Research Dataset of AI and Human-Based Virtual Assistants

This dataset contains qualitative interview data collected for the research project “Assessing AI and Human-Based Virtual Assistants for Online Customer Support: An Owner’s View.” The study explores how online business owners perceive and evaluate the effectiveness of human customer service staff compared to AI-driven virtual assistants in managing customer interactions. Data were obtained through in-depth semi-structured interviews with three online business owners representing different industries. The dataset includes anonymized interview transcripts, thematic coding notes, and supporting documentation related to the research process. The primary focus is on understanding decision-making processes, challenges, benefits, and future outlooks regarding customer service strategies in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This dataset offers valuable insights into technology adoption, customer service management, and the balance between efficiency and personalization in digital business environments. It may be useful for scholars in entrepreneurship, human-computer interaction, information systems, and applied artificial intelligence research.