysian
economy, with a Gross National Income (GNI) of RM47.2 billion in the year 2013, and is the second leading foreign exchange
recipient after manufacture goods. One of the tourism sectors is the hotel industries that have international dimensions and the
use of the highest sites. Tourism and hotel industry in particular is a key-driver for economic growth because the industry has
proven that it is a catalyst for development.
Keywords: customer loyalty, customer satisfaction, customer belief, E-commerce service quality, Malaysia hotel industry
1. Introduction
The developments of information technology and the internet is growing rapidly and is widely viewed as a key driving
force to the increase in the use of E-commerce services in the world in general, and Malaysia in particular. In terms of
access, E-commerce websites provide benefits to wider use of local consumers that moving internationally. E-commerce
also provides new opportunities to export goods and provide services more widely. Besides that, E-commerce can
improve and raise the level of efficiency in an organization. In 2010, the market size of E-commerce in Malaysia has
reached RM1.8 billion, and will continue to increase up to RM5 billion in 2014. The development of E-commerce market
size in Malaysia is RM2 billion to RM3 billion per year (Malaysiacrunch, 2013). The report also reveals that online
purchases in the tourism industry are the most active in Malaysia at a cost of RM435 million, which is 24 percent
compared to other industries (Internetworldstats, 2013).
The use of E-commerce in the hotel industry is seen can improve performance if satisfaction, and customer belief
are met, and eventually customers will continue to be faithful to use it as a means of purchase. E-commerce website is
one of the important strategies in business today. The service sector is an important sector in the Malaysian economy,
which accounts for about 50 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Tourism industry is a contributor to socio-
economic development in Malaysia, and is the third largest contributor to total income after manufacturing in 2008 and
2009 (Ministry of Tourism, 2008 & 2009). Increased between 2006 and 2010, tourism revenues by 55.6% from RM36.3
billion to RM56.5 billion and foreign tourists increased by 41.4% from 17.4 to 24.6 million people (Tourism Malaysia:
Facts & Figures 2011). This information indicates that it is very important studies on loyalty, satisfaction and belief of
foreign tourists in the quality of services offered in the tourism industry in general and hotels in particular. In line with Visit
Malaysia Year 2014, this study was conducted to examine and identify the tourists who flock to the East Coast of
Peninsular Malaysia that using the hotel or travel agency E-commerce websites to make room reservations, either they
satisfied and have confidence with the E-commerce service websites.
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Figure 1. Number of Foreign Tourists Stay Hotel East Coast Malaysia (Tourism Malaysia, 2013)
The expansion rate of foreign tourists staying in hotels above three star on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia is
positive except in 2012. Based on the graph 1, it was shown that the rate of foreign tourists staying in hotels at the East
Coast of Peninsular Malaysia is decreased for the three states that is Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan. In 2011, the
number of foreign tourists staying at the hotel includes a total of 3,218,135 people and had dropped in 2012 to 3,107,088
people. While in Terengganu, the number of foreign tourists staying at the hotel in 2011 is estimated at 132,520 people
and has declined to 132,407 people in 2012, and in the Kelantan number of foreign tourists staying at the hotel in 2011
was over 69,331 people and has dropped to 60,588 people in 2012. The decrease in occupancy rates in hotels may be
due to several factors which include the lack of a unique destination, weaknesses of services offered by the hotel, lack of
promotion, weak management, poor communication and technology (hotel websites and online booking) (NoorRaihan et
al., 2011) . Therefore, this study will look and identify the notion of foreign tourists on the E-commerce service quality
factors contributing to the low occupancy rate.
In the service sector, an efficient coordination was found that communication and information is a critical factor,
therefore an efficient Internet technology has added value and has facilitated the service delivery. Competition in the hotel
industry is how the values are delivered in the form of customer service quality of foreign and local tourists (NoorRaihan
et al., 2011). Based on the analysis of previous studies, 35 to 40 percent of sales revenue from the E-commerce websites
is from the repeated customers (Mustafa, 2011). Therefore, it is very important to know and determine the factors that
influence customer loyalty in using the E-commerce website in the hotel industry.
These challenges and the competitive situation in the hotel industry need a better understanding of satisfaction,
belief, and customer loyalty in achieving Malaysia as a reputable and preferred destination in Asia. Globally, customer
loyalty typically has strong ties in increased profitability, and long-term development of an organization (Mustafa, 2011
and Reichheld, 1995). A small increase in the number of loyal customers can increase profits drastically within an
organization (Huffmire, 2001).
Many empirical studies that examine the relation of satisfaction, belief, and customer loyalty as a result of E-
commerce service website received in many countries of the world due to its importance in terms of maintaining customer
loyalty to the organization (Kim, Donald and Raghav Rao, 2009; Cyr, 2008, and Anderson and Srinivasan, 2003).
Although there are empirical studies such as Mustafa (2011), and Ismail Kassim (2009), and Park and Kim, (2003), which
was discussed on satisfaction, belief, and loyalty of E-commerce customers, but it is limited for the Malaysia hotel
industry. To what extent E-commerce service quality affects satisfaction and customer belief in customer loyalty yet to be
identified. Therefore this study will be undertaken to identify the factors of E-commerce service quality and its relationship
with the satisfaction and belief of our clients in the hotel industry on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
2. Literature Review
Loyalty refers to the repetitive purchase of a product or service from the same brand. Oliver (1997) defines customer
loyalty is when customers commit to buy back continuously and consistently in the future with the same brand. In the
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context of tourism, customer loyalty was loyalty to one's destination or traveling back and recommend to others through
mouth-to-mouth (Kuenzel and Katsaris, 2009). Whereas in the context of E-commerce customer loyalty, it is very
important and valuable. On this day, traders who use E-commerce websites, trying to find out how to construct customer
loyalty. Loyal customers will be a source of information to other customers, they not only find information for themselves.
Customer satisfaction and customer belief are some of the factors that can create customer loyalty that will contribute to
the development of a long-term relationship between the customer and the E-service provider. The study by Kassim and
Ismail (2009), relating to online customers find, the improvement in satisfaction and confidence, will give loyal customers.
The work by Mustafa (2011) in Saudi Arabia, showing both variable between satisfaction and belief of our customers has
a positive relationship with customer loyalty purchase through the E-commerce websites.
Parasuraman et al., (1988) view service quality evaluation by the customers about their expectations of the services
received by a particular service provider. While Santos (2003) defined E-commerce service quality as the evaluations
from the actual experience of the service in terms of excellence and quality of the E-commerce service delivery in the
online market. Wolfinbarger and Gilly (2002), developed comQ scale to measure E-commerce service quality. This scale
consists of 14 items divided into four factors: web site design; reliability; privacy or security; customer service. E-
commerce service quality measures is to assess the quality of online web sites (Kuo, 2003), satisfied with the E-
commerce services that have been provided (Devaraj et al., 2002), and the determinants whether the website is
successful or not (Liu and Arnett, 2000).
Referred to Gummerus et al., (2004), the user interface is the channel, where the users in relation to E-service
providers. According to Kim and Lee (2002), the appeal the user interface design presents to their customers is illustrated
in the form of web site design. The study by Mei Cao et al., (2005), have found that the elements of physical design such
as information design, navigation, layout and appearance that is the software component are important but insufficient.
Instead of the software component, the capability of the hardware also should be considered to make sure that the
customers that access to the website can be loaded within tolerable time. Study by Srinivansan et al., (2002) has shown
that interactive aspects of the applications of E-commerce has a strong relationship with customer loyalty.
Quality of product or service information can be defined as customers' perception on quality of service or product
information supplied on the website (Park and Kim, 2003). Quality website content should be questioned because it is a
way to give credibility to E-customer (Mustafa, 2011 and Mcknight et al., 2002). The study by Park and Kim, (2003), it
was also found that the quality of information straightly affect customer satisfaction. The results of the research by Cyr
(2008), found that culture also plays a role in the quality of information for customer satisfaction.
The notion of security response depends on the reliability of the method of payment and the manner of the transfer
and storage of data, (Kolsaker and Payne, 2002). The notion of security vulnerabilities of E-commerce website by the
customer will result in risk and a major difficulty to the E-commerce web site growth (Dong Her, 2004). Whereas
according to Flavia'n and Guinaly'u, (2006), belief on the E-commerce website depends on the customers' notion of
security of how E-commerce website manages their personal data. E-commerce websites can increase the belief of the
customers by enhancing system security of E-commerce website, (Mustafa, 2011 and Warrington et al., 2000).
The notion of privacy can be defined as the capability of customers to control the existence of others, near the
transaction process and the transaction process happen without the need to present themselves, (Goodwin, 1991).
Whereas according to Flavia'n and Guinaly'u, (2006), the belief of the E-commerce websites are influenced by the notion
of privacy by based customers on how organizations control their personal data. Privacy is the most serious issue in
attracting more online potential customers and retains current customers (Park and Kim, 2003).
Customer satisfaction is exactly how the customer satisfaction offered by the product or service. It has a close
relationship with personal beliefs (Greyskens et al., 1996). Zins (2001), also states that loyalty can be developed through
high level of customer satisfaction. However, the impacts of customer satisfaction on customer loyalty are complex. But
according to Fisher (2001), customer satisfaction is only one reason, and is not an important reason why the customers
will switch to other service or product. A study by Anderson and Lehmann, (1994), shows customer satisfactions are the
main culprits in determining customer loyalty. Anderson and Srinivasan, (2003), found that the customer satisfaction and
loyalty use of E-commerce website are affected by the belief and the perceived value which has been established by the
company mutually. Studies of Cyr (2008) led also found that satisfaction with E-commerce websites is a key factor in
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A group of belief by online customers on online providers, and also the behavior of the suppliers in the upcoming (Coulter
and Coulter, 2002). Meanwhile, according to Lee and Lin, (2005), suggests that the belief encourage virtual purchasing
and indirectly it will affect the attitude of the purchase from E-wholesalers. Loyalty has contributed to the process of
connecting and maintaining the value and importance of the relationship must be formed by belief, (Mustafa, 2011;
Chaudhuri and Holbrook, 2001). The study by Cyr (2008) has found that in countries such as Germany and China shows,
belief in the E-commerce website have a strong relationship with customer loyalty.
E-customer satisfaction and E-customer belief are mediating variables that will lead to E-customer loyalty towards B2C E-
commerce. The perceived user interface quality, the perceived product or service information quality, the notion of
security risk, and the notion of privacy will affect E-customer satisfaction and E-customer belief. All these are illustrated in
Figure 2, developed by Mustafa (2011).
Figure 2. Conceptual Model of Determinants of E-commerce Customer Satisfaction, Belief and Loyalty in Saudi Arabia
(Mustafa, 2011)
Based on the comQ scale that is developed by Wolfinbarger and Gilly (2002) in Figure 3, that divided the measurement of
E-commerce service quality into four factors: web site design; reliability; privacy or security; customer service, this comQ
scale and the instrument developed by Mustafa (2011) is adopt and a conceptual model is established to adapt with this
study. In the established conceptual model, the perceived user interface quality, the perceived product or service
information quality, the notion of security risk, and the notion of privacy will become the factors that will contribute to the
E-commerce service quality or the factors to measure the E-commerce service quality as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 3. ComQ scale, measurement of E-commerce service quality (Wolfinbarger and Gilly, 2002)
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Figure 4. Conceptual Model of E-commerce Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction, Customer Belief and Customer
Loyalty
Based on the conceptual model (Figure 4) and identifying the potential constructs and relationships among them, a set of
propositions were developed:
P1 The improved quality of E-commerce service is increasing tourist’s satisfaction
P2 The improved quality of E-commerce service is increasing tourist’s belief
P2 Customer satisfaction has a direct positive effect on customer loyalty
P3 Customers beliefs have a direct positive effect on customer loyalty
The latent constructs were identified from previous studies. Table 1 shows the constructs and their measurement
items.
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3. Methodology
To carry out this study, we have chosen a quantitative research using a set of questionnaires as research instruments.
Design survey used to collect primary data. The populations were tourists staying at the hotel and resort above three (3)
star on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. This study chose the hospitality industry because this industry is growing
rapidly in Malaysia. Studies involving the hospitality industry in Malaysia is still a limited in determining satisfaction, belief
in the quality of service E-commerce website thus creating loyalty E-customers.
The pilot study will be conducted on three (3) hotels, above three (3) stars in the state of Pahang to test the
questionnaire’s content validity. Through this pilot study, 100 respondents will be selected and given questionnaires
before the actual study done. Respondents were foreign tourists who have reserved a hotel room online. According to
Heiman (1998), a pilot study using respondent should have similarities in terms of shape, and features with the actual
study respondents. Based on these reasons, the respondent of the pilot study have to meet the same criteria as well as
the actual respondents.
The data collected will be tested by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to assess the constructs before tested with
goodness-fit model proposed study using SEM. AMOS software will be used when doing SEM to obtain the relationship
between the constructs in the study simultaneously and will be tested with the proposed model. Goodness-of-Fit Index
(GFI) and Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index (AGFI), will be used to find the goodness-of-fit of the proposed model. Baseline
comparisons indexes, normed Fix Index (NFI), Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) and the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), is another
set of statistical goodness-of-fit, which will also be used to support the hypothesis model. Root Mean Square Error of the
Approximation (RMSEA) for the proposed model will also be obtained to identify the appropriate error estimates for the
model before the model is acceptable (Hair et al., 2006). SEM will also be used to test the hypotheses that have been
proposed.
This paper has sought to examine the perception of foreign tourists towards E-commerce service quality in Malaysian
hotel websites that influence their satisfaction, belief and loyalty. Based on the discussions throughout this paper, it can
be concluded that customer satisfaction and consumer belief will be influenced by E-commerce service quality and also
the mediator that will influence customer loyalty in using the website as a substitute for traditional purchases.
This study will have practical implications for the hotel industry adopting E-commerce applications in Malaysia in
general and on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia in particular. Malaysia hotel’s manager can better understand the
key factors of E-commerce applications or areas they should focus, in order to improve satisfaction, belief, and loyalty of
online customers, thereby improving E-commerce services and corporate success. Besides that, this study also will have
practical implications for education. The educators can know in which courses should give priority to achieve more
successful Information Technology education. The revised framework in this study suggests that perceived user interface
quality, the perceived product or service information quality, the notion of security risk, and the notion of privacy are the
factors that determine the E-commerce service quality. In order to have a loyal customer, the hotel industry should fulfill
the service quality expected by the customer that will satisfied and have belief with the service provider.
5. Acknowledgement
This research was supported by a research grant from Ministry of Higher Education [RAGS/2013/UNISZA/SS05/1], for
which the author is indebted.
References
Anderson, F. And D. Lehmann, (1994). Customer Satisfaction, Market Share, and Profitability:Findings from Sweden, Journal of
Marketing, Vol. 58, 3:53-66.
Anderson J. C. and S. S. Srinivasan (2000). E-satisfaction and E-loyalty: a Contigency Framework. Psychology & Marketing, Vol. 20,
2:123-138.
Chaudhuri, A. & M. Holbrook (2001). The chain of Effects from Brand Trust and Brand Affect to Brand Performane: The Role of Brand
Loyalty. Journal of Marketing Vol. 65, 2:81-93.
Coulter, K. and R. Coulter, (2002). Determinants of Trust in a Service Provider: the Moderating Role of Length of Relationship, Journal of
Services Marketing, Vol. 16, 1:35-50.
Cyr, D. (2008). Modeling Website Design Across Cultures: Relationships to Trust, Satisfaction and E-loyalty, Journal of Management
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