| Summary: | ABSTRACT
Tamrakar, Subit Kazi
Emergence of Online Shopping and Digital Payment Systems in Nepal
Jyväskylä: University of Jyväskylä, 2025, 98 pp.
Information Systems, Master’s Thesis
Supervisor: Riekkinen, Janne
The study on the given topic explores the development of online shopping and digital payment systems in Nepal. Information and communication technology (ICT) has been growing at an accelerating scale, which has led to an upward trend in global online shopping experiences as well as in developing nations like Nepal. E-commerce and digital payment were introduced to Nepal in the early 2000s; however, they gained popularity in Nepal remarkably after the COVID-19 pandemic. Since technological adoption, such as the adoption of online shopping and digital payment, are affected by many factors, the objective of the study is to find and understand what factors affect people’s adoption of new technologies.
For the purpose of the study, two theoretical frameworks have been considered, i.e., Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2). These theoretical bases helped to understand behavioral intention towards online shopping and the digital payment systems and build a framework for the research. To get more information on factors affecting technological adoption, surveys and interviews were conducted, which are also the primary source of data. The primary source indicates the problems faced by consumers, such as their unwillingness to share personal financial data online, fear of fraud, and the absence of a secure digital infrastructure. Likewise, secondary sources provide comparative information based on world trends, strengthening the role played by convenience and trust in decision making by customers.
The findings indicated that people are hesitant to adopt online shopping fully due to concerns about trust and quality. On the other hand, factors such as convenience and time efficiency and the availability of alternatives make them inclined towards online shopping. Moreover, people are liking to use digital payment systems now due to convenience, safety, and being hassle-free, saying that still many people prefer cash payment over digital payment due to poor rules and regulations in Nepal and the availability of fraudulent transactions. From the study, it is more evident that both online shopping and digital payment systems have a very good future to grow in Nepal. However, there is need for infrastructural development and more confidence if digital literacy is promoted, cybersecurity, and government regulations are improved.
Keywords: online shopping, digital payment, behavioral intention, use behavior
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