Many Things to Many People

For day-to-day running of our ATM network, we have outsourced the activity to managed services vendors. Development and testing of any new software is done jointly by the bank IT team and the vendor’s technical team. — Puneet Kapoor, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd., India

No, we currently do not have any outsourcing models. Maybe a SOC (security operations center) could be interesting. — Alejandro González Calzada, BanCoppel, Mexico

ATM services outsourcing is common in China, including software development, testing, maintenance, etc. Meantime China banks are increasing internal technology teams and setting up banks’ own technology sub-companies, to enhance the ability of technology self-control. — Xie GongHui, Zijin Fulcrum Technology Co.,Ltd, China

Most of us are familiar with the story of the blind men and the elephant. When six blind men are introduced to an elephant for the first time, each comes away with a vastly different opinion of what the great beast is like. The one who touched the elephant’s leg compares it to a tree, while the one who felt the truck believes it is like a snake. The others liken the animal to a wall, a spear, a rope, and a fan.

As with the parable of the elephant, an ATM is many things to many people. Much depends on where it is deployed and what kind of technology it supports. That seems clear from this 15th edition of the ATM & Self-Service Software Trends report. Respondents see it as everything from a basic cash dispenser to a sophisticated substitute for a brick-and-mortar bank branch.

One thing seems clear: new technologies and service models will be needed to keep the ATM relevant in an increasingly digital world. “Our vision is to take the existing ATM, extend it with XFS4, and integrate it in the cloud,” said KAL’s Hensley.