Designing multi-channel technologies ? the mediating role of risk perceptions

The integration of online and offline distribution channels has become a major topic in practice and research. Several studies reveal beneficial outcomes for retailers if consumers use multiple channels. Therefore, many retailers offer multi-channel technologies (MCTs), i.e. click & collect, check & reserve and the availability check, which encourage this behavior. However, research is still sparse on how retailers should design these MCTs to provide the highest usefulness for consumers. Our study thus analyzes the impact of different MCT design characteristics on consumers? perceived usefulness of these MCTs. Moreover, we examine how consumers? perceived time and product availability risk mediate these effects. The results show that some MCT design characteristics exhibit the expected positive impacts on consumers? perceived usefulness of the MCTs, while others seem to be less relevant and even counterproductive. In particular, a certain (vs. unspecified) product pick-up time and a high (vs. low) displayed inventory status lead to a higher perceived usefulness of the MCTs via the two risk dimensions. However, the immediate (vs. delayed) confirmation of product reservations does not have any positive effects. In fact, it even decreases the perceived usefulness of click & collect. These findings provide implications for the design of MCTs.