Abstract
According to a recent survey on labor shortages, many companies are facing labor shortages and the problem is especially severe in the hotel industry. The food and beverage industry is also struggling to find enough workers. To address this issue, many stores have started using self-checkout machines. This is expected to make employees’ jobs easier and more efficient. However, some studies suggest that the introduction of self-checkout systems has actually increased the workload for cashiers. This study examines how self-checkout machines are affecting employees’ jobs through text mining of online article comments and surveys of cashiers. The analysis revealed the following key findings: (1) at present, self-checkout counters need to be managed in a manner similar to manned checkouts, and (2) compared to self-checkout systems, semi-self-checkout systems, where customers only handle payment transactions, are likely more effective in reducing the stress of employees working at checkout counters.
