Article

5 simple ways to save money on ATM paper

Paper might be a commodity, but there's more to saving money on it than just squeezing out cost.

March 21, 2014

The financial business is among the most competitive of industries, and emerging technologies are only adding fuel to the fire. As customer transactions become increasingly digitized, minimizing the role of relationships and personal service, greater pressure is being applied to price. In a highly competitive, increasingly commoditized marketplace, margins become razor thin, and profitability hinges on just a few percentage points.

Cutting costs is an essential part of maintaining a profitable enterprise during fiscally challenging times. But the answer to maintaining financial stability is not to become frugal. The solution is to get smart and to analyze every aspect of operations in order to make the wisest possible financial decisions.

One area where an ATM deployer can often achieve prudent savings or make surprising revenue gains is with ATM receipt paper. With this in mind, here are five simple tips to procuring quality ATM paper for the lowest possible cost:

1) Select an experienced supplier — Established suppliers often have strong relationships with paper mills and are able to negotiate lower prices for thermal paper. In addition, suppliers with a long track record in the industry are better able to anticipate price changes and help customers prepare for them ahead of time. So, pay close attention to the experience of a supplier when considering proposals.

2) Buy in bulk — Larger orders cost less for each roll. So work to forecast your ATM paper needs as far in advance as possible and buy a bulk supply up front. You might even want to consolidate regional or national orders with a single supplier to increase order size. Many suppliers are willing to offer free or discounted storage for customers who place large orders, in order to help them reap the savings of bulk purchases.

3) Choose the right paper — Not all ATM paper performs the same. And some types of paper work better with certain machines. The more experienced suppliers employ technical experts who know your machinery inside and out. They can work with you to determine the exact type of paper that will best fit your particular needs, which can help prevent extraneous expenses from paper jams and/or tears.

4) Clean your machine — Over time, dust and other contaminants collect on ATM card readers and printing devices. If neglected, dirty machines will stop functioning properly, or even break down, costing time and money for repairs.   

Many ATM paper suppliers offer cleaning cards to help keep your machine functional. Use them for preventative maintenance or to correct device errors and save yourself from avoidable expenses further down the line.

5) Reduce fixed paper costs — One way to bring in additional revenue and offset paper costs is to convert the ATM receipt into an advertising vehicle. For financial institutions, the receipt offers a place to promote other financial products to a targeted customer when banking is top-of-mind.

Additionally, space on the receipt can be sold to other advertisers as a way to bring in additional revenue. Be sure to ask your supplier about custom printing capabilities and ATM receipt advertising strategies.

Improving your ROI on receipt paper isn’t rocket science, but it does require the information to make some smart decisions. While paper is a commodity, there’s more to it than just cost.

Research suppliers and select one who will work with you to improve your printing performance and help boost profitability over time. Forming a partnership with a trusted supplier is the best way to maximize your return.

Graphic Tickets & Systems is a provider of stock and custom ATM paper solutions. The company helps FIs make ATM paper transactions more meaningful, valuable, effective and profitable. Visit them at graphictickets.com.

cover art: graphic tickets & systems