PERCEPTION OF SELF-SERVICE CHECKOUTS IN HUNGARY

The study investigates consumer acceptance of self-service checkouts (SSCs) in Hungary, analyzing responses from over 10,000 participants to identify demographic and psychological factors influencing their use. The results show a clear preference for SSCs among younger, educated, and urban residents due to perceived efficiency and autonomy. However, a substantial segment of the population, particularly older and less tech-savvy individuals, resist using SSCs, citing a lack of personal interaction and technological challenges. The study emphasizes the need for retailers to maintain a balance between self-service and traditional checkouts to cater to the diverse preferences of their customer base, suggesting that a thoughtful integration of technology could enhance customer satisfaction without alienating those uncomfortable with digital transitions.

XIII. ÉVFOLYAM 2025. SPECIAL ISSUES 3. 65-75

DOI: 10.24387/CI.SI.2025.3.12

A cikk megtekinthető: http://controllerinfo.hu/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CI_különszám_2025_3_12.pdf

REFERENCES

APPAREL MAGAZINE (2015): Which of the following in-store technologies would make your shopping experience better?. Statista. Statista Inc. [Online]. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/428227/in-store-technologies-that-would-make-shopping-experiences-better-worldwide/ [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

BECK, A. (2023): ‘Global Study on Self-checkout in Retail’, ECR Loss, ECR Retail Loss Group. [Online]. Available at:  https://www.ecrloss.com/research/global-study-on-self-checkout-in-retail/ [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

BITNER, M. J. – OSTROM, A. L. – MEUTER, M. L. and CLANCY, J. A. (2002): Implementing successful self-service technologies. Academy of Management Executive, 16(4), 96-109.

BUSINESS INSIDER (2019): Number of stores which offer autonomous checkouts worldwide from 2018 to 2024* [Graph]. In Statista. [Online]. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1033836/number-of-stores-with-autonomous-checkouts-worldwide/  [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

CAPGEMINI (2023): Expectations of consumers towards companies during the cost-of-living crisis worldwide in 2022. Statista. Statista Inc. [Online]. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1340355/consumer-expectations-of-companies-due-to-inflation-worldwide/ [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

COLLIER, J. E. – BREAZEALE, M. and WHITE, A. (2017): Giving Back the “Self” in Self-Service: Customer Preferences in Self-Service Failure Recovery. Journal of Services Marketing, 31(6), 604-617. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSM-07-2016-0259

DOWELL, S. (1987): Self-Checkout Latest Innovation In Grocery Stores. The Oklahoman. [Online]. Available at: https://eu.oklahoman.com/story/news/1987/05/20/self-checkout-latest-innovation-in-grocery-stores/62689483007/ [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

eMARKETER (2019a): Consumer usage and interest in using self-service checkouts in-store in the United States in 2019 [Graph]. In Statista. [Online]. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1117352/consumer-usage-and-interest-in-using-self-service-checkouts-in-store-us/ [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

eMARKETER. (2019b): Consumer usage and interest in using self-service checkouts in-store in the United States in 2019, by age [Graph]. In Statista. [Online]. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1117360/consumer-usage-and-interest-in-using-self-service-checkouts-in-store-us-by-age/ [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

FERNANDES, T. – PEDROSO, R. (2017): The Effect of Self-Checkout Quality on Customer Satisfaction and Repatronage in a Retail Context. Service Business, 11(1), 69-92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11628-016-0302-9

FIELD, A. (2009): Discovering statistics using SPSS. London: SAGE Publications.

FURNITURE TODAY (2020): Likeliness of home furnishing consumers to use self-service checkouts in-store in the United States in 2019, by generation. Statista. Statista Inc. [Online]. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1135790/home-furnishing-consumer-interest-in-using-self-service-checkouts-in-store-us-by-generation/ [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

GÜLTEKİN, Y. – KÜÇÜKKANCABAŞ ESEN, S. (2020): ‘Perakendecilikte Self Servis Teknoloji Kullanımını Etkileyen Faktörler ve Sonuçları: Süpermarketlerde Self Servis Kasalar Üzerine Bir Çalışma’, Journal of Business Research-Turk / Isletme Arastirmalari Dergisi, 12(2), pp. 1622-1638. doi:10.20491/isarder.2020.933.

HERCSEL, A. (2024): A magyar pénztárosok munkáját már „elvette” az önkiszolgáló kassza, [Online]. Available at: https://www.economx.hu/magyar-gazdasag/onkiszolgalo-kasszak-kereskedelmi-lancok-hazai-uzletek.783286.html [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

INQUIRY MARKET RESEARCH (2023): Evaluation of self-service checkouts in stores in Poland in 2023, Zakupy spożywcze Polaków 2023, [Online]. Available at:  https://inquirymarketresearch.pl/wp-json/api/download-report/65cc914ed80a0, p. 13. [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

INSIGHTSPARTNER (2024): Self-Service Kiosk Market Analysis and Forecast by Size, Share, Growth, Trends 2031, [Online]. Available at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/self-service-kiosks-market, [Accessed: 15 January 2025].

KATTARA, H. S. and EL-SAID, O. A. (2013): Customers’ preferences for new technology-based self-services versus human interaction services in hotels. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 13(2), 67-82.

LEE, H. J. – CHO, H. J. – XU, W. W. and FAIRHURST, A. (2010): The Influence of Consumer Traits and Demographics on Intention to Use Retail Self-Service Checkouts. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 28(1), 46-58. https://doi.org/10.1108/02634501011014606

LEE, H. J. – FAIRHURST, A. E. and LEE, M. Y. (2009): The Importance of Self-Service Kiosks in Developing Consumers’ Retail Patronage Intentions. Managing Service Quality, 19(6), 687-701. https://doi.org/10.1108/09604520911005071

LEE, H. – LEONAS, K. K. (2021): Millennials’ Intention to Use Self-Checkout Technology in Different Fashion Retail Formats: Perceived Benefits and Risks. Clothing and Textiles Research Journal, 39(4), 264-280. https://doi.org/10.1177/0887302X20926577

LENG, H. K. – WEE, K. N. L. (2017): An Examination of Users and Non-Users of Self-Checkout Counters. International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, 27(1), 94-108. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593969.2016.1221842

LIANG, Y. L. – LEE, S. H. and WORKMAN, J. E. (2022): How Do Consumers Perceive Mobile Self-Checkout in Fashion Retail Stores? International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 50(6), 677-691. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJRDM-08-2020-0299

MATIC, K. – PETLJAK, K. and STULEC, I. (2019): Adoption of Self-Checkouts in Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Purchase Among Young Consumers in Croatia. Ekonomski Pregled, 70(2), 301-339. https://doi.org/10.32910/ep.70.2.7

MEUTER, M. L. – BITNER, M. J. – OSTROM, A. L. and BROWN, S. W. (2005): Choosing among Alternative Service Delivery Modes: An Investigation of Customer Trial of Self-Service Technologies. Journal of Marketing, 69(2), 61-83.

OPINIONWAY & KEYNEOSOFT (2016): In your opinion which innovations should be implemented on a priority basis in stores in order to make the waiting time at the checkout more pleasant and reduce it? [Graph]. In Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/746021/improvements-checkout-lines-france/ [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

PR NEWSWIRE, (2024): ‘EDEKA Jaeger Introduces AI-powered Age Verification at Self-Service Checkouts’, PR Newswire US, 30 April. [Online]. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bwh&AN=202404300804PR.NEWS.USPR.CL01211&site=ehost-live [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

PWC (2023): Potential attributes of the physical store shopping experience consumers find most appealing worldwide in 2022. Statista. Statista Inc. [Online]. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1387840/appealing-in-store-shopping-attributes-world/ [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

PWC (2024): What Central American consumers look for in brick-and-mortar stores in 2024. Statista. Statista Inc. [Online]. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1488451/central-america-desirable-attributes-physical-stores/ [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

RAKUTEN INSIGHT (2023a): Most common services used to enhance shopping experience in India as of November 2023 [Graph]. In Statista. [Online]. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1439934/india-services-used-to-enhance-shopping-experience/ [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

RAKUTEN INSIGHT (2023b): Leading services enhancing the shopping experience in Japan as of November 2023. Statista. Statista Inc. [Online]. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1440618/japan-leading-shopping-experience-enhancing-services/ [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

RAKUTEN INSIGHT (2023c): Leading shopping services that enhance shopping experience in Asia as of November 2023, by country or territory. Statista. Statista Inc. [Online]. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1447406/asia-most-important-shopping-services-by-country/ [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

RBR DATA SERVICES (2024): Refreshes and Rollouts Lead to a Record Year for Self-Checkout, [Online]. Available at: https://datos-insights.com/press-release/refreshes-and-rollouts-lead-to-a-record-year-for-self-checkout/ [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

REGAN, W.J. (1960): Self-Service in Retailing. Journal of Marketing, 24(4), pp.43-48.

RUANGKANJANASES, A. – TANTRAKUL, S. (2015): Predicting Customers’ Intention for Using Self-Service Checkout at Hypermarket Stores: A Comparative Study of Male and Female Customers in Thailand. Advanced Science Letters, 21(6), 1815-1821. https://doi.org/10.1166/asl.2015.6126

SALESFORCE.COM (2020): Knowledge and usage of omnichannel retail services in Germany in 2020. Statista. Statista Inc.. [Online]. Available at:  https://www.statista.com/statistics/1261170/omnichannel-retail-services-knowledge-usage-germany/ [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

SALOMANN, H. – KOLBE, L. and BRENNER, W. (2006): Self-services in customer relationships: Balancing high-tech and high-touch today and tomorrow. e-Service Journal, 4(2), 65-84.

SCHERER, A. – WÜNDERLICH, N. V. and VON WANGENHEIM, F. (2015): The value of self-service: Long-term effects of technology-based self-service usage on customer retention. MIS Quarterly, 39(1), 177-200.

STRAITS RESEARCH (2023): Self-Service Kiosk Market Size, Share and Forecast to 2030, [Online]. Available at: https://straitsresearch.com/report/self-service-kiosk-market [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

SZEGHALMI, B. (2024): Önkiszolgáló kasszákról kérdeztük a Lidlt, a Spart, a Tescót – A vásárlókat megosztja, a dolgozókat aggasztja – szavazás, [Online]. Available at: https://www.kisalfold.hu/helyi-gazdasag/2024/06/onkiszolgalo-kasszakrol-kerdeztuk-a-lidlt-a-spart-a-tescot-a-vasarlokat-megosztja-a-dolgozokat-aggasztja-szavazas, [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

THOMAS-FRANCOIS, K. – SOMOGYI, S. (2023): Self-Checkout Behaviours at Supermarkets: Does the Technological Acceptance Model (TAM) Predict Smart Grocery Shopping Adoption? International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, 33(1), 44-66. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593969.2022.2051195

WALK-MORRIS, T. (2024): Self checkout boasts ‘record’ year: report, [Online]. Available at: https://www.grocerydive.com/news/self-checkout-boasts-record-year-report/720830/ [Accessed: 15 July 2025].

WANG, S. M. and HAN, C. (2022): An Analysis of Gender Differences in the Innovative Function Design of Supermarket Self-service Checkout Kiosk. HCI in Business, Government, and Organizations, HCIBGO 2022, 13327, 337-349. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05544-7_26