IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/joreco/v62y2021ics0969698921001764.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

“Alexafying†shoppers: The examination of Amazon's captive relationship strategy

Author

Listed:
  • Ramadan, Zahy B.

Abstract

The virtual assistants' market is drastically growing and is expected to reach $2.1 billion by 2020. Nonetheless, the quick expansion and high penetration of e-retailers’ AI ecosystem into the shopper's journey is still under-researched in the extant literature. Amazon's Alexa in particular has been fast proliferating into the customer's journey, favoring the development of captive audiences given this new ambient environment. Through a mixed methodology using both qualitative and quantitative approaches, this study examines Amazon's captive relationship strategy on shoppers, brands and competing retailers. The research findings show that Amazon's AI relationship strategy with its customers is based on forming a multi-faceted identity for the AI that would later on facilitate a captive situation that would lead to an addictive relationship. This study is amongst the first to examine the rapid development of e-retailers’ AI ecosystem into the shopper's journey. Taking the pioneering case of Amazon's Alexa powered devices, this research presents a working framework upon which scholars and practitioners alike could base their future studies and strategies on in the fast-growing field of interactive voice assistants and AI led conversations.

Suggested Citation

  • Ramadan, Zahy B., 2021. "“Alexafying†shoppers: The examination of Amazon's captive relationship strategy," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joreco:v:62:y:2021:i:c:s0969698921001764
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jretconser.2021.102610
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969698921001764
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jretconser.2021.102610?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Abdul-Ghani, Eathar & Hyde, Kenneth F. & Marshall, Roger, 2011. "Emic and etic interpretations of engagement with a consumer-to-consumer online auction site," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 64(10), pages 1060-1066, October.
    2. Kyle B. Murray & Gerald Hubl, 2007. "Explaining Cognitive Lock-In: The Role of Skill-Based Habits of Use in Consumer Choice," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 34(1), pages 77-88, March.
    3. Grewal, Dhruv & Roggeveen, Anne L. & Nordfält, Jens, 2017. "The Future of Retailing," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 93(1), pages 1-6.
    4. Holt, Douglas B, 1997. "Poststructuralist Lifestyle Analysis: Conceptualizing the Social Patterning of Consumption in Postmodernity," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 23(4), pages 326-350, March.
    5. Arthur, W Brian, 1989. "Competing Technologies, Increasing Returns, and Lock-In by Historical Events," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 99(394), pages 116-131, March.
    6. Demirci Orel, Fatma & Kara, Ali, 2014. "Supermarket self-checkout service quality, customer satisfaction, and loyalty: Empirical evidence from an emerging market," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 21(2), pages 118-129.
    7. Noël Albert & Dwight Merunka & Pierre Valette-Florence, 2008. "When consumers love their brands: Exploring the concept and its dimensions," Post-Print hal-01822299, HAL.
    8. Albert, Noël & Merunka, Dwight & Valette-Florence, Pierre, 2008. "When consumers love their brands: Exploring the concept and its dimensions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 61(10), pages 1062-1075, October.
    9. Linda D. Hollebeek & Rajendra K. Srivastava & Tom Chen, 2019. "Correction to: S-D logic–informed customer engagement: integrative framework, revised fundamental propositions, and application to CRM," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 186-186, January.
    10. Stephen L. Vargo & Robert F. Lusch, 2016. "Institutions and axioms: an extension and update of service-dominant logic," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 5-23, January.
    11. Aaron C. Ahuvia, 2005. "Beyond the Extended Self: Loved Objects and Consumers' Identity Narratives," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 32(1), pages 171-184, June.
    12. Linda D. Hollebeek & Rajendra K. Srivastava & Tom Chen, 2019. "S-D logic–informed customer engagement: integrative framework, revised fundamental propositions, and application to CRM," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 161-185, January.
    13. Liebowitz, S J & Margolis, Stephen E, 1995. "Path Dependence, Lock-in, and History," The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 11(1), pages 205-226, April.
    14. Nieroda, Marzena E. & Mrad, Mona & Solomon, Michael R., 2018. "How do consumers think about hybrid products? Computer wearables have an identity problem," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 159-170.
    15. Morgan-Thomas, Anna & Dessart, Laurence & Veloutsou, Cleopatra, 2020. "Digital ecosystem and consumer engagement: A socio-technical perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 713-723.
    16. Belk, Russell W, 1988. "Possessions and the Extended Self," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 15(2), pages 139-168, September.
    17. Kallweit, Katrin & Spreer, Philipp & Toporowski, Waldemar, 2014. "Why do customers use self-service information technologies in retail? The mediating effect of perceived service quality," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 268-276.
    18. Colleen M. Harmeling & Jordan W. Moffett & Mark J. Arnold & Brad D. Carlson, 2017. "Toward a theory of customer engagement marketing," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 312-335, May.
    19. Fournier, Susan, 1998. "Consumers and Their Brands: Developing Relationship Theory in Consumer Research," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 24(4), pages 343-373, March.
    20. Carpenter, Jason M., 2008. "Consumer shopping value, satisfaction and loyalty in discount retailing," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 15(5), pages 358-363.
    21. Mrad, Mona & Cui, Charles Chi, 2020. "Comorbidity of compulsive buying and brand addiction: An examination of two types of addictive consumption," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 399-408.
    22. Orlikowski, Wanda J. & Scott, Susan V., 2015. "The algorithm and the crowd: considering the materiality of service innovation," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 57601, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    23. Cui, Charles Chi & Mrad, Mona & Hogg, Margaret K., 2018. "Brand addiction: Exploring the concept and its definition through an experiential lens," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 118-127.
    24. Jennifer Edson Escalas & James R. Bettman, 2005. "Self-Construal, Reference Groups, and Brand Meaning," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 32(3), pages 378-389, December.
    25. Dabbous, Amal & Tarhini, Abbas, 2019. "Assessing the impact of knowledge and perceived economic benefits on sustainable consumption through the sharing economy: A sociotechnical approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    26. Barnes, Donald C. & Ponder, Nicole & Hopkins, Christopher D., 2015. "The impact of perceived customer delight on the frontline employee," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(2), pages 433-441.
    27. V. Kumar & Ashutosh Dixit & Rajshekar (Raj) G. Javalgi & Mayukh Dass, 2016. "Research framework, strategies, and applications of intelligent agent technologies (IATs) in marketing," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 24-45, January.
    28. Belk, Russell W & Ger, Guliz & Askegaard, Soren, 2003. "The Fire of Desire: A Multisited Inquiry into Consumer Passion," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 30(3), pages 326-351, December.
    29. Farah, Maya F. & Ramadan, Zahy B. & Harb, Dana H., 2019. "The examination of virtual reality at the intersection of consumer experience, shopping journey and physical retailing," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 136-143.
    30. Mrad, Mona & Majdalani, Joelle & Cui, Charles Chi & El Khansa, Zeinab, 2020. "Brand addiction in the contexts of luxury and fast-fashion brands," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    31. Mollen, Anne & Wilson, Hugh, 2010. "Engagement, telepresence and interactivity in online consumer experience: Reconciling scholastic and managerial perspectives," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 63(9-10), pages 919-925, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Oliveira, Guilherme Gouvea de & Lizarelli, Fabiane Letícia & Teixeira, Jorge Grenha & Mendes, Glauco Henrique de Sousa, 2023. "Curb your enthusiasm: Examining the customer experience with Alexa and its marketing outcomes," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    2. Kautish, Pradeep & Purohit, Sonal & Filieri, Raffaele & Dwivedi, Yogesh K., 2023. "Examining the role of consumer motivations to use voice assistants for fashion shopping: The mediating role of awe experience and eWOM," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Aurélie Hemonnet-Goujot & Pierre Valette-Florence, 2022. "“All you need is love”. From product design value perception to luxury brand love: An integrated framework," Post-Print hal-03562015, HAL.
    2. P. Rodrigues & M. Junaid & A. Sousa & A. P. Borges, 2024. "Brand addiction’s mediation of brand love and loyalty’s effect on compulsive buying: the case of human brands," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 31(4), pages 382-400, July.
    3. Hemonnet-Goujot, Aurélie & Valette-Florence, Pierre, 2022. "“All you need is love” from product design value perception to luxury brand love: An integrated framework," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1463-1475.
    4. Saikat Banerjee & Bibek Ray Chaudhuri, 2022. "Brand love and party preference of young political consumers (voters)," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 19(3), pages 475-503, September.
    5. Sehrash Siddique & Amer Rajput, 2022. "Self-expressiveness and hedonic brand affect brand love through brand jealousy," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 1-13, December.
    6. Fetscherin, Marc & Heinrich, Daniel, 2015. "Consumer brand relationships research: A bibliometric citation meta-analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(2), pages 380-390.
    7. Vesna Babić-Hodović & Alisa Mujkić & Maja Arslanagić-Kalajdžić, 2023. "We need both brand love and emotional attachment: a serial mediation framework toward addictive buying and loyalty," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 30(1), pages 9-33, January.
    8. Alvarez, Claudio & David, Meredith E. & George, Morris, 2023. "Types of Consumer-Brand Relationships: A systematic review and future research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    9. Pinaki Roy & Kapil Khandeparkar & Manoj Motiani, 2016. "A lovable personality: The effect of brand personality on brand love," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 23(5), pages 97-113, September.
    10. Schembri, Sharon, 2009. "Reframing brand experience: The experiential meaning of Harley-Davidson," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 62(12), pages 1299-1310, December.
    11. Morgan-Thomas, Anna & Dessart, Laurence & Veloutsou, Cleopatra, 2020. "Digital ecosystem and consumer engagement: A socio-technical perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 713-723.
    12. Hollebeek, Linda D. & Belk, Russell, 2021. "Consumers’ technology-facilitated brand engagement and wellbeing: Positivist TAM/PERMA- vs. Consumer Culture Theory perspectives," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 387-401.
    13. T. Ndhlovu & T. Maree, 2024. "The central role of consumer–brand engagement in product and service brand contexts," Journal of Marketing Analytics, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(4), pages 944-961, December.
    14. Zahy B. Ramadan, 2019. "Brand–brand relational moments," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 26(6), pages 705-716, November.
    15. Guy Assaker & Wassim Shahin, 2022. "What Drives Faculty Publication Citations in the Business Field? Empirical Results from an AACSB Middle Eastern Institution," Publications, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-29, November.
    16. Thomas P. Novak & Donna L. Hoffman, 2019. "Relationship journeys in the internet of things: a new framework for understanding interactions between consumers and smart objects," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 47(2), pages 216-237, March.
    17. Noor Hasmini Binti Abd Ghani & Mohammad Kashedul Wahab Tuhin, 2016. "Consumer Brand Relationships," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 6(4), pages 950-957.
    18. Jacob, Isaac & Khanna, Monica & Rai, Krupa A., 2020. "Attribution analysis of luxury brands: An investigation into consumer-brand congruence through conspicuous consumption," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 597-607.
    19. Anwar Sadat Shimul & Ian Phau & Michael Lwin, 2019. "Conceptualising luxury brand attachment: scale development and validation," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 26(6), pages 675-690, November.
    20. Hsieh, Sara H. & Chang, Aihwa, 2016. "The Psychological Mechanism of Brand Co-creation Engagement," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 13-26.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:joreco:v:62:y:2021:i:c:s0969698921001764. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-retailing-and-consumer-services .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.