Digital Transformation in Border Checks: Mapping Border Guard Training in Automated Processes

Automated border control represents one area in the digital transformation of border control. It is gradually becoming a commonplace particularly at air borders, where the concept of self-service has had the strongest business case also in other steps of the passenger's journey, such as check-in or baggage drop. Besides providing a means to enhance efficiency and security in passenger clearing processes, the new technology significantly reshapes current ways of conducting border checks from employee perspective. Successful implementation of automated border check technologies thus demands border organizations to equip their workforce with new skills and remodel existing ones. This paper presents a preliminary analysis on current technology training of border guards and assesses its effects on how the new technology is received among employees at the frontline. The results are based on field studies conducted in five EU member states. The study loosely applies a Technology Training Model that extends traditional Technology Acceptance Model by incorporating training as an additional variable to explain employee intention to use new technology.