Is the Covid-19 pandemic strong enough to change the online order delivery methods? Changes in the relationship between attitude and behavior towards order delivery by drone

Abstract

Delivery of products in online orders by drones has begun to be tested by major retailers. How about consumers? Are they ready for this? Due to the emergence of Covid-19 and its easy transmission from person to person, considering the risks in the streets, a lot of people have started to place their orders online. However, the interaction between the courier and the consumer during the order delivery has become a problem over time. Reducing people's anxiousness in such pandemic situations brings uncertainty about the delivery of the orders. The object of the research is to create a drone delivery system, which is an alternative delivery system that will be solution to these problems and is also used in a limited way around the world. With this study, whose theoretical background is based on the diffusion of innovations theory, technology acceptance model and protection motivation theory, it is aimed to test the relationship between consumer's perceptions, attitudes and behavioral intentions towards drone delivery of online orders. In this research, questionnaire method has been used for data collection and measurement. Moreover, the Structural Equation Modeling approach has been used for data analysis and validation of models. According to the results of this study, significant relationships have been identified between the consumers' perception of benefit and risk, and attitudes and behavioral intentions towards drone delivery of online orders during pandemics.