EXPLORING TAXI DRIVERS’ READINESS TO USE SMARTPHONE APPLICATIONS FOR E-HAILING SERVICES

Abstract

The rapid advancement of technology has brought about various innovative solutions that cater to the convenience of individuals in meeting their needs and desires. E-hailing services have mainly gained immense popularity among customers. However, a dearth of research remains on taxi drivers' attitudes and preparedness towards embracing e-hailing services in Malaysia. This empirical study aims to bridge this gap by identifying the factors that impede the adoption of mobile applications for e-hailing services among taxi drivers. The study leverages the Mobile Technology Acceptance Model (MTAM) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as theoretical frameworks to comprehend the readiness of taxi drivers to accept mobile application technology for e-hailing services. Through a survey methodology, data is collected from participants, providing valuable insights to enhance taxi drivers' engagement with e-hailing services. The findings reveal that certain independent variables such as volunteer, skill, mobile perceived compatibility, mobile perceived financial resources, and mobile perceived trust are insignificant to the dependent variables. Furthermore, the findings of this study have important implications for the development of e-hailing services in Malaysia. The findings suggest that e-hailing providers need to address the concerns of taxi drivers in order to increase their adoption of e-hailing services. By collaborating with the government to do training and other activities to improve taxi driver readiness for e-hailing services, e-hailing providers can resolve the concerns of taxi drivers regarding adopting mobile applications for e-hailing services. Further research is needed to identify and understand these factors to develop