Robotic transformative service research: deploying social robots for consumer well-being during COVID-19 and beyond

Purpose: Besides the direct physical health consequences, through social isolation COVID-19 affects a considerably larger share of consumers with deleterious effects for their psychological well-being Two vulnerable consumer groups are particularly affected: older adults and children The purpose of the underlying paper is to take a transformative research perspective on how social robots can be deployed for advancing the well-being of these vulnerable consumers and to spur robotic transformative service research (RTSR) Design/methodology/approach: This paper follows a conceptual approach that integrates findings from various domains: service research, social robotics, social psychology and medicine Findings: Two key findings advanced in this paper are (1) a typology of robotic transformative service (i e entertainer, social enabler, mentor and friend) as a function of consumers' state of social isolation, well-being focus and robot capabilities and (2) a future research agenda for RTSR Practical implications: This paper guides service consumers and providers and robot developers in identifying and developing the most appropriate social robot type for advancing the well-being of vulnerable consumers in social isolation Originality/value: This study is the first to integrate social robotics and transformative service research by developing a typology of social robots as a guiding framework for assessing the status quo of transformative robotic service on the basis of which it advances a future research agenda for RTSR It further complements the underdeveloped body of service research with a focus on eudaimonic consumer well-being © 2020, Alexander P Henkel, Martina Caic, Marah Blaurock and Mehmet Okan