G 4 S D E P O S I TA
G4S DEPOSITA
When Cash
is King PRODUCTION: Colin Chinery
Where trade is in notes and coin, G4S Deposita, South Africa’s largest provider of device technology in the retail cash market, is poised to increase efficiencies and transparencies and cut costs. “Our value proposition is solid: complete, secure and reliable ‘Endto-End’ cash management solutions,” says Deposita President, Christo Terblanche.
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DEPOSITA CASH MACHINE MANUFACTURED IN SOUTH AFRICA
INNOVATIVE & SECURE CASH MANAGEMENT WE PROVIDE A UNIQUE END-TO-END, INTEGRATED LOCKING SOLUTION FOR SECURE ACCESS CONTROL ON CASH MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS IN THIS HIGH-RISK ENVIRONMENT
Smartlock is a market-leading innovator of smart locking and access management solutions. We pride ourselves on our unique solutions utilising our own patented technology, know-how and manufacturing facilities, providing unparalleled capabilities.
0027 12 349 5301
info@smartlock.net
www.smartlock.net
G4S DEPOSITA
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Gimme the Money! Contactless cards, mobile phones and digital currencies roll on, but demand for cash continues to grow across the globe. In South Africa cash still accounts for more than 50% of the total value of consumer transactions, making it a dynamic market for G4S Deposita, the country’s largest provider of device technology in the retail cash market. “Cash is quite a strange thing,” says Deposita President, Christo Terblanche. “It continues to play an integral role in the economy as a payment method, especially when things get tough. And of course this
helps us to position our products.” Deploying an ABM automatic banking machine, G4S Deposita’s complete cash solutions takes over the process of securing, counting and storing cash notes on premises, transporting them to cash centres, and ensuring same-day settlement of funds into bank accounts. BIG LABEL CLIENT BASE Its client base includes leading retail stores and chains, fast food outlets, banks, restaurants and all major fuel retailers throughout South Africa. “We provide the customer with a One Stop Shop integrated solution,
reducing costs and increasing efficiencies.” Until this year Managing Director of G4S Cash Solutions South Africa, Terblanche was appointed President Deposita International in June to lead a team to support the sale of Deposita devices to sectors including financial institutions, retailers and the 5.6m Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) - seen by the Government as the key to economic growth. “One of the biggest reasons for Deposita’s success so far is our ability to give the customer what they want and not what we have. This put the
Smart Locking Logic Proprietary Limited (“Smartlock”) is a South African company founded in 2007 and is today, a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced locking and access management solutions to many different industries. These include Telecommunications & Utilities, Construction and Mining, Examination security in Education, Cargo protection in the Transport industry and Cash management and site security solutions, in Banking and Retail. Smartlock is also a complete solution provider with a global platform supporting the provision of software as a service, as well as a 24/365 call centre for remote technical maintenance and support.
The company prides itself on the unique solutions it provides to each of these industries and utilises its own patented technology, know-how and manufacturing facilities, providing unparalleled capabilities.
The unique Smartlock cash management solution, developed in conjunction with one of the leading banks in South Africa, has since been adopted and deployed on a national basis and been in operation for the past 18 months. The unique capabilities and enhanced security, supported by this solution, not only provide complete management of this high-risk environment, but also support efficiency improvements and business process optimisation, through an integrated solution approach.
The company is a proud supplier of key components to leading brands and its continued business expansion is supported by such initiatives and strategic alliances. Smartlock has also embarked on a globalisation strategy and deployed applications as far afield as Boston USA and Singapore. It is currently involved in strategic business development in the Middle East, UK and Europe and set to enter these markets in co-operation with global entities.
Smartlock may be contacted via www.smartlock.net.
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INDUSTRY FOCUS: SECURITY
G4S DEPOSITA ASSEMBLY
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G4S DEPOSITA
emphasis on the right place. “And of course G4S Deposita is a powerful brand globally, which makes it easier to access customers with our solid value proposition – complete, secure and reliable ‘End-toEnd’ cash management solutions.” Headquartered in Midrand, Gauteng, Deposita was founded in 2004 following comprehensive market research into the handling and settlement of cash in the South African economy. Convinced it would revolutionise the way cash is secured, collected and processed, it rapidly expanded its nation-wide operations. Success did not go unnoticed. In 2013 Deposita was acquired by London-headquartered G4S, the world’s leading global, integrated security company, specialising in the delivery of security and related services to customers across six continents. Ongoing innovative processes and procedures, enhanced products and business partnerships, powered further success. “We started the company because we saw that the South African market was ready for this type of technology in the processing and automation of cash field, and the G4S acquisition has opened a lot of new doors for us.
partner for various banks globally, with here in South Africa very strong relationships with all the big commercial banks including Barclays, Nedbank, and First National Bank.” G4S Deposita operates in 23 markets across Africa, each relying heavily on cash for transactions, said G4S Africa Regional President Mel Brooks, “The efficiency of transactions is an often unacknowledged but vital aspect of economic productivity we are working hard to help improve through our Deposita technology. Although the security industry in South Africa is highly competitive, we are all fighting for the same cause – a safer and more secure South Africa.” G4S Deposita now has over 6,000 devices deployed, a total cash
management easy-to-use solution that combines hardware, software, and services to assist financial institutions, retail and wholesale customers reduce both costs and cash managing risks. System benefits are extensive, with users having real time visibility of their cash while ensuring the integrity of all transactions. Deposits are identified per cashier and shift, and the efficient processing of bank notes has one of the highest acceptance rates in the industry. The client is empowered with a full audit trail of all deposits, note count and validation at point of tender – reducing the risk of accepting counterfeit currency - and in-store cash losses and incidents of employee theft are cut. The G4S Deposita package also carries a potential reduction in insurance costs.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES “Pre-2013 we were focused on back office solutions, more specifically in the retail space, but as we started to analyse that whole cash flow trade, we realised that there were other opportunities for us. “We evaluated how we could provide solutions that automated cash takings and banknotes in front office situations, in self-service applications, third party payment applications and the like. “And - very exciting for us - it also took us into the bank branch automation side where we have become the trusted
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INDUSTRY FOCUS: SECURITY
MINI-PAY – SMME TAILORED The latest - and smallest - product in the G4S Deposita range is Mini-Pay, a smart safe system tailored for the SMMEs, acknowledged not only as key drivers of wealth creation and employment, but also powerful agents of change in supporting innovation and social mobility. G4S has long worked with SMMEs in South Africa, historically in securing and transporting cash, and more recently through providing in-store cash management systems that count, secure and reconcile cash before crediting a customer’s bank account via on-site technology. However, the financial cost and personal risks in securing cash in small businesses are often dwarfed by the hidden handling costs. Whether it’s time spent counting and reconciling, or the cost of
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non-availability of cash as working capital, the efficiencies open to small business to focus on what matters, are considerable. Mini-Pay now makes this possible, incorporating the best of Deposita at a size to suit the small business owner. Holding up to 1,200 banknotes, reconciling multiple deposits and providing clients with management information, the software can run via a USB on a laptop or PC, with cash reports or print receipts open to view. Mini-Pay offers the unrivalled benefits of larger devices at an entry point attractive to smaller service sector businesses that deal with more infrequent cash transactions. “We saw a gap in the market for people who generate small amounts of cash through their system. MiniPay enables the client to have the
ability to know his cash position at any given point in time and the capability of automating his whole process. NO GRUDGE PAYMENT “In the past security and security products have tended to be viewed as grudge purchases, but the G4S Deposita value proposition is one of cost reduction and the speeding up of processes. “We get a lot of franchise stores, where the owner’s have multiple outlets but without the commercial justification to justify every day collection. Even so they still want to see what their cash position is and how much cash is going through the system. Mini-Pay is positioned exactly in this market place.” G4S Deposita is continually looking for strategic alliances for the
G4S DEPOSITA
development of new products and markets. “The success of a business such as us is due to staying abreast of whatever technology becomes available globally. “And with the whole digitalisation discussion currently going on across the banking sector we need to be in a position where we can capitalise on our opportunities that come our way,” said the tactically-alert Terblanche, Manager for the Free State Rugby Union back in 1995. “So securing strategic partners is very important. We currently have a very strong relationship with Glory Global Solutions and MIE, and we are looking at strengthening our relationship with other suppliers like ScanPoint. “Our ability to provide the customer with a One Stop Shop integrated solution is a very strong value proposition, and I think more and more of the traditional OEM suppliers as well as the finished product suppliers, are increasingly viewing G4S Deposita in strategic terms.” GEO EXPANSION Meantime, geographical expansion is an on-going strategic ambition, with
“quite significant opportunities” under review in Asia, the Middle East – with an office opening in Dubai - as well as South Africa and other African countries. Europe too is in target, most specifically, Great Britain. “We are very lucky in having a solid pipeline and a lot of opportunities to deliver our proposition.” With South Africa’s growth on a five-year downward trend, unemployment at 27% a 13 year high, private investment heavily contracted, and Absa bank’s purchasing mangers’ index, a measure of the state of manufacturing, slipping to its worst level since the 2009 recession, G4S Deposita’s 2014-2016 25-26% year on growth is vastly impressive. So how has it succeeded in driving contra-flow to the negative national tracking? “I think it is a combination of things. The first is having an asset that addresses the market by having the right solution at the right time. The second – and a critical one - is understanding the market requirements, current and emerging, and positioning ourselves in terms of solutions and what we are offering.
“Thirdly, the market needs to have a clear understanding as to what it can expect from you. Finally, you must have the ability to deliver on your promise, and have the quality aftersales support that’s so critical in the world we are living in. “Taken all in all, this is the main reason why we have grown exponentially in the last couple of years, and we see that trend continuing at least for the next three.” Driving on and forward that remarkable 25%-plus annual growth rate? “Absolutely and without a doubt.”
+27 11 729 3300 www.g4s-deposita.co.za
Design, Development & Production of Electronic Products and Systems
+27 (12) 345 6294
n utio sol n tio olu
www.duotronic.co.za
s n tsio u l o olution s
challenges solution
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AFRICA
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR AFRICA’S INDUSTRY LEADERS
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Issue No.62
www.enterprise-africa.net
G4S DEPOSITA:
When Cash
is King
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Van Schaik Bookstore / Zoona / IPSS / Safire Insurance
A S F E AT U R E D I N
ENTERPRISE AFRICA
SEPTEMBER 2017