Effects of Mobile Technology Innovations on Demand For Rental Space in Shopping Malls:

Abstract

Mobile technology innovations have given individuals and businesses a borderless outreach, the technology has sparked the growth of entirely new industries and revolutionized business processes as well as societal improvements. The objectives of the case study included: to investigate how reducing cost of mobile technology affect demand for rental space in shopping malls; to establish how perceived usefulness of mobile technology affect demand for rental space in shopping malls; and to analyse how perceived ease of use of mobile technology affect demand for rental space in shopping malls. This case study adopted descriptive research design focusing on business managers from 126 businesses at Sarit Centre Mall. A representative sample of 92 respondents was selected. A questionnaire was used to collect primary data for the study. The study used mean and standard deviation for the study. The analysis revealed that businesses operated at the malls were finance/banking, entertainment, health/medical, retail/wholesale, clothes and fashion, beauty and cosmetic, hotel and leisure and books and education. The study found out that the reducing cost of mobile technology virtual displays/ online malls had led to reduced demand for exhibition and display space, reducing cost of information sharing via mobile technology. The study also established that 24 hours access to business via mobile technology, accessibility of business on virtual malls from any location, secure payment processes. The study also revealed that the ease of use of mobile technology attributed to simple language and menus on mobile technology, flexible and easy to use mobile applications, and simple operating procedures on mobile technology and reduced paperwork/ paperless offices has led to reduced demand for display and exhibition space in malls and over the counter transactions. The study concludes that reducing cost of mobile technology virtual displays/ online malls, reducing cost of information sharing via mobile technology and minimal mobile technology setup and operational fees which includes payment services, advertising and order processing services had led to the reduction of demands of shopping spaces at the shopping Malls. The study concludes that mobile technology had led to 24 hours access to business via mobile technology, accessibility of business on virtual malls from any location, secure payment processes, mobile based advertisement and short messages promotions and effective communication to both customers and suppliers through mobile technology thus reduced demand for exhibition and display space in malls and over the counter transactions. The study further concludes that ease of use of mobile technology attributed to simple language and menus on mobile technology, flexible and easy to use mobile applications, and simple operating procedures on mobile technology and reduced paperwork/ paperless offices has led to reduced demand for display and exhibition space in malls and over the counter transactions. The study recommends that there is need to employ modern technological innovations such as internet based services for businesses to be highly competitive. The study recommends that mobile technology should be enhanced to enable 24 hours access to business via mobile technology, accessibility of business on virtual malls from any location and secure payment processes. The study recommends that there is need for the shopping malls businesses to take advantage of the availability of Service providers who have already realized the importance of these applications suitable for Enterprise growth and increased research and production of suitable applications. There is also a need to integrate suitable mobile technology innovation in business models for competitive advantage.