Factors influencing the adoption of technological product innovations: A study on smart robot vacuum cleaners

The aim of this research is to determine consumers' smart robot vacuum cleaner preferences and their tendencies to adopt robot vacuum cleaners. The study was designed using the quantitative research method. The descriptive research model was used in the study. The population of the research consists of consumers who have smart robot vacuum cleaners over the age of 18. Data was collected from 287 participants selected by convenience sampling method through an online survey. Explanatory factor analysis, Cronbach Alpha coefficient calculation, independent sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of the data. When the smart robot vacuum cleaner preferences of the participants are examined, it is seen that half of them have owned robot vacuum cleaners for 1 to 3 years. Participants prefer this product to clean their homes with less fatigue. Xiaomi and Roborock are the most preferred brands. Recommendations from acquaintances and brand awareness are effective in brand selection. More than half of the participants use the product several times a week. More than half of the participants give a name to their robot vacuum cleaners. "Katia" is the most preferred name. The results of the explanatory factor analysis show that the constructs that play a role in the adoption of smart robot vacuum cleaners (innovation characteristics, product attributes, perceived privacy, perceived risk, trust and customer satisfaction) are valid. According to the analysis results, the innovation characteristics construct exhibits a six-factor structure, namely perceived benefit, compatibility, ease of use, visibility, sharing with the social environment and trialability. The product attributes construct has a two factor structure, namely being autonomous and product functions. The perceived privacy, perceived risk, trust and customer satisfaction constructs are single-factor constructs. When the tendencies regarding the adoption of the participants are examined, it is seen that perceived benefit and ease of use are the innovation characteristics that the participants like the most. The trialability of the product is a characteristic that the participants are more indecisive about compared to other characteristics. When smart robot vacuum cleaners are evaluated in terms of product attributes, it is seen that the participants find the mopping and sweeping functions of the product to be highly successful. The product's autonomous ability is perceived to be moderately successful. The participants' risk perception regarding the performance of smart robot vacuum cleaners is high. They have a low-risk perception regarding the situations that smart robot vacuum cleaners will cause regarding privacy. Participants have high levels of trust in smart robot vacuum cleaners and are satisfied with their performance. The research findings show that participants' tendencies regarding the innovation characteristics of robot vacuum cleaners differ in terms of gender, marital status, age, and income. Participants' tendencies regarding product attributes also differ in terms of age, income, and education. Participants' tendencies regarding the ease of use of the product differ according to the frequency of use.