Diebold is to offer its customers technology from Arizona-based Better ATM Services which enables pre-paid gift cards to be dispensed via ATM cash trays.
Diebold is the first manufacturer to be certified to use the patented technology after carrying out testing that demonstrates its machines can dispense pre-paid cards using existing equipment with no add-on devices.
The pre-paid cards are contained on one of three panels on a "card sheet" which has approximately the same dimensions of larger foreign currencies like the Danish Kroner. Better ATM says because ATM cassettes accommodate currency of various sizes, they can also accommodate the card sheet dimensions.
The technology runs on all of Diebold's ix, iSeries and Opteva ATMs. The ATM manufacturer will now offer the technology to new and existing customers.
Charles Ducey, global development and services SVP, Diebold, says: "Better ATM Services' technology breathes new life into legacy ATMs and ushers in a new era of ATM dispensing technology."
Currently, customers can only buy pre-paid gift cards in-store over-the-counter or online. Better ATM says it technology enables a more secure, efficient and profitable way to distribute pre-paid gift cards.
The Arizona-based vendor says it is in discussions with other cash machine manufacturers about incorporating the technology.