Smart living services’ factors and influences on subjective well-being and intention to use

Purpose: This study aims to examine the effects of network externalities and diffusion of innovation on users’ perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment, and in turn subjective well-being and intention to use in the smart living context. Design/methodology/approach: To explore different types of smart living services, the data collected come from surveying 512 users of smart home services and 570 users of smart living apps. Structural equation modeling is used to analyze the data, and post hoc interviews are conducted to provide insights into our conceptual model of smart living services. Findings: Compatibility and perceived service complementarity are the most influential determinants of users’ perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment toward smart living services. Perceived usefulness has a greater impact on users’ intention to use and their subjective well-being than perceived enjoyment. Interestingly, perceived enjoyment exerts a stronger influence on subjective well-being than on intention to use. Originality/value: This study is one of the first to provide empirical evidence in the context of smart living services, contributing to transformative service literature by extending the understanding of technology use and its influence on user well-being into a less explored service context. This study also advances users’ intention to use and subjective well-being of technology adoption in the service context by integrating perspectives from network externalities and diffusion of innovation.