Factors influencing successful use of mobile technologies to facilitate E-Commerce in small enterprises: The case of Kenya

This paper interrogated the suitability of Mobile Technologies to facilitate e-commerce in Kenyan Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs). The study proposed a theoretical model and empirically tested it using a sample selected using proportionate stratified sampling within welldefined geographic clusters. The study revealed that, while there is massive use of Mobile Internet Services (MIS), there is limited use of Mobile Money Transfer Services (MMTS) for B2B and B2C transactions as opposed to C2C and C2B e-commerce transactions. Results also indicated that utilizing MIS and MMTS, positively and significantly influenced organization’s performance through operational, transactional and interactional benefits. On the research model, the results indicated that Appropriateness and Usage directly and significantly affected Organizational Performance while User Acceptance and Appropriateness were significant determinants of Usage. Surprisingly, of the three theorized barriers (Security Risks, Affordability and Performance Risks), only Performance Risks had a significant negative effect on Usage. Finally, the study’s results, theoretical, managerial and policy implications are discussed.