Technology acceptance determinants and consumer innovativeness influence on ASNAFS’ acceptance towards the use of e-wallet

• Date: 29 January 2024
• Pages: 238-257
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOES-06-2023-0126
• Published date: 29 January 2024
• Subject Matter: Economics,Social economics
• Author: Imran Mehboob Shaikh,Hanudin Amin

Technology acceptance

determinants and consumer

innovativeness inf‌luence on

ASNAFS’acceptance towards

the use of e-wallet

Imran Mehboob Shaikh and Hanudin Amin

Labuan Faculty of International Finance, Universiti Malaysia Sabah,

Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract

Purpose –This paper aimsto examine the determinants that inf‌luence acceptancetowards e-wallet apps by

extending the technology acceptancemodel (TAM) among (asnaf), a term used for charity or gift receivers

from alms tax distributioninstitutions also known as donee.

Design/methodology/approach –The review of literatureand structural equation modelling approach

using judgemental sampling on extended TAM and determinants of e-wallet apps’acceptance related to

asnaf (donee) were conducted in a bid to contribute to the factors that are instrumental in determining

acceptanceof e-wallet services among asnaf.

Findings –The f‌indings indicate that the e-wallet app’s service acceptance is determined not only by

perceived usefulness, consumer maqasid index and consumerinnovativeness but also by subjective norms.

On the contrary, consumermaqasid index and perceived ease of use do not lend themselvesto be the factor of

asnafs’e-wallet acceptance. The authors extend the TAM model to determine the factors that may be

inf‌luentialin predicting the e-wallet app acceptance by asnaf.

Research limitations/implications –In assessing future outcomes when different sampling techniques

are opted for and geographic coverage is expanded, this study should be considered in terms of the limited scope.

Practical implications –This study is intended to serve as a reference for making a signif‌icant

contribution related to user acceptance factors related to alms tax-based e-wallet apps in asnafs’context in

Malaysiain terms of both theory and practice.

Originality/value –TAM is extended in the context of e-wallet app acceptance among asnafs’.Avariable,

namely, consumer innovativeness, is tested using the extended TAM model. To the best of the authors’knowledge,

consumer innovativeness in the context of asnafs’acceptance of e-wallet apps is yet to be tested. Therefore, this

paper will be a useful reference for policymakers, technologists, academicians and future researchers.

Keywords TAM, Innovation, Malaysia, Technology acceptance, Asnaf, Application,

Islamic digital social f‌inance

Paper type Research paper

Introduction

Electronic or digital-based e-wallet platform acceptance by asnafs for alms tax distribution

in Malaysia leverages digital solutions with innovative features. E-wallet, which is a

digital-based platform,is designed to improve the eff‌iciency, accessibility and compliance of

This research is funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia (MOHE), FRGS/1/2021/SS01/

UMS/02/1.

IJOES

41,1

238

Received11 June 2023

Revised16 October 2023

16December 2023

Accepted9 January 2024

InternationalJournal of Ethics and

Systems

Vol.41 No. 1, 2025

pp. 238-257

© Emerald Publishing Limited

2514-9369

DOI 10.1108/IJOES-06-2023-0126

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:

https://www.emerald.com/insight/2514-9369.htm

alms tax distribution by providinga user-friendly and secure online payment gateway that

caters to the needs of end users or individuals, which are almstax receiversin Malaysia.

Maqasid-based e-walletacceptance index (MABAi) of digital platform in Malaysia is one

of the efforts to promote f‌inancialinclusion by enabling more people to use the digital-based

platform to receive the alms tax payments through digital payment gateways (distribution

channel) and alms taxpayers (collection channel), thereby enhancing the overall alms tax

fund management using the digital means. Digital-based platforms’rigorous validation

process ensures compliance with principles and regulations governing alms tax collection

and distribution channels that, in return, enhance the trust and conf‌idence among donors

(Nor et al.,2021). Seamlessly integrating the digital-based platform into the existing funds’

management system of Zakat (alms tax)administering institutions promotes its widespread

adoption. The authorities in the country may impose a digital-based platform that will be

required to continuously improve and enhance its features based on user feedback along

with regulatory conditionsfrom time to time.

MABAi digital platform in Malaysia represents a signif‌icant milestone in the evolution

of alms tax fund management mechanism by providing a cost-effective, secure and user-

friendly solution that adheres to Islamic principles while accommodating the demands of

today’s digital-savvy end-users as well as donors. It is, therefore, pertinent to take a glance

over e-wallet payment usage that is widely known and also to ascertain if e-wallet

acceptance by alms tax recipientswill affect the future of digital payments (Loh et al.,2021).

The rise of digital technology has enabled people to have access to fast and reliable

internet connections,making it easier to use e-wallets or digital payment apps, which in turn

changed the landscape of payment behaviour that has rapidlyevolved in the digital age as

new digital methods of paymentemerge (Esawe, 2022).

Likewise, as people have become more conscious of minimising physical contact and

have been encouraged to use contactless payment methods, the COVID-19 pandemic has

played a signif‌icant role in the surge of e-wallet usage. Moreover, the use of e-wallets has

increased dramatically due to advances in technology, as well as initiatives by the

government of Malaysia aimed at boostingthe digital economy (Shaikh et al., 2023). On that

note, as e-wallet application expands, it is also anticipated to see more innovation and

advancements in this area, with the potential to transform the way an individual conducts

transaction aroundthe world (Loh et al.,2021).

Based on numerous digital payment app users during COVID-19 Malaysia has

witnessed an increase in digital payment usage, as previously indicated (Shaikh et al.,

2023). There are nonetheless obstacles to overcome; the economic benef‌its of using an e-

wallet are vast, and their contribution to inf‌luencing the future of payments cannot be

overstated. There has been limited research on the factors that inf‌luence the usage

behaviour of digital payment apps among millennials in Sabah, Malaysia, as best

known to the authors’knowledge.

Furthermore, the current study will incorporate the variables of consumer

innovativeness (CI)and anotherrelated variable, such as the consumer maqasid index (CMI),

within the framework of technology acceptancemodel (TAM). For that purpose, the present

study intends to extend the application of the TAM and integrate two novel variables,

namely, CMI as well as CI, to come up with the acceptance of asnafs’registered with alms

tax institutions in Sabah, Malaysia. To the best of the authors’knowledge, previously there

was limited research that studied the determinants that impact donee or asnafs’acceptance

of e-wallet apps. This research contributesto the existing gap and extends the TAM model

in the context of Islamic social f‌inance. Likewise, the study’s objective is as follows:

Technology

acceptance

determinants

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