However, before addressing the described research gap, it is important to clarify the differences between classic self-service technologies and mobile apps. According to literature and qualitative research conducted for the underlying studies, there are three major coherent differences:
Bidirectional access to real-time data: similar to the practice of contextual marketing, companies can provide personalized information to customers via the app in real-time (Xueming & Seyedian, 2003; Kenny & Marshall, 2000). Conversely, customers provide real-time data to companies (e.g. their location). Hence, smartphone apps enable an exchange of data to serve the customer’s needs as required. Advancing standards for wireless communication of high-speed data and rising availability of wireless local area networks additionally favor the access to real-time data.