The Role of Gamification as an Intervening Variable in the Influence of Digital Competence and Work Flexibility on the Performance of Gig Logistics Workers in Semarang City
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55606/ijemr.v5i1.716Keywords:
Digital Competence, Gamification, Logistics Gig Workers, Work Flexibility, Worker PerformanceAbstract
The development of the digital economy has led to an increase in the number of gig workers in the logistics sector, including in the city of Semarang. However, work flexibility, as a key feature of the gig system, has not been fully able to optimize worker performance. The phenomena of long working hours, fatigue, and performance differences between workers indicate that digital competence and work flexibility require supporting mechanisms that can increase work engagement. In this context, gamification on digital logistics platforms is seen as a strategic approach to increase the motivation and performance of gig workers. This study aims to analyze the effect of digital competence and work flexibility on the performance of logistics gig workers in Semarang City with gamification as an intervening variable. The study uses a quantitative approach through a survey method of logistics gig workers, with data analysis using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The population consists of 128 online driver workers operating in the city of Semarang. The sampling technique used is purposive random sampling. The results of the study indicate that digital competence has a positive and significant effect on the performance of gig logistics workers, while work flexibility has a positive and significant direct effect on the performance of gig logistics workers. Gamification has been proven to have a positive effect on performance and is able to mediate the influence of digital competence and work flexibility on the performance of logistics gig workers. These findings emphasize the importance of continuous gamification implementation in order to optimize the performance of logistics gig workers in the digital economy era.
References
Alfarizi, M. (2023). Anteseden Niat Kewirausahaan Berkelanjutan Gen Z Kawasan Smart City Semarang: Apakah Teknologi dan Pemerintah Daerah Berperan? Jurnal Riptek, 17(2), 159–176. https://doi.org/10.35475/riptek.v17i2.227
Arahbanua. (2023). Survei IDEAS: 68% pengemudi ojek daring bekerja hingga 16 jam per hari dan nyaris tanpa hari libur. In Arahbanua.com. https://arahbanua.com/2023/08/15/survei-ideas-68-pengemudi-ojek-daring-bekerja-hingga-16-jam-perhari-dan-nyaris-tanpa-hari-libur/
Basilotta-Gómez-Pablos, V., Matarranz, M., Casado-Aranda, L. A., & Otto, A. (2022). Teachers’ digital competencies in higher education: a systematic literature review. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-021-00312-8
Bisnis.com. (2025). Gig worker belum terlindungi, BPJS kian rentan saat ekonomi tertekan. In Bisnis Indonesia. https://finansial.bisnis.com/read/20250219/215/1840807/gig-worker-belum-terlindungi-bpjs-kian-rentan-saat-ekonomi-tertekan
Bostan, I., & Bîrcă, A. (2024). Engagement of Moldovan Organizations in Increasing Employment Through Flexible Work Arrangements. Central European Business Review, 13(3), 95–95. https://doi.org/10.18267/J.CEBR.356
Chauhan, S. (2023). Role Of Flexible Working and Work from Home on Employee Productivity and Performance: An Empirical Study. PsychologyandEducation, 55(1), 545–553. https://doi.org/10.48047/pne.2018.55.1.67
Cheah, S., Lim, W. M., & Tai, Y. M. (2023). Algorithmic management, work pressure, and performance outcomes in the gig economy. Journal of Business Research, 157, 113632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.113632
Fathian, M., Sharifi, H., & Nasirzadeh, E. (2020). Conceptualizing the Role of Gamification in Contemporary Enterprises. IEEE Access, 8, 220188–220204. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3043144
Flora, K., Rahman, M., & Santoso, A. (2025). Sustainable work design in digital labor platforms: Balancing flexibility and worker well-being. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 198, 122005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2024.122005
Gunasekare, U. L. T. P. (2016). 2 . Self Determination Theory In the broadest sense , the theory , as it has developed over the past quarter century , discusses that motivation develops from within us , grounded in our basic human needs to develop our skills and capacities , need to act.
Hsieh, J., Adisa, O., Bafna, S., & Zhu, H. (2023). Designing Individualized Policy and Technology Interventions to Improve Gig Work Conditions. ACM International Conference Proceeding Series. https://doi.org/10.1145/3596671.3598576
Investor.id. (2025). Pekerja di sektor gig membutuhkan jaminan sosial berbasis kontribusi. In Investor Daily Indonesia. https://investor.id/business/390845/pekerja-di-sektor-gig-membutuhkan-jaminan-sosial-berbasis-kontribusi
Leavell, J. P. (2016). Controlling and Informational Planned Behavior: Self-Determination Theory and the Theory of Planned Behavior. Atlantic Marketing Journal Atlantic Marketing Journal, 5(3), 2165–3879. https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/ama_proceedings/2015/Track3/7/%0Ahttp://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/amj%0Ahttp://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/amj/vol5/iss3/6
Marisa, F., Syed Ahmad, S. S., Mohd Yusoh, Z. I., Maukar, A. L., Marcus, R. D., & Widodo, A. A. (2020). Evaluation of Student Core Drives on e-Learning during the Covid-19 with Octalysis Gamification Framework. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 11(11), 104–116. https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2020.0111114
Putranti, H. R. D., Retnowati, R., Sihombing, A. A., Danang, D., Studies, V., Stikubank, U., & Agency, I. (2024). Performance Assessment through Work Gamification : Investigating Engagement. 1–12.
Ramadhan, A., Nugroho, Y., & Prasetyo, B. (2023). Gamification and employee performance: Evidence from digital labor platforms. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 34(12), 2456–2478. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2022.2109874
Ratnawati, H. D. P. (2025). Flexibility And Uncertainty : Gig Economy Dynamics In The Logistics Sector. Intellegent Transfotmation, 34–46.
Samad, S., Abdullah, M. A., & Hassan, R. (2024). Work flexibility and performance in platform-based employment. Employee Relations, 46(1), 89–107. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-05-2023-0214
Silva-Quiroz, J., & Morales-Morgado, E. M. (2022). Assessing digital competence and its relationship with the socioeconomic level of Chilean university students. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 19(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-022-00346-6
Sindal, R., & Bhate, R. (2025). Digital competence and performance in the gig economy: A structural equation modeling approach. Computers in Human Behavior, 149, 107920. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2024.107920
Uddin, M., & Das, A. (2023). Algorithmic control and income volatility in gig work. New Technology, Work and Employment, 38(2), 245–263. https://doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12252
Wibisono, D., Putra, A. R., & Kurniawan, H. (2023). Gamified incentives and gig worker engagement: Evidence from Southeast Asia. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 40(3), 781–804. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10490-022-09867-5
Wöhrmann, A. M., Dilchert, N., & Michel, A. (2021). Working time flexibility and work-life balance. Zeitschrift Für Arbeitswissenschaft, 75(1), 74–85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41449-020-00230-x
Wood, A. J., & Lehdonvirta, V. (2025). Gig economy. Elgar Encyclopedia of Critical Management Studies, 5(1), 232–234. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800377721.00057
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal of Economics and Management Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
