Submit to Sustainability Review for Sustainability Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

Fintech and Logistics in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Transportation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 November 2019) | Viewed by 32553

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Taeho Hong

E-Mail
Guest Editor

Department of Business Administration, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
Interests: fintech; AI and machine learning for e-commerce; social commerce

Prof. Dr. Hyung Rim Choi

E-Mail
Guest Editor

Department of Management Information Systems, Dong-A University, Busan 13557, Korea
Interests: smart container; smart port; maritime logistics; maritime transportation

Prof. Dr. Paul Tae-Woo Lee

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, China
Interests: maritime transport and logistics; green shipping corridors; Belt and Road Initiative
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Hyunchul Ahn

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Graduate School of Business IT, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea
Interests: AI/ML applications in marketing and finance; knowledge engineering; IS adoption or use
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The topic of this Special Issue is “Sustainability Issues in Fintech and Logistics for e-Commerce in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era”. Electronic commerce has been developed rapidly over the last few decades. The world’s largest platforms including Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, and Taobao are causing a revolution, especially in the areas of fintech and logistics, and new innovations in e-commerce are emerging through 4th industrial revolution with AI and big data. Furthermore, AI and machine learning built on big data have become an essential driving force for e-commerce market players such as Amazon’s Alexa, WeChat, Alipay, and Netflix, to name a few, who are radically changing the competitive landscape. Blockchain technologies are emerging with a great potential to change extant business processes, for example in transportation and logistics, which will improve efficiency, transparency and security in global transactions and trade as well as greatly reduce bureaucracy and paperwork. Softbank and Alibaba have invested in diverse start-ups in technological innovations outside of Silicon Valley. However, notwithstanding such a promising future, the stakeholders in e-commerce and fintech in tandem with the logistics industry are facing a critical issue of sustainability with a competitive advantage based on emerging technologies. To cope with this, they should address several key challenges to building trust and good relationships with their customers with these new technologies. To the best of our knowledge, a number of papers related to the sustainability issue in fintech and logistics for e-commerce have already appeared in international journals in diverse fields. However, we find there is great potential to make further contributions to the e-commerce and sustainability literature by expanding the research coverage and adopting new methodologies that reflect emerging digital technologies and techniques, including AI and machine learning. Having said that, we have tried to fill the gap, aiming to open chances to discuss the increasing importance of sustainability and the great potential to make contributions in the areas of, but not limited to, fintech and logistics.

This Special Issue comprises selected papers from “21st International Conference on Electronic Commerce” to be held in Haeundae Grand Hotel, Busan, Korea on 3–5 July 2019. The conference website is https://icec.net.

Prof. Dr. Taeho Hong
Prof. Dr. Hyung Rim Choi
Prof. Dr. Paul Tae-Woo Lee
Prof. Dr. Hyunchul Ahn
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

The impacts of fintech on logistics
Roles of fintech in the fourth industrial revolution era
Sustainability issues in developing fintech in the fourth industrial revolution era
Current situation and challenges in e-commerce development in the Asia Pacific region
Obstacles and challenges that cross-border e-commerce is facing
Mobile and social commerce
AI for e-commerce
Big data and machine learning in e-commerce
Smart connected services
Block chain, cryptocurrency, and token economy
Country case studies of applying fintech to logistics

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

14 pages, 2609 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Multi-Period Product Recommender System in Online Food Market based on Recurrent Neural Networks

by Hea In Lee, Il Young Choi, Hyun Sil Moon and Jae Kyeong Kim

Sustainability 2020, 12(3), 969; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12030969 - 29 Jan 2020

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4482

Abstract

A recommender system supports customers to find information, products, or services (such as music, books, movies, web sites, and digital contents), so it could help customers to make rapid routine decisions and save their time and money. However, most existing recommender systems do not recommend items that are already purchased by the target customer, so are not suitable for considering customers’ repetitive purchase behavior or purchasing order. In this research, we suggest a multi-period product recommender system, which can learn customers’ purchasing order and customers’ repetitive purchase pattern. For such a purpose we applied the Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), which is one of the artificial neural network structures specialized in time series data analysis, instead of collaborative filtering techniques. Recommendation periods are segmented as various time-steps, and the proposed RNN-based recommender system can recommend items by multiple periods in a time sequence. Several experiments with real online food market data show that the proposed system shows higher performance in accuracy and diversity in a multi-period perspective than the collaborative filtering-based system. From the experimental results, we conclude that the proposed system is suitable for multi-period product recommendation, which results in robust performance considering well customers’ purchasing orders and customers’ repetitive purchase patterns. Moreover, in terms of sustainability, we expect that our study contributes to the reduction of food wastes by inducing planned consumption, and the reduction of shopping time and effort. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fintech and Logistics in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 3311 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Why Are the Largest Social Networking Services Sometimes Unable to Sustain Themselves?

by Yong Joon Hyoung, Arum Park and Kyoung Jun Lee

Sustainability 2020, 12(2), 502; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12020502 - 09 Jan 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2990

Abstract

The sustainability of SNSs (social networking services) is a major issue for both business strategists and those who are simply academically curious. The “network effect” is one of the most important theories used to explain the competitive advantage and sustainability of the largest SNSs in the face of the emergence of multiple competitive followers. However, as numerous cases can be observed when a follower manages to overcome the previously largest SNS, we propose the following research question: Why are the largest social networking services sometimes unable to sustain themselves? This question can also be paraphrased as follows: When (under what conditions) do the largest SNSs collapse? Although the network effect generally enables larger networks to survive and thrive, exceptional cases have been observed, such as NateOn Messenger catching up with MSN Messenger in Korea (Case 1), KakaoTalk catching up with NateOn in Korea (Case 2), Facebook catching up with Myspace in the USA (Case 3), and Facebook catching up with Cyworld in Korea (Case 4). To explain these cases, hypothesis-building and practice-oriented methods were chosen. While developing our hypothesis, we coined the concept of a “larger population social network” (LPSN) and proposed an “LPSN effect hypothesis” as follows: The largest SNS in one area can collapse when a new SNS grows in another larger population’s social network. For the validity and reliability of our case studies, we used an evidence chain and case study protocol with a publicly-accessible LPSN index to determine which SNS is better for participating in or adding offline social networks to their platform. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fintech and Logistics in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1135 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Choice Attributes of Internet Specialized Banks on Integrated Loyalty: The Moderating Effect of Gender

by Ji-Hee Jung and Jae-Ik Shin

Sustainability 2019, 11(24), 7063; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11247063 - 10 Dec 2019

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2781

Abstract

There is growing interest in how Internet specialized banks that provide the Internet as a major customer channel can change the paradigm of the banking industry by securing a niche market in competition with existing banks that have a multi-channel strategy. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the choice attributes of Internet specialized banks affect attitudinal loyalty and intention of continuous use, and to identify the moderating effect of gender. A structural equation analysis was performed using 215 respondents. They have experience using Internet specialized banks in South Korea. The results of the empirical analysis are as follows. First, information, transaction, and safety of choice attributes in Internet specialized banks have a positive effect on attitudinal loyalty. Second, information, transaction, and safety of choice attributes in Internet specialized banks have a positive effect on intention of continuous use. Third, attitudinal loyalty has a positive effect on intention of continuous use. Fourth, the gender moderating effects between information, transaction, safety and attitudinal loyalty, and intention of continuous use are rejected at the significance level of 0.05. It is found that information, transaction, and safety, which are choice attributes of Internet specialized banks, are the main factors that improve attitudinal loyalty and intention of continuous use. Contrary to expectations, the gender moderating effect between the choice attributes, attitudinal loyalty, and intention of continuous use is not significant, but there is a difference in the degree of influence between men and women. Therefore, in order to improve the performances of attitudinal loyalty and intention of continuous use in Internet specialized banks, the choice attribute should be managed from users’ perspective. The management of successful choice attributes that customers want will be the foundation for Internet specialized banks’ sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fintech and Logistics in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1434 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Sustainable Project Management Strategy against Multitasking Situations from the Viewpoints of Cognitive Mechanism and Motivational Belief

by Junyoung Park and Do-Hyung Park

Sustainability 2019, 11(24), 6912; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11246912 - 04 Dec 2019

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3217

Abstract

In modern society, multitasking is necessary for a worker to accomplish a final goal by their deadline, which could be pursued for either a single goal or multiple goals. Moreover, a worker who has the authority to prioritize their tasks can make plans about the process of behavioral strategies to perform each task by making a to-do list. This strategy is a way of unpacking that which seems to affect the expectancy of goal attainment and heighten the value and importance of the goal. Otherwise, a worker could write a to-do list without specific action plans. These effects of unpacking and packing can be used as management strategies for multitasking engagement and could impact a worker’s cognition differently depending on the goal relations, including if there is a single goal or multiple goals. On the one hand, in pursuit of a single goal, unpacking can facilitate a worker’s judgment of the importance of the task. On the other hand, in pursuit of multiple goals, a worker’s judgment of one task’s importance can conflict with another task due to contradictory unpacking guidelines. Additionally, self-regulation as an intrinsic motivation empowers conscious intentions to neglect the cognitive effects of the to-do list. Therefore, those with low self-regulation tend to be encouraged by the effect of unpacking, but those with high self-regulation have the effects of unpacking inhibited. This theoretical model was constructed to identify the cognitive mechanism and the role of self-regulation on boundary conditions in regard to the different effects on unpacking. This study was confirmed via the two-way experiment (single- and multiple-goal x packing and unpacking) to explore the effects of the cognitive mechanism on task importance. The following test was performed via the three-way experiment, using an additional variable, the levels of self-regulation (low self-regulation and high self-regulation), to verify whether they inhibit cognitive effects. This study suggests that the judgment of task importance is different in accordance with goal relations, packing and unpacking, and self-regulations for sustainable management strategies of multitasking. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fintech and Logistics in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1012 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Virtuality Changes Consumer Preference: The Effect of Transaction Virtuality as Psychological Distance on Consumer Purchase Behavior

by Do-Hyung Park

Sustainability 2019, 11(23), 6618; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11236618 - 22 Nov 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3234

Abstract

With the rapid development of information and communication technology, a variety of new industries and services are rapidly evolving based on the convergence between existing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and heterogeneous industries. In the meantime, the FinTech market, created by the convergence of financial and ICT areas, is emerging and growing rapidly. The new market of virtual transaction based on digital money is growing faster than any other FinTech area. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the perceived difference in the virtuality of a consumer’s transaction affects the consumer’s purchasing behavior and how the behavior changes. Specifically, this study revealed that consumers’ perceived virtuality differs according to the type of transaction method. Consumers felt that the money was more virtual when they had digital (virtual) currency for a service than when they had cash. This virtuality of money controls the psychological distance of the consumer’s money, which is closer to cash than virtual currency. This difference in psychological distance affects consumers’ information processing, such that when psychological distances are far (vs. close), consumers prefer products that are described as abstract (vs. concrete), and have a more favorable attitude toward products with more variety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fintech and Logistics in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 527 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Understanding Consumers’ Loyalty to an Online Outshopping Platform: The Role of Social Capital and Perceived Value

by Yumei Luo and Qiongwei Ye

Sustainability 2019, 11(19), 5371; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11195371 - 28 Sep 2019

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4686

Abstract

We draw upon the social capital theory in order to discuss how three dimensions of social capital affect consumer value and loyalty to online outshopping platforms. After considering the characteristics of consumers, we propose that the structural, relational, and cognitive dimensions of social capital promote consumers’ perceptions of utilitarian and idea shopping value, and that those perceived values increase loyalty to online outshopping platforms. The survey data of 291 Chinese consumers with online outshopping platform experience are used to test the model. The results show that different dimensions of consumers’ social capital influence their loyalty through different values. Utilitarian value mediates the effects of structural capital and cognitive capital on loyalty, whereas hedonic value (ideal shopping value) mediates the effects of structural and relational capital on loyalty. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fintech and Logistics in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 570 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Trust Influencing Mechanism of Robo-Advisor Service: A Mixed Method Approach

by Xusen Cheng, Fei Guo, Jin Chen, Kejiang Li, Yihui Zhang and Peng Gao

Sustainability 2019, 11(18), 4917; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11184917 - 09 Sep 2019

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 10166

Abstract

As a typical application of fintech, the robo-advisor has increasingly gained attention over the last decade. However, most research regarding the robo-advisor has focused on its development issues such as performance improvement and regulation, while limited research has paid attention to trust. This research extends the literature by investigating the trust influencing mechanism of robo-advisors by a mixed method approach. Specifically, we identified six salient trust influencing factors by qualitative interviews and proposed the research model based on trust transfer theory. This model was tested via a survey of 230 investors. Our study finds the significant influencing role of supervisory control and validates the relationships among trust influencing factors, trust in technologies, trust in vendor and trust in robo-advisor. Moreover, several differences between junior investors and senior investors are also found in our research. This study examines trust transfer theory in the new context of the robo-advisor and contributes to further development of this increasingly utilized service. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fintech and Logistics in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era)

► Show Figures