Barclays’ South African subsidiary Absa has
planned a series of innovations involving its ATM network, with the
aim of altering the self service banking experience.
Managing executive of Absa digital channels,
Christo Vrey, has said the “range of innovations are expected
to reduce the length of queues in branches”, aiming to make access
to several banking options more convenient for customers.
The new Absa ATM interfaces are expected to
feature designs and animations, intuitive screen navigation, faster
transactions, anti-skimming security enhancements, video-based
information messages and a reduced risk of ATMs going offline.
“Annually, over R200bn ($25.49bn) is moved via
our ATM network, through 500m transactions. With nearly 6,000-Absa
owned devices and approximately 3,000 Absa-supported ones, clearly
this is one of our most fundamental customer touch-points,” said
Vrey.
Absa is now “in the exciting phase” of rolling
out its new ATM experience across the country, Vrey informed.
The Absa self-service kiosks will aim to
enable customers to request bank statements featuring an electronic
stamp, which is soon expected to be widely accepted by service
providers as an alternative to regular bank statements.
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By GlobalDataVrey informed, “This patented innovation,
known as eStamp, is a South African first.”
A Scan ‘n Pay feature is also in the offing
that will allow customers to make payments by scanning bar-coded
invoices from several utilities companies and corporates at Absa’s
cash accepting ATMs, and instantly make payments through an Absa
account.
Customers will also be able to make payments
by inserting cash into the Absa’s cash accepting ATMs.
Over the next three years, the digital
advancements are expected to be complemented by changes in
the outward appearances of the ATMs, alongside the replacement of
some of Absa’s older devices.
Vrey informed that next year, Absa customers
will be able to make quick donations to a selection of charitable
organisations as well.
Vrey added that “a series of other innovations
are in the pipeline”.
