The study investigates the mediating role of e-commerce through organizational and environmental factors with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) performance. The study follows a cross-sectional survey method approach. The study’s theoretical foundation is based on the resource-based view (RBV) and diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory. The current research identifies four manufacturing SMEs’ strata based on participation in the country’s exports using a stratified proportional random sampling technique. The research questionnaires were distributed among 700 top and middle-level managers of manufacturing SMEs. The data were analyzed by applying partial least square structural equational modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine the relationship between the exogenous, mediator, and endogenous variables. The finding reveals that top management support and competitive pressure have a significant positive impact on the use of e-commerce direct and mediation. At the same time, the adoption cost and government support have an insignificant impact on e-commerce usage. This study results can be used to enhance the use of e-commerce in Pakistan’s manufacturing SMEs to improve the country’s overall exports.

As Fintech has grown exponentially in recent years, several researchers have examined how information technology is applied in the financial services sector, with a focus on the extended practice of its application. However, fewer studies have investigated the factors influencing the acceptance of Fintech services. In order to examine how consumers adopt Fintech services, this research presents an enhanced technology acceptance model (TAM) that integrates perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, user innovativeness, and trust as factors of attitude towards using Fintech platforms and behavioral intention to use Fintech platforms. The questionnaires were sent to 867 of Portal MyAzZahra’s customers, and 273 complete questionnaires were received. The data were then analyzed to comprehend whether the proposed hypotheses were accepted or rejected. The findings depict that consumers’ trust, perceived ease of use, and customer innovation in Fintech services substantially impact the attitude towards adoption and behavioral intention to use the Fintech online platform. However, perceived usefulness does not significantly influence the attitude towards adoption and the behavioral intention to use the online loan aggregator. By integrating these factors into Fintech services with TAM, this study adds to the literature on adopting Fintech services by offering a more holistic perspective of the factors affecting consumers’ attitudes.

This research aims to examine the mediating role of the use of the e-commerce and moderating influence of entrepreneurial competencies on the performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The study data were collected via a structured questionnaire comprised of a seven-point Likert scale from practitioners serving at the top and middle-level positions in Pakistani SMEs. The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) technique was applied on 250 useable returned questionnaires. The results showed that the association between the use of e-commerce and firm performance is positively significant. Moreover, the use of e-commerce mediates the positive association between technological readiness, adoption cost, and firm performance. However, the moderating role of entrepreneurial competencies does not appear as significant between the use of e-commerce and manufacturing SMEs’ performance. The present study is the first to explore entrepreneurial competencies as a moderator between e-commerce adoption and firm performance. The empirical outcomes of this research provide useful theoretical and practical implications for the managers and practitioners to understand the underlying factors for the successful implementation of e-commerce in the SME sector to enhance firm performance.

The digital economy’s rise has fueled the growth of digital banking, but concerns linger about customer protection. While offering advantages like financial inclusion, this shift disrupts traditional banking experiences and introduces potential risks. Customer safety in this new landscape is paramount, as dissatisfied users may switch providers and institutions risk reputational damage. To remain competitive, financial institutions must prioritize a secure experience that aligns with customer expectations. This study investigates five key factors influencing customer protection in Pakistan’s digital financial services. Analysis reveals all factors positively impact customer protection, with information security holding the most weight. These findings highlight the need for robust information security measures as a critical driver for the Pakistani digital banking industry’s success.