Automation Avenue Episode 12 - Universal Tellers: Pros, Cons and Best Practices for Your Team This podcast discusses the reasons why you should consider implementing Universal Tellers. We review both the pros and cons of the model, when universal staffing is not a good fit. We even offer some ideas to foster a positive transition.

The presence of self-service and assisted self-service devices (think touchscreen kiosks) throughout the modern consumer marketplace is growing at a rapid pace. We’ve all seen or used these devices when we travel or purchase goods at the grocery store, home improvement store, even when we park our vehicles. Reflecting on the self-service world even further, we can think of two long standing self-service devices that have been a part of our everyday lives for decades: the vending machine (soft drinks or snacks) and the Automated Teller Machine (ATM). Both have established levels of familiarity and comfort, focusing on the convenient and rapid delivery of specific items (or “transactions” in more formal economics parlance).

One of the most common questions we get as we talk to clients about servicing their equipment is how many technicians we have in the area. This is a very logical question. Your institution revolves around your technology being operational and not down. Most of the time this question comes at a point when service is less than satisfactory and the client has been burned by another vendor in the past. While this question is logical, there are a few more variables that play a bigger role than number.

There is no denying the fact that NCR has made a name for itself by delivering video ATMs to drive-thru locations across the country. Founded on technology developed by Coastal FCU and uGenius, NCR has taken video teller to the next level. With installations at over 100 financial institutions, there is obvious success with this solution. But the ultimate question for you is, “Does this make sense for my institution and is there something better out there?” Our answer is, “Maybe.”

Ways to Grow Your Business Without Big Branches While the overall economy is still in recovery mode, most financial institutions have been able to pivot from survival mode back into growth mode. A good number of institutions have merged to handle increased regulatory burden, or have survived the storm and are now looking back towards growing their business. So what strategies can a community institution deploy to help their business grow without having to build 2M branches?

Whether you have already transformed the design of your branch or are looking to make a change, keep reading to learn more about the technology you can put in place to help your branch achieve its goals of better customer interaction, more productive workflow, greater efficiency and reduced operating expenses. These tools serve a variety of functions, but ultimately free your staff to focus on the most important thing in the branch -- your customer. By removing the focus on counting cash, handling paperwork and other mundane tasks, your staff can be more available to help your clients achieve their goals and solve their problems. All of this can lead to higher loyalty and overall satisfaction in a highly competitive marketplace.