Show or Tell? Improving Inventory Support for Agent-Based Businesses at the Base of the Pyramid

Jason Acimovic (), Chris Parker (), David F. Drake () and Karthik Balasubramanian ()
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Jason Acimovic: Smeal College of Business, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
Chris Parker: Kogod School of Business, American University, Washington, District of Columbia 20016
David F. Drake: Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309
Karthik Balasubramanian: Howard University School of Business, Howard University, Washington, District of Columbia 20059

Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, 2022, vol. 24, issue 1, 664-681

Abstract: Problem definition : Firms providing products and services to low-income base of the pyramid (BOP) customers are increasingly utilizing independent contractor agents rather than employees in their distribution models. We empirically investigate the best way to help agents perform better. Academic/practical relevance : BOP customers represent one-third of the world’s economy but make five United States dollars or less daily. Providing goods and services to these customers is difficult for traditional firms because most retail activity occurs at small-scale independent outlets. Improving agent performance can help firms reach customers in this environment. We enhance the literature on agent-based models in BOP settings, decision making, technology in developing economies, and field experiments. Methodology : In partnership with a Tanzanian mobile money operator, we perform a randomized, controlled trial with 4,771 agents to examine how differing types of guidance, and whether in-person training is offered, impact agents’ inventory management. Mobile money is a platform whereby firms in developing economies provide financial services to customers via cell phones. Mobile money agents service customer withdrawals and deposits as branchless banking outlets. Every day, they decide how much money to stock to service customers’ transactions, from which they earn commissions. Results : We find that those agents given only explicit recommendations (as opposed to summary statistics or both) who were invited to in-person training (as opposed to simply received an automated notification) improve their performance. Agents in other treatments showed no statistically significant change. The effect is concentrated in agents who never replenished their money at a bank and whose money inventory levels were low in the pretreatment period. Managerial implications : We show empirically how firms can better manage agents, thereby improving the value proposition of serving BOP customers. We show the utility of segmentation based on agent heterogeneity. This can improve firm performance, agent profits, and customer service.

Keywords: field experiment; base of the pyramid; service operations; inventory management; OM practice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:ormsom:v:24:y:2022:i:1:p:664-681

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