Article

Play it smart: Tips for your next ATM paper buy

It's not the hardest thing in the world, but buying the right ATM paper does take some know-how.

June 12, 2014

by Mike Andrews, VP of sales and marketing
Graphic Tickets & Systems

Have you ever put an ATM receipt in your wallet or purse only to pull out a blank or blurry piece of paper later? It’s annoying, isn’t it? ATM receipts with faint images that fade or streak are the result of a mismatch between paper and machine. And they not only result in a poor customer experience, but they also can cost your company money over time as well.

Given the commodity status of ATM paper, especially with the ongoing migration towards digital applications, financial institutions and independent ATM deployers tend to give little thought to the paper they stock in their machines.

For many, it is a sunk cost best minimized by obtaining the cheapest paper available. And ATM paper suppliers have become all too happy to oblige this attitude, downgrading quality and curbing expertise in order to win the price war.

There are several potential problems with this approach that FIs and IADs should be aware of when purchasing ATM paper. Following are some tips to help you procure paper that will optimize the performance of your machines.

Know your ATM paper types

Not all paper performs the same way. The wrong type of ATM paper often results in an inferior product that can frustrate customers, reflect poorly on your brand, and cause paper jams that require costly maintenance and repair. Here are a few basic variations in paper:

Bond vs. thermal —ATM operators and paper manufacturers have essentially switched from bond to thermal paper for a number of reasons. While bond paper is technically less expensive, thermal paper has a lower cost of ownership over the long haul.

Here’s why: First, thermal paper doesn’t require ink cartridges or real ribbons that must be replaced periodically; second, thermal paper rolls are fast to install, easy to maintain, and almost always have more paper on each roll; and third, they produce a higher quality product.

Low vs. high sensitivity — The sensitivity of thermal paper refers to the degree to which it reacts to a given amount of heat or energy. When it comes to matching the right kind of paper with a particular machine, this is one of the most important factors to consider. Selecting high vs. low sensitivity ATM paper not only affects the image quality and shelf life of the receipt, but also it can also lead to big savings for some ATM owners.

There is an inverse relationship between the energy of the printer and the sensitivity of the paper. A high-energy printer can deliver a satisfactory product on paper with low sensitivity, while a low-energy printer requires paper with high sensitivity to achieve acceptable results. Because low-sensitivity paper is less expensive, it pays to invest in a high-energy printer in order to save on paper costs over time.

BPA-free paper —Many companies, and their customers, have growing concerns regarding the environmental impact of paper products. One of the most prevalent concerns is the use of Bisphenol A.

BPA is an industrial chemical used primarily to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It is commonly applied to thermal receipt paper in order to help produce the image.

In January 2010, the FDA announced that studies provided reason for worry about the potential adverse health effects of BPA in infants and children, especially for applications with food. If your company shares this concern, you should make sure that your supplier offers paper that’s free of BPA.

Beware of paper shorting and product swaps

It would be great if we could say that we live in a world where no one cheats. Unfortunately, we can’t. Some ATM paper suppliers have learned a few parlor tricks to help compensate for shrinking margins. So, buyer beware.

Here are some specific things to look out for:

Paper shorting —A low cost ATM paper roll isn’t always a “good deal.” Rolls can be loosened so that there are actually fewer receipts per roll, which means you’re paying more for the receipts each roll produces.

The first defense against this trick is to partner with a reputable supplier. But you still might want to verify that you’re getting the footage you expect. So, ask to see the rolls that you purchase, particularly for large orders.

Push against the center of the roll, and see if there’s any give. If the paper cones out, this means it’s loose and might produce fewer receipts than it should. ATM paper rolls should be tightly wound to generate a maximum number of ATM receipts, giving you more bang for your buck.

Product swaps —How do you know you’re getting the specific ATM paper the supplier quoted? Would you really be able to tell if the paper has the topcoat you ordered? Unfortunately, it can be difficult to verify that the paper you purchased matches the sales specs. Some suppliers take advantage of this dilemma, but honest mistakes can happen as well.

Don’t hesitate to ask to have your paper tested to make sure it has the features you paid for. Experienced suppliers with good customer service will have no problem supplying verification to make a customer comfortable and earn their trust.

Summary

Customers come to ATMs expecting to walk away with two things: cash and their receipt. The type of paper you used in an ATM affects not only the customer experience, but also the machine's performance and the overall cost to service it. So, be sure to look a little deeper than the final cost when considering what type of ATM paper to choose.

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 photo: gideon