Purpose The aim of this study is to investigate how system quality, privacy concerns, and usefulness impact user satisfaction and word-of-mouth intention towards smart order services among Chinese consumers. The study also seeks to provide both theoretical and practical implications based on the findings. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted an empirical study on Chinese consumers through an online survey on 274 users of smart order service in China. To analyze the data, frequency analysis, reliability analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis were performed using SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 26.0 statistical programs, and structural equation model was used for hypothesis testing. Findings The study results are as follows. First, system quality was found to have a positive effect on usefulness and user satisfaction. Second, privacy concerns were found to have a positive effect on user satisfaction, but not on usefulness. Third, user satisfaction was found to have a positive effect on consumers' word-of-mouth intention of the smart order service. Finally, mediating effects were found between system quality and user satisfaction through usefulness, as well as between system quality, perceived privacy concern, and usefulness through user satisfaction.