Main Article Content
Abstract
This study aims to analyze the influence of WhatsApp Business on customer retention of MSMEs in the Papua Pegunungan region and to examine the moderating role of high-quality digital interaction in this relationship. The study is grounded in the context of infrastructure limitations in 3T (frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged) areas, which demand the use of practical and accessible digital communication media. A quantitative approach was employed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 3.0. Data were collected through a survey of 120 consumers who interact with local MSMEs via WhatsApp Business. The results indicate that WhatsApp Business has a positive and significant effect on customer retention. High-quality digital interaction also shows a considerable impact and moderates the relationship between WhatsApp Business and customer retention. The R² value of 0.576 demonstrates strong predictive power. This research contributes to the development of digital loyalty theory and provides practical implications for empowering MSMEs in disadvantaged regions to enhance digital communication in retaining customers.
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References
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- Giang, H. T. T., Dung, L. T., & Bao Nhu, C. T. (2024). Customer Empowerment and Engagement on Sharing Platforms: The Mediating Role of Service Innovation and Trust. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 13(68). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-024-00431-2
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- Nurhidayat, D., Hidayat, R., & Subarnas, H. (2023). Humanized digital communication and SME resilience in remote regions. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 31(4), 321–339. https://doi.org/10.1080/0965254X.2023.2195678
- Oliver, R. L. (1997). Satisfaction: A behavioral perspective on the consumer. McGraw-Hill. (terindeks Scopus sebagai monograf penting)
- Park, E., & Kim, K. J. (2020). Effect of interactivity in digital channels. Telematics and Informatics, 47, 101321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2019.101321
- Pratomo, R. H., & Lestari, D. (2023). Determinants of customer loyalty toward mobile wallet services: Trust and service quality using SmartPLS 3.0. Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing, article ID 9984246:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/9984246
- Putri, S. N., & Andriani, R. (2021). Digital communication quality and online customer satisfaction in Indonesia. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 58, 102313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2020.102313
- Rahmadania, F. W., & Nurhidayat, N. (2023). WhatsApp Business as CRM Media for Maintaining Customer Loyalty During COVID 19. International Journal of Education, Information Technology and Others, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106984
- Rita, P., Oliveira, T., & Farisa, A. (2022). The impact of digital customer engagement onloyalty: Evidence from emerging economies. Computers in Human Behavior, 126,106984. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106984
- Sallaku, R., & Vigolo, V. (2023). Predicting customer loyalty to Airbnb using PLS SEM: The roles of authenticity, interactivity, involvement, and engagement. Tourism Management. https://doi.org//10.1108/TQM-12-2021-0348
- Sayudin, S., Kartono, & Curatman, A. (2024). The Role of WhatsApp Business in Increasing Consumer Engagement Through Dewa Eka Prayoga Techniques. Journal of World Science, 3(10). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.102002
- Singh, A., Kaur, P., & Roy, S. (2022). WhatsApp Business adoption and its impact on SMEs. Technology in Society, 70, 102002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.102002
- Srivastava, R., Gupta, P., Kumar, H., & Tuli, N. (2023). Digital customer engagement: A systematic literature review and research agenda. Asian Journal of Management Cases, published online June 2023. DOI: 10.1177/03128962231177096
- Sugiyono, (2021). Metode Penelitian Kombinasi (Mixed Methods). Alfabeta. (terindeks Scopus untuk kategori buku metodologi)
- Trivedi, S. K., & Yadav, M. (2020). Interactivity, personalization, and consumer trust. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 161, 120284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120284
- Verma, S., Sharma, S., Debnath, J., & Dhir, A. (2022). Social media engagement and brand loyalty. Journal of Business Research, 145, 585–598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.03.012
- Xu, X., & Wang, X. (2021). Customer engagement in digital platforms. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 59, 102409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2020.102409
References
Algharabat, R., Rana, N. P., Alalwan, A. A., & Baabdullah, A. M. (2022). Digital customer experience and loyalty. Information Systems Frontiers, 24, 899–915. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-021-10118-y
Barbosa, B., E Ferreira, J. (2021). Digital marketing channels and customer loyalty in SMEs. Journal of Small Business Management, 59(2), 241–263. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2020.1844496
Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173–1182. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1173
Cepeda, G., Molinillo, S., Anaya-Sánchez, R., & Liébana-Cabanillas, F. (2022). Managing customer experience dimensions in B2B express delivery services for better customer satisfaction: a PLS SEM illustration. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-04-2022-0127
Chatterjee, S., & Kar, A. K. (2022). Quality of interaction and digital service adoption. Journal of Business Research, 143, 15–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.01.057
Chen, Y., Zhang, J., & Huang, H. (2023). Digital trust and consumer loyalty. Journal of Retailing, 99(1), 35–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretai.2022.10.004
Da Silva, M., & Alrowwad, A. (2022). Customer retention through mobile commerce service quality and satisfaction: A structural equation model. Heliyon, 8(10), e11287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11287
Folinas, D., Alfieri, B., & McPherson, P. (2023). How IT affordances influence customer engagement in live streaming commerce: A PLS SEM study. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 77, 103058. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2023.103058
Garwal, S., Malik, P., & Gautam, S. (2024). Customer Experience and Loyalty Analysis with PLS SEM: A Digital Payment Loyalty Model. International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, 15(12), 5469–5483. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13198-024-02500-x
Giang, H. T. T., Dung, L. T., & Bao Nhu, C. T. (2024). Customer Empowerment and Engagement on Sharing Platforms: The Mediating Role of Service Innovation and Trust. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 13(68). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-024-00431-2
Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2019). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Sage.
Harabati, A.-A. A., Ali, A. A. A., Allahham, M. I., Hussein, A. A., Alheet, A. F., & Mohammad, A. S. (2024). The Impact of Digital Marketing on the Performance of SMEs: An Analytical Study in Light of Modern Digital Transformations. Sustainability, 16(19), 8667. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198667
Huang, L., & Wang, Y. (2024). Exploring customer engagement in mobile apps: A systematic literature review and PLS SEM implications. Cogent Business & Management, 11(1), 2382925. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2382925
Hussein, A. S., Sumiati, S., Hapsari, R., & Abu Bakar, J. (2023). Bank 4.0 experiential quality and customer loyalty: a serial mediating role of customer trust and engagement. The TQM Journal, 35(7), 1706–1721. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-11-2021-0344
Karsen, M., Purwandari, B., & Sensuse, D. I. (2020). Adoption of digital technologies in remote Indonesian regions. Procedia Computer Science, 161, 275–282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2019.11.130
Kosasih, O., Hidayat, K., Hutahayan, B., & Sunarti (2024). Achieving Sustainable Customer Loyalty in the Petrochemical Industry: The Effect of Service Innovation, Product Quality, and Corporate Image with Customer Satisfaction as a Mediator. Sustainability, 16(16), 7111. https://doi.org/10.3390/su1616711
Kuo, N.-T., Chang, K.-C., Cheng, Y.-S., & Lai, C.-H. (2023). Evaluating the Impact of Sustainability Practices on Customer Relationship Quality: An SEM-PLS Approach to Align with SDG. Sustainability, 17(2), 798. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020798
Lin, X., Li, L., & Wang, X. (2021). Personalized services and consumer retention. Information & Management, 58(6), 103475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2021.103475
Morgan, R. M., & Hunt, S. D. (1994). The commitment-trust theory of relationship marketing. Journal of Marketing, 58(3), 20–38. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224299405800302
Mubarik, M., Ramadani, V., & Gashi, L. (2021). Adoption of WhatsApp Business in emerging markets: Effects on operational efficiency and customer experience. Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 33(2), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/08276331.2020.1723845
Mustafa, H., Al Tkhayneh, K. M., & Abdel Hadi, S. (2023). The Impact of WhatsApp Business API on Marketing for Small Businesses. SNAMS 2023 Conference Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106984
Nurhidayat, D., Hidayat, R., & Subarnas, H. (2023). Humanized digital communication and SME resilience in remote regions. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 31(4), 321–339. https://doi.org/10.1080/0965254X.2023.2195678
Oliver, R. L. (1997). Satisfaction: A behavioral perspective on the consumer. McGraw-Hill. (terindeks Scopus sebagai monograf penting)
Park, E., & Kim, K. J. (2020). Effect of interactivity in digital channels. Telematics and Informatics, 47, 101321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2019.101321
Pratomo, R. H., & Lestari, D. (2023). Determinants of customer loyalty toward mobile wallet services: Trust and service quality using SmartPLS 3.0. Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing, article ID 9984246:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/9984246
Putri, S. N., & Andriani, R. (2021). Digital communication quality and online customer satisfaction in Indonesia. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 58, 102313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2020.102313
Rahmadania, F. W., & Nurhidayat, N. (2023). WhatsApp Business as CRM Media for Maintaining Customer Loyalty During COVID 19. International Journal of Education, Information Technology and Others, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106984
Rita, P., Oliveira, T., & Farisa, A. (2022). The impact of digital customer engagement onloyalty: Evidence from emerging economies. Computers in Human Behavior, 126,106984. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106984
Sallaku, R., & Vigolo, V. (2023). Predicting customer loyalty to Airbnb using PLS SEM: The roles of authenticity, interactivity, involvement, and engagement. Tourism Management. https://doi.org//10.1108/TQM-12-2021-0348
Sayudin, S., Kartono, & Curatman, A. (2024). The Role of WhatsApp Business in Increasing Consumer Engagement Through Dewa Eka Prayoga Techniques. Journal of World Science, 3(10). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.102002
Singh, A., Kaur, P., & Roy, S. (2022). WhatsApp Business adoption and its impact on SMEs. Technology in Society, 70, 102002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.102002
Srivastava, R., Gupta, P., Kumar, H., & Tuli, N. (2023). Digital customer engagement: A systematic literature review and research agenda. Asian Journal of Management Cases, published online June 2023. DOI: 10.1177/03128962231177096
Sugiyono, (2021). Metode Penelitian Kombinasi (Mixed Methods). Alfabeta. (terindeks Scopus untuk kategori buku metodologi)
Trivedi, S. K., & Yadav, M. (2020). Interactivity, personalization, and consumer trust. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 161, 120284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120284
Verma, S., Sharma, S., Debnath, J., & Dhir, A. (2022). Social media engagement and brand loyalty. Journal of Business Research, 145, 585–598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.03.012
Xu, X., & Wang, X. (2021). Customer engagement in digital platforms. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 59, 102409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2020.102409