Intention to Use Mobile Easy Payment Services: Focusing on the Risk Perception of COVID-19

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the use of mobile easy payment services that minimize human contact has rapidly increased. Several studies have explored the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the intention to use mobile easy payment services, assuming that the relationship between both variables is simply linear. However, actual complex relationships between variables cannot be fully analyzed in a linear fashion, as most relationships between variables of social phenomena are non-linear. Therefore, this study attempted to analyze the non-linear relationships between factors influencing the intention to use mobile easy payment services, especially since the COVID-19 outbreak, by applying the extended technology acceptance model (TAM2). Online and offline surveys were conducted with users who have used mobile easy payment services since the COVID-19 outbreak; 227 samples were secured for analysis. In addition, an empirical analysis was conducted using PLS-SEM to determine the linearity of relationships between variables. The results showed that subjective norms, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness had significant effects on the intention to use mobile easy payment services. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant moderating effect, also implying non-linear relationships between variables. Based on these results, the study proposes that the pandemic is a factor influencing the intention to use mobile easy payment services, and recommends that providers adopt marketing strategies, such as improving the usefulness of these services.