News
STUDY: Consumers prefer self-service
June 25, 2007
WASHINGTON - On-the-go consumers prefer to handle an increasing number of transactions themselves through self-service devices, according to a new study conducted by BuzzBack Market Research and commissioned by NCR Corp.
More than three out of four of the 633 U.S. and Canadian consumers polled said they are more likely to do business with organizations that offer self-service; and 92 percent said they value combining mobile devices such as mobile phones or PDAs with the Internet, kiosks and ATMs to improve their overall service experience.
"People want more control of their interaction with your business," said NCR president and chief executive Bill Nuti. "Why wait for assistance with transactions they can more quickly and easily do themselves at guaranteed quality? Consumers increasingly expect to be served where and when they choose, and are putting pressure on businesses and government agencies to deliver seamless service through the integration of self-serve devices, including the Internet, mobile devices and multipurpose kiosks." (Read also,NCR summit: necessity, integration and new retail technology.)
Respondents said they would like to see more self-service automation for many types of transactions, including drivers' license renewal and vehicle registration (76 percent); checking the status of items ordered online (71 percent); purchasing transit or airline tickets (62 percent); making photocopies (57 percent); and ordering flowers, books and other items (54 percent). The top-three locations where respondents said they would like to see those types of self-service options are airports (70 percent), malls (65 percent) and grocery stores (55 percent).
Respondents also showed a strong preference for self-service when it comes to printing on-the-go. An overwhelming majority (85 percent to 94 percent) said they would prefer to use self-service to print items such as maps, tickets, schedules, coupons and other items while banking, shopping, traveling, dining or visiting a medical clinic.
The research also examined the extent to which consumers would prefer to wait for personal assistance when banking, shopping, dining, traveling or visiting a physician.
Results showed that while respondents prefer to manage the majority of activities on their own, a significant number still prefer person-to-person interaction for complex transactions, such as obtaining mortgage or investment advice.
"Companies that want to remain competitive in the future will need to understand how to deploy self-service to maximize convenience and provide the flexibility required by consumers," Nuti said.
Industry-specific self-service preferences
- Banking
Transferring funds - 78 percentPrinting statements, mortgage or loan documents - 77 percentDispensing stamps - 75 percent
- Travel
Printing maps or directions - 94 percent
Checking departure or arrival status - 88 percent
Obtaining alerts such as weather delays or flight changes - 88 percent
- Dining
Accessing entertainment content - 83 percent
Getting information such as menu, prices, directions and reviews - 78 percent
Receiving promotions and tendering coupons - 72 percent
- Healthcare
Printing directions for finding your way around a hospital or clinic - 85 percent
Paying for services - 83 percent
Printing personal medical or pharmaceutical information - 77 percent
- Retail
Printing loyalty points or coupons - 89 percent
Printing food and wine information and recipes - 88 percent
Picking up, signing-in or checking merchandise online - 84 percent
- Lodging
Printing maps, directions, theater tickets or coupons - 91 percent
Accessing information on amenities, prices, location and attractions - 73 percent
Receiving alerts regarding room readiness, upgrades or changes - 68 percent
Most consumers showed a preference for serving themselves across a number of industries. However, results indicate many respondents prefer to obtain personal assistance with more consultative, financial transactions, such as getting investment advice (74 percent), buying insurance (73 percent) and obtaining mortgage advice (69 percent).
Banking Executive SummaryPublic CompaniesTrends / StatisticsManufacturersKiosks/Self-ServiceConsultingOtherNorth AmericaBank / Credit UnionBranch Transformation
Related Media
Subscribe
Get the latest news and resources from ATM Marketplace.
Recent Posts
DC AG sues Bitcoin ATM operator Athena Bitcoin for allegedly exploiting scam victims
NCR Atleos earns #5 rank in fintech rankings
SEC to revamp cryptocurrency policies amid Trump's pro crypto push
Metropolitan Commercial Bank named as an SBA loan provider
Chase selects Nova Credit for cash flow underwriting
