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Australians opt for self-service

By Vicky Burger, ITWeb portals content / relationship manager
Johannesburg, 19 Jun 2008

Australians opt for self-service

Australians are the most stubborn business operators in the world and new research suggests they prefer to do business with companies that offer self-service options more than any other global region, reports SmartCompany.

Technology company NCR has released findings of a global survey that suggests 61% of Australians surveyed were "much more likely" to use self-service options, compared to 55% of US users, 49% from Britain and 22% in France.

Self-serve options included in the survey were ATMs, airport and hotel kiosks, online surveys and supermarket check-outs.

IHL Group releases kiosk study

Transactions at self-service kiosks will surpass $607 billion this year in North America as consumers continue to embrace self-service technology, and the amount will more than triple by 2012 to over $1.7 trillion, according to a new research study conducted by the IHL Group, says QSR Magazine.

"We expect continued double-digit growth in the revenue generated by self-service transactions for the foreseeable future," says Lee Holman, lead retail analyst of the IHL Group, an analyst firm and consultancy that serves retailers and retail technology vendors.

"The results of this study confirm what we've been seeing for the past several years, namely, that consumers are showing a preference for self-service kiosk activity of all kinds," Holman says. "The benefit to retailers is that this technology can significantly increase customer loyalty, as well as customer satisfaction."

NCR unveils hotel self-service kiosk

Technology company NCR has unveiled a newly designed kiosk for hotel check-ins that allows users to check into hotels unaided, states Bizjournals.

The kiosks will be integrated into the registration counters at hotels, and use touch-screen capability to help guests find their way and serve themselves in some common hotel services. The new system will be rolled out in Hyatt Hotels and Resorts as part of the chain's overall lobby redesign in the future.

"For many travellers, the best service is self-service," said Tania Ladic, NCR vice-president of travel industry marketing, in a news release. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

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