Exploring factors which motivate older consumers’ self-service technologies (SSTs) adoption

Although the proportion of the older population is growing, the majority of research on technology adoption behaviour, such as the adoption of self-service technologies (SSTs), tends to focus on younger consumers. To fill this gap, this study is designed to explore factors which motivate older consumers’ adoption of SSTs by applying Gatignon and Robertson’s diffusion process model. Responses were collected from 104 respondents who were aged 55 or over and who had used self-checkouts in the past. The data were analysed using partial least squares path modelling with SmartPLS 3.0 software. The results indicate that perceptions of SST characteristics, including usefulness, enjoyment, and control, are indirect antecedents of older consumers’ SST adoption through service quality and/or perceived risk. Another key predictor of older consumers’ adoption of SST is prior usage experience with SSTs, which strongly influences usefulness and compatibility. Findings from this study contribute to the literature because little research has explored what drives older consumers to use SSTs.