| dc.description.abstract | E-Commerce (electronic commerce or EC) is the buying and selling of goods and services, or the transmitting of funds or data, over an electronic network, primarily the Internet through which transactions or terms of sale are performed electronically. Ecommerce is fast replacing traditional methods of doing business in various business sectors worldwide including Book Publishing industry. Transaction over the internet is not popular for clients in book publishing industry in Kenya. This study was therefore to focus on E-Commerce adoption by book publishing industry in Kenya. The objective of the study was to; establish the level of ecommerce adoption by book publishing industry, find out factors that influence adoption, identify the challenges facing ecommerce adoption and to establish ways of enhancing ecommerce adoption by book publishing industry. The study adopted a mixed methods paradigm with both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Within the quantitative approach, the descriptive survey design was used, while within the qualitative approach, the exploratory design was used. Questionnaires, in-depth interviews and Document Analysis Guides were used for data collection. Piloting of questionnaires was done in two of the Publishing Companies that did not participate in the actual study to determine reliability of the instruments. Quantitative data was analyzed using basic descriptive statistics and inferential statistics such as independent - sample test and Analysis of Variance. Qualitative data from interviews was analyzed by using the thematic analysis. Significance of the study is that it highlighted on; new techniques of adopting ecommerce, efficient service delivery, improvement of sales and faster dissemination of information. It was established that most bookshops served by publishers are not E-commerce ready due to lack of infrastructure and digital literacy. Developments of websites, emails, universal access to internet are some of the factors causing slow development and adoption of ecommerce in book publishing• industry. E-commerce requires both sellers and buyers to be e-ready. The study enumerated a host of contextual factors in the Kenya market that have impeded the uptake of E-Commerce. Research findings can help government policymakers and industry leaders in the field to identify appropriate strategies to promote the use of E¬Commerce in book printing firms. Study finding would further benefit those in publishing industry, booksellers and other business sectors. | en_US |