Connect with us

Technology

JU Davis College of Business and Technology Marketing Professors’ Novel Research Discovers Food Ordering Apps Influence Brand Loyalty

Published

2 years ago

on

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — We’ve all had days where we don’t feel like going out for dinner, so we whip out our cell phones and place an order on DoorDash or some other third-party food app, an online food delivery industry projected at $1.02 trillion last year alone.

Two Jacksonville University Davis College of Business and Technology marketing professors, Drs. Irina Toteva and Selen Savas-Hall, uncovered in their new research that consumers will feel a stronger connection to a company or a brand if they put effort into creating something with that company or brand through a third-party app.

The marketing duo recently had their research, “Perceived Effort in the Co-Creation of Electronic Services and Influence on Brand Loyalty: The Case of Food Ordering Apps” published in Services Marketing Quarterly.

“This is the first research to investigate the role of perceived effort in electronic services and the influence on brand loyalty,” said Toteva, a JU assistant professor of marketing. “Our research explains about the mechanism of brand loyalty, which is in part due to the labor-to-love effect, where effort translates into attachment to the item.”

Another interesting finding of this study is that the risk that is involved in using a technology may also be seen as effort. The Davis College professors showed that when consumers perceive higher risk using a third-party app, they show higher brand loyalty to the service provider.

Perceived risk refers to the uncertainty or potential negative outcomes associated with buying and using a product or service. In the case of food-ordering apps, consumers may view the use of technology as risky, fearing issues like privacy breaches or service failures.

“Our study finds that perceived risk can actually enhance brand loyalty,” shared Toteva. “When consumers take on this risk and it turns out positively (e.g., the food is delivered successfully), they feel more loyal to the brand as a result of overcoming that uncertainty. This risk mitigation further solidifies their attachment to the brand.”

Toteva got the idea for the research when she was scrolling through Instagram on her phone.

“I clicked on a promoted post that took me to the sales page of a clothing brand. I started adding some items to my shopping cart, and it occurred to me that this was an effort on my part—I was using my time and energy to evaluate the items and decide if I wanted to add any of them to my cart,” she recalled. “I became curious if this labor-to-love effect could be applicable to consumers who use apps for the ordering of products or services like food.”

The study explores how consumers who order food on an app (such as Uber Eats or Door Dash) perceive the level of effort they contribute to the order and how that perceived effort influences their attachment to the restaurant provider.

“We show that those consumers who perceive they have made an effort into ordering their food are more likely to feel they are continuing to build a relationship with the restaurant provider, and as a result they are more brand loyal to that service provider, compared to consumers who perceive less of an effort,” said Savas-Hall, a JU associate professor of marketing and international business.

While the use of technology (such as food-ordering apps) in the service ordering process can be perceived as automatic and effortless, some consumers perceive the process as effortful, and consequently, they are more aware that they are co-creating the service with the restaurant provider.

“When consumers feel like they are co-creating the service with the food service provider, this shows their willingness to invest resources into their relationship with the food service provider,” explained Toteva. “At the same time, by using the app and putting effort into the order, consumers feel improved self-efficacy (i.e., their confidence in their ability to perform tasks) as they are able to reach their goals through effort, compared to consumers who do not perceive effort in the ordering process.”

The findings of this research are important to consumers and to service industries, such as food, groceries and fashion, where companies co-create various offerings with their customers.

“This study is applicable to any company that provides technology tools to its customers to assist them in the service ordering process. For example, scheduling a service through an app such as a haircut appointment or a fitness class, or using a food-ordering app to order products or using a rideshare app for transportation are all efforts on the side of consumers,” said Savas-Hall.

This study shows that if consumers are made aware that they contribute to the service, then this perceived effort can turn into a ‘love’ and later into brand loyalty to the service provider. As a result, emphasizing the effort made by consumers may be well-received as a positive reinforcement and may create a special connection to the service provider. The co-researchers say this study also shows that the effort does not need to be entirely physical, and that mental effort also counts.

The JU Davis College of Business and Technology is the only triple-accredited private college in all of North Florida and South Georgia, with AACSB, ABET and AABI accredited programs. Its mission is to empower students to achieve sustainable career success with a high quality, relevant and applied educational experience that is delivered by faculty committed to advancing the individual development of each student.

Media Contact:
Joanna Norris, PR/Marketing Director
(904) 534-6926
Jnorris11@ju.edu

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ju-davis-college-of-business-and-technology-marketing-professors-novel-research-discovers-food-ordering-apps-influence-brand-loyalty-302284607.html

SOURCE Jacksonville University

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Technology

What to Look for in an Online GLP-1 Provider: Meant Outlines Five Questions Worth Asking Before Signing Up

Published

16 minutes ago

on

November 7, 2026

By

MANASSAS, Va., Nov. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As more telehealth companies offer GLP-1 care, the options can look alike from the outside, and telling them apart takes more than a glance at a landing page. Meant is sharing five questions consumers can ask when choosing an online GLP-1 provider, along with how it approaches each one.

Five Questions Worth Asking

Who makes the clinical decisions? A trustworthy provider should be clear about which licensed clinicians review each person’s information. At Meant, those decisions are made by licensed providers through its clinical partner, OpenLoop Health.Is there a real evaluation first? Look for a health-history review before anything is prescribed, and for plain language that a prescription is never guaranteed. Meant’s online assessment covers health history, current medications, and goals.Can the company’s credentials be checked? Independent certifications are one signal consumers can verify for themselves. Meant displays the seal for its LegitScript certification on its website.Is it clear who fills prescriptions? Providers should be open about the pharmacies they work with and whether those pharmacies are licensed in the United States.Is ongoing support spelled out, limits included? Good providers explain what follow-up looks like and who handles which questions. Meant pairs care with an optional Care Coach, and medical questions go to the care team.

A certification is a transparency signal, not a government approval or a promise about results, and no checklist replaces a conversation with a licensed clinician. Meant does not diagnose or prescribe, and treatment is not guaranteed for every applicant.

Take a Closer Look

Consumers who want to see how the assessment, clinical oversight, and coaching fit together can visit Meant‘s website and compare the details against the questions above.

About Meant

Meant is a health and wellness technology company focused on personalized GLP-1 weight-care support delivered through telehealth. The platform combines an online clinical assessment, licensed oversight through OpenLoop Health, Care Coach support, and supplemental wellness resources. Meant does not itself diagnose or prescribe; clinical decisions are made by its clinical partners. Learn more at meant.health.

Meant Health, Inc.
support@meant.health
1-512-879-9187
10199 Dean Drive, Manassas, VA 20110, USA

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/what-to-look-for-in-an-online-glp-1-provider-meant-outlines-five-questions-worth-asking-before-signing-up-302927805.html

SOURCE Meant

Continue Reading

Technology

Capturing the Beauty of Anhui through Images–2026 Anhui Photography Season Concludes

Published

2 hours ago

on

November 7, 2026

By

HUANGSHAN, China, Nov. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from Crionline.

Spanning summer and autumn across three successive photography tours, the “Picturesque Anhui • Imaging Anhui” 2026 Anhui Photography Season officially wrapped up on November 4. Co-hosted by the Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique (FIAP), the Anhui Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and the Foreign Affairs Office of Anhui Provincial People’s Government, the event drew 116 photographers from 38 countries and regions. They visited 46 distinctive cultural and tourism attractions across five cities: Hefei, Chizhou, Anqing, Huangshan and Xuancheng. Through their lenses, they presented Anhui’s landscapes, cultural heritage and vibrant everyday life to the world.

Looking back on the three sessions: The first session kicked off in Hefei. Photographers documented the city’s innovation-driven urban landscape as well as the picturesque scenery and intangible cultural heritage of Chizhou’s ancient villages. The second session took them deep into Huangshan and Anqing. They explored time-honored Huizhou villages, magnificent mountains and Huangmei Opera culture, immersing themselves in Huizhou traditions and the cultural charm of the Yangtze River region in western Anhui. The concluding third session was held in Huangshan and Xuancheng, focusing on brilliant autumn hues, Huizhou‑style ancient architecture, and the traditional craftsmanship behind the Four Treasures of the Study.

From lush summer greens to rich autumn colours, the photographers produced more than 11,000 high‑resolution photographs. Reflecting the unique perspectives of international participants, these images will be disseminated globally in diverse forms. They will help tell compelling stories of Anhui’s cultural tourism and further boost the province’s international profile.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/capturing-the-beauty-of-anhui-through-images2026-anhui-photography-season-concludes-302932583.html

SOURCE Crionline

Continue Reading

Technology

JOYEE N01 Global Mass Production Launch and First Batch Delivery of 2,000 Overseas Orders Kicks Off

Published

3 hours ago

on

November 7, 2026

By

YANCHENG, China, Nov. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On October 28, the ceremony for the global mass production launch of the JOYEE N01 and the first batch delivery of 2,000 overseas orders was grandly held at the Yancheng Branch of China FAW. At the event, FAW Bestune delivered the first batch of 500 vehicles to African customers, marking the official entry of the JOYEE N01 into the global market.

As a flagship product, the BESTUNE XIAOMA has earned recognition from nearly 300,000 users since its launch in 2024. Built upon this blockbuster model and refined with a user-centric philosophy, the JOYEE N01 is an upgraded masterpiece — a solid step forward in elevating the user experience with a global vision.

The JOYEE N01 carries forward the adorable design language: rounded body lines paired with a rich array of exterior color options, winning over young families at first glance. All trims come standard with CATL batteries, delivering a maximum range of over 300KM. The four-door design ensures convenient access to the rear seats. In terms of safety, drawing on FAW’s 70-plus years of automotive manufacturing heritage, the vehicle is fully equipped with a high-strength steel body, dual front airbags, and an electronic stability control system. The product is scheduled to roll out in overseas markets one after another in the fourth quarter of 2026.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/joyee-n01-global-mass-production-launch-and-first-batch-delivery-of-2-000-overseas-orders-kicks-off-302932578.html

Continue Reading

Trending