<p>In the present society technological innovations are playing significant role in every phase of human life, human interaction with machines has become essential in service sector. In the past a number of efforts have been made in the literature of service marketing to understand how companies can better deliver their services with the help of self-service technology. In this present situation companies have many possibilities to realize service offerings with huge investments in self-service technologies, as the technology became the driving force to service the customers effectively and helpful in delivering the services.</p><p>Nowadays it become challenging for the companies to serve customers effectively with in a prescribed time providing the right products with lower cost. To get rid of this issue most of the organizations are showing interest to employ self-service technologies (Like ATMs, ticket vending machines, online auctions, etc..,). The purpose of the thesis can be traced to the fact that a large part of the service sector is changing from personnel-based delivery to technology-based self-service. The theoretical problem of the present study is to concentrate on service marketing and service quality in order to provide a better understanding of customers’ attitudes and preferences towards technology-based self-services (ATMs).</p><p>So far many researchers have addressed customers’ attitudes towards the technology-based self-service delivery from a service quality perspective. The present paper on service quality and self-service based on technology concerns of expected use rather than actual use and customers expectations about new self-service technologies. To reach the purpose we conducted a pilot case study to know the customers attitudes towards technology (speed, accuracy, ease of use, privacy) using ATMs and their perception towards self-service technologies. For date collection we did 26 open interviews and 150 interviews with the help of questionnaire and the data analysis is based on both qualitative and quantitative methods, supported by the qualitative information and literature reviews. Finally in terms of important findings: easy of use, speed, control and accuracy are the main attributes for service quality and customer satisfaction.</p>

In the present society technological innovations are playing significant role in every phase of human life, human interaction with machines has become essential in service sector. In the past a number of efforts have been made in the literature of service marketing to understand how companies can better deliver their services with the help of self-service technology. In this present situation companies have many possibilities to realize service offerings with huge investments in self-service technologies, as the technology became the driving force to service the customers effectively and helpful in delivering the services. Nowadays it become challenging for the companies to serve customers effectively with in a prescribed time providing the right products with lower cost. To get rid of this issue most of the organizations are showing interest to employ self-service technologies (Like ATMs, ticket vending machines, online auctions, etc..,). The purpose of the thesis can be traced to the fact that a large part of the service sector is changing from personnel-based delivery to technology-based self-service. The theoretical problem of the present study is to concentrate on service marketing and service quality in order to provide a better understanding of customers’ attitudes and preferences towards technology-based self-services (ATMs). So far many researchers have addressed customers’ attitudes towards the technology-based self-service delivery from a service quality perspective. The present paper on service quality and self-service based on technology concerns of expected use rather than actual use and customers expectations about new self-service technologies. To reach the purpose we conducted a pilot case study to know the customers attitudes towards technology (speed, accuracy, ease of use, privacy) using ATMs and their perception towards self-service technologies. For date collection we did 26 open interviews and 150 interviews with the help of questionnaire and the data analysis is based on both qualitative and quantitative methods, supported by the qualitative information and literature reviews. Finally in terms of important findings: easy of use, speed, control and accuracy are the main attributes for service quality and customer satisfaction.

The underlying aim of this paper is to find out how the management and employees in a grocery store on a relatively small community in Sweden is experiencing Technology-Based Self-Service (TBSS), and self-scanning. And how store management and employees experience that the self-scanning ability is received by their respective consumers. Several open individual interviews were conducted with the administrative head of sales and various employees working at different departments at Coop Forum in Skara In offering self-scanning, we believe that the store provides consumers with an opportunity to perform their daily purchases by an easy and flexible approach, which we believe will have a positive impact on the entire store visit. A positive store visit, we believe play a major role in consumers choosing to do their shopping in the store. The issue to be elucidated in this paper is; How do management and employees in a grocery store perceive that self-scanning influence consumers' purchase and the service the shop offers? Why would a supermarket use self-scanning as part of the service they offer to their consumers? The report concludes the similarities and differences experienced by administrative sales manager and employees compared to previous research on the subject. Employees at Coop Forum possessed good knowledge of the subject area, sales manager realized current problems and difficulties, but as Coop Forum is one of many chain stores, the individual opportunities were limited. The idea behind the TBSS and self-scanning includes aspects such as cost savings, improved customer service with wider and better service to consumers.

<p>Technology based self-service (TBSS) used in supermarket self-scanning checkouts is a relatively new phenomenon in Sweden. Studies on TBSS as a self- checkout device have been formerly carried out but with focus on the customer perspective. The authors therefore saw a challenge in covering the self-scan checkout concept, from a company perspective. The purpose of this research paper is to investigate, through a management perspective, the changes brought about by implementing an innovative TBSS system in Swedish supermarkets, and its effect on the competitiveness of the company. This is done by presenting and linking the theoretical framework and empirical study in the research. The theoretical framework of the paper includes the following topics: role and importance of innovation in a business context and TBSS as innovation as well as product life cycle connected to innovation; competitive advantage theory and complementary concepts, value chain theory, and finally the importance of customer relationship management in the ‘new’ self-service economy. The empirical study consists of two Swedish supermarkets in the city of Linköping, Coop Forum and ICA Maxi. Results of the research paper mainly include the following: Changes brought about by implementing technology-based self-service systems in supermarkets must be discussed in the view of short-term and long- term perspectives separately. Changes involve the value creating activities of supermarkets and include increased quality of services to customers. It has been further found that TBSS can add to the competitiveness of supermarkets. However, positive financial results can only be expected in the long-term which in the case of Swedish supermarkets offering TBSS services is not yet apparent. The empirical findings have shown that Coop Forum and ICA Maxi had to carry out changes and make adjustments to their value activities and customer relationship management in order to operate TBSS checkouts successfully. Competitiveness between them has been also affected due to the TBSS service offering.</p>

Technology based self-service (TBSS) used in supermarket self-scanning checkouts is a relatively new phenomenon in Sweden. Studies on TBSS as a self- checkout device have been formerly carried out but with focus on the customer perspective. The authors therefore saw a challenge in covering the self-scan checkout concept, from a company perspective. The purpose of this research paper is to investigate, through a management perspective, the changes brought about by implementing an innovative TBSS system in Swedish supermarkets, and its effect on the competitiveness of the company. This is done by presenting and linking the theoretical framework and empirical study in the research. The theoretical framework of the paper includes the following topics: role and importance of innovation in a business context and TBSS as innovation as well as product life cycle connected to innovation; competitive advantage theory and complementary concepts, value chain theory, and finally the importance of customer relationship management in the ‘new’ self-service economy. The empirical study consists of two Swedish supermarkets in the city of Linköping, Coop Forum and ICA Maxi. Results of the research paper mainly include the following: Changes brought about by implementing technology-based self-service systems in supermarkets must be discussed in the view of short-term and long- term perspectives separately. Changes involve the value creating activities of supermarkets and include increased quality of services to customers. It has been further found that TBSS can add to the competitiveness of supermarkets. However, positive financial results can only be expected in the long-term which in the case of Swedish supermarkets offering TBSS services is not yet apparent. The empirical findings have shown that Coop Forum and ICA Maxi had to carry out changes and make adjustments to their value activities and customer relationship management in order to operate TBSS checkouts successfully. Competitiveness between them has been also affected due to the TBSS service offering.

Digitaliseringens framväxt har förändrat hur tjänster erbjuds på marknaden. Det blir allt vanligare att kunder interagerar med teknologi i servicemöten istället för med servicepersonal, en teknologi som benämns self-service technology (SST). Tidigare forskare har beskrivit flera övergripande anledningar till att företag väljer att implementera SST, exempelvis; reducerade kostnader, ökad produktivitet, ökad kundnöjdhet och lojalitet samt för att nå nya kundsegment. Tidigare forskning har bedrivits kring vilka faktorer som påverkar attityder till och tillfredsställelse med SST i olika kontexter, vilka visat sig föregå användning av SST. Förekomsten av SST inom casual dining-restauranger är dock en relativt ny företeelse, där forskning kring konsumenters attityder och tillfredsställelse saknas. Restauranger av casual dining-karaktär kan definieras som en typ av restaurang som ligger mellan snabbmatsrestaurang och finrestaurang.  Syftet med denna studie är att utvidga den befintliga forskningen inom self-service technology (SST) till casual dining-restauranger. Mer specifikt är syftet att undersöka applicerbarheten av tidigare SST-forskning på en relativt ny och unik restaurangkontext, för att kartlägga vilka faktorer som påverkar konsumenters attityder till och tillfredsställelse med SST i denna kontext. Vidare är syftet att undersöka om det finns betydande skillnader mellan hur faktorerna påverkar attityd respektive tillfredsställelse. Att sammantaget kartlägga detta kan ge praktisk användbar information till chefer för casual dining-restauranger som står inför beslutet att utforma och implementera liknande SSTs i sina verksamheter. Studiens syfte mynnade ut i följande frågeställning:  Vilka faktorer påverkar konsumenters attityder till, och tillfredsställelse med, self-service technology i casual dining-restauranger?  För att besvara forskningsfrågan genomfördes en fallstudie av restaurangkedjan Pinchos. Totalt 20 hypoteser formulerades kring valda faktorers eventuella påverkan på restaurangbesökares attityd till och tillfredsställelse med SST i casual dining-restauranger. För att undersöka dessa hypoteser genomfördes en kvantitativ undersökning i form av en internetdistribuerad enkät. Totalt 169 respondenter besvarade enkäten. Enkla och multipla linjära regressionsanalyser genomfördes därefter för att analysera empirin.  Resultatet visar att faktorerna: användbarhet, enkelhet vid användning, nöje, pålitlighet samt support vid behov uppvisar ett signifikant positivt samband med såväl attityd till som tillfredsställelse med SST i casual dining-restauranger när de studeras enskilt. Studien visar vidare att faktorerna behov av interaktion med personal samt avsaknad av personlig service uppvisar ett signifikant negativt samband med såväl attityd till som tillfredsställelse med SST i denna kontext. Studien visar således att samtliga faktorer påverkar både attityd och tillfredsställelse. Faktorerna ekonomisk kompensation och technology readiness visade inget signifikant samband med varken attityd eller tillfredsställelse när de studerades enskilt. Faktorn kontroll analyserades ej då enkätfrågorna relaterade till denna faktor uppvisade för låg intern konsistens.

Introduction: Since the start of the digital age back in the 70s, digital technology has become a main tool for us humans to work, communicate, and enjoy ourselves on a day-to-day basis. The major push that set this new chapter of human life was due to the first military-manufactured computers of the time. The usage and development since then have grown exponentially all across our lives, affecting everything from hospital visits in Hong Kong to a late-night shopping experience in Stockholm. This leads us to today, where businesses are taking technological advances every day to keep their customers happy and satisfied, but also setting the bar higher and higher between their competitors. Some store owners have even figured out that physical human presence is not even needed in physical stores. The benefit is that the upkeep costs drop and almost no employees are needed; this is beneficial for small store locations in sparsely populated areas. In Sweden, it has become a huge problem that small towns and villages slowly die due to high upkeep costs for store owners. With these unmanned stores, the trend could change to the possessive. However, it is also pressured by the very technology-demanding Generation Z. Setting pressure on this retail sector to keep up and find the right way to proceed with their businesses in a way that fits Generation Z’s demand long term.  Purpose: This specific study will try to explain how different enhancers and inhibitors affect consumer acceptance according to Generation Z for this store concept in Sweden. The researchers of this thesis believe that this study is needed because of the vast growth of unmanned stores and the lack of research it has, especially in Scandinavia. Methodology: In order to answer the research question, nine different hypotheses were created with different inhibitors and enhancers derived from previous research. Furthermore, a combination of online and face-to-face questionnaires was conducted, whereby 133 valid respondents were collected. The data was then analyzed with the help of a multiple regression analysis. Conclusion:  From this research, it can be concluded that for the investigated enhancers: high levels of technology readiness, usefulness, and enjoyment were all factors affecting Gen Z´s acceptance of unmanned convenience stores. Furthermore, that lack of human interaction affects Gen Z´s resistance towards unmanned convenience stores. These results can be used for future research and for companies targeting Gen Z to shop at unmanned convenience stores.

Purpose This study has been conducted in order to investigate opportunities regarding theestablishment of technology-based self-service stores (TBSS). By studying proposedsites for establishment, information has been collected in order to be used in a factorrating analysis. Research questions 1. Where is the need for expanded service supply the greatest and what characterizesa number of potential establishments? 2. What impact does the marketing decision ‘people’ have in order to create anattractive store concept? 3. How does the need of goods and services differ as well as the marketing decision‘people’ between different potential establishment sites and different consumergroups? Methodology This master thesis has been conducted as a survey on planned establishments placesas well as an observation study of these. A qualitative approach has been usedwhenever respondent answers, from the questionnaire, were applied to the subquestions in order to be used as data for the research questions later on. Literatureconcerning marketing, establishment strategies and consumer needs has been of vitalimportance in this study. Conclusion Based on our study, we found that the need for increased service supply is greater inrural areas. What characterizes potential establishment sites is the distance to andnumber of potential consumers. When it comes to the importance of the marketingdecision ‘people’, it turned out that ‘service availability’ is far more important thanthat of ‘people’ which becomes a secondary feature in order to create an attractivestore concept. The need for good and services differs between the two differenttypes of establishment places. However, both consumer groups prefer to have food,but it differs when it comes to what type. Younger people tend to be more positivelycommitted to unmanned self-service. / Våra krav på service och tillgänglighet ökar samtidigt som samhället urbaniseras och fler pendlar mellan hemmet och arbetet. För att underlätta för konsumenten skulle en teknologibaserad självservice (TBSS) butik kunna fungera. Rapporten ämnade att ta reda på förutsättningarna för etablering av dessa butikskoncept och hur konsumentgrupper upplever attraktivitet även om butiken är utan personal. Vi utgår från McCarthy (1960) marknadsmix med de fyra konkurrensmedlen produkt, plats, pris, och promota. Marknadsmixen har sedan utökats till att även innehålla flera konkurrensmedel med personal som ett av dessa. För att ta reda på konsumenters behov av ett utökat serviceutbud utformades en enkät innehållande delfrågor som berörde hur konsumenter upplevde det nuvarande serviceutbudet, inställning till TBSS och behov av varor och tjänster. Denna enkät besvarades av resenärer på resecentrum och boende på fyra landsbygdsorter. En analys med hjälp av faktorvärdesmetoden utfördes på fem utvalda faktorer för att ge data till en observationsstudie rörande etablering. Från resultaten av enkätstudien upptäcktes att merparten av respondenterna var positivt inställda till TBSS, vilket innebär att konkurrensmedlet personal inte är avgörande när det kommer till att skapa ett attraktivt butikskoncept. De slutsatser som vi drar är att etableringsplatser behöver vara lättillgängliga för ett stort antal konsumenter för att vara värt att satsa på. De produkter som främst angavs var ätbara följt av biljett- och drivmedelstjänster. Analysen med hjälp av faktorvärdesmetoden exemplifierar på ett tydligt sätt hur företag i dagligvaruhandel kan jämföra etableringsplatser utifrån olika faktorer.

Our demands on services and availability increases at the same time as the society gets more urbanized and more people tends to commute. In order to facilitate the consumer, technology based self-service (TBSS) stores might survive and thrive. This thesis had a focus on finding out the general public's perception on TBSS stores and how they perceive the availability even if it is unmanned. The extended marketing mix contains people as a means of competition and we wanted to investigate whether this competitive mean could be ruled out which would mean that the extended marketing mix needs to be revised. In order to find out the people's perception of the TBSS concept a short enquiry were constructed containing three questions. People from Uppsala central station and four countryside towns, corresponding to two percent of the population, answered this enquiry. In order to collect data for information concerning establishment a factor rating method with five chosen factors were performed. From the results of the enquiry we found that the majority of the respondents have a positive attitude towards TBSS, which means that the competitive mean people are not critical when it comes to consumer perception of accessibility; conclusion from this is that the extended marketing mix needs to be revised. The products that was stated most frequently were edible goods followed by ticket and fuel services. The analysis using the factor rating method exemplifies a way for companies to compare differents places for establishment from various chosen factors. / Våra krav på service och tillgänglighet ökar samtidigt som samhället urbaniseras och fler pendlar mellan hemmet och arbetet. För att underlätta för konsumenten skulle en teknologibaserad självservice (TBSS) butik kunna fungera. Rapporten ämnade att ta reda på konsumenters inställning till en TBSS butik och hur de upplever tillgängligheten även om butiken är obemannad. Vi utgår från McCarthy (1960) marknadsmix med de fyra konkurrensmedel produkt, plats, pris, och promota. Marknadsmixen har sedan utökats för att även innehålla flera konkurrensmedel med personal som ett av dessa. Vi ville undersöka om konkurrensmedlet personal kan uteslutas vilket skulle innebära en revidering av den utökade marknadsmixen. För att ta reda på konsumenters inställning till TBSS konceptet utformades en kort enkät innehållande tre frågor (nuvarande serviceutbud, varor och tjänster samt inställning till obemannad självservice). Denna enkät fick resenärer på resecentrum och boende på fyra landsbygdsorter, motsvarande två procent av populationen, svara på muntligt. En analys med hjälp av faktorvärdesmetod utfördes av fem utvalda faktorer för att ge data till en observationsstudie rörande etablering. Från resultaten av enkätstudien upptäcktes att merparten av respondenterna var positivt inställda till TBSS, vilket innebär att konkurrensmedlet personal inte är avgörande när det kommer till konsumenters uppfattning av tillgänglighet; detta innebär att den utökade marknadsmixen behöver revideras. De produkter som främst angavs var ätbara följt av biljett- och drivmedelstjänster. Analysen med hjälp av faktorvärdesmetoden exemplifierar på ett tydligt sätt hur företag kan jämföra olika etableringsplatser utifrån olika faktorer.