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Sustainable Logistics: Exploring the Determinants of Consumer Attitudes and Intention to Use Toward Autonomous Delivery Services

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  • Yaxiao Chen

    (Department of International Commerce & Business, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea)

  • Mi Hyun Ryu

    (Department of International Commerce, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

Autonomous delivery services offer significant cost-saving benefits for logistics and e-commerce companies while helping mitigate environmental issues and urban traffic congestion. As these services become increasingly prevalent in China, understanding how user participation influences adoption decisions is crucial. This study analyzes attitudes and intention to use toward autonomous delivery by integrating factors such as sustainability and customer participation within the technology acceptance model. Notably, prior research has rarely included consumers aged 50 and older, despite their growing engagement with online shopping and delivery services in China. To address this gap, the present study incorporates data from this demographic to enhance representativeness. Employing SEM combined with multi-group analysis through AMOS 24.0, this study examined 526 valid survey responses. The results demonstrate that attitudes toward autonomous delivery systems are positively shaped by perceived usefulness, ease of operation, sustainability features, self-efficacy beliefs, and customer engagement levels. Moreover, user attitudes emerge as a significant predictor of behavioral intention to adopt such services. Additionally, technology-related anxiety and personal innovativeness levels were found to moderate the attitude–intention linkage. These insights establish a theoretical framework to guide future advancements in autonomous delivery system development, marketing strategy optimization, and academic exploration within this domain.

Suggested Citation

  • Yaxiao Chen & Mi Hyun Ryu, 2025. "Sustainable Logistics: Exploring the Determinants of Consumer Attitudes and Intention to Use Toward Autonomous Delivery Services," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-25, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:8:p:3290-:d:1630048
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    References listed on IDEAS

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