How Today's Consumers Perceive Tomorrow's Smart Products

39 Pages Posted: 7 Mar 2007

See all articles by S. A. Rijsdijk

S. A. Rijsdijk

Erasmus University - Rotterdam School of Management

E.J. Hultink

Delft University of Technology

Date Written: January 22, 2007

Abstract

This manuscript investigates consumer responses to new smart products. Due to the application of information technology, smart products are able to collect, process and produce information, and can be described to ‘think’ for themselves. In this study, consumers respond to smart products that are characterized by two different combinations of smartness dimensions. One group of products shows the smartness dimensions of autonomy, adaptability and reactivity. Another group of smart products are multifunctional and can cooperate with other products. We measure consumer responses to these smart products in terms of the innovation attributes of relative advantage, compatibility, observability, complexity and perceived risk. A study among 184 consumers shows that products with higher levels of smartness are perceived to have both advantages and disadvantages. Higher levels of product smartness are mainly associated with higher levels of observability and perceived risk. The effects of product smartness on relative advantage, compatibility and complexity vary across product smartness dimensions and across product categories. For example, higher levels of product autonomy are perceived as increasingly advantageous while a high level of multifunctionality is perceived disadvantageous. The paper discusses the advantages and pitfalls for each of the five product smartness dimensions and their implications for new product development (NPD). The manuscript concludes with a discussion of the limitations of the study and it provides suggestions for further research.

Keywords: Adoption, New Product Development, Consumer Evaluations, Intelligent Products, Smart Products

Suggested Citation

Rijsdijk, S.A. and Hultink, Erik Jan, How Today's Consumers Perceive Tomorrow's Smart Products (January 22, 2007). ERIM Report Series Reference No. ERS-2007-005-ORG, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=968850

S.A. Rijsdijk (Contact Author)

Erasmus University - Rotterdam School of Management ( email )

Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
3000 DR Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland 3062PA
Netherlands
+31 10 48 9014 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: www.rsm.nl/srijsdijk

Erik Jan Hultink

Delft University of Technology ( email )

Jaffalaan 9
NL-2628 BX Delft
Netherlands
+31.15.27.83.032 (Phone)
+31.15.27.87.662 (Fax)

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