Self service is the practice of serving oneself, usually when purchasing items. Common examples include many gas stations, where the customer pumps their own gas rather than have an attendant do it (self-service gas pumping is illegal in New Jersey & Oregon); Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) in the banking world have also revolutionised how people withdraw and deposit funds; most American stores, where the customer uses a shopping cart in the store, placing the items they want to buy into the cart and then proceeding to the checkout counter/aisles; or at buffet-style restaurants, where the customer serves their own plate of food from a large, central selection.

Self service is used on the phone, web and email to facilitate customer service interactions using automation.

See also

• Self checkout
• Self service software
• Employee Self Service
• Automated teller machine