TEM Journal. Volume 13, Issue 2, pages 1413-1422, ISSN 2217-8309, DOI: 10.18421/TEM132-55, May 2024.
TEM Journal – Volume 13 / Number 2 / 2024. 1413
Factors of Adoption of Electronic
Commerce in SMEs in Mexico
Gerardo Haces P
1
P, José-Melchor Medina P
1
P , Ramon-Ventura Roque P
2
P,
Julio-Cesar Macias P
1
P, Hector-Gabino Aguirre P
1
P
P
1
PAutonomous University of Tamaulipas, Victoria university center, Victoria, Mexico
P
2
PAutonomous University of Tamaulipas, Av. de la Republica SN, Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
Abstract – E-commerce has transformed the entire
process of product sales between sellers and buyers,
which has been of economic benefit for both parties.
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the main
decisive factors of this adoption, integrating aspects of
Rogers' Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT), the
Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) model,
and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).
Through a quantitative method, data was collected and
analyzed from 434 SMEs using a questionnaire.
Findings highlight that the perceived ease and
usefulness of e-commerce, influenced by perceived
advantage and observability, are critical determinants
in the decision to adopt these technologies.
Additionally, it was found that management support
and employees' knowledge of Information
Technologies (IT) play a relevant role in this adoption.
This study adds to the existing literature on
technological adoption in SMEs, showing important
insights for the northeastern region of Mexico and
suggesting avenues for future research. The results are
relevant for business decision-makers and public policy
formulators, offering guidance on how to enhance e-
commerce adoption in the SME context.
Keywords – Adoption, e-commerce, SMEs, TAM
model, TOE model.
DOI: 10.18421/TEM132-55
34TUhttps://doi.org/10.18421/TEM132-55U34T
Corresponding author: Gerardo Haces,
Autonomous University of Tamaulipas, Tamaulipas,
Mexico
Email: 34TUghaces@uat.edu.mxU34T
Received: 23 March 2024.
Revised: 22 April 2024.
Accepted: 06 May 2024.
Published: 28 May 2024.
© 2024 Gerardo Haces et al; published by
UIKTEN. This work is licensed under the Creative
Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0
License.
The article is published with Open Access at
Uhttps://www.temjournal.com/
1. Introduction
Information technologies (IT) have revolutionized
the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) by
significantly improving company processes,
enhancing products and services, as well as
enhancing operational efficiency [1]. One
particularly relevant shift is the appropriation of
electronic commerce (EC) by these SMEs, which has
proven to be beneficial in terms of reducing
operational costs and accelerating business processes.
E-commerce is the activity of trading services,
information or products over the web [2], offers
substantial advantages to SMEs, including market
expansion, increased sales revenue, operational
efficiency, and more effective customer relationship
management [3]. These benefits have an impact on
all the business activities [4].
Several models and frameworks have been
designed to provide a better understanding of the
degree of electronic commerce (EC) adoption.
Notable among them are the innovation diffusion
model [5], the technology, organization, and
environment (TOE) framework by Tornatzky and
Fleischer [6], and the technology acceptance model
(TAM) [7]. These conceptual approaches are
fundamental for comprehending EC adoption in
SMEs. According to Schneider and Perry [8],
electronic commerce encompasses commercial
activities conducted through the transmission of
electronic data, primarily over the Internet and the
World Wide Web. This definition is complemented
by [2], which emphasizes the exchange of goods,
services, and other information via the computer.
Thus, on this issue, [9] adds that e-commerce not
only benefits sellers by allowing them to access
broader markets but also benefits buyers, who enjoy
a greater variety of products at reduced costs.
The adoption of e-commerce (EC) in SMEs has
captured the attention of researchers for distinct
reasons. One of them is the crucial role that SMEs
play in the global economy and the transformative
impact of IT on traditional business methods.