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1 – 10 of over 119000The purpose of this paper is to focus on the evolving field of hybrid services within the customer service domain. The distinguishing characteristic of hybrid services is its…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to focus on the evolving field of hybrid services within the customer service domain. The distinguishing characteristic of hybrid services is its rapid advancements and intersection of technology innovations mixed with customer service approaches.
Design/methodology/approach
Extensive research and analysis has identified numerous models to measure service quality and most of these models are derived from the SERVQUAL. Since SERVQUAL is not clearly focused to analyze the customer’s experience, the authors have used mixed methods of data collection. The two sources of data are both primary and secondary data. Primary source of research is semi-structured feedback with key operations manager and front line employees involved in the business process outsourcing industry. Secondary source of data is based on case studies of organizations engaged in information technology and ecommerce.
Findings
In this study, the author suggests multivariate hybrid pathways to streamline and deliver exceptional customer experience, which enhances the customer retention and firm’s competitive advantage. This study emphasizes on the imminent growth of hybrid services within the customer service domain. The distinguishing characteristic of hybrid services is its rapid advancements and intersection of technology innovations mixed with customer service approaches. The customers’ interactions with a firm are gaining proportional complexity due to the intercourse of human and technology interactions.
Originality/value
This study integrates the diverging but distinct pathways that influence customer experience. The study is centralized on the theme that there is a progressive dependence of human interactions with technological developments. It highlights the advent of new digital technologies that are the catalyst for personalized customer experiences.
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Bernd F. Reitsamer, Nicola E. Stokburger-Sauer and Janina S. Kuhnle
Effective customer journey design (ECJD) is considered a key variable in customer experience management and an essential source of brand meaning and pro-brand behavior. Although…
Abstract
Purpose
Effective customer journey design (ECJD) is considered a key variable in customer experience management and an essential source of brand meaning and pro-brand behavior. Although previous research has confirmed its importance for driving brand attitudes and loyalty, the role of consumer-brand identification as a social identity-based influence in this relationship has not yet been discussed. Drawing on construal level and social identity theories, this paper aims to investigate whether effective journeys and the resulting overall journey experience are equally powerful in driving brand loyalty among customers with different levels of consumer-brand identification.
Design/methodology/approach
The present article develops and tests a research model using data from the European and US service sectors (N = 1,454) to investigate how and when ECJD affects service brand loyalty.
Findings
Across two cultural contexts, four service industries and 33 service brands, the results reveal that ECJD is a crucial driver of service brand loyalty for customers with low consumer-brand identification. Moreover, the findings show that different aspects of journey effectiveness positively impact the valence of customers’ experience related to those journeys – a process that is ultimately decisive for their brand loyalty.
Originality/value
This study is unique because it generates theoretical and practical knowledge by combining the literature streams of customer journey design, customer experience and branding. Furthermore, this work demonstrates that consumer-brand identification is a critical boundary condition to be considered in the relationship between ECJD and brand loyalty in services.
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IpKin Anthony Wong, Ya Xiao, Zhiwei (CJ) Lin, Danni Sun, Jingwen (Daisy) Huang and Matthew Liu
This paper aims to answer questions pertinent to whether or not services provided by smart hotels are really what customers are looking for, as well as to ascertain what are some…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to answer questions pertinent to whether or not services provided by smart hotels are really what customers are looking for, as well as to ascertain what are some unintended experiences guests may encounter. In essence, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first in the field to acknowledge the paradox of smart service.
Design/methodology/approach
This inquiry adopts a qualitative approach with data-driven from online customer reviews and semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis was undertaken to interpret review comments.
Findings
Results point to a new phenomenon, which is coined as the smartness paradox. In particular, customers on one hand enjoy an array of smart-infused experiences that jointly offer patrons a sense of a futuristic lifestyle. On the other hand, smart devices superimpose a number of hindrances that bring guests dismay and annoyance.
Research limitations/implications
This investigation brings smart service failure to the fore to highlight several key failure themes that could jeopardize the entire operation with debased customers’ satisfaction and loyalty inclination.
Originality/value
The smartness-paradox framework used in the present inquiry entails both approach and avoidance consequences customers enact depending on their smart experiences.
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Madalyn Anne Scerri and Rajka Presbury
Spoken service language is critical for service experiences and human welfare in many service settings. However, little is known about how spoken service language can enhance…
Abstract
Purpose
Spoken service language is critical for service experiences and human welfare in many service settings. However, little is known about how spoken service language can enhance customer well-being in transformative service contexts. This paper explores spoken service language and well-being for customers experiencing vulnerability in a transformative service context, informed by an empirical account of the human welfare service of residential aged care.
Design/methodology/approach
Situated within transformative service research (TSR), this study was guided by a theoretical framework of service language and adopts a strengths-based approach to customer experiences of vulnerability. A qualitative multiple case study methodology was applied to explore carers’ perspectives on spoken service language and well-being from three residential aged care homes in Australia.
Findings
The findings demonstrate five spoken service language practices and four principles of spoken service language for well-being that co-create customer well-being and support the alleviation of customer experiences of vulnerability. Conceptualised as transformative spoken service language, the spoken service language practices and principles collectively recognise, support and leverage residents’ capabilities and uplift customer well-being, by enacting a process of mattering highly salient to transformative service contexts.
Originality/value
This study is the first to conceptualise how employee spoken service language can be used to support customer well-being and enhance transformative value for customers experiencing vulnerability to align with the goals of TSR. Practically, the study advocates for a greater awareness and more considered use of transformative spoken service language in human welfare and other transformative service contexts.
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Jacquie McGraw, Rebekah Russell-Bennett and Katherine M. White
Preventative health services are keen to identify how to engage men and increase their participation, thus improving health, well-being and life expectancy over time. Prior…
Abstract
Purpose
Preventative health services are keen to identify how to engage men and increase their participation, thus improving health, well-being and life expectancy over time. Prior research has shown general gender norms are a key reason for men’s avoidance of these services, yet there is little investigation of specific gender norms. Furthermore, masculinity has not been examined as a factor associated with customer vulnerability. This paper aims to identify the relationship between gender norm segments for men, likely customer vulnerability over time and subjective health and well-being.
Design/methodology/approach
Adult males (n = 13,891) from an Australian longitudinal men’s health study were classified using latent class analysis. Conditional growth mixture modelling was conducted at three timepoints.
Findings
Three masculinity segments were identified based on masculine norm conformity: traditional self-reliant, traditional bravado and modern status. All segments had likely customer experience of vulnerability. Over time, the likely experience was temporary for the modern status segment but prolonged for the traditional self-reliant and traditional bravado segments. The traditional self-reliant segment had low subjective health and low overall well-being over time.
Practical implications
Practitioners can tailor services to gender norm segments, enabling self-reliant men to provide expertise and use the “Status” norm to reach all masculinity segments.
Originality/value
The study of customer vulnerability in a group usually considered privileged identifies differential temporal experiences based on gender norms. The study confirms customer vulnerability is temporal in nature; customer vulnerability changes over time from likely to actual for self-reliant men.
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Jagdish N. Sheth, Varsha Jain and Anupama Ambika
This study aims to develop an empathetic and user-centric customer support service design model. Though service design has been a critical research focus for several decades, few…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to develop an empathetic and user-centric customer support service design model. Though service design has been a critical research focus for several decades, few studies focus on customer support services. As customer support gains importance as a source of competitive advantage in the present era, this paper aims to contribute to industry and academia by exploring the service design model.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted a theories-in-use approach to elucidate mental models based on the industry’s best practices. In-depth interviews with 62 professionals led to critical insights into customer service design development, supported by service-dominant logic and theory of mind principles.
Findings
The ensuing insights led to a model that connects the antecedents and outcomes of empathetic and user-centric customer service design. The precursors include people, processes and technology, while the results are user experience, service trust and service advocacy. The model also emphasises the significance of the user’s journey and the user service review in the overall service design.
Research limitations/implications
The model developed through this study addresses the critical gap concerning the lack of service design research in customer support services. The key insights from this study contribute to the ongoing research endeavours towards transitioning customer support services from an operational unit to a strategic value-creating function. Future scholars may investigate the applicability of the empathetic user service design across cultures and industries. The new model must be customised using real-time data and analytics across user journey stages.
Practical implications
The empathetic and user-centric design can elevate the customer service function as a significant contributor to the overall customer experience, loyalty and positive word of mouth. Practitioners can adopt the new model to provide superior customer service experiences. This original research was developed through crucial insights from interviews with senior industry professionals.
Originality/value
This research is the original work developed through the key insights from the interview with senior industry professionals.
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Vandana Srivastava, Sanjeev Kishore and Deepika Dhingra
Over the last decade, customer experience management has gradually emerged as the most important activity for organisations. Organisations have turned towards leveraging the…
Abstract
Over the last decade, customer experience management has gradually emerged as the most important activity for organisations. Organisations have turned towards leveraging the ubiquitous and easy-to-use technology in enhancing and enabling experience for the time-crunched customers of today who are looking for greater convenience and choices. It is therefore not surprising that disruptive technologies such as smartphones, virtual and augmented reality, cloud computing, big data analytics, Internet of things, artificial intelligence and robotics have also found their way into the design of customer experience. This chapter aims to present an overview of the technologies that have transformed the customer experience landscape. This chapter contributes by showcasing two illustrative cases from very diverse domains, a private sector bank and a public sector transportation organisation, to elucidate how India, a rapidly developing economy, is embracing technology to enhance the customer experience.
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Frédéric Ponsignon, Laura Phillips, Philip Smart and Nicholas Low
This research explores how to design service delivery systems to facilitate a customer experience that enables the realisation of prevention-oriented goals.
Abstract
Purpose
This research explores how to design service delivery systems to facilitate a customer experience that enables the realisation of prevention-oriented goals.
Design/methodology/approach
Case-based research is undertaken to inform the design of service delivery systems for prevention-oriented consumption goals. Data from multiple informants, from both the provider and customer perspective, in two in-depth case studies, provide empirical insights.
Findings
Drawing on customer and provider perspectives, a model of service design for prevention-oriented goals is presented. The model is informed through the identification of service delivery system characteristics (facility layout, staff service orientation, facility appearance and staff presence/appearance) and perceived experience quality dimensions (control, duration, privacy and reliability impressions) that contribute to the fulfilment of prevention-oriented consumption goals.
Practical implications
The research affirms that it is critical for organisations to comprehend the goals they want their service delivery systems to enable in the customer experience. Specific attention should be given to the design of facility layout, staff-service orientation, facility appearance, staff presence/appearance to positively impact perceived quality dimensions and to facilitate the realisation of customer prevention goals.
Originality/value
The main research contribution lies in the articulation of the design characteristics of the service delivery system that enables a customer experience supporting the fulfilment of prevention goals. The empirical study draws on both customer and organisational perspectives to identify prevention-oriented goals, and corresponding experience quality dimensions, to inform service delivery system design.
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Birgit Bosio, Katharina Rainer and Marc Stickdorn
Many companies struggle with the assessment of customer experience. This chapter aims to demonstrate how mobile ethnography tackles this issue by assessing data in a holistical…
Abstract
Purpose
Many companies struggle with the assessment of customer experience. This chapter aims to demonstrate how mobile ethnography tackles this issue by assessing data in a holistical way, in-situ, and in real-time.
Methodology/approach
The chapter describes the implementation of a mobile ethnography project in a tourist destination, including participant recruitment, data collection, data analysis, and the derivation of insights.
Findings
The mobile ethnography project allowed to gain deep insights into the customers’ journeys.
Research limitations/implications
Future research will need to further investigate questions of participant recruitment, the effectiveness of incentives as well as the performance of the data collection process. Furthermore the findings of this case need to be replicated in the context of other industries, as well as in other cultural contexts.
Practical implications
Mobile ethnography allows companies to gain more information on customer experience in real-time, thus with reduced cognitive and emotional bias. Therefore, the method can help to improve the touristic service offering and, consequently, customer experience.
Originality/value
As companies are searching for new approaches to research and manage customer experience, this chapter is of high value for both academia and practice.
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Ahmad Beltagui, Marina Candi and Johann C.K.H. Riedel
This chapter explores the relationship between emotional design and customer experience. It begins with an introduction to the concept of emotional design, comprising behavioral…
Abstract
This chapter explores the relationship between emotional design and customer experience. It begins with an introduction to the concept of emotional design, comprising behavioral, visceral, and reflective elements. Next, the nature of service experiences is examined, leading to a framework that classifies services according to their functional and experiential positions. Understanding customer goals allows this framework to be used to design customer experiences, in terms of the journey that customers take when consuming a service. The chapter then discusses the cognitive traits associated with designers and argues that they are well suited to understanding the customer journey and designing the prerequisites for the desired experience. Two different approaches to understanding and acting on customer requirements are explored – user centered and design driven.
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