Automated Services

This paper reports an experiment in developing an automated journal table
of contents alert service. The automated alert service is set up by using two
services vis., JournalToCs, a free journal table of contents alert service provided
by Heriot-Watt University, UK, and Google Groups, the group mailing service
of Google. The unique feature of this method is that once set up, the delivery
of alerts is automatic and does not require the intervention of library staff to
monitor the delivery. Library and information professionals can harness the
power of these two services to deliver current awareness service based on the
commonality of interest among the users.

Este artículo propone el uso de herramientas informáticas desarrolladas bajo el modelo de Software Libre para poder automatizar de forma sencilla distintos servicios que pueden brindar las bibliotecas. Se explora el uso de la aplicación Calibre para crear un repositorio digital que permita a los usuarios acceder a materiales en línea y a texto completo mediante el uso de Internet.

Self-service technologies in retail have not been studied on a large scale despite their increasing importance. The major aim of this article is to increase our understanding of automated processes in retail by employing an in-depth analysis of one case. The object of study is a fully automated food shop in Western Finland, in a small village. After a brief review of customer participation and self-service technologies in general, the object of study is analyzed by means of a survey. A total of 82 persons (= 27.3 % of the village population) took part in the survey. The findings indicate that the automated concept has great relevance for the customers. Customers were committed to the service concept and the general perception of quality is rather high. Lack of personal service is not generally perceived as an issue, but according to this study, age seems to have a weak impact on the customers' perceived difficulty of use of the vending machines. Managerially it has become clear that traditional retail research does not provide sufficient information for automated stores. In terms of further research, a study on automated stores in urban surroundings and an in-depth analysis of the ways of communication between vending machines and customers are suggested.

Automation in county government has been applied in security and revenue collection to improve employee efficiency and effectiveness. Nandi County is among the lowest county in the North Rift region in public service delivery as revealed by low performance in the county according to National performance report of 2021. There are complaints from the users in the county of delay in provision of essential services. Therefore, there was a need to seek answers on how information and communication technology strategies do affect service delivery in Nandi County Government, Kenya. The theory on diffusion of innovation was propounded by Everett Rogers in 1962 anchored the study. The study adopted descriptive correlational research design. The 129 target population comprised of the CEOs (22), directors of department (25) as well as support staff (82) who are all involved in decision making concerning automation services. Census was used in the study since the populace was relatively small. Both questionnaires and interview were used to collect data. Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed. The regression analysis showing that automation was contributing 35.4% each to a unit of public service delivery, and further establishing that there is a significant relationship between automation and service delivery. The study concludes that automation has enhanced public service delivery whereas a significant relationship between automation and service delivery existed.

Journal Table of Contents (ToC) alert service is one of the current awareness services offered by libraries. Conventionally, the alert service is delivered in the form of contents pages of journals compiled into a bulletin. With the proliferation of electronic journals, users have the provision of subscribing to e-mail based ToC alerts of individual journals. However, subscribing to ToC alerts of individual journals can be time-consuming and arduous task for users. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a novel method of delivering journal table of contents (ToC) alert service.

Automated service quality has been recognised as the factor which determines the success or failure of electronic commerce. Those models currently available to measure automated service quality are limited in their focus, encompassing only one electronic channel – the internet ...

Resumen. Para asegurar la calidad, las instituciones educativas evalúan y acreditan sus programas a través de organismos que verifican indicadores, mismos que son soportados con evidencias documentales que provienen de diferentes departamentos y suelen estar dispersas. Reunirlas y procesarlas es una tarea que consume tiempo, y que puede ocasionar un cuello de botella para todo el proceso. Para dar solución a esta problemática, se propone un sistema digital en el que se reúnan y procesen todas las evidencias y que permita generar informes de forma ágil y simple.

Este artículo propone el uso de herramientas informáticas desarrolladas bajo el modelo de Software Libre para poder automatizar de forma sencilla distintos servicios que pueden brindar las bibliotecas. Se explora el uso de la aplicación Calibre para crear un repositorio digital que permita a los usuarios acceder a materiales en línea y a texto completo mediante el uso de Internet.

This article proposes the use of IT tools developed under the model of free software for easily automating various services that can be provided for libraries. In this first installment, it is explored the use of the application Calibre to create a digital repository that enables users to access online materials and full text using Internet.