Adoption of halal verification mobile applications: A conceptual framework integrating perceived trust and technology adoption

The digitalisation of halal certification has led to the emergence of halal verification mobile applications to support informed consumption decisions. Despite their increasing availability, adoption remains uneven, particularly in settings where halal options are reinforced by strong institutional certification systems, religious obligation, and heightened risk sensitivity. Existing studies on halal digitalisation frequently adopt operational or organisational perspectives and examine adoption determinants in a fragmented manner, limiting theoretical coherence. This study proposes a trust-centred conceptual framework for the adoption of a halal verification mobile application, grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are retained as core cognitive beliefs, while perceived trust is positioned as a central mediating mechanism linking these beliefs to adoption intention. The framework further distinguishes halal verification app awareness from general halal awareness. It incorporates social influence, together with external antecedents, as external antecedents shaping internal belief formation rather than exerting direct effects on adoption. By integrating halal-specific considerations into TAM, the framework offers a theoretically coherent foundation for future empirical research on halal digital trust and governance.