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Understanding the user satisfaction and loyalty of customer service chatbots

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  • Hsu, Chin-Lung
  • Lin, Judy Chuan-Chuan

Abstract

The artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot is emerging as a significant corporate customer-facing application, potentially increasin customer service efficiency while reducing costs. However, little work has sought to assess the quality of service they provide consumers. This study applies the e-service quality by incorporating conversational AI quality to predict users' satisfaction and loyalty to customer service chatbots. The proposed model was empirically evaluated using survey data collected from 219 users responding about their perceptions of customer service chatbots. The findings indicate that AI chatbot service recovery quality and AI chatbot conversational quality significantly influence user satisfaction. On the other hand, core AI chatbot service quality and satisfaction significantly influenced chatbot user loyalty. This study contributes to researchers and practitioners by proposing and evaluating a more comprehensive chatbot e-service quality that combines both fundamental (core service and service recovery qualities) and human-like (conversational quality) aspects of e-service. The results are of value in devising future AI chatbot services and related strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Hsu, Chin-Lung & Lin, Judy Chuan-Chuan, 2023. "Understanding the user satisfaction and loyalty of customer service chatbots," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joreco:v:71:y:2023:i:c:s0969698922003046
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.103211
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Ma, Xiaoyue & Huo, Yudi, 2023. "Are users willing to embrace ChatGPT? Exploring the factors on the acceptance of chatbots from the perspective of AIDUA framework," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    5. Chakraborty, Debarun & Polisetty, Aruna & G, Sowmya & Rana, Nripendra P. & Khorana, Sangeeta, 2024. "Unlocking the potential of AI: Enhancing consumer engagement in the beauty and cosmetic product purchases," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    6. Kim, Hyojung & Park, Minjung, 2024. "When digital celebrity talks to you: How human-like virtual influencers satisfy consumer's experience through social presence on social media endorsements," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    7. Kumar, Anand & Bala, Pradip Kumar & Chakraborty, Shibashish & Behera, Rajat Kumar, 2024. "Exploring antecedents impacting user satisfaction with voice assistant app: A text mining-based analysis on Alexa services," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    8. Diogo Lima & Ricardo F. Ramos & Pedro Miguel Oliveira, 2024. "Customer satisfaction in the pet food subscription-based online services," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 745-769, June.
    9. Xu, Ying & Niu, Nan & Zhao, Zixiang, 2023. "Dissecting the mixed effects of human-customer service chatbot interaction on customer satisfaction: An explanation from temporal and conversational cues," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    10. Shahzad, Muhammad Farrukh & Xu, Shuo & An, Xin & Javed, Iqra, 2024. "Assessing the impact of AI-chatbot service quality on user e-brand loyalty through chatbot user trust, experience and electronic word of mouth," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    11. Cheng, Zhendong & Fan, Wenfang & Shao, Bingjia & Jia, Wenli & Zhang, Yong, 2024. "The impact of intelligent customer service agents’ initial response on consumers’ continuous interaction intention," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    12. Asghar, Midhat, 2023. "Cafe Politics: How Food Service Operators Influence University Students’ Satisfaction and Dining Frequency," MPRA Paper 116759, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 16 Mar 2023.
    13. Huang, Dongling & Markovitch, Dmitri G. & Stough, Rusty A., 2024. "Can chatbot customer service match human service agents on customer satisfaction? An investigation in the role of trust," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    14. Hu, Qian & Pan, Zhao, 2023. "Can AI benefit individual resilience? The mediation roles of AI routinization and infusion," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    15. Aumaima Wahbi & Karim Khaddouj & Naoufal Lahlimi, 2023. "Study of the relationship between chatbot technology and customer experience and satisfaction [Etude de la relation entre la technologie chatbots et l'expérience et la satisfaction client]," Post-Print hal-04403080, HAL.

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