{"title":"Organizational Factors Affecting Successful Implementation of Chatbots for Customer Service","authors":"Juliana J. Y. Zhang, Asbjørn Følstad, C. Bjørkli","doi":"10.1080/15332861.2021.1966723","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Abstract While chatbots have become an important part of customer service operations, there is a knowledge gap concerning organizational aspects of chatbot implementation and management. In response to this gap, we present a study of organizational factors affecting successful chatbot implementation. The study involved six organizations that had implemented chatbots for customer service within the last three years. Interviews were conducted with chatbot project owners, managers, developers, and customer service personnel – a total of 14 interviews. Through thematic analysis, five organizational factors were detailed as important for successful chatbot implementation: (1) work and team organization, (2) change management, (3) competencies and competency acquisition, (4) organizational resources, and (5) performance measures. We also present findings on the organizations' motivations and key success criteria for chatbot implementation. Based on the findings we summarize implications for theory and practice and point out directions for future research.","PeriodicalId":46488,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Internet Commerce","volume":"22 1","pages":"122 - 156"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1000,"publicationDate":"2021-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"14","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Internet Commerce","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15332861.2021.1966723","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"BUSINESS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 14
Abstract
Abstract While chatbots have become an important part of customer service operations, there is a knowledge gap concerning organizational aspects of chatbot implementation and management. In response to this gap, we present a study of organizational factors affecting successful chatbot implementation. The study involved six organizations that had implemented chatbots for customer service within the last three years. Interviews were conducted with chatbot project owners, managers, developers, and customer service personnel – a total of 14 interviews. Through thematic analysis, five organizational factors were detailed as important for successful chatbot implementation: (1) work and team organization, (2) change management, (3) competencies and competency acquisition, (4) organizational resources, and (5) performance measures. We also present findings on the organizations' motivations and key success criteria for chatbot implementation. Based on the findings we summarize implications for theory and practice and point out directions for future research.
期刊介绍:
The business world has undergone many changes because of information technology, and the impact of the Internet may cause one of the biggest yet. While many people use the Internet for educational and entertainment purposes, organizations and companies are looking for ways to tie their internal networks to this global network to conduct electronic commerce. While companies have been conducting business electronically with suppliers and customers for many years, conducting online commerce via the Internet offers even greater opportunities for multinational, national, and even small businesses to cut costs, improve efficiency, and reach a global market.