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1 – 10 of 327Shu‐hsien Tseng and Pin‐dar Kuo
The purpose of this paper is to introduce how the Taipei Public Library established an intelligent library that offers automated service equipped with radio frequency…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce how the Taipei Public Library established an intelligent library that offers automated service equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID) and a self‐checkout system. The study concludes with suggestions offered for the reference of the Taipei Public Library and other public libraries in setting up similar automated libraries in the future.
Design/methodology/approach
The study examines the functions of the Ximen Intelligent Library as provided to 106 patrons who are under observation. Afterwards, a questionnaire is distributed to obtain the personal information of these patrons and the specific nature of their patronage of the library. Items of observation and investigation include their use of the library's facilities and the return of library material to a return box located outside the library; patrons include those aged 12 years old and above.
Findings
In comparing the aspects of human resources, capital investment, and library hours, between a public reading room and an intelligent library, it is obvious that the intelligent library has many more advantages. A major difficulty for the patrons of the library is their unfamiliarity in operating the automated circulation system, compounded by the fact that very few patrons call the service line for help when they encounter difficulties. Moreover, patrons cannot always locate on the shelves the books they intend to borrow, even though the catalogue indicates that they are on the shelves.
Originality/value
The paper offers helpful information on understanding this type of library, including its patrons, their behaviour in the library, and how it operates. The results of this study can serve as a reference for improving current intelligent library services for librarians at the Taipei Public Library and at other public libraries that plan to set up RFID intelligent libraries.
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Arun Kumar Kaushik and Zillur Rahman
This study aims to extend and revise the basic technology acceptance model (TAM) by analyzing the impact of trust and subjective norm (SN) on consumers’ attitude and behavioral…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to extend and revise the basic technology acceptance model (TAM) by analyzing the impact of trust and subjective norm (SN) on consumers’ attitude and behavioral intention toward adopting self-service technologies (SSTs) in offline retail environments.
Design/methodology/approach
Primary data were collected through field and online surveys, resulting in 651 usable responses. Hypotheses involving all variables of extended TAM, and their mutual relationships, are examined in this study of offline consumer adoption behavior.
Findings
The findings reveal that trust significantly affects both consumers’ attitudes and their behavioral intentions, while SN also affects intention to adopt. It is recommended that future researchers use a more comprehensive version of TAM and consider trust and SN when analyzing offline consumer adoption behavior.
Research limitations/implications
All the SSTs included in this paper belong to the retail industry, which limit the generalizability of the findings to other industries. Many other limitations are also discussed.
Practical implications
The practicality of our findings guides managers and designers of technological interfaces. Furthermore, the practical implications are discussed and directions for future research are also provided.
Social implications
This study recommends the usage of numerous SSTs in organized retail stores. The society will also benefit from the effective implementation of such SSTs.
Originality/value
Trust and SNs have been incorporated as two additional variables to analyze offline adoption behavior of retail customers. This has not been done before, as most studies have focused on adoption behavior of customers in online environments.
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Yuli Liang, Seung-Hee Lee and Jane E. Workman
Mobile self-checkout refers to scanning products using a mobile device inside a brick-and-mortar store and completing the checkout process on mobile devices. Even though mobile…
Abstract
Purpose
Mobile self-checkout refers to scanning products using a mobile device inside a brick-and-mortar store and completing the checkout process on mobile devices. Even though mobile self-checkout has been used in other industries for several years, it is a new application in the fashion industry and only limited numbers of retailers have implemented mobile self-checkout in their stores. The purpose of this study is to understand consumers' acceptance of mobile self-checkout in fashion retail stores by analyzing determinants of using a new system.
Design/methodology/approach
Part of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) was used as a theoretical framework. Openness to experience, variety seeking and adventure shopping were added to the model. Empirical data (with 229 valid responses) were collected from the top 20 metropolitan areas in the US via Qualtrics Panel services. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling and multi-group moderation were used to estimate construct validity and test the proposed hypotheses and theoretical framework.
Findings
The results indicated that consumers' intentions toward using mobile self-checkout in fashion retail stores were predicted by facilitating conditions, social influence and openness to experience. Moreover, consumers' previous experience of using mobile self-checkout in fashion retail stores moderated the path from facilitating conditions to behavioral intention and the path from social influence to behavioral intention. In addition, different genders and smartphone usage frequency did not vary significantly on the model paths.
Practical implications
The findings show how fashion retailers can understand consumers' preference and their willingness to use mobile self-checkout in fashion retail stores. Moreover, the authors addressed ways for fashion retailers to promote mobile self-checkout in the future.
Originality/value
As a new technology in the fashion industry, literature is deficient concerning consumers' intention to adopt mobile self-checkout. This research provided suggestions for fashion retailers about adopting and improving acceptance of mobile self-checkout. Results will lead to theoretical and managerial implications for future technology development.
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Hyun‐Joo Lee, Hyeon Jeong Cho, Wenwen Xu and Ann Fairhurst
The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationships among demographic factors (gender, age, education, and income), consumer traits (technology anxiety, need for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationships among demographic factors (gender, age, education, and income), consumer traits (technology anxiety, need for interaction, and technology innovativeness), and intention to use retail self‐checkouts.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 285 usable responses are obtained through a web‐based survey after excluding non‐qualified respondents. Structural equation modeling is developed and tested.
Findings
The results of this paper demonstrate that demographic factors only indirectly influence intention to use retail self‐checkouts through consumer traits and thus the authors conclude that individual differences in the use of retail self‐checkouts can be attributed to consumer traits which are determined by some of the demographic factors.
Research limitations/implications
Demographic factors and consumer traits are only included as determinants of intention to use retail self‐checkouts. Therefore, future research could attempt to draw a comprehensive picture of retail self‐checkouts by incorporating other relevant factors.
Originality/value
By classifying individual difference traits into demographic factors and consumer traits, this paper provides more detailed explanations of the relationships among demographic factors, consumer traits, and intention to use retail self‐checkouts.
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Hafida Boudkouss and Souad Djelassi
The purpose of this research is twofold: (1) to identify and understand consumer motivations to use interactive technologies in stores through the lens of the uses and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is twofold: (1) to identify and understand consumer motivations to use interactive technologies in stores through the lens of the uses and gratifications (UGT) approach and (2) to understand how these gratifications differ between different interactive technologies (interactive kiosks and self-checkouts).
Design/methodology/approach
This research presents a dual qualitative study based on 32 in-depth interviews with 20 consumers, eight salespersons and four phygital experts.
Findings
The data analysis identified three specific gratifications sought in using interactive kiosks (information-seeking, hedonic and social interaction) and two gratifications common to both interactive kiosks and self-checkouts (control and time-saving).
Originality/value
From a media perspective (UGT), this research provides a deeper understanding of gratifications sought in using interactive technologies in a phygital store. It also contributes significantly to previous research by highlighting that gratifications differ between different technology types.
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Ipek Kazancoglu and Emel Kursunluoglu Yarimoglu
The purpose of this paper is to predict customers’ intentions to use self-checkouts based on the technology acceptance model (TAM).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to predict customers’ intentions to use self-checkouts based on the technology acceptance model (TAM).
Design/methodology/approach
The questionnaire consisted of constructs taken from the existing literature such as perceived ease of use (PEU), perceived usefulness (PU), behavioral intentions, technology anxiety (TA), perceived risk (PR), need for interaction (NI), and situational factors (SF). Before preparing the questionnaire, the focus group studies were organized to gain deeper insights regarding customers’ views about self-checkouts. Based on the results of the focus groups, some items in the constructs were adapted, and the questionnaire was generated. The field study was conducted via face-to-face survey with 500 customers chosen by stratified random sampling. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used to validate the relationships hypothesized in the conceptual model among constructs.
Findings
Out of the 16 hypotheses, 10 were found to be significant. The hypotheses related to the effects of PR, PEU, PU, intentions, while the effects of NI on PU and intentions; the effects of SF on intentions were not accepted in the study. According to the findings, PEU, PU, and TA affected intentions whereas PR, NI, and SF did not.
Research limitations/implications
There were some limitations related to demographics, attitudes, SF, and actual usage of self-checkouts.
Practical implications
To avoid queues, retailers should install a sufficient number of user-friendly and simple interfaced self-checkouts with well-trained employees to encourage usage and reduce the perceived risk and anxiety.
Originality/value
The main contribution of this study was that the effects of different constructs were measured on Turkish customers’ intentions to use self-checkouts, which could be used in formulating marketing strategies as well as considering future research directions. The paper also provided additional insights into the effects of SF, TA, NI, and PR, all of which were added to the TAM in this study.
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The purpose of this paper is to understand the underlying mechanism of how consumer-to-store employee and consumer-to-self-service technology (SST) interaction qualities…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the underlying mechanism of how consumer-to-store employee and consumer-to-self-service technology (SST) interaction qualities contribute to consumer retail patronage.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 300 surveys for each type of in-store kiosk were used for the data analysis. The proposed model was analysed using structural equation modelling.
Findings
This study suggests a direct link from SST usage frequency to perception of SST service quality. Also, retail patronage intentions were positively influenced by both interpersonal service quality and SST service quality, and SST usage intentions were positively affected by retail patronage intentions. Lastly, three causal links were shown to be dissimilar between the two types of in-store kiosk: interpersonal service quality-retail patronage intentions, SST service quality-retail patronage intentions, and SST service quality-SST usage intentions. The remaining links were similar for both types of in-store kiosks.
Originality/value
Previous empirical work on this topic has mostly been limited to investigations of service quality of either a human- or a technology-based service option. In contrast, the current study incorporates both interpersonal service quality and SST service quality as critical factors affecting retail patronage intentions and thus provides an important opportunity to advance the understanding of consumer-to-store employee and consumer-to-SST interaction qualities and their contribution to consumer retail patronage.
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The purpose of this paper is to explore the implementation of self-service technologies (SST) in two competitors and unravel the process of change in two related setups, offering…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the implementation of self-service technologies (SST) in two competitors and unravel the process of change in two related setups, offering a comparison as well as an association of cases.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on two extensive case studies of SST adoption by leading retailers in a Western European country. The analysis is based on a material-discursive approach using Greimas actantial model to identify actors’ roles in the implementation process.
Findings
Results highlight the key role of technology and organizational identity as legitimizers of the change process. The findings also emphasize the role of competition in justifying change.
Research limitations/implications
Due to the specific situation of the market in the country of study (both retailers share 70 percent of the grocery market), this research offers a textbook example of the role of competition in technological change. This helps to understand the role of competition in technological change.
Originality/value
This study explores the implementation of SST in two competitors and unravels the process of change in two related setups, offering a comparison as well as an association of cases.
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The purpose of this study was, first, to link interpersonal-hedonic values, intuitive-experiential thinking style, external locus of control (LOC) and sociability to the need for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was, first, to link interpersonal-hedonic values, intuitive-experiential thinking style, external locus of control (LOC) and sociability to the need for interaction with a retail employee; and, second, to empirically test the moderating effect of the time convenience of self-service technologies (SSTs) on the proposed relationships in the model.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was conducted in a retail setting in which an automated checkout process occurred with the use of self-checkout systems. A self-administered, online survey approach was utilized targeting consumer panel members. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.
Findings
Interpersonal-hedonic values, external LOC and sociability emerged as reliable antecedents of the need for interaction with a retail employee, whereas the intuitive-experiential thinking style did not. This study also showed the inverse relationship between the need for interaction with a retail employee and the intentions to use SSTs. In relation to the moderating role of the time convenience of SSTs, the positive effects of interpersonal-hedonic values, intuitive-experiential thinking style, external LOC and sociability on the need for interaction with a retail employee were shown lesser for consumers with low levels of the time convenience of SSTs. The negative effect of the need for interaction with a retail employee on the intentions to use SSTs was shown to be greater for consumers with low levels of the time convenience of SSTs.
Originality/value
The present study adds to a growing body of literature on SSTs by exploring the causal and hierarchical effects of personality traits that determine the intentions to use SSTs.
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Library management is struggling to improve productivity without reducing the quality of service to its users. With downsizing continuing to be a trend, the implementation of…
Abstract
Library management is struggling to improve productivity without reducing the quality of service to its users. With downsizing continuing to be a trend, the implementation of self‐checkout circulation systems may be an important technological investment for libraries to consider. In most large academic institutions, such circulation functions as checking out and renewing library materials have traditionally been performed by staff members. The climate may, however, be right to rethink the mode of service delivery systems and shift from providing full‐service to self‐service models, whereby the patron takes responsibility for checking out his or her own library materials.