IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/joamsc/v51y2023i4d10.1007_s11747-022-00868-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Voice bots on the frontline: Voice-based interfaces enhance flow-like consumer experiences & boost service outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Naim Zierau

    (University of St.Gallen)

  • Christian Hildebrand

    (University of St.Gallen)

  • Anouk Bergner

    (University of St.Gallen)

  • Francesc Busquet

    (University of St.Gallen)

  • Anuschka Schmitt

    (University of St.Gallen)

  • Jan Marco Leimeister

    (University of St.Gallen
    University of Kassel)

Abstract

Voice-based interfaces provide new opportunities for firms to interact with consumers along the customer journey. The current work demonstrates across four studies that voice-based (as opposed to text-based) interfaces promote more flow-like user experiences, resulting in more positively-valenced service experiences, and ultimately more favorable behavioral firm outcomes (i.e., contract renewal, conversion rates, and consumer sentiment). Moreover, we also provide evidence for two important boundary conditions that reduce such flow-like user experiences in voice-based interfaces (i.e., semantic disfluency and the amount of conversational turns). The findings of this research highlight how fundamental theories of human communication can be harnessed to create more experiential service experiences with positive downstream consequences for consumers and firms. These findings have important practical implications for firms that aim at leveraging the potential of voice-based interfaces to improve consumers’ service experiences and the theory-driven “conversational design” of voice-based interfaces.

Suggested Citation

  • Naim Zierau & Christian Hildebrand & Anouk Bergner & Francesc Busquet & Anuschka Schmitt & Jan Marco Leimeister, 2023. "Voice bots on the frontline: Voice-based interfaces enhance flow-like consumer experiences & boost service outcomes," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 51(4), pages 823-842, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joamsc:v:51:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s11747-022-00868-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s11747-022-00868-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11747-022-00868-5
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11747-022-00868-5?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. Shrum, L. J. & Lowrey, Tina M. & Pogacar, Ruth, 2018. "The Effects of Linguistic Devices on Consumer Information Processing and Persuasion: A Language Complexity × Processing Mode Framework," HEC Research Papers Series 1261, HEC Paris, revised 03 May 2018.
    2. Jordan W. Moffett & Judith Anne Garretson Folse & Robert W. Palmatier, 2021. "A theory of multiformat communication: mechanisms, dynamics, and strategies," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 49(3), pages 441-461, May.
    3. Brannon Barhorst, Jennifer & McLean, Graeme & Shah, Esta & Mack, Rhonda, 2021. "Blending the real world and the virtual world: Exploring the role of flow in augmented reality experiences," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 423-436.
    4. Axel Berger & Tobias Schlager & David E. Sprott & Andreas Herrmann, 2018. "Gamified interactions: whether, when, and how games facilitate self–brand connections," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 652-673, July.
    5. Thomas P. Novak & Donna L. Hoffman & Yiu-Fai Yung, 2000. "Measuring the Customer Experience in Online Environments: A Structural Modeling Approach," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 19(1), pages 22-42, May.
    6. McDowell, William C. & Wilson, Rachel C. & Kile, Charles Owen, 2016. "An examination of retail website design and conversion rate," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 4837-4842.
    7. Shabnam H. A. Zanjani & George R. Milne & Elizabeth G. Miller, 2016. "Procrastinators’ online experience and purchase behavior," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 44(5), pages 568-585, September.
    8. Richard L. Daft & Robert H. Lengel, 1986. "Organizational Information Requirements, Media Richness and Structural Design," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 32(5), pages 554-571, May.
    9. Steenkamp, Jan-Benedict E M & Baumgartner, Hans, 1992. "The Role of Optimum Stimulation Level in Exploratory Consumer Behavior," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 19(3), pages 434-448, December.
    10. Fernando Santini & Wagner Junior Ladeira & Diego Costa Pinto & Márcia Maurer Herter & Claudio Hoffmann Sampaio & Barry J. Babin, 2020. "Customer engagement in social media: a framework and meta-analysis," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 48(6), pages 1211-1228, November.
    11. Donna L Hoffman & Thomas P Novak & Eileen FischerEditor & Robert KozinetsAssociate Editor, 2018. "Consumer and Object Experience in the Internet of Things: An Assemblage Theory Approach," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 44(6), pages 1178-1204.
    12. Hildebrand, Christian & Efthymiou, Fotis & Busquet, Francesc & Hampton, William H. & Hoffman, Donna L. & Novak, Thomas P., 2020. "Voice analytics in business research: Conceptual foundations, acoustic feature extraction, and applications," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 364-374.
    13. Alan R. Dennis & Susan T. Kinney, 1998. "Testing Media Richness Theory in the New Media: The Effects of Cues, Feedback, and Task Equivocality," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 9(3), pages 256-274, September.
    14. Unger, Lynette S & Kernan, Jerome B, 1983. "On the Meaning of Leisure: An Investigation of Some Determinants of the Subjective Experience," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 9(4), pages 381-392, March.
    15. Aaron C. Elkins & Douglas C. Derrick, 2013. "The Sound of Trust: Voice as a Measurement of Trust During Interactions with Embodied Conversational Agents," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 897-913, September.
    16. Hoffman, Donna L. & Novak, Thomas P., 2009. "Flow Online: Lessons Learned and Future Prospects," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 23-34.
    17. Pagani, Margherita & Racat, Margot & Hofacker, Charles F., 2019. "Adding Voice to the Omnichannel and How that Affects Brand Trust," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 89-105.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Zierau, Naim & Hildebrand, Christian & Bergner, Anouk & Busquet, Francesc & Schmitt, Anuschka & Marco Leimeister, Jan, 2022. "Voice bots on the frontline: voice-based interfaces enhance flow-like consumer experiences & boost service outcomes," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 125786, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Stefan Hoffmann & Tom Joerß & Robert Mai & Payam Akbar, 2022. "Augmented reality-delivered product information at the point of sale: when information controllability backfires," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 50(4), pages 743-776, July.
    3. Arghashi, Vahideh & Yuksel, Cenk Arsun, 2022. "Interactivity, Inspiration, and Perceived Usefulness! How retailers’ AR-apps improve consumer engagement through flow," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    4. Christophe Bezes, 2009. "E-Commerce Website Evaluation: A Critical Review," Working Papers hal-00611008, HAL.
    5. Un-Kon Lee, 2022. "Tourism Using Virtual Reality: Media Richness and Information System Successes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-17, March.
    6. Molinillo, Sebastian & Navarro-García, Antonio & Anaya-Sánchez, Rafael & Japutra, Arnold, 2020. "The impact of affective and cognitive app experiences on loyalty towards retailers," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    7. Xu, Xiao-Yu & Jia, Qing-Dan & Tayyab, Syed Muhammad Usman, 2024. "Exploring the stimulating role of augmented reality features in E-commerce: A three-staged hybrid approach," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    8. Martins, José & Costa, Catarina & Oliveira, Tiago & Gonçalves, Ramiro & Branco, Frederico, 2019. "How smartphone advertising influences consumers' purchase intention," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 378-387.
    9. Ofir Turel & Catherine E. Connelly, 2012. "Team Spirit: The Influence of Psychological Collectivism on the Usage of E-Collaboration Tools," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 21(5), pages 703-725, September.
    10. Zhenhui (Jack) Jiang & Cheng Suang Heng & Ben C. F. Choi, 2013. "Research Note —Privacy Concerns and Privacy-Protective Behavior in Synchronous Online Social Interactions," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 24(3), pages 579-595, September.
    11. Jinhui Li, 2024. "Promoting HPV vaccination: effectiveness of mobile short videos for shaping attitudes and influencing behaviors," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    12. Baabdullah, Abdullah M. & Alalwan, Ali Abdallah & Algharabat, Raed S. & Metri, Bhimaraya & Rana, Nripendra P., 2022. "Virtual agents and flow experience: An empirical examination of AI-powered chatbots," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    13. Morgan-Thomas, Anna & Veloutsou, Cleopatra, 2013. "Beyond technology acceptance: Brand relationships and online brand experience," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 21-27.
    14. Han, Sang-Lin & An, Myounga & Han, Jerry J. & Lee, Jiyoung, 2020. "Telepresence, time distortion, and consumer traits of virtual reality shopping," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 311-320.
    15. Obada Daniel RARES, 2014. "Exploring The Mediating Role Of Perceived Quality Between Online Flow And Customer’S Online Purchase Intention On A Restaurant E-Commerce Website," THE YEARBOOK OF THE "GH. ZANE" INSTITUTE OF ECONOMIC RESEARCHES, Gheorghe Zane Institute for Economic and Social Research ( from THE ROMANIAN ACADEMY, JASSY BRANCH), vol. 23(1), pages 35-44.
    16. Attié, Elodie & Meyer-Waarden, Lars, 2022. "The acceptance and usage of smart connected objects according to adoption stages: an enhanced technology acceptance model integrating the diffusion of innovation, uses and gratification and privacy ca," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    17. Shiri Melumad & Rhonda Hadi & Christian Hildebrand & Adrian F. Ward, 2020. "Technology-Augmented Choice: How Digital Innovations Are Transforming Consumer Decision Processes," Customer Needs and Solutions, Springer;Institute for Sustainable Innovation and Growth (iSIG), vol. 7(3), pages 90-101, October.
    18. repec:cmj:networ:y:2013:i:1:p:74-80 is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Lena Steinhoff & Denni Arli & Scott Weaven & Irina V. Kozlenkova, 2019. "Online relationship marketing," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 369-393, May.
    20. Sohn, Stefanie, 2024. "Consumer perceived risk of using autonomous retail technology," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    21. Graciela Corral de Zubielqui & Noel Lindsay & Wendy Lindsay & Janice Jones, 2019. "Knowledge quality, innovation and firm performance: a study of knowledge transfer in SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 145-164, June.

    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:spr:joamsc:v:51:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s11747-022-00868-5. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    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.