IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jbrese/v124y2021icp312-328.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Alexa, do voice assistants influence consumer brand engagement? – Examining the role of AI powered voice assistants in influencing consumer brand engagement

Author

Listed:
  • McLean, Graeme
  • Osei-Frimpong, Kofi
  • Barhorst, Jennifer

Abstract

Artificially Intelligent (AI) voice assistants (VAs) are continuing to grow in popularity amongst consumers. While in their infancy, several brands are now utilising VAs such as the Amazon Echo to deliver brand-related information and services. However, despite the increasing use of VAs, we have little understanding of what motivates consumers to use such devices for brand-related information. Focusing on the Amazon Echo in-home VA, and its associated Alexa Skills, this research uncovers the key drivers of consumer brand engagement through VAs. In study 1, through a set of in-depth exploratory interviews with 21 respondents, we established three factors as key drivers of why consumers use VAs to engage with brands: AI attributes, technology attributes, and situational attributes. Study 2 examines these specific drivers via a questionnaire with 724 respondents. The findings outline the VA as an actor in the engagement process and affirm the importance of the VA’s AI attributes of social presence, perceived intelligence, and social attraction in influencing consumer brand engagement. Additionally, technology attributes influence consumer brand engagement, along with the utilitarian benefits derived from interactions with brand-related information. Hedonic benefits do not influence consumer brand engagement via VA technology, while trust concerns play a negative role in brand engagement behaviour. Lastly, the results convey that consumer brand engagement via a VA influences brand usage intention, but in contrast to previous research, does not directly influence future purchase intention.

Suggested Citation

  • McLean, Graeme & Osei-Frimpong, Kofi & Barhorst, Jennifer, 2021. "Alexa, do voice assistants influence consumer brand engagement? – Examining the role of AI powered voice assistants in influencing consumer brand engagement," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 312-328.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:124:y:2021:i:c:p:312-328
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.11.045
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296320307980
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.11.045?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. Ming-Hui Huang & Roland T. Rust, 2017. "Technology-driven service strategy," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 45(6), pages 906-924, November.
    2. Storbacka, Kaj & Brodie, Roderick J. & Böhmann, Tilo & Maglio, Paul P. & Nenonen, Suvi, 2016. "Actor engagement as a microfoundation for value co-creation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(8), pages 3008-3017.
    3. Felix B. Tan & Paul Sutherland, 2004. "Online Consumer Trust: A Multi-Dimensional Model," Journal of Electronic Commerce in Organizations (JECO), IGI Global, vol. 2(3), pages 40-58, July.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. Kim, Hyejeong & Niehm, Linda S., 2009. "The Impact of Website Quality on Information Quality, Value, and Loyalty Intentions in Apparel Retailing," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 23(3), pages 221-233.
    7. 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.
    8. Rauschnabel, Philipp A. & He, Jun & Ro, Young K., 2018. "Antecedents to the adoption of augmented reality smart glasses: A closer look at privacy risks," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 374-384.
    9. Hollebeek, Linda D. & Glynn, Mark S. & Brodie, Roderick J., 2014. "Consumer Brand Engagement in Social Media: Conceptualization, Scale Development and Validation," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 149-165.
    10. Matthew Alexander & Elina Jaakkola & Linda Hollebeek, 2018. "Zooming out: actor engagement beyond the dyadic," Post-Print hal-02008939, HAL.
    11. McLean, Graeme & Al-Nabhani, Khalid & Wilson, Alan, 2018. "Developing a Mobile Applications Customer Experience Model (MACE)- Implications for Retailers," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 325-336.
    12. Anita Pansari & V. Kumar, 2017. "Customer engagement: the construct, antecedents, and consequences," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 294-311, May.
    13. Arnold, Stephen J & Fischer, Eileen, 1994. "Hermeneutics and Consumer Research," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 21(1), pages 55-70, June.
    14. Moon, Youngme, 2000. "Intimate Exchanges: Using Computers to Elicit Self-Disclosure from Consumers," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 26(4), pages 323-339, March.
    15. Ranaweera, Chatura & Jayawardhena, Chanaka, 2014. "Talk up or criticize? Customer responses to WOM about competitors during social interactions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(12), pages 2645-2656.
    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. Katsifaraki, Georgia D. & Theodosiou, Marios, 2020. "How different (dis)engagement behaviors affect performance within an e-market ecosystem: A longitudinal analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 578-591.
    2. Clark, Moira K. & Lages, Cristiana Raquel & Hollebeek, Linda D., 2020. "Friend or foe? Customer engagement’s value-based effects on fellow customers and the firm," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 549-556.
    3. Blasco-Arcas, Lorena & Alexander, Matthew & Sörhammar, David & Jonas, Julia M. & Raithel, Sascha & Chen, Tom, 2020. "Organizing actor Engagement: A platform perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 74-85.
    4. Ndhlovu, Thinkwell & Maree, Tania, 2022. "Consumer brand engagement: Refined measurement scales for product and service contexts," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 228-240.
    5. Schaefers, Tobias & Falk, Tomas & Kumar, Ashish & Schamari, Julia, 2021. "More of the same? Effects of volume and variety of social media brand engagement behavior," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 282-294.
    6. Viglia, Giampaolo & Pera, Rebecca & Dyussembayeva, Shynar & Mifsud, Matthieu & Hollebeek, Linda D., 2023. "Engagement and value cocreation within a multi-stakeholder service ecosystem," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    7. Behnam, Mohsen & Hollebeek, Linda D. & Clark, Moira K. & Farabi, Reza, 2021. "Exploring customer engagement in the product vs. service context," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    8. Hollebeek, Linda D. & Macky, Keith, 2019. "Digital Content Marketing's Role in Fostering Consumer Engagement, Trust, and Value: Framework, Fundamental Propositions, and Implications," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 27-41.
    9. 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.
    10. Loureiro, Sandra Maria Correia & Romero, Jaime & Bilro, Ricardo Godinho, 2020. "Stakeholder engagement in co-creation processes for innovation: A systematic literature review and case study," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 388-409.
    11. Agrawal, Shiv Ratan & Mittal, Divya, 2022. "Optimizing customer engagement content strategy in retail and E-tail: Available on online product review videos," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    12. Kulikovskaja, Viktorija & Hubert, Marco & Grunert, Klaus G. & Zhao, Hong, 2023. "Driving marketing outcomes through social media-based customer engagement," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    13. Ho, Xuan Huong & Nguyen, Dong Phong & Cheng, Julian Ming Sung & Le, Angelina Nhat Hanh, 2022. "Customer engagement in the context of retail mobile apps: A contingency model integrating spatial presence experience and its drivers," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    14. Ng, Sylvia C. & Sweeney, Jillian C. & Plewa, Carolin, 2020. "Customer engagement: A systematic review and future research priorities," Australasian marketing journal, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 235-252.
    15. Cuesta-Valiño, Pedro & Gutiérrez-Rodríguez, Pablo & Núnez-Barriopedro, Estela & García-Henche, Blanca, 2023. "Strategic orientation towards digitization to improve supermarket loyalty in an omnichannel context," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    16. Itani, Omar S. & El Haddad, Rania & Kalra, Ashish, 2020. "Exploring the role of extrovert-introvert customers’ personality prototype as a driver of customer engagement: Does relationship duration matter?," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    17. Zheng, Run & Li, Zhuyuan & Na, Sanggyun, 2022. "How customer engagement in the live-streaming affects purchase intention and customer acquisition, E-tailer's perspective," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    18. Mai Thi My-Quyen & Le Nguyen Hau, 2021. "Transforming customer brand engagement to co-creation value through participation energy and effort," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 15(3), pages 493-514, September.
    19. Linda D. Hollebeek & Moira K. Clark & Wafa Hammedi & René Arvola, 2021. "Cocreated brand value: theoretical model and propositions," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 28(4), pages 413-428, July.
    20. Eberhardt, Wiebke & Brüggen, Elisabeth & Post, Thomas & Hoet, Chantal, 2021. "Engagement behavior and financial well-being: The effect of message framing in online pension communication," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 448-471.

    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:jbrese:v:124:y:2021:i:c:p:312-328. 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: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jbusres .

    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.