Aug 30, 2018
Omnichannel, Branch Transformation, and the ITM: Impact on WAN
Throughout 2018, financial institutions (FIs) will continue looking for ways to transform the branch experience. Despite mobile apps driving down the number of in-person transactions and visits, the branch still remains a leading source of new accounts and cross selling. As such, FIs will offer new branch formats to entice customers including cafe or lounge-like ambiance, reduction in tellers, new digital signage, Wi-Fi, and Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs). These changes increase the demand on the branch network and can require complex design planning to ensure the highest levels of security, especially ITMs.
ITMs will play a significant role in branch transformations offering the ability to complete 90% of the transactions historically done by tellers. With manufacturers such as NCR, Diebold Nixdorf, Hyosung, and others leading the way, the placement of ITM units is accelerating. ITMs provide a foundation for full-service, stand-alone digital branches and branches with limited staff focused on increasing sales and new accounts. The ITM supports this transformation with more flexible hours, on-demand support, and audited cash recycling with rapid note validation. These new services continue to expand the demand placed on the wide-area-network (WAN). FIs need solutions that offer an integrated WAN with the best bandwidth, availability, and encryption to keep branch operations connected and running smoothly.
ITM WAN solutions can be configured in a variety of ways. These include Hybrid WAN, where video traffic is delivered via fixed line and ATM traffic passes through a PCI-compliant 4G LTE cellular network. Another option is 4G LTE cellular WAN via a dedicated/isolated network supporting the full operation of the ITM with the greatest flexibility. Ventus Managed Network-as-a-Service solutions take things a step further, ensuring the branch environment experiences secure disruption-free connectivity. Ventus has connections into all major financial processors and payment gateways, making data transport a more seamless process.
With these partnerships in place, FIs don’t have to worry about setting up back-end connections for payment transactions. Another unique advantage is the management of multiple endpoint routing, in which in-bound and out-bound multi-destination network traffic is consolidated through our network and securely transported to the necessary endpoints. Whether MPLS, broadband, or 4G LTE cellular is required, Ventus designs, builds, hosts, and maintains the network with expert engineering, installation and deployment, 24x7x365 technical support, real-time monitoring with alerts, and maintenance support.
Is your WAN ready for ITMs?