Biometric ATMs That Cash Pay Checks

Users of ATMs in key metro areas will now be able to start cashing paychecks and checks from reliable sources, such as government departments, thanks to InnoVentry’s new range of machines. The firm, a joint venture of Wells Fargo and Cash America International, has developed a new generation of ATMs that include FaceIt biometric technology from Visionics.

Frances Zelazny, a spokesperson for the biometrics firm, said InnoVentry was only founded last year, but has developed a range of ATMs which are aimed at the "self banked," that is, people who do not have a regular bank account. Surprisingly, Visionics says that there are more than 40 million Americans who do not have bank accounts.

The new biometric ATMs are the direct result of InnoVentry’s merger with Mr Payroll Corp in March 1999. The FaceIt technology has been developed in its cash machines to allow customers rapid access to cash with the use of a bank card.

In use, the FaceIt system captures a facial image of the check-cashing customer at the time of enrollment, creating a digital template that is used to verify the customer’s identity the next time he or she cashes a check.

The system automatically compares the live image with the stored template. If a match exists, the customer receives his or her cash - often without having to speak to a human operator.

Traditional check-cashing services for people without bank accounts have tended to be convenience stores. Visionics expects these store outlets to be the early adopters of the machines, since the system automates transactions and so cuts the cost of processing each check.

Innoventry says that there are already 100 biometric cash-management machines in place in 33 communities across the US. Other machines are being installed at key sites across the US.

In addition to the FaceIt-enabled cash management machines, InnoVentry has also purchased an additional 500 advanced-function ATM machines from Diebold. These machines, the firm says, will serve as the basic platform for InnoVentry’s new RPM (Rapid Payment Machine), scheduled for rollout during the fourth quarter of the year in the Houston, Phoenix and Dallas Fort-Worth areas.

The plan is for FaceIt to be incorporated into these and future InnoVentry installations. Mary Burczyk, a spokesperson for Innoventry, said that the firm plans to have around 175 RPM cash machines in place in the Hoston, Phoenix and Dallas area by the end of the year. The firm already has around 100 Mr Payroll check cashing machines in 33 areas across the US.

InnoVentry’s Web site is at http://www.innoventry.com.

Top

McDonald’s Corp. [NYSE:MCD] is working with InfoAmerica Inc. to develop an electronic order-taking system that may eventually replace some of its human equivalents. The fast food chain is currently testing two self-service ordering devices at the its food-research laboratory in Chicago, while a franchise in Wyoming, Mich., is testing a third such system.

Challenged by a constant need to fill the low-end order-taking positions in its restaurants, McDonald’s spokeswoman Lisa Howard said the company plans to keep its human order-takers but use the high-tech kiosks as a possible way to supplement labor needs.

Fort Collins, Colo.-based InfoAmerica is one of the leading suppliers of transaction-based kiosk "solutions" in the US. Founded in 1979, the company has designed and developed self- service kiosk systems for a variety of industries, including banking, hospitality, retail, food service, and government.

The TouchWare kiosks McDonald’s is currently testing cost around $7,500 each, according to the company. But InfoAmerica says those costs can be easily offset because the kiosks create significant labor savings, increase sales (through automatic and intelligent suggestive selling on every order), improve speed of service, and improve order accuracy.

McDonald’s is reportedly considering using the kiosks in its drive-through bays as well as inside its restaurants. An Arby’s Inc. franchise in Denver installed a similar automated-ordering device from IBM earlier this year.

IBM also installed its interactive kiosks in UK-based Safeway stores. That kiosk system, called "Easi-screen," gives personalized shopping lists, discounts, product information, loyalty card updates, and even meal suggestions to Safeway customers. "Service is the number one differentiating factor for clients," said Jeremy Wyman, Safe-way’s business solutions manager. "Embracing new information technology, (is allowing) Safeway to cater specifically to the consumer’s individual needs."

Top